# Trigger a Variable after a time (based on a input value)

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/trigger-a-variable-after-a-time-based-on-a-input-value/25871>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [1 May 2020 14:56 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/trigger-a-variable-after-a-time-based-on-a-input-value/25871 "2020-05-01T14:56:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 12\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![good\_mike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/71e660/32.png) [@good\_mike](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/good_mike)\
**Post date:** [1 May 2020 14:56 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/trigger-a-variable-after-a-time-based-on-a-input-value/25871/1 "2020-05-01T14:56:50Z")

</div>

Hello,

I'm a complete newbie...  
I have some experience in IEC61131 (Beckhoff Twincat) but NodeRed is absolutely new for me. My installation runs on a Raspberry 3B.  
Here's what I want to realize:  
If the value of a variable is longer than for example 3 seconds \> 0 then the output should be true. If the value of the variable falls to 0 again within the given time (3 sec.), the output remains false.  
Could you perhaps give me a little hint...  
Thanks a lot!

best regards

good\_mike

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dceejay](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/dceejay/32/38_2.png) [@dceejay](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dceejay)\
**Post date:** [1 May 2020 15:03 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/trigger-a-variable-after-a-time-based-on-a-input-value/25871/2 "2020-05-01T15:03:37Z")

</div>

Hi, welcome aboard.

look at the `trigger` node - set it to send 0 - then wait three seconds - then send 1 - but set to extend if another input arrives (so it will stay at 0)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![good\_mike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/71e660/32.png) [@good\_mike](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/good_mike)\
**Post date:** [1 May 2020 15:14 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/trigger-a-variable-after-a-time-based-on-a-input-value/25871/3 "2020-05-01T15:14:52Z")

</div>

that's my solution so far....  
But the output gos to TRUE even if the Input is at 0 within 5 secons

```auto
[{"id":"4ed5c212.1e810c","type":"function","z":"35c5b282.47cf2e","name":"","func":"if(msg.payload >0){\n msg.payload=true;\n}else{\n msg.payload = false;\n}\nreturn msg;","outputs":1,"noerr":0,"x":590,"y":240,"wires":[["23de7783.6b0108"]]}]

```

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![cymplecy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/cymplecy/32/2773_2.png) [@cymplecy](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/cymplecy)\
**Post date:** [1 May 2020 16:15 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/trigger-a-variable-after-a-time-based-on-a-input-value/25871/4 "2020-05-01T16:15:41Z")

</div>

I think you might not have copied all of your flow - that just seems to contain a function node

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![good\_mike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/71e660/32.png) [@good\_mike](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/good_mike)\
**Post date:** [1 May 2020 16:24 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/trigger-a-variable-after-a-time-based-on-a-input-value/25871/5 "2020-05-01T16:24:52Z")

</div>

ah, sorry: newbie.... 🙂

```auto
[{"id":"35c5b282.47cf2e","type":"tab","label":"Übungen","disabled":false,"info":""},{"id":"c889e497.627288","type":"debug","z":"35c5b282.47cf2e","name":"","active":true,"tosidebar":true,"console":false,"tostatus":true,"complete":"payload","targetType":"msg","x":930,"y":240,"wires":[]},{"id":"4ed5c212.1e810c","type":"function","z":"35c5b282.47cf2e","name":"","func":"if(msg.payload >0){\n msg.payload=true;\n}else{\n msg.payload = false;\n}\nreturn msg;","outputs":1,"noerr":0,"x":590,"y":240,"wires":[["23de7783.6b0108"]]},{"id":"a9148825.547ac8","type":"ui_numeric","z":"35c5b282.47cf2e","name":"","label":"numeric","tooltip":"","group":"2acf9945.528086","order":2,"width":0,"height":0,"wrap":false,"passthru":true,"topic":"","format":"{{value}}","min":0,"max":10,"step":1,"x":440,"y":240,"wires":[["4ed5c212.1e810c"]]},{"id":"23de7783.6b0108","type":"trigger","z":"35c5b282.47cf2e","op1":"false","op2":"","op1type":"bool","op2type":"pay","duration":"5","extend":false,"units":"s","reset":"True","bytopic":"all","name":"","x":750,"y":240,"wires":[["c889e497.627288"]]},{"id":"2acf9945.528086","type":"ui_group","z":"","name":"E-Mail-Adressen","tab":"73fccdec.21cd94","disp":true,"width":"6","collapse":false},{"id":"73fccdec.21cd94","type":"ui_tab","z":"","name":"Sonstiges","icon":"dashboard","disabled":false,"hidden":false}]

