Home Automation

Overview

The Home Automation page in ConnectAlarm lets users create and manage automation rules for a security panel.

Use this page when users need to:

• View active and inactive automation rules.
• Edit an existing automation rule.
• Enable or disable an automation rule.
• Delete an automation rule.
• Configure rule triggers, conditions, and actions.

Automation rules help users run system or device actions automatically. For example, a rule can repeat every day at a set time and change the panel state or turn on a connected device.

Before you begin

Preconditions

• The user is signed in to the ConnectAlarm app.
• The selected security panel is available.
• At least one supported trigger, condition, or action is available.
• The user can access the Home Automation page from the app navigation.
• The network connection is available when the user saves, disables, deletes, or updates rules.

Dependencies

• Automation rules depend on supported panel features and connected devices.
• Rule triggers depend on available schedules, events, and state changes.
• Rule actions depend on configured partitions, panel states, and automation devices.
• Device actions require communication between the PowerManage server, panel, and target device.

Limitations

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1. Automation actions may fail if the panel is disconnected or the target device is offline.
2. Rules will not run if required conditions are not met.
3. Disabling a rule stops the rule from running but keeps the rule configuration.
4. Deleting a rule removes it from the automation list. There is no UNDO option.
5. The rule can include up to 20 actions.
6. Available options may vary by system configuration and permissions.

Page layout

The Home Automation workflow includes these screens:

• Home Automation rule list
• New automation
• Edit Automation

Home Automation rule list

Callout	UI element	Description	When to use
1	Rule row	Shows an automation rule with its name, trigger and action icons, summary text, and navigation chevron.	Use to review a rule or open the rule for editing.
2		Deletes the selected automation rule. This action appears after swiping a rule row.	Use when the rule is no longer required.
3		Disables the selected automation rule. This action appears after swiping an active rule row.	Use to stop a rule from running without deleting it.
4	Add button	Opens the New automation page.	Use to create a new automation rule.

Active section

The ACTIVE section lists rules that are currently enabled.

Rules in this section can run when their triggers occur and their conditions are met.

Inactive section

The INACTIVE section lists rules that are currently disabled.

Rules in this section remain configured but do not run while inactive.

Rule row

A rule row shows the main information for one automation rule.

A rule row can include:

• Rule name.
• Trigger icon.
• Direction arrow.
• Action icon.
• Schedule or trigger summary.
• Action summary.
• Navigation chevron.

Select a rule row to open the rule in Edit Automation, if editing is allowed.

New automation page

Callout	UI element	Description	When to use
1	SAVE	Saves the new automation rule.	Use after the rule name, trigger, conditions, and actions are configured.
2	Name field	Defines the automation rule name.	Use to enter a name that identifies what the rule does.
3	Automation enabled toggle	Controls whether the new rule is active after saving.	Use to save the rule as active or inactive.
4	WHEN row	Adds the trigger for the rule.	Use to define when the automation should start.
5	Time condition	Indicates the rule can run at a defined time.	Use to specify when the rule runs if the trigger occurs.
6	State condition	Indicates the rule can run based on the panel state.	Use to specify the security panel state when the rule runs if the trigger occurs.
7	DO row	Adds actions for the rule.	Use to specify what the rule does when it runs.

WHEN section

The WHEN section defines the trigger that starts the rule.

The Add row includes:

Trigger type	Trigger	Description
Event received	Event profile received	When received alarm, alert, trouble, etc
	Event type received	When received burglary alarm, CO aler, etc
State changed	Partition disarmed	When partition state changed to disarm
	Partition armed stay	When partition state changed to arm stay
	Partition armed away	When partition state changed to arm away
Zone changed	Temperature changed	When tenperature sensor responded changes
	Security sensor status	When security sensor triggered open, close, active, presence, etc
Home Automation	Automation device enabled	When automation device state was changed to open, enabled, on, etc
	Automation device disabled	When automation device state was changed to closed, off, disabled, etc
	Doorlock unlocked	When the doorlock unlocked
	Doorlock locked	When the doorlock locked
	Garage door opened	When the garage door opened
	Garage door closed	When the garage door closed
	Valve opened	When the valve opened
	Valve closed	When the valve closed
	Thermostat changed	When thermostat responded changes
Time scheduled	Time schedule	e.g. At 8:00 every Monday
Video	Video on demand requested	When video on demand requested from selected camera

Use this section to choose when the rule should start.

