# Shading blinds using solar generation data **URL:** \ **Category:** Questions & Help\ **Created:** [March 18, 2026, 6:16pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/shading-blinds-using-solar-generation-data/152661 "2026-03-18T18:16:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mike\_Fahy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/mike_fahy/32/120763_2.png) [@Mike\_Fahy](https://community.homey.app/u/Mike_Fahy)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 6:16pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/shading-blinds-using-solar-generation-data/152661/1 "2026-03-18T18:16:17Z")
Hi all. I have large picture windows in the lounge with Somfy blinds that I use for keeping the sun out. I have nowhere to put a sun sensor without it being ugly but have worked out a level of solar generation over a 15 min period that equates to sunny or cloudy. My problem in Homey is that I want the blinds to only be down if sunny. So I have a Sunny variable (yes/no) that is set by these levels. I can get it to trigger once in each direction but if it is sunny at 1500, cloudy at 1600 and sunny again at 1700 how do I get it to go up and down in response but only between the hours of 1500 and 1830 ? ---
**Author:** ![Anoniemand](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/anoniemand/32/120697_2.png) [@Anoniemand](https://community.homey.app/u/Anoniemand)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 6:22pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/shading-blinds-using-solar-generation-data/152661/2 "2026-03-18T18:22:31Z")
Something like this? Variable changed → time between → variable is yes → shades down else shades up. ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/b/d/bdd19a8ed0a82bb1da633b269a989b7957c49e41.png) But you don’t want any action outside these times? ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Fahy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/mike_fahy/32/120763_2.png) [@Mike\_Fahy](https://community.homey.app/u/Mike_Fahy)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 6:48pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/shading-blinds-using-solar-generation-data/152661/3 "2026-03-18T18:48:51Z")
Yes, I am playing with something like this but my problem is that I don’t know the value of the variable at the start time as that will depend on the weather. Clearly I am on the right lines if only I can figure out the start point. My timing is based on other natural shading before and afterwards ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Fahy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/mike_fahy/32/120763_2.png) [@Mike\_Fahy](https://community.homey.app/u/Mike_Fahy)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 6:51pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/shading-blinds-using-solar-generation-data/152661/4 "2026-03-18T18:51:35Z")
Just thought. If I manually reset the variable just before 1500 then I think you have shown a way that will work 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Anoniemand](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/anoniemand/32/120697_2.png) [@Anoniemand](https://community.homey.app/u/Anoniemand)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 7:01pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/shading-blinds-using-solar-generation-data/152661/5 "2026-03-18T19:01:33Z")
I thought you have a yes no variable for sunny > [@Mike\_Fahy](#): > > So I have a Sunny variable (yes/no) that is set by these levels This flow will run when the value changed and when sunny shades go down else shades go up. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Fahy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/mike_fahy/32/120763_2.png) [@Mike\_Fahy](https://community.homey.app/u/Mike_Fahy)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 7:39pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/shading-blinds-using-solar-generation-data/152661/6 "2026-03-18T19:39:53Z")
My comment was that if it was sunny before 1500 then the variable will already be yes for sunny and so will not change at 1500. By setting it to no at 1446 it will change ( if sunny) to yes after 15 minutes and so trigger the shades to come down at 1501 ---
**Author:** ![Welshsmarthome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Welshsmarthome](https://community.homey.app/u/Welshsmarthome)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 9:45pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/shading-blinds-using-solar-generation-data/152661/7 "2026-03-18T21:45:10Z")
Could you try the Hue outdoor Motion sensor, find a spot outside to mount it I believe that measures lux. Might work and perhaps less ugly than something on or near the window indoors Actually i think the Ikea VALLHORN and MYGGSPRAY also measure lux and are too waterproof EDIT - ikea ones might only report lux when motion events trigger. Worth a check ---
**Author:** ![smarthomesven](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/smarthomesven/32/79712_2.png) [@smarthomesven](https://community.homey.app/u/smarthomesven)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 6:05am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/shading-blinds-using-solar-generation-data/152661/8 "2026-03-19T06:05:54Z")
> [@Welshsmarthome](#): > > I believe that measures lux Yes, correct. It measures lux and temperature. You do need a Hue bridge to use the sensor, but you can get those for only €10 second hand. ![Screenshot_20260319_070519_Homey](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/f/b/fba17053d01a7ec9e240b681796e7c0e87fd9a0d.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Wim\_Post](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/wim_post/32/56793_2.png) [@Wim\_Post](https://community.homey.app/u/Wim_Post)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 8:39am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/shading-blinds-using-solar-generation-data/152661/9 "2026-03-19T08:39:59Z")
The flow that @Anoniemand showed needs 2 extra triggers: 1 ‘it’s 15:01’ Put this trigger before the ‘it’s between 15:00 and 18:30’-card 2 ‘it’s 18:30’ Put this trigger before ‘sunscreen up’-card ---
**Author:** ![Welshsmarthome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Welshsmarthome](https://community.homey.app/u/Welshsmarthome)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 8:44am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/shading-blinds-using-solar-generation-data/152661/10 "2026-03-19T08:44:12Z")
Didnt even think about the bridge! ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Fahy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/mike_fahy/32/120763_2.png) [@Mike\_Fahy](https://community.homey.app/u/Mike_Fahy)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2026, 8:52am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/shading-blinds-using-solar-generation-data/152661/11 "2026-03-22T08:52:48Z")
So thanks all, it now works as I want. Annoneimand’s flow was sufficient, I did not need the extra triggers of Wim, but thanks. One tweak I had to make was to trigger a blinds down if sunny just before the start. As I am using inverter power generated in the last 15 minutes if it has already passed the threshold it won’t change back to sunny even if I reset the variable. Thanks all, great bunch of advice