On at 8 am for 30 minutes, off for 30 minutes then repeat unt

[TomG]

My wife bought a plug in wax melt hot plate. She and I agree the fragrance is nice but overpowering.
My goal is to turn the warmer on at 8am, turn it off at 8:30am for 30 minutes then repeat until 8 pm.
I could create individual simple automations but there has to be an easier way.

Toggle? Repeat?

I looked in HPM and made some rules that don’t work due to my limited knowledge.

ChatGPT was not helpful

[dylan.c]

How does this look? Uses a periodic trigger to keep things simple.

[TomG]

I was reading too much into it.

Thank you. Coding is not in my genes.

[jeff.turner.reid]

Pretty easy to me….I think

Conditions: 8am to 8pm
Trigger: when wax plate turns on or time is 8am
Actions: turn on wax plate( initial at 8am), wait 30 min, turn wax plate off, wait 30 min turn wax plate on
As a catch all: if time is 8pm turn off wax plate

Seems simple enough as long as your plug reports when it turns on

[jeff.turner.reid]

Or

Condition: 7:30am to 8pm
Trigger: time is 7:30am or wax plate turns off
Actions: wait 30 minutes, turn on wax plate, wait 30 mins, turn off wax plate

Seems simpler.

Or…

Rule#1. When 8am, turn on wax plate

Rule#2
Conditions: 8am-8pm
Trigger: wax plate turns on
Actions: wait 30 minutes, turn wax plate off, wait 30 minutes, turn wax plate on

Can be done several ways

[TomG]

@jeff.turner.reid

Pretty easy to me

My brain is not wired for coding. Once I see the finished rule, then it becomes clear.

Give me a check engine light or no start and I’m like a pig in mud,

[sburke781]

You may want to introduce a required expression to allow you to override the running of the rule, in case you don't want to run it for any reason.... Obviously the practical side to me says "just unplug it"... but where's the fun in that... You could either use a private boolean and set that in a rule based on a button / switch, or setup a virtual switch / button you make available on a dashboard, or use a physical button.... many options... Just a thought...

[TomG]

@sburke781

private boolean

Seriously, I have a mental block.

[sburke781]

I'm heading that way...

The PB is likely the slightly less convenient option....

Click through the various options required to enable a required expression and create a new condition... Then select:

Use true / false, whatever suits you.... And click Done, Done, Done...

You can then, in another rule or automation app, set the private boolean....

Alternatively, I would personally use a switch / button due to the versatility with dashboards, the app, Maker API... etc

Regardless of the option you take, you will likely want to manage resetting the option at somepoint, e.g. overnight or on mode change, whatever best suits.

[dylan.c]

@TomG

My wife

Whatever you do, consider usability for everyone involved. If your wife is like mine, she's much more likely to just turn off the switch on the warmer than to mess with buttons and dashboards.

[TomG]

She doesn’t have the app, and doesn’t touch anything. She is happy when it just works.

[jeff.turner.reid]

And then we all are happy……right?