CONDITIONS section

The CONDITIONS section defines requirements that must be true before the rule can run.

Default conditions include:

• Always: This rule will run in any time.
• Any State: This automation will run always.

Select a condition row to configure restrictions when the rule should run.

DO section

The DO section defines the actions that the rule performs.

The Add row includes:

Action type	Action	Description
Time delay	Set time delay	Defines time delay before or between actions
Arm state	Arm away partition	Set partition to arm away state
	Arm stay partition	Set partition to arm stay state
	Disarm partition	Set partition to disarm
Home automation	Enable automation device	Turn on automation device
	Disable automation device	Turn off automation device
	Lock doorlock	Lock doorlock selected from list
	Unlock doorlock	Unlock doorlock selected from list
	Close water valve	Close water valve
	Open water valve	Open water valve
	Change thermostat mode	Set thermostat mode to Off, Cool, Heat, Auto, Aux
	Change thermostat Fan mode	Set thermostat Fan mode to On, Auto
	Close garage door	Open garage door
Send notifications	Send email	Send email notification to master user
	Send push notification	Send push notification to master user's mobile device
Video	Request video	Request video on demand from selected camera

Use this section to add one or more actions.

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A rule can include up to 20 actions.

Edit Automation rule screen

Callout	UI element	Description	When to use
1	SAVE	Saves changes made to the automation rule.	Use after editing the rule name or enabled state.
2	Name field	Shows and edits the automation rule name.	Use to rename the rule.
3	Automation enabled toggle	Turns the rule on or off.	Use to enable or disable the rule without deleting it.

How to use this page

Open Home Automation

1. Open the ConnectAlarm app.
2. Sign in to your account.
3. Sign in to your security panel.
4. Open the menu.
5. Select Home Automation.

Create a new automation rule

1. Open Home Automation.
2. Select the + add button.
3. In the Name field, enter a rule name.
4. Set Automation enabled to on or off.
5. In the WHEN section, select Add.
6. Choose and configure the trigger.
7. Review or configure the CONDITIONS section.
8. In the DO section, select Add.
9. Choose and configure one or more actions.
10. Select SAVE.

Edit an automation rule

1. Open Home Automation.
2. Select the rule row to edit.
3. On the Edit Automation page, update the rule name or enabled state.
4. Review the updated fields.
5. Select SAVE.

Disable a rule from the rule list

1. Open Home Automation.
2. Find the active rule to disable.
3. Swipe the rule row to reveal actions.
4. Select .

Delete an automation rule

1. Open Home Automation.
2. Find the rule to delete.
3. Swipe the rule row to reveal actions.
4. Select .
5. Confirm the deletion.

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Undo option is not supported. Delete rules only when the rule is no longer needed.

Tips

tip

1. Use rule names that describe the result, such as Morning disarm or Enable light at evening.
2. Review the WHEN, CONDITIONS, and DO sections before saving a rule.
3. Disable a rule if the rule may be needed again later. Delete a rule only when it is no longer required.
4. Use conditions to prevent rules from running at the wrong time or in the wrong panel state.
5. Keep automation rules focused. If a rule needs many actions, review whether separate rules would be easier to manage.

Troubleshooting

Problem	Possible cause	What to try
A rule does not run	The rule is disabled. The trigger did not occur. One or more conditions were not met. The target device was offline. The panel was disconnected.	Open Home Automation. Confirm that the rule is in the ACTIVE section. Open the rule and review the WHEN section. Review the CONDITIONS section. Review the DO section. Confirm that the panel and target devices are online.
A rule runs at the wrong time	The time schedule is configured incorrectly. The mobile device time is incorrect. The rule uses a trigger other than the expected schedule. Conditions are too broad.	Open the rule in Edit Automation. Review the WHEN section. Review the CONDITIONS section. Create new rule with the needed trigger or conditions if needed. Select SAVE.
The expected trigger, condition, or action is missing	The related device or partition is not configured. The security panel does not support the option. The PowerManage server has not refreshed the latest configuration.	Confirm that the related device or partition is configured. Confirm that the security panel supports the option. Contact the administrator or installer if the option remains unavailable.
A disabled rule still appears in the list	Disabling does not delete the rule. The rule is listed under INACTIVE.	Check the INACTIVE section. Open the rule and confirm that Automation enabled is off. Delete the rule only if it is no longer required.

Related pages

See also

• Panel control interface layout
• Automation Log