esphome-docs/components/sensor/index.rst

Sensor Component
================

.. seo::
    :description: Instructions for setting up sensor components in ESPHome.
    :image: folder-open.png

ESPHome has support for many different sensors. Each of them is a
platform of the ``sensor`` domain and each sensor has several base
configuration options.

.. _config-sensor:

Base Sensor Configuration
-------------------------

All sensors in ESPHome have a name and some other
optional configuration options. By default, the sensor platform will
chose appropriate values for all of these by default, but you can always
override them if you want to.

.. code-block:: yaml

    # Example sensor configuration
    name: Livingroom Temperature

    # Optional variables:
    unit_of_measurement: "°C"
    icon: "mdi:water-percent"
    accuracy_decimals: 1
    expire_after: 30s
    filters:
      - sliding_window_moving_average:
          window_size: 15
          send_every: 15

Configuration variables:

- **name** (**Required**, string): The name for the sensor.
- **unit_of_measurement** (*Optional*, string): Manually set the unit
  of measurement the sensor should advertise its values with. This does
  not actually do any maths (conversion between units).
- **icon** (*Optional*, icon): Manually set the icon to use for the sensor in the frontend.
- **accuracy_decimals** (*Optional*, int): Manually set the accuracy of decimals to use when reporting values.
- **filters** (*Optional*): Specify filters to use for some basic
  transforming of values. See :ref:`Sensor Filters <sensor-filters>` for more information.
- **internal** (*Optional*, boolean): Mark this component as internal. Internal components will
  not be exposed to the frontend (like Home Assistant). Only specifying an ``id`` without
  a ``name`` will implicitly set this to true.
- **force_update** (*Optional*, boolean): If true, this option will force the frontend (usually Home
  Assistant) to create a state changed event when the sensor updates even if the value stayed the same.
  Some applications like Grafana require this when working with Home Assistant, but beware it can
  significantly increase the database size. Defaults to ``false``.

Automations:

- **on_value** (*Optional*, :ref:`Automation <automation>`): An automation to perform
  when a new value is published. See :ref:`sensor-on_value`.
- **on_value_range** (*Optional*, :ref:`Automation <automation>`): An automation to perform
  when a published value transition from outside to a range to inside. See :ref:`sensor-on_value_range`.
- **on_raw_value** (*Optional*, :ref:`Automation <automation>`): An automation to perform
  when a raw value is received that hasn't passed through any filters. See :ref:`sensor-on_raw_value`.

MQTT Options:

- **expire_after** (*Optional*, :ref:`config-time`): Manually set the time in which
  the sensor values should be marked as “expired”/“unknown”. Not providing any value means no expiry.
- All other options from :ref:`MQTT Component <config-mqtt-component>`.

.. note::

    If you're trying to setup filters for a sensor that has multiple outputs - for example a DHT22 which
    reports temperature *and* humidity - put the ``filters`` option into each sensor output like this:

    .. code-block:: yaml

        sensor:
          - platform: dht
            # ...
            temperature:
              filters:
                # ...
            humidity:
              filters:
                # ...

.. _sensor-filters:

Sensor Filters
--------------

ESPHome allows you to do some basic pre-processing of
sensor values before they’re sent to Home Assistant. This is for example
useful if you want to apply some average over the last few values.

There are a lot of filters that sensors support. You define them by adding a ``filters``
block in the sensor configuration (at the same level as ``platform``; or inside each sensor block
for platforms with multiple sensors)

.. code-block:: yaml

    # Example filters:
    filters:
      - offset: 2.0
      - multiply: 1.2
      - calibrate_linear:
          - 0.0 -> 0.0
          - 40.0 -> 45.0
          - 100.0 -> 102.5
      - filter_out: 42.0
      - median:
          window_size: 5
          send_every: 5
          send_first_at: 1
      - sliding_window_moving_average:
          window_size: 15
          send_every: 15
      - exponential_moving_average:
          alpha: 0.1
          send_every: 15
      - throttle: 1s
      - heartbeat: 5s
      - debounce: 0.1s
      - delta: 5.0
      - or:
        - throttle: 1s
        - delta: 5.0
      - lambda: return x * (9.0/5.0) + 32.0;

``offset`` / ``multiply``
*************************

.. code-block:: yaml

    # Example configuration entry
    - platform: adc
      # ...
      filters:
        - offset: 2.0
        - multiply: 1.2

Offset adds a constant value to each sensor value. Multiply multiplies each value
by a constant value.

.. _sensor-filter-calibrate_linear:

``calibrate_linear``
********************

Calibrate your sensor values by using values you measured with an accurate "truth" source.

First, collect a bunch of values of what the sensor shows and what the real value should be.
For temperature, this can for example be achieved by using an accurate thermometer. For other
sensors like power sensor this can be done by connecting a known load and then writing down
the value the sensor shows.

