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.
…I have read so much information on HomeKit and your app, so I am not sure anymore if the following rule actually can be implemented (especially if the “app” is not online, e.g. in flight mode):
“Upon sunset, switch on Lamp x and switch it off after y hours (or at a specified time)”
Hi Wolfgang,
rules and timers are set on your device and don’t synchronize with your other iOS devices. Timers for example trigger a scene on the iPhone. If it is in reach of your devices, e.g. at home, the scene gets activated. All communication is end-to-end encrypted between your iPhone and the HomeKit device(s) – there is no cloud service in between.
When on the road you need to have an Apple TV 3 or 4 installed at home with the same Apple-ID you are using on your iPhone. On the road the iPhone uses the internet connection and iCloud to connect via the Apple TV at home to your devices – again end-to-end encrypted.
Triggers and rules do not live on the devices or the Apple TV – they live on your iPhone or iPad only. So the iPhone has to be online, no flight mode enabled. This is all HomeKit defined, not restricted by our app or devices.
Regarding your example: A Timer can only trigger at an exact time, not at a day event like sunset. What you could do is set two timers: One to trigger the example scene “Lights on” at 10pm and another timer to trigger the scene “Lights off” at 11:30pm.
Using sunset and sunrise is a feature of time condition. Conditions restrict rules (as an option) and when met trigger a scene. Please find some examples here: https://blog.evehome.com/examples-conditions-for-rules/
Having installed timers in my iPad, and after having read this post, I am questioning the usefulness of Eve/HomeKit (under the current version of iOS 9.3.5).
H Volker
I just learned that we need 5 timers to create a work/weekend rhythm.
Having just returned to Switzerland from the UK, with my iPad still in the respective time zone setting, I noticed that the lights were switched on one hour too early… What to do if am in the US or Asia? Incredibly, designed in a country of several time zones, with early adopters certainly being mobile across time zones?
Let’s hope that iOS 10 addresses these shortcomings.
Hi Wolfgang,
you are right, as of today you need to set up 5 timers to create a workday/weekend rhythm. Only Apple can change that, developer like Elgato would really welcome it!
On timezones: If you added your HomeKit devices later that Eve 1.5 once a device is added the local timezone is set to your home, so timers will fire the time you set it.
iOS 10 will be a game changer here if you are using an Apple TV 4 with tvOS 10 (will be available tonight). Once you set a timer on your iPhone it is synced with your Apple TV 4 and will be executed from the Apple TV 4 while you are away locally. Your timezone will be maintained.
iOS 10 will be a big step forward. Best regards, volker
Is there a way to set the timer only on week days? On weekends I’m home and don’t want the same schedule for my lights to turn on and off.
Hi Al! As of today HomeKit does not allow timers by weekday, this may change in the future. What you can do: Set a repeating timer starting next Monday, set it to every 7 days. Then set another starting on Tuesday…
I know, this not the easiest way, setting 5 timers, but we are limited to what HomeKit allows. Best regards, volker
yes there is you need the app for idevice and set your timer there you can chose any day or all days weekdays and or weekend.
Hi Ivan, nope, HomeKit as of today does not allow setting timers using weekday/weekend – no app. Best regards, volker
“..the iPhone has to be online, no flight mode enabled”.
So when I am offline in an airplane, or long tunnel my timers will not fire ?
So a solution could be to have a dummy iPhone in house running Homekit to let the timers always work ?
And have my real iPhone for remote control anywhere else ?
[I have 4 Hue lamps + 3 Elgato eve switches]
Hi Marcel, as of iOS 9.3.x you are correct. iOS 10 will be a game changer. Either an Apple TV 4 or an iPad with iOS 10 and Home-Hub enabled will sync your timers and value triggers with your “real” iPhone. So the timers and triggers will fire even if your iPhone is offline. And yes, using an Apple TV 4 or iPad in Home-Hub mode at home will allow your “real” iPhone to connect remotely. Best regards, volker
I’m looking for a way to trigger a notification if a front door is left open for more than a defined period (say 2 minutes). I’m unclear whether HomeKit and/or the Eve app would support this functionality – I assumed “timer” functionality would do the job but it sounds like they relate to time of day, rather than elapsed time.
