Rooms, light groups and sensors
This page shows the easiest way to build lighting automation: first the room, then the light group, then the sensor, and finally the time limits.
Quick start (recommended)
- Make sure your light devices appear in Optimaatti and are online.
- Create a room (e.g. Living room) and add the room lights.
- Create a light group (e.g. ?Living room lights?) and add lights to the group.
- Add a sensor (motion/brightness) and connect it to control the light group.
- Define time limits (when the sensor is allowed to turn lights on).
Decision tree: what should you do?
- Just organize the view: create a room and add devices.
- Control multiple lights together: create a light group.
- Automate by motion or darkness: add a sensor and connect it to a group.
- Need time limits: define limits in the room automation or via rules.
Best practices
- Naming: use “Room – target” (e.g. “Kitchen – ceiling”, “Yard – lights”).
- Groups: create a group whenever you want multiple lights to turn on together.
- Sensors: test sensor events first, then connect control to the group.
- Manual control: agree that manual is temporary so automation does not feel broken.
What is a room and a light group?
A room is a logical area (living room, kitchen, hallway) where you attach lighting and other devices. A light group is a group inside a room with one or more lights.
Rooms and groups make it easy to see and connect lights, groups and sensors in one view.
Automatic device discovery
Optimaatti can discover devices automatically. When a device starts communicating (e.g. MQTT connection works), it appears without manual adding.
- Open Devices and check the Auto-discovered section.
- If it does not appear, verify network and MQTT.
- Once visible, add it to a room from Devices or Rooms.
Creating a room
- Open Rooms from the main menu.
- Choose Create room and set name/description/icon/color.
- Save; you can edit later.
- Add devices to the room via Devices or Rooms.
Creating light groups in a room
- Open the room page.
- Create a new light group.
- Add one or more room lights to the group.
- Optionally choose a default group for motion sensors.
Light groups are ideal when one sensor or switch should control multiple lights.
Adding sensors and connecting them to groups
- Open the room page and find Sensors section.
- Add a sensor and select device/input for the signal.
- Choose which group it controls.
- Optionally let one sensor control multiple groups.
Once connected, you can combine sensors with rules and time limits.
Lighting automation using the wizard
If you want the quickest path, use the room wizard. It walks you through rooms, groups, sensors and time limits step by step.
- Open Rooms and choose the wizard.
- Select room devices.
- Create light groups and add lights.
- Add sensors and choose controlled groups.
- Define time limits/schedules.
- Save and test.
Typical examples
- Motion sensor controls the living room lights: active mornings/evenings, disabled at night.
- Brightness sensor controls yard lights: turns on at dusk and off when bright enough.
Tips for successful lighting automation
- Use spring-return switches so manual control and automation work together.
- Name rooms and groups clearly.
- Test sensor connections during daytime and verify time limits before adding many rules.
Troubleshooting & FAQ (rooms/lighting)
Sensor does not turn lights on
- verify correct device/input
- verify room time limits
- verify sensor events
- verify sensor controls the correct group
Group does not react (but a single light works)
- ensure all group lights are online
- ensure correct device types in the group
- try controlling one light then the group again
Manual control ?breaks? automation
- manual on/off may persist until next automation event
- ensure no conflicting rules
- see offline scheduling for supported devices