Time Based Cover with Tilt Function

The time_based_tilt cover platform allows you to control covers with both position and tilt using a single motor, without any physical position feedback. This type of mechanism is commonly used in external venetian blinds. Because no sensors are available, the cover state is always assumed, and both position and tilt are estimated based on how long the motor has been running in each direction.

The platform can also be used for covers without a tilt function — in such cases, the tilt rotation time should be set to 0ms.

The implementation includes automatic recalibration at the end positions (0% and 100%), and it respects interlock wait time, actuator activation time, and inertia time when changing direction. These timings ensure safe motor operation and allow the component to maintain accurate, time-based tracking of both position and tilt — even for motors that require a minimum power-on window, exhibit mechanical inertia before movement, or must not reverse direction immediately.

# Example configuration entry
cover:
  - platform: time_based_tilt
    name: "Time-Based Tilt Cover"
    open_duration: 58700ms
    close_duration: 57700ms
    inertia_open_time: 300ms
    tilt_open_duration: 930ms
    inertia_close_time: 250ms
    tilt_close_duration: 900ms
    recalibration_close_time: 6500ms
    recalibration_open_time: 4500ms
    actuator_activation_open_time: 200ms
    actuator_activation_close_time: 250ms
    close_sets_tilt: false
    open_sets_tilt: false

    open_action:
      - switch.turn_on: open_cover_switch

    close_action:
      - switch.turn_on: close_cover_switch

    stop_action:
      - switch.turn_off: open_cover_switch
      - switch.turn_off: close_cover_switch

Configuration variables

name (Required, string): The name of the cover.
open_duration (Required, Time): The amount of time it takes the cover to open up from the fully-closed state.
close_duration (Required, Time): The amount of time it takes the cover to close from the fully-open state.
open_action (Required, Action): The action that should be performed when the remote requests the cover to be opened.
close_action (Required, Action): The action that should be performed when the remote requests the cover to be closed.
stop_action (Required, Action): The action that should be performed when the remote requests the cover to be stopped or when the cover has been opening/closing for the given durations.
tilt_open_duration (Optional, Time): The amount of time it takes lamellas to tilt from the fully-closed state. Defaults to 0ms.
tilt_close_duration (Optional, Time): The amount of time it takes lamellas to tilt from the fully-open state. Defaults to 0ms.
inertia_open_time (Optional, Time): The delay before the cover begins to physically open after changing direction. During this time the motor is already powered and running, but the cover has not yet started to move. The accumulated “inertia offset” position is not reset on every motor start — it is preserved across movements until the direction changes again, and after the direction change the distance required to overcome inertia is equal to the distance previously travelled in the opposite direction, not reset to zero.
inertia_close_time (Optional, Time): The delay before the cover begins to physically close after changing direction. During this time the motor is already powered and running, but the cover has not yet started to move. The accumulated “inertia offset” position is not reset on every motor start — it is preserved across movements until the direction changes again, and after the direction change the distance required to overcome inertia is equal to the distance previously travelled in the opposite direction, not reset to zero. Defaults to 0ms..
interlock_wait_time (Optional, Time): The waiting time after a direction change before the motor is allowed to run again. Useful for motors that must not reverse instantly. This timer is reset on every direction change and it continues to elapse regardless of whether the cover is currently moving or not. Important: If your installation uses switches that also have an interlock_wait_time configured, you must set a delay here that is not lower than the value used for the switches. Leaving this value lower than the switch configuration will cause incorrect position calculations. Defaults to 0ms.
recalibration_open_time (Optional, Time): Additional time the motor remains on after reaching the fully-open position (100%) for calibration. Defaults to 0ms.
recalibration_close_time (Optional, Time): Additional time the motor remains on after reaching the fully-closed position (0%) for calibration. Defaults to 0ms.
actuator_activation_open_time (Optional, Time): Additional activation time applied before the cover starts opening. During this time the motor is already powered, but the mechanism has not yet begun to move. This value is counted from the moment power is applied, and it resets whenever power is removed. Required for motors that must receive power for a minimum duration before movement begins (e.g. drives specifying requirements such as “Continuous orders of at least 200 ms must be sent to ensure proper execution”). Defaults to 0ms.
actuator_activation_close_time (Optional, Time): Additional activation time applied before the cover starts closing. During this time the motor is powered but the mechanism has not yet started moving. The time is measured from the moment power is applied, and it resets when power is removed. Use this when motors require a minimum “power-on” window before responding to a closing command or direction change. Defaults to 0ms.
close_sets_tilt (Optional, boolean): When set to true, issuing a close command (i.e., setting the cover position to 0.0 without specifying any tilt value) will also set tilt position 0.0. Defaults to false.
open_sets_tilt (Optional, boolean): When set to true, issuing an open command (i.e., setting the cover position to 1.0 without specifying any tilt value) will also set tilt position 1.0. Defaults to false.
assumed_state (Optional, boolean): Whether the true state of the cover is not known. This makes Home Assistant show both OPEN and CLOSE buttons. Defaults to true.
id (Optional, ID): Manually specify the ID used for code generation.
All other options from Cover.

Note on execution order of timing parameters

The cover movement sequences apply timing parameters in a fixed, deterministic order. Each stage begins only after the previous one has fully completed.

Order for opening

interlock_wait_time – waiting time after a direction change before movement is allowed.
actuator_activation_open_time – initial power-on time required by some actuators before movement begins.
inertia_open_time – delay before the cover starts moving when changing direction.
tilt_open_duration – time used to tilt lamellas toward the fully-open position (if applicable).
open_duration – main travel time of the cover from closed to open.
recalibration_open_time – extra time the motor remains powered after reaching the open limit.

Order for closing

interlock_wait_time – waiting time after a direction change before movement is allowed.
actuator_activation_close_time – initial power-on time required by some actuators before movement begins.
inertia_close_time – delay before the cover starts moving when changing direction.
tilt_close_duration – time used to tilt lamellas toward the fully-close position (if applicable).
close_duration – main travel time of the cover from open to closed.
recalibration_close_time – extra time the motor remains powered after reaching the closed limit.

ℹ️ Note
The stop button on the UI is always enabled even when the cover is stopped and each press on the button will cause the stop_action to be performed.