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How to Set State Automation in Home Assistant

If you have a smart home, you know that Home Assistant is one of the best automation platforms available. The open-source software allows users to customize their smart home to their needs and preferences. One of the best features of Home Assistant is the ability to set state automation. This feature allows you to trigger different actions based on the state of your smart home devices. In this blog post, we will explain how to set state automation in Home Assistant.

What is state automation?

State automation is a way to automate your smart home based on the current state of your smart devices. For example, if you have a smart door lock and it is locked, you can set state automation to turn off the lights and lower the temperature when the door is locked at night. This will save you energy and make sure you have a secure home.

How to set state automation in Home Assistant

Setting state automation in Home Assistant is easy. Here's how to do it:

1. Create a new automation

To create a new automation in Home Assistant, open the configuration.yaml file in your Home Assistant installation. You can do this by going to the Home Assistant Dashboard and clicking on "Configuration" in the sidebar. Then click on "General" and "Configuration.yaml." Scroll down until you see "automation: !include automations.yaml" and add a new line after it with "- alias: Your Automation Name" followed by a description of your automation.

2. Choose your trigger

The trigger is what starts your automation. In this case, you want to choose a trigger based on the state of your smart device. For example, if you have a smart door lock, you can use "state_changed" as your trigger and set the state to "locked." This means that the automation will start when the door lock changes to the locked state.

3. Choose your action

The action is what happens when your automation is triggered. In this case, you want to choose an action that corresponds to the state of your smart device. For example, you can choose to turn off the lights, lower the temperature, or turn off the TV when the door is locked.

4. Save your automation

Once you have chosen your trigger and action, save your automation by adding it to the automations.yaml file. You can do this by clicking on "File Editor" in the sidebar and selecting the "automations.yaml" file. Copy and paste your automation code into the file and save it.

5. Test your automation

To test your automation, lock your door and see if the action is triggered. If everything is set up correctly, your lights should turn off, the temperature should lower, or the TV should turn off automatically.

Conclusion

Setting state automation in Home Assistant is a great way to automate your smart home and improve your life. With the ability to trigger actions based on the state of your smart devices, you can save energy and have a more secure home. By following these simple steps, you can set up state automation in Home Assistant and enjoy the benefits of a more customized smart home.

Posted on: Feb 6, 2022 Last updated at: May 4, 2023

Frequently asked questions

What is Home Assistant?
Home Assistant is an open-source home automation platform that allows you to integrate and control all your smart home devices in one place.
What is state automation?
State automation is a feature in Home Assistant that allows you to automate your home based on the current state of your smart devices.
How can I set up Home Assistant?
You can set up Home Assistant by following the installation instructions on their website or by using a pre-configured image available for download.
Can I control my smart devices with voice commands?
Yes, you can control your smart devices with voice commands by integrating Home Assistant with voice assistants like Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa.
What kinds of automations can I set up with state automation?
You can set up a variety of automations with state automation, such as turning off all lights in your house when nobody is home, or turning on your air conditioner when the temperature in your home reaches a certain level.
Do I need to know coding to use Home Assistant?
No, you don't need to know coding to use Home Assistant. The platform offers a user-friendly interface that allows you to create automations through a drag and drop system.
Can I integrate third-party services with Home Assistant?
Yes, Home Assistant offers integration with over 1400 third-party services, such as Philips Hue, Nest, and Sonos.
Can I monitor my energy usage with Home Assistant?
Yes, with the addition of a smart meter, you can monitor your energy usage with Home Assistant and create automations based on your energy consumption.
Is Home Assistant compatible with all smart devices?
Home Assistant is compatible with a vast range of smart devices, including lights, thermostats, locks, and cameras.
Is Home Assistant free to use?
Yes, Home Assistant is completely free to use, but you may need to purchase additional hardware to use certain features.