i would probably do it with two+ automations. Something like:
ON automation:
trigger:
time pattern - beginning of every 3 hours
then:
start timer with duration 37 minutes (select your timer helper)
Turn on AC unit
OFF automation:
trigger:
Manual Event
event type: timer.finished (case sensitive!)
event data : entity_id: timer.[timer_helper_entity]
then:
turn off AC unit
STARTUP_CHECK automation:
trigger:
when home assistant is started
if:
state - timer helper is idle
AC is on
then:
turn AC off
Note 1: make sure the timer helper has restore state and time when HA starts enabled
note 2: automations using the timer.finished event will not trigger on startup if the timer expires when Home Assistant is not running.
note 2a: the third automation is for your edge case that you reboot/shutdown HA when the OFF automation was supposed to fire. it should ensure the AC turns off after the timer was supposed to be finished and HA is started. this automation does not account for if the AC is turned on manually and you restart HA.
i can get you the .YAML or pictures when I'm at a computer.
i would probably do it with two+ automations. Something like:
ONautomation:time pattern- beginning of every 3 hoursOFFautomation:Manual Eventtimer.finished(case sensitive!)entity_id: timer.[timer_helper_entity]STARTUP_CHECKautomation:state- timer helper isidleNote 1: make sure the timer helper has
restore state and time when HA startsenablednote 2:
automations using the timer.finished event will not trigger on startup if the timer expires when Home Assistant is not running.note 2a: the third automation is for your edge case that you reboot/shutdown HA when the
OFFautomation was supposed to fire. it should ensure the AC turns off after the timer was supposed to be finished and HA is started. this automation does not account for if the AC is turned on manually and you restart HA.i can get you the .YAML or pictures when I'm at a computer.