```

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dceejay](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/dceejay/32/38_2.png) [@dceejay](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dceejay)\
**Post date:** [1 May 2020 18:14 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/trigger-a-variable-after-a-time-based-on-a-input-value/25871/6 "2020-05-01T18:14:33Z")

</div>

Ah right. So then also set it to reset when it sees a 0

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![good\_mike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/71e660/32.png) [@good\_mike](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/good_mike)\
**Post date:** [3 May 2020 15:58 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/trigger-a-variable-after-a-time-based-on-a-input-value/25871/7 "2020-05-03T15:58:09Z")

</div>

I do not know I how I can reset it.

Maybe I need a short demo code....

Up to now, it does not work as it should. I only want to output "TRUE" if the input of the trigger function is "TRUE" for more than 5 seconds. If the input of the trigger function is "FALSE" again before the 5 seconds are reached, the output should remain on "FALSE". Like the classic TON function in IEC61131 / Twincat.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Colin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/colin/32/17040_2.png) [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)\
**Post date:** [3 May 2020 16:53 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/trigger-a-variable-after-a-time-based-on-a-input-value/25871/8 "2020-05-03T16:53:57Z")

</div>

Look at the info panel for the node, then use a Switch to detect the false condition then pass that to a Change node to build the reset message to pass to the trigger node.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![good\_mike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/71e660/32.png) [@good\_mike](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/good_mike)\
**Post date:** [3 May 2020 17:10 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/trigger-a-variable-after-a-time-based-on-a-input-value/25871/9 "2020-05-03T17:10:33Z")

</div>

sorry, but this I do not understand - I'm complete new in node red....

I try this, but this is also not working:

```auto
[{"id":"35c5b282.47cf2e","type":"tab","label":"Übungen","disabled":false,"info":""},{"id":"c889e497.627288","type":"debug","z":"35c5b282.47cf2e","name":"","active":true,"tosidebar":true,"console":false,"tostatus":true,"complete":"payload","targetType":"msg","x":930,"y":240,"wires":[]},{"id":"4ed5c212.1e810c","type":"function","z":"35c5b282.47cf2e","name":"","func":"if(msg.payload >0){\n msg.payload=true;\n}else{\n msg.payload = false;\n}\nreturn msg;","outputs":1,"noerr":0,"x":590,"y":240,"wires":[["23de7783.6b0108","2ff35f97.3d37f"]]},{"id":"a9148825.547ac8","type":"ui_numeric","z":"35c5b282.47cf2e","name":"","label":"numeric","tooltip":"","group":"2acf9945.528086","order":2,"width":0,"height":0,"wrap":false,"passthru":true,"topic":"","format":"{{value}}","min":0,"max":10,"step":1,"x":400,"y":240,"wires":[["4ed5c212.1e810c","b9cbcbeb.205688"]]},{"id":"23de7783.6b0108","type":"trigger","z":"35c5b282.47cf2e","op1":"false","op2":"","op1type":"bool","op2type":"pay","duration":"5","extend":false,"units":"s","reset":"True","bytopic":"all","name":"","x":750,"y":240,"wires":[["c889e497.627288"]]},{"id":"2ff35f97.3d37f","type":"debug","z":"35c5b282.47cf2e","name":"","active":true,"tosidebar":true,"console":false,"tostatus":true,"complete":"payload","targetType":"msg","x":770,"y":140,"wires":[]},{"id":"b9cbcbeb.205688","type":"debug","z":"35c5b282.47cf2e","name":"","active":true,"tosidebar":true,"console":false,"tostatus":true,"complete":"payload","targetType":"msg","x":570,"y":80,"wires":[]},{"id":"dd856326.5bdd2","type":"inject","z":"35c5b282.47cf2e","name":"","topic":"","payload":"true","payloadType":"bool","repeat":"","crontab":"","once":false,"onceDelay":0.1,"x":470,"y":360,"wires":[["afb93624.f23c18","7b4bfd5d.5d6864"]]},{"id":"735ac9b8.3f40c8","type":"debug","z":"35c5b282.47cf2e","name":"","active":true,"tosidebar":true,"console":false,"tostatus":true,"complete":"payload","targetType":"msg","x":1070,"y":360,"wires":[]},{"id":"afb93624.f23c18","type":"debug","z":"35c5b282.47cf2e","name":"","active":true,"tosidebar":true,"console":false,"tostatus":true,"complete":"payload","targetType":"msg","x":650,"y":300,"wires":[]},{"id":"7b4bfd5d.5d6864","type":"trigger","z":"35c5b282.47cf2e","op1":"false","op2":"true","op1type":"bool","op2type":"bool","duration":"5","extend":false,"units":"s","reset":"","bytopic":"all","name":"","x":810,"y":360,"wires":[["735ac9b8.3f40c8"]]},{"id":"4ee8bc33.c51db4","type":"inject","z":"35c5b282.47cf2e","name":"","topic":"","payload":"msg.reset","payloadType":"str","repeat":"","crontab":"","once":false,"onceDelay":0.1,"x":480,"y":420,"wires":[["7b4bfd5d.5d6864"]]},{"id":"2acf9945.528086","type":"ui_group","z":"","name":"E-Mail-Adressen","tab":"73fccdec.21cd94","disp":true,"width":"6","collapse":false},{"id":"73fccdec.21cd94","type":"ui_tab","z":"","name":"Sonstiges","icon":"dashboard","disabled":false,"hidden":false}]

