Beginning with version 1.5, Eve supports all HomeKit-based triggers (location, value, time) and conditions. The simplest type of automation with HomeKit involves timers. At a user-defined day and time, the timer triggers a prebuilt scene, such as turning on the kitchen lights via Eve Energy. Timers can be set to fire up once or on repeating basis, e.g., every day at 7 a.m. This post explains how to use timers.
Simple Timers
The simplest version of a trigger involves triggering (activating) a pre-defined scene at a certain time on a specific day. To create a timer, simply navigate to the “Scenes” tab and choose “Timers” at the top. Select “Once” and set the date and time. Next, choose the pre-defined scene that should be triggered and set a name for the timer.
Repeating Timers
In addition to simple timers, HomeKit also supports repeating timers, which are also found in Eve’s timer settings. The first step in creating repeating timers is the same as that for simple timers: set the date and time when the timer is supposed to start for the first time. Select “Repeat” and then choose the repeat time for the timer, such as “daily” or “every 30 minutes.”
An important note about repeating timers: You can only select repeating intervals that match the range of frequency repetitions HomeKit offers. The minimum interval is 5 minutes, and the maximum is 5 weeks. You cannot specify a duration, i.e., a date range for when the timer is valid and should be executed.
Fixed Time and No Conditions
If you have ever used rules with value or time conditions, you might have been using time conditions. They are completely different from timers, so don’t get them mixed up. While timers always trigger a scene at a certain time, time conditions restrict a rule based on a location or value trigger and offer different options. For example, you can trigger a scene if you arrive home (location trigger) later than 8 p.m. or after sunset (time condition). Timers aren’t based on daily events, such as sunrise or sunset, or settings such as before or after an exact time.
Timer Requirements
As timers are part of HomeKit Automation, you need a device at home to reliably set your preferred scene at the time you have chosen. This can be either an Apple TV 4 with tvOS 10 or later, or an iPad with iOS 10 or later set up as a home hub. If you want to learn more about how this works, check out Apple’s detailed overview. If you don’t have a home hub, timers set up through the Eve app will only work when the iPhone or iPad you have used to set them up is nearby.
Hi Volker.
Does Eve energy have to be within bluetooth range of Apple TV for the timers to work?
Thanks
Hi Paulo! Yes, they have to. Best regards, volker
Hi, can I set a timer even though I don’t have a home hub? Thank you in advance!
Hi Luca! You may set a timer in Eve but it will only work if you are around the accessor. Best regards, volker
Hi Volker I need help I need an option for the switch to be On only for 20 Sec.
How can I do that?
Hi Alex! Minimum in HomeKit is one minute, with the help of the app Home. Best regards, volker
How can I schedule a timer based on a parameter.
For example, can I schedule my eve aqua to water the garden at sunrise based on eve degree detecting some user definable threshold for RH during the preceding 24 hours.
I appreciate that Apple need to support the functionality before you can.
Hi Phil! Unfortunately HomeKit will not allow this. You may run a timer basd on the trigger “at sunrise” with a condition like “temp >= XY degrees”, but not based on a preceding period, sorry. Best regards, volker
Hi Volker, many thanks for your response.
I’m sure Apple will support this in the future, in their own time! Do you ever submit a radar for enhancements to HomeKit?
However, might I suggest that Elgato could do something which would work around the problem.
For example, if Elgato would provide min/max value for RH, Temp etc over the last 24 hours, the trigger could check this variable at the appropriate time rather than the current value. This is important in that the optimum time to water plants is not necessarily when the RH/Temp value is exceeded, but when watering would have maximum effect, ie at sunrise/sunset.
Hi Phil! We do frequently radars for enhancements of cause. The problem with enhancing the functionality of Eve is for Eve Systems, it has to be inside the HomeKit functionality. We can’t set anything outside, sorry. Best, volker
Hi Volker, thanks so much for all your support on the blog! It is very helpful 🙂
I am in Australia and have recently bought a Apple TV 4 and 2x Eve Energy Smart Plugs and use them for my Aquarium to power the light and air devices I have. I currently have 4 separate timers set up that run 2 different Scenes (‘Aquarium On’ & ‘Aquarium Off’). This lets me run my air and light for a few hours in the morning then turn off and turn back on again when I get home from work for the night, then goes off around my bedtime.
Can I automate this into one command/rule/timer somehow? This would be more efficient and clear the list of timers.
Aso, is the EVE Energy Strip coming soon to Australia? That would be Amazing!!! Thanks!
Hi Liam! Thanks lot for your kind words! When setting timers for Eve Energy, are you using the app Eve to do so and use the schedules? These timers run independent from the home hub or you travelling.You could set a on/off timer (schedule) in one step. I would recommend doing so. Best, volker
Hi Volker. I have had an Eve Energy switch for a couple of years now to switch a mosquito mat on and off, based on a timer, on at midnight and off at 6am. It has worked really well.
I got a new iPhone the other day and realised that no settings had carried over to the new phone, so I went to setup the same timers again. If I go into the ‘timers’ tab on the new phone app, it says that a Home Hub is needed, whereas on the older phone (presumably older app?) this was not the case.
Has this changed, or am I missing something here?
Can the previous settings be migrated to the new phone?
Thanks
Hello Clive! Apple/HomeKit has changed that. For Homekit based timers a home hub (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207057) is needed. We recommend using an Apple TV 4/4K or HomePod.
If you are using a very old Eve Energy, you might no see the following option. Open Eve Energy in it’s room in Eve. Do you see the option Schedule? If so, just use the schedule, will work like a charm without a home hub. If not, you need a home hub for any automation, sorry. Best regards, volker
Hi Volker and thanks for the reply. Unfortunate that this choice has been made, as when I purchased the switch, it clearly stated on the box that no HomeKit was needed for a straight timing operation.
When I setup my new Iphone, it all changed, having worked well for two years – the new phone obviously downloaded the latest version of Eve, which is where it all changed. I really appreciate the answer, though, as I can stop thinking that I was doing something wrong.
Is it possible to install the older version onto the new phone?
Hello Clive! Apple changed this for HomeKit so did we. Even the legacy version won’t allow, sorry. Best regards, volker