Reactor

Reactor is a plugin for Vera Home Automation systems that addresses the shortcomings in the built-in logic for triggering scenes and events, adding powerful, user-configurable logic to drive automation.

This page is for Reactor for Vera/openLuup. If you are looking for information about Multi-System Reactor, click here!

What Can I Do with Reactor?

If you've ever wanted to do something with Vera/Luup where it's "if this is on and that's off and this sensor is tripped and that device is in this condition", then Reactor is for you. In particular, any time the word "and" appears in the conditions for an automation you are trying to set up, you may need Reactor.

Here are some examples of things you can do with Reactor (many of which would be difficult to do reliably or at all with Vera scenes and device triggers alone):

  • Send a notification when the garage door is left open for more than 15 minutes between 10pm and 8am;
  • Turn off outdoor lights at 11pm, unless your house is in "Party Mode" (as set by a VirtualSwitch you created);
  • Reboot your Vera at 5am every Sunday;
  • Temporarily run air conditioning if the humidity in your house exceeds 55%;
  • Close the blinds and turn off your pool equipment if the current weather is "lightning";
  • Put your Nest thermostat in "Home" mode when your house mode is "Away" but your caretaker uses their lock code to open the front door, and then later return the Nest to "Away" mode.

In the News

Reactor was given accolades on the blog of a well-known Home Automation designer/implementer in Australia. I am grateful to RKM Smart Home for the mention and accolades--this is exactly the kind of response I have worked toward and hoped for in creating Reactor.

Want to Know More?

Everything you want to know has moved here: Official Reactor Wiki. Active ongoing discussion and support can be found in the Reactor category of the Vera Community Forums. I also have a nascent-but-growing series of YouTube video tutorials.