WLED Timer Progress Bar¶

This example demonstrates how to display timer progress on a WLED LED strip using Home Assistant automations. The LED strip acts as a visual progress indicator, lighting LEDs proportionally to the remaining time.

Overview¶

WLED Timer Progress

Artist's impression - actual display may vary based on your LED strip configuration.

Active Timer: Green LEDs light proportionally to remaining time
Paused Timer: Blue LEDs show the paused state
Timer Finished: Pulsing red effect indicates alarm
No Timer: LEDs turn off or show idle pattern

Prerequisites¶

WLED device integrated with Home Assistant
Timer entities configured (e.g., timer.kitchen)
Template sensor for timer progress (from the main installation)

Configuration¶

Home Assistant Automations¶

Add these automations to your Home Assistant configuration or create them through the UI.

Timer Progress Update Automation¶

This automation updates the WLED strip every second while a timer is running:

# file: home-assistant/automations/wled_timer_progress.yaml
# section: timer_progress_automation
automation:
  - id: wled_timer_progress_update
    alias: "WLED Timer Progress Update"
    description: "Update WLED to show timer progress as LED fill"
    mode: restart

    trigger:
      # Update every second when timer is active
      - platform: time_pattern
        seconds: "/1"

    condition:
      - condition: or
        conditions:
          - condition: state
            entity_id: timer.kitchen
            state: "active"
          - condition: state
            entity_id: timer.kitchen
            state: "paused"

    action:
      - variables:
          timer_entity: timer.kitchen
          wled_entity: light.wled_kitchen_strip
          total_leds: 30
          timer_state: "{{ states(timer_entity) }}"
          # Calculate remaining seconds
          finish_time: "{{ state_attr(timer_entity, 'finishes_at') }}"
          duration: "{{ state_attr(timer_entity, 'duration') | default('0:00:00') }}"
          duration_seconds: >-
            {% set parts = duration.split(':') %}
            {{ (parts[0] | int) * 3600 + (parts[1] | int) * 60 + (parts[2] | int) }}
          remaining_seconds: >-
            {% if timer_state == 'active' and finish_time %}
              {{ max(0, (as_timestamp(finish_time) - as_timestamp(now())) | int) }}
            {% elif timer_state == 'paused' %}
              {{ state_attr(timer_entity, 'remaining') | default('0:00:00') | regex_replace('^(\\d+):(\\d+):(\\d+)$', '\\1 * 3600 + \\2 * 60 + \\3') | int }}
            {% else %}
              0
            {% endif %}
          progress_percent: >-
            {% if duration_seconds > 0 %}
              {{ (remaining_seconds / duration_seconds * 100) | int }}
            {% else %}
              0
            {% endif %}
          leds_to_light: "{{ ((progress_percent / 100) * total_leds) | int }}"

      # Set WLED segment effect based on timer state
      - choose:
          # Active timer - green progress fill
          - conditions:
              - condition: template
                value_template: "{{ timer_state == 'active' }}"
            sequence:
              - service: wled.effect
                target:
                  entity_id: "{{ wled_entity }}"
                data:
                  effect: "Solid"
                  color: [0, 255, 0]  # Green
                  intensity: 128
                  speed: 128

              # Use segment to show progress
              - service: light.turn_on
                target:
                  entity_id: "{{ wled_entity }}"
                data:
                  brightness: 200
                  effect: "Percent"
                  # Percent effect shows progress as filled LEDs

          # Paused timer - blue progress fill
          - conditions:
              - condition: template
                value_template: "{{ timer_state == 'paused' }}"
            sequence:
              - service: wled.effect
                target:
                  entity_id: "{{ wled_entity }}"
                data:
                  effect: "Solid"
                  color: [0, 100, 255]  # Blue
                  intensity: "{{ leds_to_light * 255 // total_leds }}"
                  speed: 128

Timer Finished Automation¶

When the timer finishes, display a pulsing red alert:

