Rule Triggering Itself

bruderbell · October 10, 2025, 6:24pm

Hey All,
My kids have ADHD. And they're kids, lacking all concept of the passing of time. I decided I wanted to create a timer function for my kid bathroom lights. The idea is that the lights (and fan) blink off for 1s once for each 5 minutes of time passed since the lights came on. So at 10 mins into the shower, it should blink off for 1s, then on for 1s, then off 1s then on. Then at 15m, it would blink 3x. If the switch is used to turn off the lights, I want it to interrupt the whole thing and stop. Right now, for testing, I have the durations set shorter, so disregard the times. Here's my draft:

I'm getting stuck because the trigger is also the action in the blinking, so I think it's firing concurrent instances of the rule. I tried working around that with the local variable, but clearly it isn't working for me. Ultimately, the light just starts going berserk on and off, and I'm not getting the intended timer behavior. Any guidance?

I'm pasting some log below. At the start (bottom), you can see where I fire the first trigger. The local variable (alreadyrunning) was set to true because I had to interrupt the prior run. So that first trigger just evaluated to my else statement, set the alreadyrunning variable to false, cancelled repeated and scheduled actions, and ended. Then I fired the light a second time, and you see it just go nuts from there.

Here's my log:

Summary

app:5882025-10-10 02:20:00.399 PM


info
Action: END-REP (waiting for next)
app:5882025-10-10 02:20:00.380 PM
info
Action: Restore: Kid bath fan, Kid bath light --> delayed: 0:00:01
app:5882025-10-10 02:20:00.376 PM
info
Action: Off: Kid bath fan, Kid bath light (Command only switches that are on)
app:5882025-10-10 02:20:00.356 PM
info
Action: Repeating Actions
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:59.204 PM
info
Delay Over: Restore: Kid bath fan, Kid bath light
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:59.137 PM
info
Action: END-REP (waiting for next)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:59.121 PM
info
Action: Restore: Kid bath fan, Kid bath light --> delayed: 0:00:01
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:59.100 PM
info
Action: Off: Kid bath fan, Kid bath light (Command only switches that are on)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:59.083 PM
info
Action: Repeating Actions
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:58.035 PM
info
Delay Over: Restore: Kid bath fan, Kid bath light
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:57.984 PM
info
Action: END-REP (waiting for next)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:57.969 PM
info
Action: Restore: Kid bath fan, Kid bath light --> delayed: 0:00:01
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:57.946 PM
info
Action: Off: Kid bath fan, Kid bath light (Command only switches that are on)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:57.931 PM
info
Action: Repeating Actions
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:57.518 PM
info
Action: Delay 0:00:05 (cancelable)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:57.506 PM
info
Action: Set Timer to 0
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:57.480 PM
info
Action: Set alreadyrunning to true
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:57.471 PM
info
Action: IF (Variable alreadyrunning(false) is = true FALSE) Exit Rule (skipped)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:57.465 PM
info
Action: IF (Kid bath light(on) is on(T) [TRUE]) THEN
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:57.437 PM
info
Triggered: Kid bath light(on) turns changed
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:57.401 PM
info
Event: Kid bath light switch on
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:56.897 PM
info
Delay Over: Restore: Kid bath fan, Kid bath light
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:56.818 PM
info
Action: END-REP (waiting for next)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:56.794 PM
info
Action: Restore: Kid bath fan, Kid bath light --> delayed: 0:00:01
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:56.790 PM
info
Action: Off: Kid bath fan, Kid bath light (Command only switches that are on)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:56.769 PM
info
Action: Repeating Actions
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:56.369 PM
info
Action: Exit Rule
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:56.340 PM
info
Action: Cancel Delayed Actions
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:56.276 PM
info
Action: Stop Repeating Actions
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:56.264 PM
info
Action: Set alreadyrunning to false
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:56.252 PM
info
Action: ELSE (do actions)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:56.249 PM
info
Action: END-REP (skipped)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:56.246 PM
info
Action: END-REP (skipped)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:56.243 PM
info
Action: Restore: Kid bath fan, Kid bath light --> delayed: 0:00:01 (skipped)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:56.239 PM
info
Action: Off: Kid bath fan, Kid bath light (Command only switches that are on) (skipped)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:56.234 PM
info
Action: Repeat Timer(1) times every 0:00:01 (skipped)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:56.229 PM
info
Action: Notify Kris’s phone: 'Flashing %Timer% time(s)(Flashing 1 time(s))' (skipped)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:56.223 PM
info
Action: Capture: Kid bath fan, Kid bath light (skipped)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:56.219 PM
info
Action: Add 1 to Timer (skipped)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:56.205 PM
info
Action: Repeat every 0:00:15 (stoppable) (skipped)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:56.201 PM
info
Action: Delay 0:00:05 (cancelable) (skipped)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:56.197 PM
info
Action: Set Timer to 0 (skipped)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:56.185 PM
info
Action: Set alreadyrunning to true (skipped)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:56.173 PM
info
Action: IF (Variable alreadyrunning(true) is = true TRUE) Exit Rule (skipped)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:56.166 PM
info
Action: IF (Kid bath light(off) is on(F) [FALSE]) THEN (skipping)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:56.134 PM
info
Triggered: Kid bath light(off) turns changed
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:56.095 PM
info
Event: Kid bath light switch off
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:55.783 PM
info
Action: END-REP (waiting for next)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:55.763 PM
info
Action: Restore: Kid bath fan, Kid bath light --> delayed: 0:00:01
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:55.667 PM
info
Action: Off: Kid bath fan, Kid bath light (Command only switches that are on)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:55.651 PM
info
Action: Repeating Actions
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:55.557 PM
info
Action: Notify Kris’s phone: 'Flashing %Timer% time(s)(Flashing 1 time(s))'
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:55.542 PM
info
Action: Capture: Kid bath fan, Kid bath light
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:55.532 PM
info
Action: Add 1 to Timer
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:55.512 PM
info
Action: Repeating Actions
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:55.422 PM
info
Delay Over: Delay 0:00:05 (cancelable)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:50.387 PM
info
Action: Delay 0:00:05 (cancelable)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:50.376 PM
info
Action: Set Timer to 0
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:50.353 PM
info
Action: Set alreadyrunning to true
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:50.344 PM
info
Action: IF (Variable alreadyrunning(false) is = true FALSE) Exit Rule (skipped)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:50.332 PM
info
Action: IF (Kid bath light(on) is on(T) [TRUE]) THEN
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:50.305 PM
info
Triggered: Kid bath light(on) turns changed
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:50.230 PM
info
Event: Kid bath light switch on
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:43.176 PM
info
Action: Exit Rule
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:43.148 PM
info
Action: Cancel Delayed Actions
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:43.095 PM
info
Action: Stop Repeating Actions
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:43.084 PM
info
Action: Set alreadyrunning to false
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:43.076 PM
info
Action: ELSE (do actions)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:43.074 PM
info
Action: END-REP (skipped)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:43.072 PM
info
Action: END-REP (skipped)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:43.068 PM
info
Action: Restore: Kid bath fan, Kid bath light --> delayed: 0:00:01 (skipped)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:43.065 PM
info
Action: Off: Kid bath fan, Kid bath light (Command only switches that are on) (skipped)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:43.062 PM
info
Action: Repeat Timer(1) times every 0:00:01 (skipped)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:43.058 PM
info
Action: Notify Kris’s phone: 'Flashing %Timer% time(s)(Flashing 1 time(s))' (skipped)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:43.054 PM
info
Action: Capture: Kid bath fan, Kid bath light (skipped)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:43.051 PM
info
Action: Add 1 to Timer (skipped)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:43.038 PM
info
Action: Repeat every 0:00:15 (stoppable) (skipped)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:43.036 PM
info
Action: Delay 0:00:05 (cancelable) (skipped)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:43.033 PM
info
Action: Set Timer to 0 (skipped)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:43.024 PM
info
Action: Set alreadyrunning to true (skipped)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:43.015 PM
info
Action: IF (Variable alreadyrunning(true) is = true TRUE) Exit Rule (skipped)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:43.003 PM
info
Action: IF (Kid bath light(off) is on(F) [FALSE]) THEN (skipping)
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:42.973 PM
info
Triggered: Kid bath light(off) turns changed
app:5882025-10-10 02:19:42.943 PM
info
Event: Kid bath light switch off
app:5882025-10-10 02:18:44.122 PM
info
Action: Exit Rule
app:5882025-10-10 02:18:44.110 PM
info
Action: IF (Kid bath light(on) is on(T) [TRUE]) THEN
app:5882025-10-10 02:18:44.027 PM
info
Triggered: Kid bath light(on) turns changed
app:5882025-10-10 02:18:43.989 PM
info