.. code-block:: yaml

    # Example configuration entry
    - platform: dht
      # ...
      temperature:
        name: "DHT22 Temperature"
        filters:
          - calibrate_linear:
              # Map 0.0 (from sensor) to 0.0 (true value)
              - 0.0 -> 0.0
              - 10.0 -> 12.1

The arguments are a list of data points, each in the form ``MEASURED -> TRUTH``. ESPHome will
then fit a linear equation to the values (using least squares). So you need to supply at least
two values.

.. _sensor-calibrate_polynomial:

``calibrate_polynomial``
************************

Calibrate your sensor values by fitting them to a polynomial functions. This is similar to
the ``calibrate_linear`` filter, but also allows for higher-order functions like quadratic polynomials.

.. code-block:: yaml

    # Example configuration entry
    - platform: adc
      # ...
      filters:
        - calibrate_polynomial:
           degree: 2
           datapoints:
            # Map 0.0 (from sensor) to 0.0 (true value)
            - 0.0 -> 0.0
            - 10.0 -> 12.1
            - 13.0 -> 14.0

The arguments are a list of data points, each in the form ``MEASURED -> TRUTH``. Additionally, you need
to specify the degree of the resulting polynomial, the datapoints will then be fitted to the given
degree with a least squares solver.

``filter_out``
**************

Filter out specific values to be displayed. For example to filter out the value ``85.0``

.. code-block:: yaml

    # Example configuration entry
    - platform: wifi_signal
      # ...
      filters:
        - filter_out: 85.0

``median``
**********

Calculate moving median over the data. This can be used to filter outliers from the received
sensor data. A large window size will make the filter slow to react to input changes.

.. code-block:: yaml

    # Example configuration entry
    - platform: wifi_signal
      # ...
      filters:
        - median:
            window_size: 7
            send_every: 4
            send_first_at: 3

-  **median**: A `simple moving median
   <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Median_filter#Worked_1D_example>`__
   over the last few values.

   -  **window_size**: The number of values over which to calculate the median
      when pushing out a value. This number should
      be odd if you want an actual received value pushed out.
      Defaults to ``5``.
   -  **send_every**: How often a sensor value should be pushed out. For
      example, in above configuration the median is calculated after every 4th
      received sensor value, over the last 7 received values.
      Defaults to ``5``.
   -  **send_first_at**: By default, the very first raw value on boot is immediately
      published. With this parameter you can specify when the very first value is to be sent.
      Must be smaller than or equal to ``send_every``
      Defaults to ``1``.

``sliding_window_moving_average`` / ``exponential_moving_average``
******************************************************************

Two simple moving averages over the data. These can be used to have a short update interval
on the sensor but only push out an average on a specific interval (thus increasing resolution).

.. code-block:: yaml

    # Example configuration entry
    - platform: wifi_signal
      # ...
      filters:
        - sliding_window_moving_average:
            window_size: 15
            send_every: 15

-  **sliding_window_moving_average**: A `simple moving
   average <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moving_average#Simple_moving_average>`__
   over the last few values.

   -  **window_size**: The number of values over which to perform an
      average when pushing out a value.
   -  **send_every**: How often a sensor value should be pushed out. For
      example, in above configuration the weighted average is only
      pushed out on every 15th received sensor value.
   -  **send_first_at**: By default, the very first raw value on boot is immediately
      published. With this parameter you can specify when the very first value is to be sent.
      Defaults to ``1``.

-  **exponential_moving_average**: A simple `exponential moving
   average <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moving_average#Exponential_moving_average>`__
   over the last few values.

   -  **alpha**: The forget factor/alpha value of the filter.
   -  **send_every**: How often a sensor value should be pushed out.

``throttle`` / ``heartbeat`` / ``debounce`` / ``delta``
*******************************************************

.. code-block:: yaml

    # Example filters:
    filters:
      - throttle: 1s
      - heartbeat: 5s
      - debounce: 0.1s
      - delta: 5.0
      - lambda: return x * (9.0/5.0) + 32.0;

-  **throttle**: Throttle the incoming values. When this filter gets an incoming value,
   it checks if the last incoming value is at least ``specified time period`` old.
   If it is not older than the configured value, the value is not passed forward.

-  **heartbeat**: Send the last value that this sensor in the specified time interval.
   So a value of ``10s`` will cause the filter to output values every 10s regardless
   of the input values.

-  **debounce**: Only send values if the last incoming value is at least ``specified time period``
   old. For example if two values come in at almost the same time, this filter will only output
   the last value and only after the specified time period has passed without any new incoming
   values.

-  **delta**: This filter stores the last value passed through this filter and only
   passes incoming values through if the absolute difference is greater than the configured
   value. For example if a value of 1.0 first comes in, it's passed on. If the delta filter
   is configured with a value of 5, it will now not pass on an incoming value of 2.0, only values
   that are at least 6.0 big or -4.0.

``or`` Filter
*************

.. code-block:: yaml

    # Example filters:
    filters:
      - or:
        - throttle: 1s
        - delta: 5.0

-  **or**: Pass forward a value with the first child filter that returns. Above example
   will only pass forward values that are *either* at least 1s old or are if the absolute
   difference is at least 5.0.


