Hi @clancyduncan! Thanks for your message, we totally understand, we are working to have many applets ready so you can choose the service and the actions as needed.
I can help with the applet limit question: only applets that you create following the link https://ifttt.com/create count towards the 3-applet limit. But any applets that a brand like Apilio creates as a “template” can be connected and don’t count towards the limit. These you can use as many as you like for free.
Source: Linden clarified this here: https://twitter.com/ltibbets/status/1303853233064951809
For our use cases, we are preparing these new templates that will tell you exactly which applet to activate, providing a direct link to the applet that must be connected. For example, for this use case you mention:
This template needs:
- 1 native time condition in Apilio, to check if it’s dark outside (between sunset and sunrise)
- 1 external trigger: check that I’m close to home
- 2 Actions: one to turn on the light and one to turn it off.
For example, to setup the actions, you will enable the ready-made applets from Apilio, depending on your device.
If you have a Philips Hue light bulb for example, you’ll use:
| Trigger brand | Trigger | Action brand | Action | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apilio | Receives an event from Apilio | Philips Hue | Turn on lights | https://ifttt.com/applets/mBiHksZF |
| Apilio | Receives an event from Apilio | Philips Hue | Turn off lights | https://ifttt.com/applets/RQCKVxke |
If you have a SmartThings light bulb for example, you’ll use:
| Trigger brand | Trigger | Action brand | Action | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apilio | Receives an event from Apilio | SmartThings | Switch on | https://ifttt.com/applets/nJXejSBD |
| Apilio | Receives an event from Apilio | SmartThings | Switch off | https://ifttt.com/applets/VtEwWbp2 |
We are preparing many new applets that will speed up setup and facilitate your connection between Apilio and IFTTT 