Ifttt

[paulockenden]

I was thinking I might write a bit about using Evohome with IFTTT in the PC Pro column I'm currently writing, as part of a follow-up to the review a months ago.

I've used it a bit here, and find it very useful in places, but also but also (sometimes) frustratingly limited. I wonder whether I could 'crowd source' some other opinions: Do you use it, what for, other people's recipes or your own, any top tips, etc... ????

Thanks a million,

Paul.

[electronicsuk]

Do you use it, what for, other people's recipes or your own, any top tips, etc... ????

Hi Paul. I do use it, but as you say yourself, it's extremely limited in its usefulness. The problem lies in the name, If This Then That. If one condition is true, run an action. Until such a time as IFTTT implement multiple conditions and some basic logic, that will always be a serious limitation. For the same reason, the library of user-generated recipes isn't all that useful, at least for evoHome, as there is so little you can actually do. It's just as quick to generate your own recipes from scratch.

Currently, I use evoHome and life 360 to turn on economy mode when everyone is out of the house. Unfortunately, evoHome doesn't have an option to revert to the last used quick action, so this setup comes with it's own annoyances. For example, my recipe sets economy when the last person leaves and clears the quick action when the first person arrives home. If I have intentionally set the custom quick action on the evoHome touchscreen, which I use for a summer mode, it will be cleared when I arrive home. Often, this isn't the behaviour I want, but the only way to stop it is to disable the IFTTT recipe.

At the moment, I am seriously considering running openHAB on a Pi and using it purely for evoHome automation. OpenHAB can then take care of the logic and interface to evoHome via IFTTT.

[Mavis]

I use it - mainly when son is on Day Shift as he starts much earlier than me. The recipe picks up the entry 'Day Shift' in my Google Calendar at the time I want the heating to come on. I have a separate recipe for each zone (kitchen and bathroom). The heating is then on for an hour.

<a href="https://ifttt.com/view_embed_recipe/270061-day-shift-override" target = "_blank" class="embed_recipe embed_recipe-l_18" id= "embed_recipe-270061"><img src= 'https://ifttt.com/recipe_embed_img/270061' alt="IFTTT Recipe: Day Shift Override connects google-calendar to honeywell-evohome" width="370px" style="max-width:100%"/></a><script async type="text/javascript" src= "//ifttt.com/assets/embed_recipe.js"></script>

In Spring and Autumn I have 2 geofencing recipes that are set on my Iphone - when I leave for work the heating goes onto economy and then switches back when I come in. I can't use it during the week in Winter as hubby would notice the heating had been turned down . They are called Out for the Day and Back Home.

Now my heating is back on I will probably have another play as there are more channels being added. I agree though that it is quite limited and laborious having to programme each zone.

[paulockenden]

Thanks for the replies. Do either of you mind if I quote bits of them in the column? I can either do it with or without attribution, depending on which you'd prefer.

It's really useful to be able to write about real-world experience, other than my own.

Ta,

P.

[Mavis]

Yes I am happy for you to quote me - and for my name in lights

[top brake]

I like the DO button and use it regularly for boosting hot water and activating/cancelling quick actionsDo custom qa.jpgDo disable.jpgDo hot water.jpg

[paulockenden]

Article now done and dusted. Thanks for the replies.

P.

[electronicsuk]

Hey Paul, any chance we can read the article?

[paulockenden]

It'll be in PC Pro magazine in around 6 weeks time.

P.

[paulockenden]

Issue should be in the shops today. Front cover looks like this:

prpro.jpg

P.