Simple program: switch on after sunset, switch off at 2 am

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I want to control an outdoor light on VMB4RYLD with a simple program:

  1. Switch on 30 min after after sunset
  2. Switch off at 2 am

I assigned an On and Off actions to invisible buttons on GPOD, set up 2 programs to switch it on and off at required times.

Is this the right way do to it?

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Yes. The only caveat is that programs like these can fail to work in unexpected ways if a variable step (sunset/sunrise with or without offset) and the specific time step change in order at a certain time of year.

More generally I would recommend to stick to the exact same time base for all related actions, but in your case it is hard to imagine a sunset+30min ever being past 2am, except maybe past those certain latitudes where sun never rises for half a year :slightly_smiling_face:

(You could also use a timer for, say, 6 hours instead of an On action as a safeguard in case the off action does not fire for any reason.)

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Thanks! By “timer” you mean switching on the light for i.e. 4h ? That sounds better that on-off.

Edit: I think the fixed run time might require adjustments between summer and winter. Winter time I probably need 6-7h, summer 3h. I might stay with the current setup. The lamp is 2W so even if it stays on for the next year it won’t make any difference :innocent:

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Yes, the right way to go.

I do something similar. For the morning: I manually switch on the indoor light if necessary. Switching off happens when a PIR sees enough light. For the evening or with dark cloudy days: when the PIR sees too little light, indoor orientation lighting is switched ON. When 2AM, everything OFF. Works like a charm for 10 years now.

And yes indeed, I had an issue with a secondary program where full illumination was automatically switched on for our hygenic assistant when she started Friday 8:15 AM and would be switched off when PIR sees enough light. Come summer time and the lights would no longer switch off. I fixed that by blocking the hidden button for 4 hours on the GPOD after the PIR sees enough light.

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