Configuration Wizard

The integration’s settings are managed via a multi-step wizard. To invoke the configuration wizard:

  1. Go to Settings → Devices & Services.
  2. Find Smart Cover Automation.
  3. Click the gear icon to open the configuration wizard.

Notes

  • The configuration wizard can be canceled at any time. When you do that, no changes are made to the configuration.
  • The configuration wizard can be invoked as often as needed to inspect the configuration or make changes to it.

Step 1: Weather Forecast Sensor and Covers to Automate

Weather Forecast Sensor

The integration needs to determine:

  • Is the weather hot enough to require sun protection?
  • Is the sun currently shining?

This is done with the help of a weather forecast sensor. Home Assistant provides various weather integrations that should work well. See this official list of weather integrations and this community guide to weather integrations for help choosing one.

I’ve tested the following weather integrations successfully:

To determine if the weather is hot enough to require sun protection, the integration needs today’s maximum temperature. Unfortunately, some weather forecast services only provide the maximum temperature for the remaining hours of the day. To compensate, this integration switches to the next day’s temperature reading starting at 16:00 (afternoon).

The maximum temperature received from the weather forecast service is compared with the heat threshold (see below). If the forecast temperature is above the threshold, the integration considers the weather to be hot.

The integration considers the following current weather conditions as the sun is shining (as reported by the weather forecast service):

  • sunny
  • partlycloudy

Covers

Select the covers the integration should automate.

Step 2: Cover Azimuth

In this step of the configuration wizard, specify each cover’s azimuth, aka the direction, as an angle from north. This is necessary so that the integration can calculate when the sun is shining on a window.

There are several online tools available to measure azimuth. OpenStreetMap Compass works well, as does SunCalc. This website has instructions for both.

Step 3: Per-Cover Max/Min Positions (Optional)

In this step of the configuration wizard, you can specify maximum and minimum positions per cover. If configured, these per-cover settings override the global max/min positions which can be configured in the previous step.

Step 4: Tilt Angle Control (Optional)

New in version 1.3

In this step of the configuration wizard, you can specify how the title angle of covers with adjustable slats is to be controlled. The following options are available:

  • Auto: Block direct sunlight but allow seeing through as much as possible.
    • Note that this mode takes cloudy conditions and the sun’s position into account.
    • Only direct sunlight is blocked.
    • If the sun is not shining on a window, the slats are kept in open mode to allow indirect light through.
  • Manual: Don’t change the user’s manual setting.
  • Open: Keep the slats fully open.
  • Closed: Keep the slats fully closed.
  • Set value: Keep the slats at a fixed angle.

Global Tilt Modes for Day and Night

The above tilt modes are available in two variants: one applies to operations during the day, the other to the evening closure position.

Per-Cover Overrides

The global tilt modes can be overridden per cover.

Step 5: Window Sensors for Lockout Protection (Optional)

In this step of the configuration wizard, you can enable lockout protection by configuring window sensors for each cover. If any window sensor associated with a cover reports that the window is open, the cover won’t be closed. This is especially useful for patio or terrace doors with a cover that would block you from re-entering the building if closed.

Step 6: Time Settings (Optional)

In this step of the configuration wizard, the following settings can be configured:

Blocked Time Range

Blocked time range allows you to disable the automation in a certain time range, e.g., when you sleep.

Blocked time range settings:

  • Disable automation in time range: Enable or disable the blocked time range function.
  • Disable from: Start time of the time period in which the automation should be inactive.
  • Disable until: End time of the time period in which the automation should be inactive.

Evening Closure

Evening closure allows you to automatically close all or a subset of the previously selected covers in the evening, either at a fixed time or with a certain delay after sunset.

Note: The evening closure function is active in a 10 minute time window that starts at the configured point in time. If the integration is not running during that time window, the covers will not be closed.

Evening closure settings:

  • Disable cover opening after evening closure: Prevents auto-reopening after the evening closure time.
  • Close covers in the evening: Enable or disable the evening closure function.
  • Mode: Choose whether to close at a fixed time or relative to sunset.
  • Time: Depending on the selected mode: delay after sunset, or fixed time of day.
  • Covers: Subset of covers to close after sunset.
  • Ignore manual override duration: When enabled, the evening closure can move selected covers even if a manual override pause is still active.

Next Steps

After the configuration wizard, take a look at the UI configuration entities.

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