Automation Examples

Automation Examples

Create powerful automations with Everything Presence Lite in Home Assistant.

Prerequisites

  • EPL added to Home Assistant and entities available (see Home Assistant Entities)

  • At least one light or scene controllable in Home Assistant

  • (Optional) Zones configured for zone-based automations

Automation Basics

  • Trigger: when something happens (e.g., Occupancy turns on)

  • Condition (optional): only at certain times or if a device is off

  • Action: what to do (e.g., turn on a light)

Example 1: Turn on a light when room is occupied

The simplest automation—lights on when someone enters.

  1. Go to Settings → Automations & Scenes → Create Automation

  2. Click Add Trigger → State

  3. Select your EPL Occupancy entity

  4. Set To: on

  5. (Optional) Add a Condition → Sun → After sunset

  6. Click Add Action → Device → Select your light → Turn on

  7. Save the automation

Example 2: Turn off the light when room is clear

  1. Create a new automation

  2. Trigger: State → EPL Occupancy → To: off → For: 2 minutes

  3. (Optional) Condition: State → Your light → is on

  4. Action: Turn off the same light

The EPL has an Occupancy Off Delay setting (default 15 seconds). Combined with the automation's "For" duration, this prevents false-offs when people are sitting still.

Example 3: Zone-based lighting

Trigger different lights based on which zone is occupied. This is where the EPL really shines!

Automation A - Desk zone:

  1. Trigger: State → Zone 1 Occupancy → To: on

  2. Action: Turn on desk lamp

Automation B - Couch zone:

  1. Trigger: State → Zone 2 Occupancy → To: on

  2. Action: Dim living room lights to 30%

Set up zones first using the Zone Configurator before creating zone-based automations.

Example 4: All zones clear = room empty

Only turn off lights when ALL zones are empty:

  1. Trigger: State → EPL Occupancy → To: off → For: 1 minute

  2. Conditions (all must be true):

    • State → Zone 1 Occupancy → is off

    • State → Zone 2 Occupancy → is off

  3. Action: Turn off all room lights

This ensures lights stay on if someone moves between zones.

Example 5: Entry notification

Get notified when someone enters a specific area (useful for doorways or security):

  1. Trigger: State → Zone 1 Occupancy → To: on (configure Zone 1 as your entry area)

  2. Condition: Time → After 11:00 PM, Before 6:00 AM

  3. Action: Send notification to your phone

Example 6: Target count-based actions

The EPL can count how many people are in a zone:

Turn on extra lights when multiple people present:

  1. Trigger: Numeric state → Zone 1 Target Count → Above: 1

  2. Action: Turn on additional lights

Trigger alarm if too many people detected:

  1. Trigger: Numeric state → EPL Target Count → Above: 3

  2. Action: Send alert notification

Example 7: Distance-based dimming (Advanced)

Use target distance to control brightness:

  1. Trigger: State → Target 1 Active → To: on

  2. Action: Call service → light.turn_on

    • Target: Your light

    • Brightness: Template: {{ 255 - (states('sensor.epl_target_1_distance') | float * 40) | int }}

This dims the light as you move further from the sensor.

Verify Your Automation

  • Walk into the room/zone and watch the automation run

  • Check Settings → Automations → [Your Automation] → Traces if it didn't fire

  • Open the Zone Configurator to see exactly where targets are detected

Troubleshooting

Symptom

Likely Cause

Fix

Automation never triggers

Wrong entity or state

Verify entity name in Developer Tools → States

Zone automation doesn't fire

Zone not enabled

Enable zone entities in device settings

Lights turn off too quickly

Off delay too short

Increase Occupancy Off Delay in EPL settings

Multiple zones trigger at once

Zones overlap

Adjust zone boundaries in Zone Configurator

Next Steps