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Automation based on brightness
(discuss.tchncs.de)
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Can't you just use time as an input? That's how I control the brightness of my lights
I considered this, but I want it based on outside brightness, as it affects glare in the room. I’d like the blind to be open if at all possible, i.e. when it’s duller outside.
You must live near the equator where it’s always sunny and the sun always sets at the same time. As one moves near the poles the light shifts significantly with time and weather. Northern US States for example there could be light in the sky at 11p in the summer, and indistinguishable from midnight at 4:30p in the winter. If you get a particularly cloudy day or a smokey day you may need to turn on the lights to compensate.
Time is doable, but it’s pretty simplistic in terms of a set and forget home automation system to actually light and shade based on conditions which OP is asking for.
I don't live near the equator. And yeah I don't use time I use the time when the sun sets and rises which works pretty good. But you're right on cloudy days I need to turn them on earlier by hand.
There is a US gov weather API that I believe tells the time for sunrise and sunset, so conceivably it could be done based on time that is adjusted based on the API call. Could also take into account weather conditions. I think a light sensor would help the best although I think two sensors would be ideal (one inside) because perceived brightness can be different even when illuminance is the same outside vs inside, but maybe not enough to matter in this case.