So, I want the following to happen, does anyone have any advice the best way to make the conditions in HA?
If it’s bright outside, close the blind and turn on the light If it’s dark outside, close the blind and turn on the light If it’s anywhere in between, keep the blind open - if it’s ‘dark enough’ turn on the light as well.
I haven’t bought any lux sensors yet. I do believe it’s a lux sensor I need. Can I make this automation with 1 (pointing outside and using that value to control both the light and blind) or would I need to have 2? (I assume, one pointing outside controlling the blind, the other in the room controlling the light?
You may get better results by using both indoor and outdoor lux sensors. Depending on the sun position, room layouts and window locations there can be a quite a difference in outdoor and indoor lux levels, which might interfere with your automations.
I use a combination of Aqara Zigbee motion sensors, which also have a lux sensor, a couple of dedicated lux sensors, and my outdoor security cameras which have a day and night sensor.
You can always try it with one and add more if you need more granularity. Every smart home is different.
In my experience, aqara motion/lux sensors are pretty binary. I have one in my greenhouse to help with my lighting, but the lux value goes from 0 to max when ANY amount of light hits it.
There is no way I can tell the difference between cloudy and sunny. I can’t tell the difference between 6am (sun just over the horizon, but still behind trees) and 12 noon.
I would love to be able to detect when the sun goes behind a tree and shades my garden, but that’s just not possible with the granularity of the data I’m getting.
My aqara lux sensor actually works
, but I use it to determine when it gets dark; not if it’s cloudy or not.