Hi Richard! Unfortunately HomeKit does not (yet) support the automation you are looking for. Because of that Eve can’t either. Apple is improving HomeKit, so let’s hope. Best regards, volker
How does it work with different time zones? For instance my home is in New Jersey, but I will be in California. I have set automation to start let’s say 8:00 PM. How can I keep it in New Jersey time not in California time when I am traveling (my iPhone will switch automatically to time zone I am traveling at)?
Hi Kris! The timezone for a home is set when you add an accessory to your home. All the timers and rules are executed in the home’s timezone. Eve remembers the Home timezone. Also new timers will be created with the Home timezone.
There are one HomeKit bug however: time conditions in rules are not executed in the home’s timezone but in the current iOS device timezone. We have noticed Apple of the bug.
Hello, is there a way to set a rule to automatically turn off an Elgato eve Energy after X hours? I often times forget to turn off my coffee maker… Belkin WeMo has that feature.
Thanks
Hi Franz! Unfortunately HomeKit does not allow this as of today. Best regards, volker
Volker,
I have a suggestion for an added function. This suggestion would be for the Switch but may be useful for others also.
I have a Schlage Door Lock for Homekit and one additional feature with the Lock is auto lock. If set then after the set period of time the door will lock itself after being unlocked. This has to be set up in the Schlage app. Cannot set this part in the Home or other Homekit apps.
I would like to suggest adding this function to the Switch. It would of course have to be setup using the Eve app. I would guess this would be similar to using the Clear in the Eve Motion Sensor to turn a device off. It could have several user selected settings for the delay time to turn back off. I would suggest a minimum of 1 minute and then several other time periods. Maybe even user customizable.
I am using the Switch to turn on my front porch light based on a Geofence and between Sunset and Sunrise. i.e.: I arrive home and having entered the geofenced area the porch light turns on. Then I could have it turn off automatically 5 minutes later. My Schlage lock is set for 2 minutes and it works great.
Hopefully you guys can look into adding this feature
Thanks for all you do
Hi Jody! I Have forwarded your post to our team. Only problem that might be a problem. HomeKit does not yet support timeframes like “after 5 minutes” and we can’t do anything about that. I’ll check and let you know. Best regards, volker
Hi, one thing that would be of a benefit to me is if the eve energy could be able to send notifications like the door and window sensor. My use case is when my garage dehydrator stops consume energy (0kw, still turned on), then I would know when to empty the water bin when it’s full.
Hi Patrik! We would love to see HomeKit nitifications for Eve Energy but we’d have to wait for Apple to implement this. Best regards, volker
Hi Volker, I have set up the Eve motion sensor to trigger a night light if there is motion in my living room after midnight. This fires reliably. The problem is that I want it to switch the light off again if there is no motion for 2 minutes. The motions sensor is set up with sensitivity = high and duration = 2 minutes. I have set up another rule that states that if after midnight the motion sensor reads “clear”, it should fire the scene “Good Night” (which effectively turns off all lights). Sadly, when I come down to my living room every morning, the light is on, so the “off” rule is not working for some reason. The whole setup is using an AppleTV as a Home Hub. Any ideas?
Hi Ben! Setup the rule to switch off the lights without the condition “after midnight”, this should work. It will the always shut off the lights after 2 minutes of no motion. Best regards, volker
Hi Volker, thanks for your response. Wouldn’t that solution turn the lights off any time i am sitting still in my living room?
Hi Ben! You are right. Can’t you set up two time conditions for the timeframe. Keep in mind: for HomeKit a day starts at 00:001 and ands after 24 hours. Best regards, volker
How do I automate Elgato Eve motion sensor in the Apple Home app?
I want the sensors to notify motion when I leave the geofence area around my home. When I return, I want notifications to end.
This is the poor man’s burglar alarm. Getting a notification that there is movement in my home, I will call the cops!
I have too many doors and windows (yet, it is a small cottage!) so, the door sensors really were not an affordable option when added up. Plus, the old molding around the doors does not allow a sensor to stick or fit. The motion sensors cover it all.
