This is my first post, I have had my Hubitat hub for just a few weeks. Most of that time was spent getting all my Smartthings devices connected, now I am adding basic rules.
I am struggling to make a basic rule “when time of day is 30 minutes before sunset” work. I made this basic rule to only set the level for one bulb and turn on for one switch. It worked for one night. I was optimistic, so I added the Group Indoor Lights to the rule and last night it did not work again. Please make any recommendations for how to fix this problem.
I have reviewed many messages on similar topics. The following descriptions and screen shots are my best effort to provide most of the information you all have previously requested:
Here is the log for this rule:
Here are all my apps:
Here is the rule that does not work:
Here are the screen captures of all the detailed rule data
Here is the current status of the hub including software version:
For other reasons I rebooted the hub this morning before capturing this data.
For whatever it is worth, I have a rule that dims my Outside Bulbs to 0 at 30 minutes after sunrise. It has been working properly for days. Here is the rule definition:
It is odd that the app was initialized on 8/23 but didn't run until 7:38PM on 8/24. It was reinitialized on 8/25 and, assuming the logs are current, it didn't run last night. You have a Scheduled Job for 8/26 at 7:36 so I suspect it'll run tonight. I'm not sure why it's not running on the same day it's being initialized but I suspect without further changes it should be ok. I'll make a test rule and see if I'm seeing the same thing.
I experienced similar issues after a reboot of HE. Eventually, but I'm not sure in which order, I:
set Modes to trigger at Sunset+15min, Night Mode at 11:30p, and Sunrise-20min
got away from Groups & Scenes and used Room Lighting for my outdoor automations
I haven't since had an issue having to wait until the next day (after a reboot) for yard lights to automatically trigger. I can't suggest which change made was the significant one, though. I read some discussion questioning time triggers with offsets that had me experiment putting the offsets for Sunrise/Sunset in the Modes app, And while Groups/Scenes are still good apps they're rather around as legacy apps, Room Lighting being the better choices in the long run (if I understood what I read, mind you). I didn't get on with Room Lighting initially (all this being rather new), but it's worth getting up to speed with.
My rule ran as expected and it scheduled a job for tomorrow. It's Recurring is also false so I think that's okay. Your rule isn't complicate and if you continue to have issues I suggest that you delete and recreate it.
OP, I know this may sound odd to hear as a new user, but it's good tool to keep in your Hubitat toolbox. This definitely is not a normal thing to have to do, but it's kinda like the 'ol "turn off then on again" fix -- it can be a helpful way to clear a gremlin that's hung up somewhere inaccessible.
In these cases, recreate it just like you had it (a screenshot to reference helps) -- nothing has to be different. The very few times I've ever had to do this, the new rule worked as advertised.
Thank you all for the input and your willingness to run similar tests. As you predicted, the 30 minutes before sunset basic rule ran correctly last night. If it runs correctly again tonight I will share that and we can close or whatever is appropriate on this topic.
It does appear that there is a bug in the Hubitat software or some setting that is wrong, where it fails to run a new or revised rule on the day it was created or changed. Is there a formal way to report a bug to the Hubitat team? Feel free to direct me to what I should have already read. Thanks Again.
