# Zone inactive for x minutes doesn't work with variable... How to troubleshoot **URL:** \ **Category:** Questions & Help\ **Tags:** flow, homey-pro\ **Created:** [May 9, 2024, 2:19pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/zone-inactive-for-x-minutes-doesnt-work-with-variable-how-to-troubleshoot/109598 "2024-05-09T14:19:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DJG3](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/djg3/32/82680_2.png) [@DJG3](https://community.homey.app/u/DJG3)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2024, 2:19pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/zone-inactive-for-x-minutes-doesnt-work-with-variable-how-to-troubleshoot/109598/1 "2024-05-09T14:19:50Z")
Hello - I saw some older posts about this, but none as of recent. According to the Homey tutorials what I’m attempting is native functionality, but when I introduce a variable into my flow, the trigger does not work. Here is my flow example showing the variables I’m using. The trigger with the static value in zone inactive after x works, the one using the number variable does not trigger, however. It works with a manual test, but it’s not evaluating on its own. Is there a log of some sort that allows me to see each step and why, for example, the variable is causing an error (which does not trigger an error)? Otherwise, is there an official known issues log maintained by homey that lists which “native” features are broken with Homey Early 23 so I can avoid using them? The last post said it was broken with FW10.0.9 and I’m on ver 11.0.0. ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/7/c/7cb99c903a7a24332d1aae827c3ad4508153636f.png) ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Kawa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/peter_kawa/32/173848_2.png) [@Peter\_Kawa](https://community.homey.app/u/Peter_Kawa)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2024, 2:48pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/zone-inactive-for-x-minutes-doesnt-work-with-variable-how-to-troubleshoot/109598/2 "2024-05-09T14:48:10Z")
Hello and welcome, Dexter, ![Screenshot_20240509-164546_Chrome](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/4/b/4bd396c961f1afd7f879dec478875ee428729e44.jpeg) In most triggercards, you can’t use a variable as value, but as you’ve noticed, there’s no warning and the card can be saved. I prefer to use a Chronograph timer: - You can use a numeric variable as timer value - It survives a power outage / Homey restart Example > [@The Flow Exchange(r) - Exchange Your Flows with Others!](https://community.homey.app/t/the-flow-exchange-r-exchange-your-flows-with-others/68981/8): > > ### Flow example: > > ![Screenshot from 2022-09-21 00-48-34](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/2/a/2aa742727e50bc75f1e9b207663d1b8b84560c32.png) . > [@DJG3](#): > > is there an official known issues log maintained by homey that lists which “native” features are broken with Homey Early 23 so I can avoid using them? Not to my knowledge. You happen to have used an invalid input method. Pls write to Athom support why there’s no warning / why you can save the card (homey.app/support). ---
**Author:** ![DJG3](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/djg3/32/82680_2.png) [@DJG3](https://community.homey.app/u/DJG3)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2024, 3:03pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/zone-inactive-for-x-minutes-doesnt-work-with-variable-how-to-troubleshoot/109598/3 "2024-05-09T15:03:48Z")
Thank you, Peter. That was my first approach and while it was more complex it worked fine until I tried to add variables to the timers 😆 Despite being an integer, I would receive a “time is not valid” error, or the likes of. Variables are appealing to avoid updating every instance of a timer or trigger and I know homey recognizes this by implementing them. I noticed there are some cards which do not allow selecting variables. It seems homey is either inconsistent in ensuring variables cannot be used when they won’t work, or perhaps don’t realize this is an issue. How would a user understand this caveat before creating flows which are broken from the start? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Kawa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/peter_kawa/32/173848_2.png) [@Peter\_Kawa](https://community.homey.app/u/Peter_Kawa)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2024, 3:24pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/zone-inactive-for-x-minutes-doesnt-work-with-variable-how-to-troubleshoot/109598/4 "2024-05-09T15:24:42Z")
You’re welcome, Dexter. For me, the ‘zone is _inactive for x minutes_’ card is unreliable, I was too many times left in the dark, literally 🤪. Other users reported it works fine. The ‘zone _is inactive_’ card works fine, and combined with a Chronograph timer it works flawless. > [@DJG3](#): > > How would a user understand this caveat before creating flows which are broken from the start? Like you did, by finding out the hard way, and ask here what’s wrong with the flow(card)… But believe it or not, from what I’ve seen the past few years, very few users reported this flaw here at the forum. I’m under the impression variables in triggercards aren’t used much – or – variables in triggercards, wich happen to not support it, aren’t used much. ---