Hi J! You have to use the app Eve. But: There is no way in HomeKit to define “notice me of motion only when I am not at home”. Best regards, volker
Hi,
Can I set a countdown timer on my Eve Energy Plug, i.e. turn off after one hour?
Thanks!
Hi Raykal! Unfortunately HomeKit does not support counters (yet). So you can’t, sorry. Best regards, volker
If I set a schedule, for example to switch on Energy at 5am and switch off at 11pm, does Energy plug have to be in hub range to follow the schedule?
Hi Hussain! If you set a timer that activates a scene, turning on Eve Energy at 5 am and another timer that turns it off, Eve Energy has to be in range of your Apple TV 4 or iPad with iOS 10 in Home Hub mode – or your iOS device (iPhone) has to be in range. Best, volker
Hi.
I am a new customer. I would like to use my Eve Energy (the wall plug) to monitor a medical device while I sleep. I would like to be woken up with an alarm if for any reason the power usage goes beneath a given threshold (like 10W). For practical reasons I would like to activate this before going to bed, so a grace period would be nice. I.e. “When activating rule, wait 1 hour and then sound alarm if power usage is below 10W”. Can this be done?
Also I would like to disable the switch so I do not accidentally turn it off.
Hi Thorbjørn! Unfortunately this will not work as of today. The upcoming iOS 11 will allow a bit more but I’m not sure if all the features you need are met. Disabling the switch so you don’t accidentially turn it off is not possible. Best regards, volker
Hi Volker,
I have 4 Eve switches. iOS 11 beta 6. Apple TV 4, iOS 10
Any advances with Homekit?
Desperately it is not posible to set up Timers. If I switch off the iPad, there is no way the timers work.
“rules and timers are set on your device and don’t synchronize with your other iOS devices” and “Triggers and rules do not live on the devices or the Apple TV – they live on your iPhone or iPad only”
Any progress ?
Thanks.
Hi Juan! This already changed with iOS 10 and will be further improved with iOS 11. You create timers and rules with Eve or Apples Home app on your iOS device. When using an Apple TV 4 they are synchronized and live on the Apple TV 4 as well. Best regards, volker
Hi wasent timers added in ios 11 ?
I cant find it in the app, i want to turn off eve energy after x minutes.
Hi Jon! Please look for the app Home from Apple on your iPhone running iOS 11 and make sure to have an Apple TV 4 or iPad running iOS 11 in Home Hub mode as a Home Hub. Best regards, volker
Hello Volker, I need to set an on and off repeating every day of the week. Is this possible ? The heating of the building where my apartment is located is scheduled to run every day from 6:30 am to 22:00. How should I setup my eve in order to accomplish this task ?
Thank you, best regards, Roberto
Hi Roberto! I would set up a schedule in Eve to accomplish this and let the schedule run every day. Another way to accomplish it would be to set schedules to Off and use Automation/rules for setting the temperature. Best regards, volker
I set up two different scenes Turn Heating On and Turn Heating Off. Then I set up several timers according to when I decided to have the heating on, and they repeat daily. Fine so far. But what if I am leaving the house for the weekend and I need to turn Heating Off for a couple of days. How can I accomplish that properly ?
Thanks for the support, best regards.
Roberto
Hi Roberto! Eve does offer the option Vacation Mode. We recommend using it once you plan to leave home. Best regards, volker
Hi Volker
I have Eve door, weather, motion , and energy , I need the light switch, but I live in Chile and here use 220 volt , have you planned to create the version of 220 volt?
Regards
Christian
Hi Christian! Sorry, but I can’t make any comments on future developments. I’d love to have one here in Germany, we’re using 220 Vol as well. Best regards, volker
Hi Volker,
{lease tell me the steps for Eve Energy On and OFF at certain Time schedule.
Hey Karan! Could you please explain what you want to do? Best regards, volker
Hello,
does the app allow simple timer such as “turn on now for 90 min”?
Greg.
Hi Greg! Please use the app Home from Apple to do that. Best regards, volker
I have the eve app and apple home
Kit. How I do create a simple timer to turn lights on and off- similar to
a vacation mode. I have the smart plug and no hub
Hi AJ! To use rules and automation you do need a home hub, no way out. Best regards, volker