Event: Kid bath light switch on

bruderbell · October 10, 2025, 7:06pm

I should have noted: the switches are hooked up to a zooz zen52 double relay

chrisbvt · October 10, 2025, 7:32pm

This would be easier with a dimmer, as ON can trigger the timer to start, but the signal could be a dim and brighten instead of a blink. You can't use the same attribute (switch) as both the trigger and the action without causing a retrigger like you are seeing. Set Level would not retrigger the rule based on ON.

Or use a different device as the signal, like another light or a smart speaker device. Or use a different device like a smart button to turn on the light and start the timers, and base your blink times on when the button was first pushed, not the light switch state.

Another option is to use the isPhysical flag to determine if the light was turned on or off at the switch physically, or digitally by an automation. Only a physical ON starts your blink timer, and only a physical off stops it. The digital on/off events from the blink would not retrigger the rule.

Edit: I don't use Rule Machine, but it looks like in RM you determine a physical On vs a digital On based on if you choose Physical Switch or Digital switch in the rule. I've never played with that in RM though, but in Webcore there is a choice to see if the event isPhysical to make that determination.

aaiyar · October 10, 2025, 8:01pm

You could avoid this by wrapping the actions in a Private Boolean. Set the PB to be False as the first action of the Rule, and set it to be True as the last action. Finally, require the PB to be true for the rule to trigger.

The Rule Machine documentation has more information on how to use a Private Boolean.

Also, for future reference, just post a screenshot of logs rather than the log text itself. Screenshots are way easier to read .....

Slate · October 10, 2025, 9:12pm

And if really long, wrap that in a Summary. Easier for those on phones. Select item(s), then select the gear, then Hide Details.

Summary

This text will be hidden

chrisbvt · October 10, 2025, 11:42pm

Seems like triggering the rule from the physical ON event would be easier, as the blinking will only be digital and not retrigger. No real need for a boolean to be involved here.

bruderbell · October 11, 2025, 10:41am

Thanks! I did the summary

rlithgow1 · October 11, 2025, 12:14pm

You're kind. I just turn the lights out and leave them in the dark

croweflight · October 11, 2025, 3:16pm

You have found what I found. RM echos trigger events about 250ish ms later. Make your trigger conditional on a Private bullion then the first action is to disable the trigger and the last action is to enable it. Another way is to wait at the start until say a half second elapses without another trigger wait period event then proceed.