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Appliance Detection

Appliance detection identifies when a connected appliance starts running and when it has finished based on power use.

This is best for appliances with a clear running phase and a lower-power finished or idle phase.

Entities​

Settings:

  • Appliance Detection Enabled: turns the feature on or off.
  • Appliance Running Threshold: power level that means the appliance has started running.
  • Appliance Finished Threshold: power level that means the appliance may have finished.
  • Appliance Finished Delay: how long power must stay below the finished threshold before the appliance is marked finished.

Status sensors:

  • Appliance Running: on after the appliance has exceeded the running threshold.
  • Appliance Finished: on after the appliance later stays below the finished threshold for the configured delay.

Suggested Use Cases​

  • Washing machine finished notifications.
  • Tumble dryer finished notifications.
  • Dishwasher finished notifications.
  • Dehumidifier or air purifier run-state monitoring.
  • Any appliance where power rises noticeably during operation and drops after the cycle completes.

Suggested Setup Process​

  1. Turn on the plug relay.
  2. Run the appliance normally.
  3. Watch the Power sensor in Home Assistant during the cycle.
  4. Note the typical running power while the appliance is active.
  5. Note the power after the appliance has finished.
  6. Set Appliance Running Threshold below the normal active running power.
  7. Set Appliance Finished Threshold above the finished idle power but below normal running power.
  8. Set Appliance Finished Delay long enough to ignore short pauses.
  9. Turn on Appliance Detection Enabled and test another cycle.

Example Starting Points​

Washing machine:

  • Appliance Running Threshold: 20 W to 50 W.
  • Appliance Finished Threshold: 3 W to 10 W.
  • Appliance Finished Delay: 5 to 10 minutes.

Tumble dryer:

  • Appliance Running Threshold: 100 W to 500 W.
  • Appliance Finished Threshold: 5 W to 20 W.
  • Appliance Finished Delay: 5 to 10 minutes.

Dishwasher:

  • Appliance Running Threshold: 20 W to 100 W.
  • Appliance Finished Threshold: 3 W to 10 W.
  • Appliance Finished Delay: 10 to 20 minutes.

These are starting points only. Use the actual power readings from your appliance where possible.

Home Assistant Notification Example​

Create an automation that triggers when Appliance Finished turns on.

Suggested actions:

  • Send a mobile notification that the washing machine has finished.
  • Turn on a reminder light.
  • Announce the finished cycle on a smart speaker.
  • Turn off the plug relay after the notification has been sent.

Avoiding False Finished Alerts​

Many appliances pause during a cycle. If Appliance Finished turns on too early:

  • Lower Appliance Finished Threshold.
  • Increase Appliance Finished Delay.
  • Raise Appliance Running Threshold if the appliance is being marked as running too easily.

If the appliance never shows as finished:

  • Raise Appliance Finished Threshold slightly.
  • Check whether the appliance has an idle display or fan that continues drawing power.
  • Confirm Appliance Detection Enabled is turned on.

Potential Use Cases​

  • Track whether a washing machine cycle started after a scheduled delay.
  • Alert if a tumble dryer is still running after an expected finish time.
  • Create a dashboard showing which appliance is currently running.
  • Use finished detection to remind someone to empty a machine.