```

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![EmilWesselink](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/emilwesselink/32/65829_2.png) [@EmilWesselink](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/EmilWesselink)\
**Post date:** [3 May 2020 22:20 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/trigger-a-variable-after-a-time-based-on-a-input-value/25871/10 "2020-05-03T22:20:34Z")

</div>

Try this, very simple flow with trigger. As long zero's are passed the module will be true, if no zero for three seconds then it will be false.

```auto
[{"id":"fcbb8937.0bc388","type":"trigger","z":"a936faf0.abbd88","op1":"false","op2":"true","op1type":"bool","op2type":"bool","duration":"3","extend":true,"units":"s","reset":"","bytopic":"all","name":"","x":500,"y":600,"wires":[["c0c665a6.852678"]]},{"id":"8d418d1e.855fe","type":"switch","z":"a936faf0.abbd88","name":"","property":"payload","propertyType":"msg","rules":[{"t":"eq","v":"0","vt":"num"}],"checkall":"true","repair":false,"outputs":1,"x":320,"y":600,"wires":[["fcbb8937.0bc388"]]},{"id":"c0c665a6.852678","type":"debug","z":"a936faf0.abbd88","name":"","active":true,"tosidebar":true,"console":false,"tostatus":false,"complete":"false","x":730,"y":600,"wires":[]},{"id":"a3fb03e6.4680a","type":"inject","z":"a936faf0.abbd88","name":"","topic":"","payload":"0","payloadType":"num","repeat":"","crontab":"","once":false,"onceDelay":0.1,"x":170,"y":600,"wires":[["8d418d1e.855fe"]]}]

```

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![good\_mike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/71e660/32.png) [@good\_mike](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/good_mike)\
**Post date:** [5 May 2020 19:21 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/trigger-a-variable-after-a-time-based-on-a-input-value/25871/11 "2020-05-05T19:21:37Z")

</div>

Thanks - I will learn with this example!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/1X/d073cd938eafa2e558d7c2cd59003b3ef4963033.png) [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [19 May 2020 19:21 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/trigger-a-variable-after-a-time-based-on-a-input-value/25871/12 "2020-05-19T19:21:41Z")

</div>

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