# Switching lights randomly//Simulate home presence//Home security

**URL:** <https://community.homey.app/t/switching-lights-randomly-simulate-home-presence-home-security/2901>\
**Category:** Questions & Help\
**Created:** [October 16, 2018, 6:39pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/switching-lights-randomly-simulate-home-presence-home-security/2901 "2018-10-16T18:39:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Homey888](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/homey888/32/16439_2.png) [@Homey888](https://community.homey.app/u/Homey888)\
**Post date:** [October 16, 2018, 6:39pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/switching-lights-randomly-simulate-home-presence-home-security/2901/1 "2018-10-16T18:39:48Z")

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How can I easily simulate that somebody is home? I want to switch on different lights randomly and for a random minimum time period during the night.  
The Homey Athom blog is referring to ‘home presence simulation’, but there is no explanation how to do this.

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**Author:** ![JeeS](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/jees/32/1015_2.png) [@JeeS](https://community.homey.app/u/JeeS)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2018, 1:42pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/switching-lights-randomly-simulate-home-presence-home-security/2901/3 "2018-10-17T13:42:55Z")

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You can create a flow that is triggered lest say every 10 minutes.  
And then only at night and continue with a chance of 20% and then turn on the lights.  
The chance you can do with a logic element in the flow.

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**Author:** ![JPe4619](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/jpe4619/32/9017_2.png) [@JPe4619](https://community.homey.app/u/JPe4619)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2018, 4:07pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/switching-lights-randomly-simulate-home-presence-home-security/2901/4 "2018-10-17T16:07:56Z")

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> [@JeeS](#):
>
> continue with a chance of 20%

Is this really **chance** or should this be Change? How does that work? In the Dutch language it looks like this:  
 ![17-004](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/2X/b/b3b45deadbc61103c4a100e01a309ad0960f778d.png)

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**Author:** ![Rocodamelshekima](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/rocodamelshekima/32/8209_2.png) [@Rocodamelshekima](https://community.homey.app/u/Rocodamelshekima)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2018, 4:59pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/switching-lights-randomly-simulate-home-presence-home-security/2901/5 "2018-10-17T16:59:03Z")

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> [@JPe4619](#):
>
> Is this really **chance**

Yep. That’s what’s making it random.

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**Author:** ![Rrrr](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/rrrr/32/629_2.png) [@Rrrr](https://community.homey.app/u/Rrrr)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 3:29pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/switching-lights-randomly-simulate-home-presence-home-security/2901/6 "2026-01-14T15:29:52Z")

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Example:

> [@Flows from hour to hour. Why not? How to be able to do it?](https://community.homey.app/t/flows-from-hour-to-hour-why-not-how-to-be-able-to-do-it/96475/16):
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> @Steve_Nye Here’s an example with a timer which only runs when needed. It looks perhaps a little complicated because it has some virtual devices (Device Capabilities). I prefer those over having physical devices for easy maintenance. I mainly work with zones for the same reason. Hope this helps.