I want to have an independent light schedule for each light.
I also want a way to toggle each individual light schedule on or off on the dashboard.
I can do this for a single light using basic rules and a mode button on the dashboard. But I can't figure out how to expand on this for multiple lights.
Should be noted that I am using a dimmer and not a switch
Sorry if this is a basic question, but I have spent way too many hours trying to figure this out now. I think I am missing something basic.
If you want each schedule to be different, you wont be able to use modes.
Are you trying to make a schedule to turn the lights on/off, or a schedule to adjust the brightness/level of the lights? I think that's going to make a difference on which app would work best.
You will want to use Room Lighting with custom periods for that. Its going to be a lot of tedious work if you want it to be different for every single light.
I ended up doing this:
-2 basic rules for each light
-a virtual switch for each light
-virtual switch off kicks off basic rule to set dim to 0
-virtual switch on kicks off basic rule to set dim to 0, then at a certain time set dim to xx, then wait xx time before setting dim back to 0.
Rule triggers are event driven. Events are when there's a state change (e.g., the switch goes from on to off). If the switch is already on, then there won't be another 'on' state change to generate the event that will re-trigger the rule.
@jtp10181's suggestion to use Room Lighting is exactly what you are looking for.
Actually my original question was not really answered correctly. I asked if it was desired to adjust the brightness or turn on/off. Based on what was created the intention is to turn on/off automatically not adjust the brightness over the course of the day.
Room lighting can do that but its sort of complicated just for a simple on/off daily routine.
I think the best solution here would be Rule Machine with a a required expression that the virtual switch must be on for it to trigger.
@user4937 Is this all you intend to do? Just a simple on/off schedule at a fix brightness? Or is the plan more complex and this was the first step?
*Forgot to add, I can mock up an example later today and post a screenshot.
You dont even need a repeat to do what I am thinking, the trigger would be the time of day.
Just to be clear, the dimmer is directly controlling the light? Its not like a separate dimmer controlling smart bulbs or something?
Here is a Rule Machine that would turn a Dimmer ON at Sunset and OFF at 10PM every day. In your case it would be a real dimmer, I just used a virtual one for an example.
It would only start at Sunset if the "Virtual Switch" was on.
This does not set the brightness on the dimmer, it would turn on at the previous brightness. You could also make the rule to specifically set it to 30% instead of just turning on.
