howto make sure rule is only executed when its dark outside

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I have the following rule to switch on a light randomly when I am not at home:

if it is after sunset and Oneplus Two is absent for min(24) hours
then after random(0, 120) minutes turn Fernsehlicht on for random(60, 180) minutes

The problem is, that this rule gets executed all over the day, not just after sunset.
I already changed the sequence of the conditions but that did not help. What am I doing wrong?

in this case you always should use variables to prevent false states.

for example:
Create a variable $dark and set it to 0

If/When it is [after sunset or before sunrise] and $dark is 0 Then set $dark to 1

“or” because at 00:00 the day starts new, it can not be after sunset and before sunrise at the same day

If/When it is after sunrise and before sunset and $dark is 1 Then set $dark to 0

If/When $dark is 1 and Oneplus Two is absent for min(24) hours
then after random(0, 120) minutes turn Fernsehlicht on for random(60, 180) minutes

please help:

cannot create the recommended rule set; what did I miss, please?

error [pimatic]: Could not parse rule “when it is [after sunset or before sunrise] and $dark is 0 then set $dark = 1”: Could not find an provider that decides next predicate of “it is [after sunset or before sunrise] and $dark is 0”.

thank you in advance.

you sure you have the sunset plugin installed?

@countjuh said in howto make sure rule is only executed when its dark outside:

you sure you have the sunset plugin installed?

eehm, isn’t this the actual one?!

ok

Well, you sure you made the new variable in variables? go to variables on the left of your screen. press the wheel in the right upper corner. press make new variable and make the $dark with value 0.

then make the rule. I have tried to make the rule and here it works.
hope this will help you.

@countjuh said in howto make sure rule is only executed when its dark outside:

ok

Well, you sure you made the new variable in variables? go to variables on the left of your screen. press the wheel in the right upper corner. press make new variable and make the $dark with value 0.

then make the rule. I have tried to make the rule and here it works.
hope this will help you.

$dark variable was already there, but didnt change when its day or night… seems the brackets in the rule are not working (anymore); so removed them and tried again…

@countjuh said in howto make sure rule is only executed when its dark outside:

ok

Well, you sure you made the new variable in variables? go to variables on the left of your screen. press the wheel in the right upper corner. press make new variable and make the $dark with value 0.

then make the rule. I have tried to make the rule and here it works.
hope this will help you.

Hi Countjuh,

I read the topic above and have the same question as @elektronaut and @Cybolord.
I created the variable and the rules. No errors here. But the variable isn’t changing from 0 to 1.
What am I doing wrong?

You need to use or, not and

@michael-rudek said in howto make sure rule is only executed when its dark outside:

You need to use or, not and

RTFM… Thanks for your help. Back to testing mode…

Another solution to the same problem using a dummy Presence sensor device which allows state to be displayed in the GUI without an additional variable device.
Subsequent rules can then be made on the if Daglicht is present/absent predicate

    {
      "autoReset": false,
      "id": "sensor-daglicht",
      "name": "Daglicht",
      "class": "DummyPresenceSensor"
    }

Then create rules based on the presence sensor device. No need to do or its before sunrise/sunset as the event only triggers once in 24 hours.

    {
      "id": "avondstand",
      "name": "Avondstand aan",
      "rule": "when it is sunset and if Daglicht is present then set presence of Daglicht absent",
      "active": true,
      "logging": true
    },
    {
      "id": "dagstand",
      "name": "Dagstand aan",
      "rule": "when it is sunrise and if Daglicht is absent then set presence of Daglicht present",
      "active": true,
      "logging": true
    }

Thank you!

@michael-rudek said in howto make sure rule is only executed when its dark outside:

You need to use or, not and

could you please explain the usage of “or” and not “and”? as far as i understand logical terms “and” is totally ok…

@quotschmacher
After sunset is this day, and before sunrise the next day.
It can´t happen on the same day. So you have to use or

thanks. i was “thinking in timestamps” which was obviously wrong.