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Tuya Smart automation problem: Scene only works with app and voltmeter on

bolec310 12048 14
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  • #1 20479392
    bolec310
    Level 12  
    Hello
    Problem as follows.
    Wifi smart plug socket, connected to home router,Tuya app on phone. The scene written: if the voltage higher than 245v and the socket off -> turn on the socket.
    And that's it, after five minutes the timer turns off the socket measurement and so on over and over again.
    The problem is that this automation works only when I have the application turned on and it is on the tab with the voltmeter just enough that I enter another tab or the application is running in the background automation stops working. Maybe someone of you has encountered a similar problem and has any ideas what could be the cause of this tragedy?
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  • #2 20480061
    freebsd
    Level 42  
    What socket is this exactly?

    bolec310 wrote:
    Scene written: if voltage higher than 245v and socket off -> turn socket on.
    Insert screen of scene with voltage setting.
  • #3 20480265
    bolec310
    Level 12  
    Photos of the socket and settings, everything works when I have that voltmeter on which is on the only one of the screenshots
    Attachments:
    • Tuya Smart automation problem: Scene only works with app and voltmeter on IMG_20230310_233207.jpg (503.71 KB) You must be logged in to download this attachment.
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    • Tuya Smart automation problem: Scene only works with app and voltmeter on Screenshot_20230310-233415.png (412.1 KB) You must be logged in to download this attachment.
    • Tuya Smart automation problem: Scene only works with app and voltmeter on Screenshot_20230310-233348.png (130.23 KB) You must be logged in to download this attachment.
    • Tuya Smart automation problem: Scene only works with app and voltmeter on Screenshot_20230310-233359.png (56.37 KB) You must be logged in to download this attachment.
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  • #4 20480284
    freebsd
    Level 42  
    There is no uninstalled software update for the socket?
    Can you connect two sockets so that the first one measuring the voltage is always on and controls the second one? You can connect in series, for example, but you can also connect in parallel. It is important that the first socket is not switched off, which may set a "sleep state" on it.
  • #5 20480294
    bolec310
    Level 12  
    No, the socket is original (this is the 2nd piece, I thought the first one was faulty) and the socket control I don't quite understand, anyway I only have one.
  • #6 20613071
    michalfil1
    Level 1  
    I have exactly the same problem, has it been solved somehow?
  • #7 20613633
    12robert12
    Level 29  
    Check triggering after approx 30secs on zigbee, as for wifi it may be a longer delay.

    when the voltage screen is not active, it will poll the status of the device less often (energy saving?),

    I have the above scene working just with a delay.
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  • #8 20634608
    ciarek999
    Level 2  

    I have a similar problem.
    I have devices on the plot under Tuya control.

    The Zigbee socket only reports voltage, power and amperage status when there is an active screen in the Tuya app (I have Smart Life specifically). Just change the view in the app to a different one and the socket stops reporting status. This prevents automation by state. I wanted to set the socket to switch off one minute after detecting electricity.
    I have a Tuya WiFi socket set up like this and it works, while Zigbee doesn't want to.

    I have a Home Assistant + Zigbee at home - not on the plot of land.
    I plugged this socket into Zigbee under the control of the Home Assistant for a test and everything works OK, the socket reports states and you can do automation.

    I just bought a second Zigbee Tuya gateway because I thought maybe the gateway was faulty, but I plugged this socket in and unfortunately the effect is the same.

    I may buy another socket, just maybe I am just doing something wrong? Where do I look for the error??

