Are two rules needed to turn a light on and off?

[velvetfoot]

Just started messing around with RM a bit.

Are two rules really needed to turn a light on and off?
One for the "on" trigger, and one for the "off" trigger?
It seems that way, but I could be missing something.
I'm used to SA, and this would be one rule.

Thanks.

[ogiewon]

@velvetfoot

Are two rules really needed to turn a light on and off?

Nope, it can usually all be done in one rule. What are your requirements?

[velvetfoot]

@ogiewon

Nope, it can usually all be done in one rule. What are your requirements?

Starting off slow, I just wanted to try turning a light on and off by turning a switch on and off. It seems like the only way to do this is to have a RM rule to turn used the switched on as a trigger to turn it on, and another rule to use switched off as a trigger to turn it off.

I tried several things, and this was the only way I could do I it.

I figure there's gotta be a better way, but it's early.

[jasazick]

If you set your trigger condition to "changed" your action can then be an if statement. So if ON do X else if off do Y.

[cjkeenan]

Another way to do it that is more efficient for HE is the use of wait events/conditions (events are preferred I think?):

[ogiewon]

@velvetfoot

Starting off slow, I just wanted to try turning a light on and off by turning a switch on and off. It seems like the only way to do this is to have a RM rule to turn used the switched on as a trigger to turn it on, and another rule to use switched off as a trigger to turn it off.

Here is an example of the 'traditional' way of doing it with RM... (as mentioned by @jasazick)

As @cjkeenan mentioned, you can also streamline this using the 'new' technique.

It is good to have options!

[velvetfoot]

I've got a ways to go, but here's my first effort.
I have to brush up on my Else, ElseIf, End, etc, etc, etc. Plus that other method. Plus everything else. But hey, it works.

[aaiyar]

It'd be a good practice to end each IF block with an END-IF. Doesn't matter so much in this case, but this is much more important as you start creating rules with nested IF blocks.

[dadarkgtprince]

if you're trying to do something as basic as that, i would recommend simple automations. it offers less overhead than rule machine and can achieve what you want within a single simple automation

[velvetfoot]

I kind of figured that, but I'm just starting out with RM.

This all started when I tried to figure out a way to send multiple commands with one trigger. I'm not using it yet, but the logs shows it works.

[jvm33]

@velvetfoot

Are two rules really needed to turn a light on and off?

You did say RM, so this isn't really answering our question, but you can also use the built-in "Mirror" app if you're just trying to control a second switch when a first switch is changed.

Or if the switch has Central Scene capability, use the "Select Button Device" option and then set different actions for Button 1 and Button 2.