What is the best way to implement a time schedule?

[Harald1387]

I didn't see an option to make a time schedule. What is the best way to do that? Will there be an option für to configure that in the future?

[errellion]

You can use this blueprint to schedule - https://better-thermostat.org/schedule with various schedules from helpers in HA. However you can now choose between eco and heat temperature only, which basically works for most scenerios (eco - away from home, heat - when in home)

[Harald1387]

Thank you really much. It works perfect.

[andreamag00]

I'm testing the following configuration: in order to create a time schedule that you can always and easily change, directly in the UI (so that other members of your family can adjust it, disable it, etc, without yaml configuration), I use the scheduler card (https://github.com/nielsfaber/scheduler-card)

You have to install through hacs both scheduler component (https://github.com/nielsfaber/scheduler-component) and scheduler card (https://github.com/nielsfaber/scheduler-card)

In the image below you can see my configuration:

• better thermostat card for manual configuration
• scheduler card for scheduling (it simply changes the desired temperature in better thermostat at the time you set)

When I click on one of my schedules in scheduler card, I can adjust my schedule with the following nice UI

[daniushko]

Thanks for that. Tons better than using automation and Better Thermostat's services.

[ovizii]

I also use the same solution: scheduler + scheduler card

[JDaw1d]

do you use also presence mode like if anyone are at home set like 20° etc. ?

[andreamag00]

Hi!

I haven't configured a presence mode yet, since I'm configuring better thermostat in these days (I've installed better thermostat yesterday).

However it's something I'll do in the future and I can share with you some suggestions if you want. If you want to use scheduler component and configure a presence mode, I think I'll probably try the following configuration (but I haven't tried yet, it's just a hint):

1) CREATE A NEW SCHEDULE

After installing scheduler component and scheduler card > through the ui you can create a new scheduler card configuring a new schedule for temperature (without setting any condition in the scheduler card).
For example you can create a new schedule "heating living room" that repeats every day and sets

• between 0:00 and 8:00 climate (better thermostat entity) off
• between 8:00 and 20:00 climate (better thermostat entity) heating 20°C
• between 20:00 and 0:00 climate (better thermostat entity) off
  After creating that new schedule
  In devices > scheduler you should now have a new entity called for example switch.schedule_heating_living_room

2) CREATE A NEW AUTOMATION - NO PRESENCE

Then you can create a new home assistant automation, that could do something like that:
Trigger
When everybody leaves the house
Condition
If the schedule living room is on (so that the automation runs only if your schedule is running)
Action
• Switch off schedule "heating living room"
• Set climate (better thermostat) to off or to a lower temperature
(I think you need both the actions, since you need

• both to turn off the heating
• and to switch off the schedule)

3) CREATE A NEW AUTOMATION - PRESENCE
Trigger
When there is at least one person in the house
Condition
If it's winter (you can set some condition that stops the automation in those months of the year when heating is off)
Action
• Switch on schedule "heating living room"
(I think in this case it's enough a single action, since the scheduler will automatically set climate to the scheduled temperature in that period of time)

SUGGESTION

If you want to use scheduler component (https://github.com/nielsfaber/scheduler-component) and scheduler card (https://github.com/nielsfaber/scheduler-card), you'll see that you can set conditions directly in the scheduler card.
Since I use scheduler card for other automations (different from better thermostat), I suggest you not to set presence as a condition in scheduler card, since

• conditions in scheduler card don't work continuously,
• they interrupt the actions only at the times set in the scheduler card (if in the scheduler you set climate to 20° at 15:00, unless nobody is at home [condition] -> at 15:00 the scheduler will set climate to 20°, but if nobody is at home [condition] the scheduler won't do anything and climate remains at the previous state).

Hope it can help! (Sorry for my English)

[JDaw1d]

Hi andreamag00,

thank you very much for the very very detailed answer, in these times it is very rare.

Your plan sounds very well thought out and will look at it more closely and see how it works.

I would suggest times, can publish our results here also so that others also have what of it ?

(Sorry for my English, yours are very good)

[andreamag00]

Thank you very much for your kind appreciation.

I won’t create that automation in these days since I have a lot of work to do in the following weeks: I’ve just received my new home assistant yellow and I’ve decided to configure everything from 0! I’m just trying to use better thermostat in my old home assistant configuration and testing some other things before starting the new configuration from 0!

If you want you can tag me in this post after one month or so, and I’ll be happy to tell you how I will have configured my better thermostat schedule and my automations!

Have a nice day!!

[N3RO365]

@andreamag00

Hi.
That's exactly what I'm looking for. I have also tested it.
Unfortunately, I still have a problem. I want a temperature of 15 degrees when switching off. Now it is so that BT sets the temperature to 5 degrees.

Is there any way to use presets? For example, an away temperature that you could then set in the shedule?

Or should I just set to heat and 15 degrees?

I have seen this here: https://github.com/dadge/awesome_thermostat

Using such presets in better thermostat would be just awesome.

[ovizii]

Why would you switch it off (anyway, what would you like to switch off?) I suggest creating a second schedule with a different temp. i.e. 15 degrees then you could make a switch and switch between the 2 schedules with different temps?

[N3RO365]

No I do not want to turn off the thermostat. I have only 2 presets with the thermostat, heat or off.

Instead of off I would like to set the temperature of 15 degrees.

[wtom]

Then just put heat and 15 degrees? What's the problem with that?

[N3RO365]

Yes, that was already my consideration. I was just not sure if that is ok or if it is better to find another way. Like for example with the presets.

Thank you.