``lambda`` Filter
*****************

.. code-block:: yaml

    filters:
      - lambda: return x * (9.0/5.0) + 32.0;

**lambda**: Perform a simple mathematical operation over the sensor
values. The input value is ``x`` and the result of the lambda is used
as the output (use ``return``).

Make sure to add ``.0`` to all values in the lambda, otherwise divisions of integers will
result in integers (not floating point values).

Example: Converting Celsius to Fahrenheit
-----------------------------------------

While I personally don’t like the Fahrenheit temperature scale, I do
understand that having temperature values appear in the Fahrenheit unit
is quite useful to some users. ESPHome uses the Celsius temperature
unit internally, and I’m not planning on making converting between the
two simple (😉), but you can use this filter to convert Celsius values to
Fahrenheit.

.. code-block:: yaml

    filters:
      - lambda: return x * (9.0/5.0) + 32.0;
    unit_of_measurement: "°F"

Sensor Automation
-----------------

You can access the most recent state of the sensor in :ref:`lambdas <config-lambda>` using
``id(sensor_id).state`` and the most recent raw state using ``id(sensor_id).raw_state``.

.. _sensor-on_value:

``on_value``
************

This automation will be triggered when a new value that has passed through all filters
is published. In :ref:`Lambdas <config-lambda>` you can get the value from the trigger
with ``x``.

.. code-block:: yaml

    sensor:
      - platform: dallas
        # ...
        on_value:
          then:
            - light.turn_on:
                id: light_1
                red: !lambda "return x/255;"

Configuration variables: See :ref:`Automation <automation>`.

.. _sensor-on_value_range:

``on_value_range``
******************

With this automation you can observe if a sensor value passes from outside
a defined range of values to inside a range. For example you can have an
automation that triggers when a humidity crosses a threshold, and then turns on a dehumidifier.
This trigger will only trigger when the new value is inside the range and the previous value
was outside the range. On startup, the last state before reboot is restored and if the value crossed
the boundary during the boot process, the trigger is also executed.

Define the range with ``above`` and ``below``. If only one of them is defined, the interval is half-open.
So for example ``above: 5`` with no below would mean the range from 5 to positive infinity.

.. code-block:: yaml

    sensor:
      - platform: dallas
        # ...
        on_value_range:
          above: 5
          below: 10
          then:
            - switch.turn_on: relay_1

Configuration variables:

- **above** (*Optional*, float): The minimum for the trigger.
- **below** (*Optional*, float): The maximum for the trigger.
- See :ref:`Automation <automation>`.

.. _sensor-on_raw_value:

``on_raw_value``
****************

This automation will be triggered when a new value is received that hasn't passed
through any filters. In :ref:`Lambdas <config-lambda>` you can get the value from the
trigger with ``x``.

.. code-block:: yaml

    sensor:
      - platform: dallas
        # ...
        on_raw_value:
          then:
            - light.turn_on:
                id: light_1
                red: !lambda "return x/255;"

Configuration variables: See :ref:`Automation <automation>`.

.. _sensor-in_range_condition:

``sensor.in_range`` Condition
*****************************

This condition passes if the state of the given sensor is inside a range.

Define the range with ``above`` and ``below``. If only one of them is defined, the interval is half-open.
So for example ``above: 5`` with no below would mean the range from 5 to positive infinity.

.. code-block:: yaml

    # in a trigger:
    on_...:
      if:
        condition:
          sensor.in_range:
            id: my_sensor
            above: 50.0
        then:
        - script.execute: my_script

Configuration variables:

- **above** (*Optional*, float): The minimum for the condition.
- **below** (*Optional*, float): The maximum for the condition.

.. _sensor-lambda_calls:

lambda calls
************

From :ref:`lambdas <config-lambda>`, you can call several methods on all sensors to do some
advanced stuff (see the full API Reference for more info).

- ``publish_state()``: Manually cause the sensor to push out a value. It will then
  be processed by the sensor filters, and once done be published to MQTT.

  .. code-block:: cpp

      // Within lambda, push a value of 42.0
      id(my_sensor).publish_state(42.0);

- ``.state``: Retrieve the current value of the sensor that has passed through all sensor filters.
  Is ``NAN`` if no value has gotten through all filters yet.

  .. code-block:: cpp

      // For example, create a custom log message when a value is received:
      ESP_LOGI("main", "Value of my sensor: %f", id(my_sensor).state);

- ``raw_state``: Retrieve the current value of the sensor that has not passed through any filters
  Is ``NAN`` if no value if no value has been pushed by the sensor itself yet.

  .. code-block:: cpp

      // For example, create a custom log message when a value is received:
      ESP_LOGI("main", "Raw Value of my sensor: %f", id(my_sensor).raw_state);


See Also
--------

- :apiref:`sensor/sensor.h`
- :ghedit:`Edit`

.. toctree::
    :maxdepth: 1
    :glob:

    *