Hi everyone, I wanted to share my experience with setting up a sunset and sunrise automation in my smart home. It’s been a bit of a journey, but I thought I’d document it here in case others are facing similar challenges or looking for inspiration!
The Goal:
I wanted to create a smooth transition for my lights as the sun sets and rises. Specifically, I set up a flow to turn on my living room lights 45 minutes before sunset and turn them off 15 minutes after sunrise. The sunrise flow works perfectly, but the sunset automation has been a bit stubborn. I tried both advanced and standard flows, but neither would trigger automatically—though manual testing worked fine.
The Investigation:
After some digging, I realized the issue might be related to time zone settings or device configuration. I started by checking my location settings in the app and ensuring all devices were properly connected and within range. I also considered whether the sunset timing was accurate for my geographical location.
The Fix:
After a bit of trial and error, I discovered that the problem was with the device configuration. I had to manually adjust the time zone settings and ensure all devices were on the same network. Once that was sorted, the automation started working like a charm!
The Outcome:
It’s such a small thing, but having the lights automatically adjust to the natural light outside really enhances my daily experience. It feels like a seamless extension of the day, and I don’t have to worry about manually adjusting the lights anymore.
A Word of Advice:
If you’re setting up similar automations, I’d recommend double-checking your device configurations and network settings. Sometimes the simplest things can trip us up! Also, don’t hesitate to experiment with different timings to find what works best for your lifestyle.
I’d love to hear how others have tackled similar projects or what creative automations you’ve set up in your homes. Happy tinkering! 