    Greetings, LP.
  • #9 20635842
    emariusz
    Level 13  
    What are you using the scene for?
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  • #10 20636023
    ciarek999
    Level 2  
    For momentary switching off the hydrophore on the plot.
    Without going into a long story: the hydrophore stops drawing and switching it off for a few seconds after, for example, a minute of operation cures the situation - it starts sucking nicely.
    I am going to have to rework the whole system, but to do it properly would be a bigger issue and for now the issue is taken care of by automating the socket.
    I wrote: takes care of, because currently the hydrophore is connected to a wifi socket and here the automation works and the socket nicely reports the status of the sensors, but the wifi is capricious and once every few days, sometimes less frequently, you have to reset the socket because it loses the wifi.
    Of course I can buy a repeater for the wifi and hope for an improvement, but I have Home Assistant & Zigbee at home (not on the plot where the hydro is) and various things work very stably, so I wanted to rewire the hydro to Zigbee and use the wifi socket for something else.
    So I bought a Zigbee gateway to Tuya, bought a metered socket and thought I'd do the same automation as I did to the wifi socket.
    Turns out there's a problem.
    I really don't like to return purchased equipment if it's not faulty (supposedly I can because it's not 14 days yet) because it's a bit messy.
  • #11 20640037
    emariusz
    Level 13  

    I would start by reducing the voltage value in the scene. You have it set at 235V, sometimes it is lower, as shown in picture 4.
    .
  • #12 20656405
    pigwoz
    Level 12  
    Hello, I'm just going to link to the topic. I was also trying to do automation on a smart socket based but a different type of socket than above in the thread. The automation was supposed to be based on the socket reporting the power consumed by the device - e.g. that if it consumes more than a certain number of watts then the automation is supposed to run something else there. And I have the same - it doesn't work - sometimes only something "surprised" when I had the socket reading active on the mobile. I've tried various combinations of less than how many watts, more than how many watts etc. Anyone have any ideas why it doesn't work?
  • #13 20657189
    ciarek999
    Level 2  
    I read somewhere that in the case of Zigbee sockets the devices do not report on their own, but wait for a request from the app, because it is more energy efficient that way.
    I still don't know what to do with this, I use a WiFi socket for automation, not Zigbee, but this is a worse solution because the WiFi socket once every few days requires a reset because it loses the network.
  • #14 20658005
    pigwoz
    Level 12  
    This is what it looks like, unfortunately.
    I created the same automation with a socket instead of zigbee working over Wi-Fi and indeed in this case these rules/automations work.... at my place the Wi-Fi socket does not lose connection so basically it is ok.
    Although as I'm building a network of zigbee-based devices in my home I would prefer these zigbee sockets to work as required....
    Then I ordered two more sockets for Wi-Fi :-) .
  • #15 21847524
    cuci8202
    Level 1  
    I am having an issue with my Zigbee devices. I created an automation for a Zigbee plug to turn off the charger once the power consumption drops. However, the scene does not trigger—when the charging finishes and the wattage drops to 0, the plug stays on.

    Interestingly, even scheduled tasks don't always work reliably through the app's scenes, so I have to set schedules directly within the device settings instead.

    Everything works perfectly with my Wi-Fi plugs, but the automations simply fail to trigger with my Zigbee devices, even though the app shows the power consumption has reached 0W

Topic summary

✨ The discussion revolves around a problem with a Tuya Smart automation setup involving a WiFi smart plug socket. The user has created a scene that activates the socket when the voltage exceeds 245V, but the automation only functions when the Tuya app is actively displaying the voltmeter. When the app is minimized or switched to another tab, the automation ceases to work. Various users suggest potential solutions, including checking for software updates, using multiple sockets in series or parallel, and considering the energy-saving features of Zigbee devices that may delay status reporting. Some users report similar issues with Zigbee sockets, noting that they only report status when the app is active. Others have successfully implemented WiFi sockets for automation, despite occasional connectivity issues. The conversation highlights the challenges of maintaining reliable automation with smart devices and the differences between WiFi and Zigbee technologies.
Generated by the language model.

FAQ

TL;DR: Zigbee scenes often trigger only when the Tuya/Smart Life device screen is open; background polling is ≈30 seconds—"it will poll the status... less often." Use Wi‑Fi or local Zigbee, adjust thresholds, or a two‑plug workaround. [Elektroda, 12robert12, post #20613633]

Why it matters: This FAQ helps Tuya/Smart Life users fix or work around voltage/power-triggered scenes that don’t fire reliably.

Quick Facts

Why do my Tuya/Smart Life scenes only work when the voltmeter screen is open?

Because the app polls the sensor faster only when that screen is active. In background, polling slows and triggers get missed. One member noted, "when the voltage screen is not active, it will poll the status... less often." Expect ≈30 seconds delay on Zigbee, and longer on Wi‑Fi. That explains why switching tabs breaks your scene. [Elektroda, 12robert12, post #20613633]

Does Zigbee report energy data continuously on Tuya gateways?

Not consistently. Users observed Zigbee plugs reporting volts, power, and current only while their device page is open. Leaving that screen stops updates, so state-based automations don’t run. The same plug reported continuously and allowed automation when paired to Home Assistant locally. That points to Tuya hub/cloud behavior. [Elektroda, ciarek999, post #20634608]

Why does my automation stop after about 5 minutes?

The original report says “after five minutes the timer turns off the socket measurement,” and the loop repeats. That suggests a metering timeout or sleep when the plug is power-cycled or the app idles. Scenes depending on live metering then fail until you reopen the device page. Keep the metering device on and avoid switching it off in the same scene. [Elektroda, bolec310, post #20479392]

Will lowering the voltage threshold help my scene trigger?

Yes, a high threshold can prevent triggers. One member advised reducing the setpoint because observed voltage dipped below the configured value. Lower the threshold to match your actual line voltage and add some margin. This small change is often enough for the scene to fire. [Elektroda, emariusz, post #20640037]

Is this a device fault or a Tuya platform limitation?

Evidence points to platform behavior. A user tried a second Tuya Zigbee gateway and saw the same issue. The same plug worked flawlessly when paired to Home Assistant using local Zigbee. That combination indicates the Tuya hub/cloud path is the bottleneck. [Elektroda, ciarek999, post #20634608]

What delay should I expect before a Zigbee or Wi‑Fi scene fires?

On Zigbee, expect roughly a 30‑second trigger delay when the device page isn’t open. Wi‑Fi can be slower. This reflects how often the platform polls devices in the background. Plan your automations with this delay in mind, especially for voltage/power triggers. [Elektroda, 12robert12, post #20613633]

How can I make it work today without changing platforms?

Try the two‑plug method and avoid metering sleep. “It is important that the first socket is not switched off.” How‑To: 1) Keep one metering plug always on. 2) Create a scene: if its voltage/power crosses threshold, switch a second plug/relay. 3) Never power‑cycle the metering plug. Also check for any pending firmware updates in the app. [Elektroda, freebsd, post #20480284]

Will using a Wi‑Fi plug instead of Zigbee solve it?

For several users, yes. They recreated the same rules on a Tuya/Smart Life Wi‑Fi plug and automations ran reliably. One user, building a Zigbee network, still ordered two more Wi‑Fi plugs after this success. Consider Wi‑Fi for critical power/voltage triggers if coverage is solid. [Elektroda, pigwoz, post #20658005]

My Wi‑Fi plug drops connection every few days; what can I do?

One user reported needing a reset once every few days due to Wi‑Fi loss. Improve signal with a nearby Wi‑Fi repeater or access point. Better coverage often stabilizes links to outbuildings or distant sockets. If resets persist, consider a local Zigbee coordinator instead of cloud paths. [Elektroda, ciarek999, post #20636023]

Why do power (W) based automations fail too?

They rely on the same telemetry as voltage and current. If the device page isn’t open, the plug often stops reporting power. Scenes don’t see changes and never trigger. Users observed these rules only “catch” when the socket reading is active on the phone. [Elektroda, pigwoz, post #20656405]

Does changing the Tuya Zigbee gateway help?

A user replaced the Tuya Zigbee gateway and saw identical behavior. That rules out a single faulty hub and suggests a broader platform trait. If you need prompt telemetry, consider moving the device to a local Zigbee coordinator. [Elektroda, ciarek999, post #20634608]

Can Home Assistant with a Zigbee coordinator make these automations reliable?

Yes. The same Tuya Zigbee plug reported states continuously and allowed reliable automations under Home Assistant. Pair the plug directly to a local Zigbee coordinator. This avoids cloud polling delays and restores timely triggers for voltage/power scenes. [Elektroda, ciarek999, post #20634608]
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