# file: home-assistant/automations/wled_timer_progress.yaml
# section: timer_finished_automation
  - id: wled_timer_finished_alert
    alias: "WLED Timer Finished Alert"
    description: "Flash WLED red when timer finishes"
    mode: single

    trigger:
      - platform: state
        entity_id: timer.kitchen
        to: "idle"
        from: "active"

    action:
      - service: wled.effect
        target:
          entity_id: light.wled_kitchen_strip
        data:
          effect: "Breathe"
          color: [255, 0, 0]  # Red
          intensity: 255
          speed: 200

      # Stop after 30 seconds if not manually dismissed
      - delay:
          seconds: 30

      - service: light.turn_off
        target:
          entity_id: light.wled_kitchen_strip

Timer Cancelled Automation¶

Return to normal state when timer is cancelled:

# file: home-assistant/automations/wled_timer_progress.yaml
# section: timer_cancelled_automation
  - id: wled_timer_cancelled
    alias: "WLED Timer Cancelled"
    description: "Turn off WLED effect when timer is cancelled"
    mode: single

    trigger:
      - platform: event
        event_type: timer.cancelled
        event_data:
          entity_id: timer.kitchen

    action:
      - service: light.turn_off
        target:
          entity_id: light.wled_kitchen_strip

Alternative: Custom Effect with ESPHome WLED¶

For more precise control, you can create a custom WLED preset that reads the timer progress directly:

# file: home-assistant/automations/wled_timer_progress.yaml
# section: preset_automation
  - id: wled_timer_set_preset
    alias: "WLED Timer Set Preset Based on State"
    description: "Switch WLED preset based on timer state"
    mode: restart

    trigger:
      - platform: state
        entity_id: sensor.kitchen_timer_remaining_seconds
        attribute: timer_state

    action:
      - variables:
          timer_state: "{{ state_attr('sensor.kitchen_timer_remaining_seconds', 'timer_state') }}"

      - choose:
          # Active timer - use progress preset (preset 1)
          - conditions:
              - condition: template
                value_template: "{{ timer_state == 'active' }}"
            sequence:
              - service: select.select_option
                target:
                  entity_id: select.wled_kitchen_strip_preset
                data:
                  option: "Timer Progress"

          # Paused timer - use paused preset (preset 2)
          - conditions:
              - condition: template
                value_template: "{{ timer_state == 'paused' }}"
            sequence:
              - service: select.select_option
                target:
                  entity_id: select.wled_kitchen_strip_preset
                data:
                  option: "Timer Paused"

          # Timer finished - use alert preset (preset 3)
          - conditions:
              - condition: template
                value_template: "{{ timer_state == 'idle' }}"
            sequence:
              - service: select.select_option
                target:
                  entity_id: select.wled_kitchen_strip_preset
                data:
                  option: "Off"

WLED Presets Configuration¶

Create these presets directly in your WLED web interface:

Preset 1: Timer Progress (Green)¶

Effect: Percent
Color: Green (0, 255, 0)
Speed: 128
Intensity: Controlled by automation

Preset 2: Timer Paused (Blue)¶

Effect: Solid
Color: Blue (0, 100, 255)
Speed: 0
Intensity: 128

Preset 3: Timer Alert (Red Pulse)¶

Effect: Breathe
Color: Red (255, 0, 0)
Speed: 200
Intensity: 255

Advanced: Segment-Based Progress¶

For more visual appeal, use WLED segments to create a true progress bar effect:

# file: home-assistant/automations/wled_timer_progress.yaml
# section: segment_progress
  - id: wled_timer_segment_progress
    alias: "WLED Timer Segment Progress"
    description: "Use WLED segments for precise progress display"
    mode: restart

    trigger:
      - platform: time_pattern
        seconds: "/1"

    condition:
      - condition: state
        entity_id: timer.kitchen
        state: "active"

    action:
      - variables:
          total_leds: 30
          progress: "{{ state_attr('sensor.kitchen_timer_remaining_seconds', 'progress_percent') | default(0) | float }}"
          leds_lit: "{{ ((progress / 100) * total_leds) | int }}"

      # Set segment 0 (lit portion) to green
      - service: rest_command.wled_set_segment
        data:
          segment_id: 0
          start: 0
          stop: "{{ leds_lit }}"
          color: [0, 255, 0]
          effect: 0  # Solid

