Turn on away lights
Turning on a few strategic lights in the house can make it look like you are home and deter potential thieves from breaking in or stealing packages from the porch. If your smart electric fireplace is also on, you can make it look even more convincing.
Use cases
Security
- Deter Break-ins - Make it look like someone is home
- Package Theft Prevention - Discourage porch pirates
- Vacation Security - Maintain occupied appearance during trips
Peace of Mind
- Extended Absences - Feel secure during business trips
- Evening Events - Come home to a lit house
Products needed
Essential Equipment
Smart Light Switches or Bulbs
Strategic placement in visible rooms
Switches: Lutron, GE, Inovelli, Leviton
Bulbs: Philips Hue, LIFX, Wyze, Sengled
Switches: Lutron, GE, Inovelli, Leviton
Bulbs: Philips Hue, LIFX, Wyze, Sengled
Optional Enhancements
Smart Electric Fireplace
Adds convincing warmth and movement visible from outside
Smart TV Simulator
LED device that mimics TV glow patterns
Smart Blinds/Shades
Automated movement adds to lived-in appearance
💡 Strategic Light Selection
- Choose lights visible from the street or driveway
- Living room, kitchen, and one bedroom work well
- Avoid turning on ALL lights - looks unnatural
- Consider what a person home alone would use
Basic automation setup
Away lights is a great candidate for a scene or lighting group if your smart home platform supports them. Create an “Away Lights” scene with your strategic lights configured.
IF home goes into Away mode
AND time is between sunset and 11 PM
THEN turn on away lights scene
Automation 1: Turn on away lights
Triggers
- Home goes into Away mode
- OR Time is between sunset and 11 PM (check if already in Away mode)
Conditions
- Home is in Away mode
- Time is between sunset and 11 PM
Actions
- Turn on indoor lights (living room, kitchen)
- Turn on electric fireplace (optional)
- OR Execute scene that turns on the away lights
Automation 2: Turn off at bedtime
At 11 PM, or whatever your normal bedtime is, turn off the away lights:
Triggers
- Time is 11:00 PM
Conditions
- Home is in Away mode
Actions
- Turn off indoor lights
- Turn off electric fireplace
- OR Execute a scene that turns off all lights
Platform-specific examples
Home Assistant
Trigger
Mode changes to "Away" + sun below horizon + before 11 PM
Action
Activate "Away Lights" scene
Setup: Create scene with desired lights, use sun.sun for sunset
Note: Create separate 11 PM automation to turn off all lights
Note: Create separate 11 PM automation to turn off all lights
SmartThings
IF
Mode is Away AND Time is sunset to 11 PM
THEN
Activate Away Lights scene
Note: Create second routine for 11 PM turn-off
Hubitat
Trigger
Mode changes to Away OR sunset occurs
Condition
Mode is Away AND time before 11 PM AND after sunset
Action
Turn on Away Lights group
Setup: Create group with selected devices, use Rule Machine
Apple HomeKit
When
Last person leaves + sunset to 11 PM
Do
Activate "Away Lights" scene
Note: Create separate 11 PM automation to turn off
Alexa
When
Mode changes to Away AND after sunset
Action
Turn on Away Lights devices
Note: Separate routine for 11 PM turn-off
Google Home
When
Everyone leaves + after sunset
Action
Turn on away lights group
Note: Scheduled routine at 11 PM to turn off
Advanced features
Randomized lighting patterns
Make the pattern less predictable and more realistic:
- Staggered timing: Living room at sunset, kitchen 15 min later
- Random delays: 5-10 minute variations each day
- Room rotation: Different rooms on different nights
Vacation mode enhancement
During extended absences, enhance the pattern:
- Multiple rooms: Rotate throughout evening
- Dinner simulation: Kitchen early, living room later
- Blind movement: Open in morning, close at dusk
TV simulator integration
Add realistic glow for enhanced effect:
- FakeTV device or smart LED strip
- Position where visible from outside
- Colored smart bulb with random color scenes
Motion-activated exterior
Combine with motion-triggered outdoor lighting:
- Exterior motion sensors trigger bright lights
- Stays on for 5-10 minutes
- Startles potential intruders and activates cameras
Common issues and solutions
Lights come on during daytime
Problem: Sunset condition not working or time zone incorrectly set.
Solutions:
- Verify sunset trigger or condition is active
- Check platform time zone settings
- Add explicit "after sunset" condition
- Use lux sensor as alternative to sunset
Lights don't turn off at scheduled time
Problem: Automation scheduled wrong or mode changed unexpectedly.
Solutions:
- Check 11 PM automation trigger
- Verify mode is still "Away"
- Check for conflicting automations
- Add logging to troubleshoot
Pattern looks too predictable
Problem: Same lights, same time every day with no variation.
Solutions:
- Add random time offsets (5-15 minutes)
- Rotate which rooms are used
- Include occasional TV simulator or fireplace
- Vary turn-off time slightly
Best practices
Light selection
Good Choices: ✅ Living room - visible from street ✅ Kitchen - common evening activity area ✅ One bedroom - suggests someone home ✅ Entry/foyer - normal usage pattern
Avoid: ❌ Every room lit - looks suspicious ❌ Outdoor lights only - no interior activity ❌ Basement/attic - unusual pattern ❌ Bathroom only - strange choice
Timing considerations
Natural Patterns:
- Lights on after sunset
- Activity in kitchen 5-8 PM (dinner)
- Living room 7-11 PM (relaxing)
- Bedroom 10-11 PM (winding down)
- All off by 11 PM (sleep)
Avoid:
- Lights on 24/7
- Exact same time every day
- Lights on before sunset
- Lights off at unusual times
Security layering
Combine With:
- Motion-activated exterior lights
- Camera recording
- Smart door locks
- Alarm system
- Neighbor alerts
Related automations: