# Variable in a coutdowntimer
**URL:** https://community.homey.app/t/variable-in-a-coutdowntimer/149120
**Category:** Questions & Help
**Tags:** flow
**Created:** [January 12, 2026, 4:06pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/variable-in-a-coutdowntimer/149120 "2026-01-12T16:06:42Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Claus\_Jacobsen](https://community.homey.app/u/Claus_Jacobsen)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2026, 4:06pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/variable-in-a-coutdowntimer/149120/1 "2026-01-12T16:06:42Z")
Can somebody tell me why i can´t use a variable in a countdown timer?.
When i use the var the timer will not start. it will only start if i type a number
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### Author:  [@Peter\_Kawa](https://community.homey.app/u/Peter_Kawa)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2026, 4:47pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/variable-in-a-coutdowntimer/149120/2 "2026-01-12T16:47:55Z")
It works with Chronograph timers;
I just installed Countdown, and it works as well, even with `3.4` as variable value:
Maybe you used a comma instead of a decimal dot?
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### Author:  [@Claus\_Jacobsen](https://community.homey.app/u/Claus_Jacobsen)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2026, 5:45pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/variable-in-a-coutdowntimer/149120/3 "2026-01-12T17:45:13Z")
Thanks i will try that, the timer is set to 300. And so was the varible
Hilsen/Best Regards
Claus Jacobsen
man. 12. jan. 2026, 17.58 skrev 🇳🇱 Homey Pro 2026 SE 2x Homey Pro 2019 _Classic_ \<[notifications@athom.discoursemail.com](mailto:notifications@athom.discoursemail.com)\>:
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### Author:  [@Claus\_Jacobsen](https://community.homey.app/u/Claus_Jacobsen)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2026, 6:01pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/variable-in-a-coutdowntimer/149120/4 "2026-01-12T18:01:49Z")
If i do that it will not start either. It comes with an error “invalid duration”
Hilsen/Best Regards
Claus Jacobsen
man. 12. jan. 2026, 18.45 skrev Claus Jacobsen \<[forumvej16@gmail.com](mailto:forumvej16@gmail.com)\>:
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### Author:  [@SunBeech](https://community.homey.app/u/SunBeech)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2026, 6:17pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/variable-in-a-coutdowntimer/149120/5 "2026-01-12T18:17:20Z")
Maybe 60 seconds is the max value. You could try 5 minutes instead.
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### Author:  [@Claus\_Jacobsen](https://community.homey.app/u/Claus_Jacobsen)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2026, 6:28pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/variable-in-a-coutdowntimer/149120/6 "2026-01-12T18:28:19Z")
If i type 300 instead, it is working
Hilsen/Best Regards
Claus Jacobsen
man. 12. jan. 2026, 19.27 skrev SunBeech \<[notifications@athom.discoursemail.com](mailto:notifications@athom.discoursemail.com)\>:
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### Author:  [@Claus\_Jacobsen](https://community.homey.app/u/Claus_Jacobsen)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2026, 6:34pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/variable-in-a-coutdowntimer/149120/7 "2026-01-12T18:34:47Z")
Sorry my bad. Ive used the wrong var. Thanks you for your feedback
Hilsen/Best Regards
Claus Jacobsen
man. 12. jan. 2026, 19.28 skrev Claus Jacobsen \<[forumvej16@gmail.com](mailto:forumvej16@gmail.com)\>:
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### Author:  [@SunBeech](https://community.homey.app/u/SunBeech)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2026, 6:37pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/variable-in-a-coutdowntimer/149120/8 "2026-01-12T18:37:29Z")
Ah great that you solved it!
Off-topic: when you respond via e-mail, additional information is added to the post. Including your mail signature and e-mail address of the mail you are responding to. Your own e-mail address is sometimes visible, like in the above post. Not sure whether you want to remove that info.
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### Author:  [@Claus\_Jacobsen](https://community.homey.app/u/Claus_Jacobsen)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2026, 6:52pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/variable-in-a-coutdowntimer/149120/9 "2026-01-12T18:52:19Z")
Thanks
Hilsen/Best Regards
Claus Jacobsen
man. 12. jan. 2026, 19.47 skrev SunBeech \<[notifications@athom.discoursemail.com](mailto:notifications@athom.discoursemail.com)\>: