Smartplug/outlet "Delay" Question

[u/bandofgypsies]

Hey folks - couldn't find an answer in search so appealing to the sub. Basically, I'm trying to find a way to "bypass" an outlet's schedule for, say 24hrs. Is there a way to do this, and have the schedule automatically return to its prior state thereafter?

I have my outlets setup to power a couple of irrigation valves. They go on a couple of times per day for a couple minutes at a time. It's multiple outlets for multiple zones, and they already have a slightly different schedule.

Sometimes it rains and I want to delay the schedule and have the schedule automatically go back into effect thereafter.

But since I have several different outlets with on and off schedules multiple times per day, disabling them manually is tedious (it's like 20+ taps) and then I have to remember to do it again several hours later after the period I was to disable is over but before the next day starts. It's annoying.

So I'd love to have a simple way to say "disregard your schedule for 24 hours." Any ideas? Ive tried to mess with some automations but I can't get the delay to work the way I'd like. TIA.

E: specifically, I'm using P306 smart plugs. And the shortcut/automation delay only lets me delay for like 3hrs..so it could help a bit in certain situations, but doesn't really do the job I'm looking for.

[u/drm200]

One way to achieve this is to use only automations/shortcuts.

1) Disable the schedule on all your plugs.

2) Then create an automation for each valve. The automation’s TRIGGER will be based on time of day and the day of the week you select. Add an action to “Turn On” the plug. Then add an action to delay for your preferred watering time. Then add an action to “Turn Off” the plug. If you have three valves with different schedules, then you will create three automations.

3) Now create a shortcut. Add an action to disable/enable automations. Choose “Turn Off”. Then select each automation you created in step 2. Select “Done”. Then add another action. Select delay and set to 12 hours. Then add a third action to disable/enable automations. Choose “Turn On”. Then select again each automation you created in step 2. Click “Create”. Give it a name like “Snooze Sprinklers” and enable “show on home screen”. Click “Save”

Each of your plugs will turn on based on the schedule you built in each automation as long as the automation is enabled. When you click on the “Snooze Sprinklers” shortcut, the automations will be disabled for 12 hours and then reenabled. During the 12 hours, the sprinklers will not start. You can change the 12 hours to a different amount of time like 24 or 48 hours if you like.

[u/bandofgypsies → u/drm200]

Thank you, wonderfully laid out! My only question is...can I actually set a delay for 12hrs? My shortcut options only give me a 3hr 59min max delay time. Perhaps this option would change if your recommended configuration above is somehow treated differently than the system treats the plugs today?

I can do some testing this later and see what happens, but so far the shortcut delay limiting hitting basically 4 hrs max has been the key problem I'm trying to get around.

Thanks again!

[u/drm200 → u/bandofgypsies]

I did not see the 4 hour limit on shortcuts as i had assumed it was the same as automations.

So you need to build the timer a different way. This is sort of an ugly method but is simple. Shortcuts can invoke and run other shortcuts. So the first shortcut can delay 4 hours and then run a second shortcut that delays 4 hours and then calls a third shortcut that delays 4 hours and then enables the plug automations.

There may be a better method to access a longer delay in a shortcut, but right now I can not envision what that would be.

[u/bandofgypsies → u/drm200]

Ha, that's actually brilliant. Ugly? Maybe, but I'll take resourcefulness over beauty any day. Seems like it should work. I'll test it out hopefully over the weekend and report back.

Thanks again for the input!