      # Set segment 1 (unlit portion) to off
      - service: rest_command.wled_set_segment
        data:
          segment_id: 1
          start: "{{ leds_lit }}"
          stop: "{{ total_leds }}"
          color: [0, 0, 0]
          effect: 0

Add this REST command to your Home Assistant configuration.yaml:

# file: home-assistant/configuration.yaml
# section: rest_command
rest_command:
  wled_set_segment:
    url: "http://wled-kitchen.local/json/state"
    method: POST
    content_type: "application/json"
    payload: >-
      {
        "seg": [{
          "id": {{ segment_id }},
          "start": {{ start }},
          "stop": {{ stop }},
          "col": [{{ color }}],
          "fx": {{ effect }}
        }]
      }

Multi-Area Support¶

To support multiple areas with separate WLED strips, create a script that accepts parameters:

# file: home-assistant/scripts/wled_timer_progress.yaml
# section: multi_area_script
script:
  wled_update_timer_progress:
    alias: "Update WLED Timer Progress"
    description: "Update any WLED strip based on timer area"
    mode: parallel
    max: 5

    fields:
      area:
        description: "The area name (e.g., kitchen, bedroom)"
        required: true
        selector:
          text:
      wled_entity:
        description: "The WLED light entity"
        required: true
        selector:
          entity:
            domain: light

    sequence:
      - variables:
          timer_entity: "timer.{{ area }}"
          sensor_entity: "sensor.{{ area }}_timer_remaining_seconds"
          timer_state: "{{ states(timer_entity) }}"
          progress: "{{ state_attr(sensor_entity, 'progress_percent') | default(0) | float }}"

      - choose:
          - conditions:
              - condition: template
                value_template: "{{ timer_state == 'active' }}"
            sequence:
              - service: light.turn_on
                target:
                  entity_id: "{{ wled_entity }}"
                data:
                  brightness: "{{ (progress * 2.55) | int }}"
                  rgb_color: [0, 255, 0]
                  effect: "Solid"

          - conditions:
              - condition: template
                value_template: "{{ timer_state == 'paused' }}"
            sequence:
              - service: light.turn_on
                target:
                  entity_id: "{{ wled_entity }}"
                data:
                  brightness: "{{ (progress * 2.55) | int }}"
                  rgb_color: [0, 100, 255]
                  effect: "Solid"

        default:
          - service: light.turn_off
            target:
              entity_id: "{{ wled_entity }}"

Then create automations for each area:

# file: home-assistant/automations/wled_timer_progress.yaml
# section: multi_area_automations
  - id: wled_kitchen_timer_progress
    alias: "WLED Kitchen Timer Progress"
    trigger:
      - platform: time_pattern
        seconds: "/1"
    condition:
      - condition: or
        conditions:
          - condition: state
            entity_id: timer.kitchen
            state: "active"
          - condition: state
            entity_id: timer.kitchen
            state: "paused"
    action:
      - service: script.wled_update_timer_progress
        data:
          area: kitchen
          wled_entity: light.wled_kitchen_strip

  - id: wled_bedroom_timer_progress
    alias: "WLED Bedroom Timer Progress"
    trigger:
      - platform: time_pattern
        seconds: "/1"
    condition:
      - condition: or
        conditions:
          - condition: state
            entity_id: timer.bedroom
            state: "active"
          - condition: state
            entity_id: timer.bedroom
            state: "paused"
    action:
      - service: script.wled_update_timer_progress
        data:
          area: bedroom
          wled_entity: light.wled_bedroom_strip

Testing¶

Start a timer: "Set a 2 minute timer"
Verify the WLED strip shows green LEDs proportional to remaining time
Pause the timer: "Pause the timer"
Verify the color changes to blue
Resume and let the timer finish
Verify the red pulsing alert effect activates
Cancel the timer to verify cleanup

Tips¶

Adjust total_leds to match your LED strip length
Use WLED's built-in "Percent" effect for smoother animations
Consider adding a dimming schedule to reduce brightness at night
The segment-based approach provides the most accurate visual representation