**Author:** ![DJG3](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/djg3/32/82680_2.png) [@DJG3](https://community.homey.app/u/DJG3)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2024, 3:28pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/zone-inactive-for-x-minutes-doesnt-work-with-variable-how-to-troubleshoot/109598/5 "2024-05-09T15:28:10Z")
Thanks again, I sent Athom a ticket, as suggested. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Kawa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/peter_kawa/32/173848_2.png) [@Peter\_Kawa](https://community.homey.app/u/Peter_Kawa)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2024, 3:38pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/zone-inactive-for-x-minutes-doesnt-work-with-variable-how-to-troubleshoot/109598/6 "2024-05-09T15:38:36Z")
> [@DJG3](#): > > Despite being an integer, I would receive a “time is not valid” error, or the likes of. There’s more what goes unnoticed, unless you add an error tag in a log card (the Simple Log app is very nice) Like when the timeline or push notifications gets flooded by flows, it gets rate limited (read: disabled) for 24h ![Screenshot_20240509-173419_Firefox](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/e/2/e2db9f94543c2d0759d60895ad679b87870e902c.jpeg) . Btw, the pre-Pro23 models did not have a free value input field for the zone inactive for … minutes card, so Athom ‘forgot’ to add a warning so it seems for this card @ Pro23 ![Screenshot_20240509-173616_Firefox](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/3/f/3f26ff9c6e27c68116de645a0419a904976c95fe.jpeg) This rudimental dropdown list values were also a reason to me to use Chronograph’s more flexible time values (any number of seconds/minutes/hours/days goes) ---
**Author:** ![DJG3](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/djg3/32/82680_2.png) [@DJG3](https://community.homey.app/u/DJG3)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2024, 7:17pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/zone-inactive-for-x-minutes-doesnt-work-with-variable-how-to-troubleshoot/109598/7 "2024-05-09T19:17:57Z")
> [@Peter\_Kawa](#): > > the Simple Log app is very nice This will certainly help keep track of and troubleshoot flows. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Kawa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/peter_kawa/32/173848_2.png) [@Peter\_Kawa](https://community.homey.app/u/Peter_Kawa)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2024, 7:26pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/zone-inactive-for-x-minutes-doesnt-work-with-variable-how-to-troubleshoot/109598/8 "2024-05-09T19:26:33Z")
Especially with new flows, or complex flows, it’s much easier to troubleshoot. F.e. actioncards are ‘fire and forget’; even when zigbee and zwave devices normally report their status back, the flow does not check that acknowledgement, and just says “I turned on device X”. Now, the log action card gets triggered along with the device action card \> you now know the flow works, but there’s some issue with turning on device X. There’s even a script available to add SL cards to all flows > [@\[APP\]\[Pro\] Simple (Sys) LOG - Use this app for Simple (Sys) Logging](https://community.homey.app/t/app-pro-simple-sys-log-use-this-app-for-simple-sys-logging/77533/6): > > Script to automaticly include Simple Logging cards into your flows Use this script to automaticly add logging cards to your (advanced and normal) flows: It adds logging to each flowcard’s error catch in advanced flows. Also it adds cards to the triggers (WHEN), conditions (AND) and actions (THEN). It will generate one Automater flowcard in each flow. This card can be used to configure each flow on it’s own: Update: When you set this to No, the Autmoater card itself will not be changed when … ---
**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:** [May 10, 2024, 7:39am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/zone-inactive-for-x-minutes-doesnt-work-with-variable-how-to-troubleshoot/109598/9 "2024-05-10T07:39:45Z")
@Peter_Kawa Great comments. Perhaps we should do a topic on it for the benefit of all > [@Peter\_Kawa](#): > > For me, the ‘zone is _inactive for x minutes_’ card is unreliable, I was too many times left in the dark, literally 🤪. Other users reported it works fine It’s not the first time you’re commenting this. With 20+ motion sensors I’ve been using it for years without problems and it’s so much easier and efficient to use built in timers that run anyway. Is your experience recent or from a while ago? Perhaps we can test it out and find the culprit? ---
**Author:** ![Marius\_Stensrod](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/marius_stensrod/32/56540_2.png) [@Marius\_Stensrod](https://community.homey.app/u/Marius_Stensrod)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 12:48pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/zone-inactive-for-x-minutes-doesnt-work-with-variable-how-to-troubleshoot/109598/10 "2024-05-10T12:48:24Z")
> [@Rrrr](#): > > With 20+ motion sensors I’ve been using it for years without problems and it’s so much easier I have also been left in the dark, after the sensors have “said” "zone inactive"and i do enter the room again. Solved it by adding “Zone active” card after the “zone inactive in xxminutes”. Never been left in the dark since that. I guess the timer starts at first “zone inactive” report, and again at next, and so on. ---
**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:** [May 10, 2024, 1:59pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/zone-inactive-for-x-minutes-doesnt-work-with-variable-how-to-troubleshoot/109598/11 "2024-05-10T13:59:28Z")
Nice idea, I have a question about that, but to not hijack this thread I created a [dedicated one](https://community.homey.app/t/zone-inactive-triggers-while-there-is-motion-leaving-me-in-the-dark/109657).