How to Automate Your Products
Automations allow multiple products to activate (or complete a pre-determined action) based on certain conditions being met, such as local weather conditions, user-defined schedules or activity detected by a sensor. An automation can be set up to be triggered by one or multiple conditions being met, such as having the outside lights turn on for three minutes if a sensor detects motion, but only if that motion is detected after a certain time. This makes automations a flexible and versatile tool in personalising your smart home system.
Not sure how you would use an automation? Here are some ideas:
- If a motion sensor detects motion, the outside lights turn on for a set time period.
- If a certain temperature is reached, the air-con unit and ceiling fans turn on.
- If it’s sunset, the outdoor lights turn on, and then turn off at 11pm.
- If the front door opens, the hallway lights turn on.
How to Create an Automation
1. Tap the settings icon () and then tap the + icon.
2. Select the conditions that will trigger the automation.
| When the weather changes | External Temperature Humidity Weather Conditions Sunrise or Sunset Windspeed |
| Schedule | Specific Time Day(s) of the Week |
| When a device’s status changes | When a certain product is triggered (e.g. a motion sensor) |
3. Select the actions that will occur once the automation is triggered.
| Activate a Device |
What a product will do when the automation is triggered. you can add any number of actions from any number of products. |
| Run an Automation |
Trigger another automation you have already created. |
| Send a Notification |
A notification will be sent to you when a condition is met (useful when you aren’t at home). |
| Delay an Action | Creates a delay on a product action. |
You can add more product actions by selecting the + icon beside ‘task’ and repeating the steps above. You can do this for as many products and actions as you’d like, or if you would like to add a delay, simply tap ‘delay an action’. Note: the order product actions will occur is based upon the order they appear in the task list.
To delete any actions, swipe left on the action you would like to remove then tap ‘delete’.
To reorder product actions, swipe left on any action and select ‘more’. Press and hold to re-order any product actions, then tap ‘done’.
You can adjust the name of the scene and effective period at any time.
Tap ‘save’ at the bottom of the screen when you have finished creating or editing your automation. Your new or edited automation will now appear in the automation list.
Edit an Automation
Tap on the 3 dots next to the name of the automation. You can make edits at any time, and the changes will be applied instantly. To return to the dashboard, tap the settings icon.
Delete an Automation
To delete an automation, open the automation edit page, then scroll down and select ‘delete’.
Disable or Enable an Automation
If you want to disable an automation without deleting it, tap the name of the automation and choose ‘disable’. You can enable the automation again by choosing ‘enable’. The is a useful option when you want an automation to occur at certain times, but don’t want to recreate it (for example, an automation that you only want enabled when you are on holiday).
If you want to trigger a selection of products at your own discretion, see How to Create a Scene.
Have a look through our other posts for more ideas on using automations:
- Sensors: Use motion, contact or temperature to trigger an automation
- Sunrise or sunset: Use sunrise or sunset in your local area to trigger an automation
- Camera alerts: Use motion detected by a camera to trigger an automation