Start multiple zones

Use this action to build a custom schedule on the fly. You pass a list of zones and the run times to use, and Rachio runs them in the order listed. Keep all zones on the same controller to avoid issues.

Using this action from the user interface

If you prefer building automations and scripts visually, Home Assistant walks you through this action step by step. You pick what to target, tweak a few options, and save. No YAML knowledge required.

To start multiple zones from an automation or a script:

1. Go to Settings > Automations & scenes.
2. Open an existing automation or script, or select Create automation > Create new automation.
3. If you’re setting up a new automation, add a trigger in the When section. Scripts don’t need a trigger. They run when something else calls them.
4. In the Then do section, select Add action.
5. From the search box, search for and select Rachio: Start multiple zones.
6. Select what you want to control. Under By target (see Targets), select the zones to run, in the order you want them to run.
7. Enter the Duration in minutes.
8. Select Save.

Options in the UI

Using this action in YAML

If you work directly in YAML, or you want to know exactly what Home Assistant does under the hood, this section has the technical reference. It lists the field names you use in YAML, their types, and which ones are required.

In YAML, refer to this action as rachio.start_multiple_zone_schedule. Give each zone its own run time by passing a comma-separated list of minutes in the same order as the zones:

action: rachio.start_multiple_zone_schedule
target:
  entity_id:
    - switch.front_yard_west
    - switch.front_yard_east
    - switch.side_yard_west
data:
  duration: "20, 15, 10"

This runs the front yard west zone for 20 minutes, the front yard east zone for 15 minutes, and the side yard west zone for 10 minutes.

To use the same run time for every zone, pass a single value:

action: rachio.start_multiple_zone_schedule
target:
  entity_id:
    - switch.front_yard_west
    - switch.front_yard_east
    - switch.side_yard_west
data:
  duration: 20

Options in YAML

Targets of the action

This action requires a target. The target is the object of the action. You can point the action at a single entityAn entity represents a sensor, actor, or function in Home Assistant. Entities are used to monitor physical properties or to control other entities. An entity is usually part of a device or a service. [Learn more], a device, an area, a floor, or a label, and Home Assistant will run the action on every matching switch entity behind that target.

• Entity: one specific switch entity, such as switch.living_room.
• Device: every switch entity that belongs to a device.
• Area: every switch entity in a room or area.
• Floor: every switch entity on a floor.
• Label: every switch entity that shares a label.

You can also select different target types in one action. For example, you can add a specific entity and an area as targets in the same action to run the action on both of them at once.

Try it yourself

Ready to test this? Open Developer tools > Actions, search for this action, fill in the fields, and select Perform action. You see what happens on your actual entitiesAn entity represents a sensor, actor, or function in Home Assistant. Entities are used to monitor physical properties or to control other entities. An entity is usually part of a device or a service. [Learn more] without writing a line of YAML.

Still stuck?

The Home Assistant community is quick to help: join Discord for real-time chat, post on the community forum with the action you’re calling and what you expected to happen, or share on our subreddit /r/homeassistant.

Related actions

These actions work well alongside this one:

• Start watering: Starts a single zone, a schedule, or any number of smart hose timer valves.

• Set zone moisture percent: Sets the moisture percentage of one or more sprinkler zones.

• Stop watering: Stops any currently running zones or schedules.