Start_time sunset not working correctly.

[JBakers]

My apps.yaml:

exterior_periodic_lights:
  module: update_lights
  class: update_lights
  run_every: 300
  entities:
    - light.spot_buiten
  min_brightness_level: 40
  max_brightness_level: 100
  start_time: sunset 
  end_time: sunrise
  transition: 0
  start_lights_on: True
  stop_lights_off: True
  sensor_log: sensor.test_brightness

Everyday sunset is set at 23:45:11.
I checked sun.sun integration:

next_dawn: "2025-07-06T02:40:47.139070+00:00"
next_dusk: "2025-07-06T20:42:46.974314+00:00"
next_midnight: "2025-07-05T23:42:08+00:00"
next_noon: "2025-07-06T11:42:02+00:00"
next_rising: "2025-07-06T03:28:20.877560+00:00"
next_setting: "2025-07-06T19:55:24.651504+00:00"
elevation: -10.04
azimuth: 328.74
rising: false
friendly_name: Sun

Looks alright.
I added tz to appdaemon config to be sure:

system_packages: []
python_packages:
  - babel
init_commands: []
log_level: info
tz: Europe/Amsterdam

I also removed the config from apps.yaml, restarted appdaemon and reenabled it, same problem.

When i put for example:

start_time: "22:35:00"

It shows Execution Time 7-7-2025, 00:17:00
Its currently 6-7 00:20

Anyone have an idea?

Greetings!

[JBakers]

I get this in the trace log.

File "/config/appdaemon/apps/update_lights.py", line 223, in initialize
    self.start_time_obj = self.parse_time(self.start_time)
                          ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/lib/python3.12/site-packages/appdaemon/adapi.py", line 1637, in parse_time
    time = self.AD.sched.parse_time(time_str, name)
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/lib/python3.12/site-packages/appdaemon/scheduler.py", line 123, in parse_time
    raise ValueError("Invalid time string: {}".format(time_str))
ValueError: Invalid time string: sunset - 0:15:00

But the weird thing is: i have:

start_time: sunset

No - 0:15:00

[JBakers]

Ive just uninstalled the integration and rebooted.
Made sure all traces where gone.
Reinstalled, same problem again...

[haberda]

Can you put sunset/sunrise is quotes? It has to be a string. Same if you put a static time in. Also, sunset and sunrise are the defaults so if you don't put anything that is what it will use.

Like this:

exterior_periodic_lights:
  module: update_lights
  class: update_lights
  run_every: 300
  entities:
    - light.spot_buiten
  min_brightness_level: 40
  max_brightness_level: 100
  start_time: 'sunset' 
  end_time: 'sunrise'
  transition: 0
  start_lights_on: True
  stop_lights_off: True
  sensor_log: sensor.test_brightness

[JBakers]

I started all this with a config that had no start_time & end_time, as like you said it would default to that.

I tried with and without quotes (and double quotes)

exterior_periodic_lights:
  module: update_lights
  class: update_lights
  run_every: 300
  entities:
    - light.spot_buiten
  min_brightness_level: 40
  max_brightness_level: 100
  start_time: 'sunset'
# start_time: '22:35:00'
  end_time: sunrise
  transition: 0
  start_lights_on: True
  stop_lights_off: True
  sensor_log: sensor.test_brightness

Also copied your config, but sadly, no cigar.

The time changed a little since last time, but still nothing best the actual sunset.

sun.sun data

next_dusk: "2025-07-07T20:41:58.587469+00:00"
next_midnight: "2025-07-07T23:42:27+00:00"
next_noon: "2025-07-07T11:42:12+00:00"
next_rising: "2025-07-08T03:30:12.814855+00:00"
next_setting: "2025-07-07T19:54:47.458371+00:00"
elevation: 60.44
azimuth: 166.9
rising: true
friendly_name: Sun

As far as I can see the time looks similar to the next_midnight data? It thats even possible...