Is there a way to get SENSOR.Example to work seems only BINARY_SENSORY only works

[comet424]

so i trying to make like tabs with the button card... to show status for "ok" "problem" "unavaliable" now it works for binary_sensor but for sensor it doesnt

- sensor:
    - name: "Smoke Detector 4 Garage Status"
      state: >
        {% set val = states('sensor.smoke_detector_4_garage') %}
        {% if not is_number(val) %}
          unavailable   
        {% elif val < 0.5 %}
          ok
        {% else %}
          problem
        {% endif %}
      availability: >
        {{ is_number(states('sensor.smoke_detector_4_garage')) }}

is the code i use as a template

  - type: custom:button-card
    color_type: card
    icon: mdi:lamp
    name: Water Alarm Automation
    entity: sensor.smoke_detector_4_garage_status
    styles:
      card:
        - font-size: 19px
        - height: 40px
        - width: 350px
        - color_type: card
        - color: rgb(255,255,255)
      name:
        - justify-self: left
        - padding-left: 10px
    state:
      - value: problem
        name: Garage Red Alert
        color: rgb(255, 0, 0)
        icon: mdi:alert
      - value: ok
        name: Garage Smoke Detector OK
        color: rgb(0, 128, 0)
        icon: mdi:check
      - value: unavailable
        name: Garage Smoke Detector Offline
        color: rgb(0, 0, 128)

so using with binary sensors that use on off unavailable work but i cant get it to work with sensor
is there a way to do it

or do i have to make new binary sensors templates off the sensor templates?

[RomRider]

Looks good to me.
What is displayed?
Did you validate the state of the sensor in the developer section of home assistant?

[comet424]

it doesnt work it reads the default
so
if its set to "ok" it will display it black background and use the name

• type: custom:button-card
  color_type: card
  icon: mdi:lamp
  name: Water Alarm Automation

it wont even use the unavailable

cuz i use the water alarm automation for my floor sensors so i just copied and pasted and renamed and changed over to sensor.. but it wont actually

and ya i tested so

{{states('sensor.smoke_detector_4_garage')}}

template it responds with unavailable
but in the above its pulling the default.. its not using unavailable

if i change the word ok or problem so it turn red or green with unavailable it still pulls off the default.. its like it cant read sensor... it can do input_boolen switch binary sensor, script automation, as i use all these with the button card.. but as soon as i try sensor.whatever it doesnt work i was thinking maybe it cant be done with the sensor

[dcapslock]

I believe that states will give a string. I would update your sensor template to change the following:

• you don't need to give an unavailable state as the availability template will do that
• change your first line of the sensor template to cast to int with a default {% set val = states('sensor.smoke_detector_4_garage') | int(0) %}. Use a default that makes sense. Then in your checks you can set the sensor to unknown if its the default.

[comet424]

what i going to try to do is reboot and clear the browser cache.. maybe thats causing me problems?

[comet424]

ok maybe you can see whats wrong with the code.. cuz i rebooted.. i see the ones that should get "ok" from the if statements get a "unknown now" maybe its wrong the code
orginally i had

- sensor:
    - name: "Smoke Detector 2 By Wood Stove Status"
      state: >
        {% set val = states('sensor.smoke_detector_2_by_wood_stove') | float(0) %}
        {% if val < 0.5 %}
          ok
        {% else %}
          problem
        {% endif %}

but i googled to add the unavailable the the google AI genterated for me to change it like this but i see when you should get and "ok" its giving and "unknown" i didnt notice it because all i did was change it slightly

- sensor:
    - name: "Smoke Detector 2 By Wood Stove Status"
      state: >
        {% set val = states('sensor.smoke_detector_2_by_wood_stove') %}
        {% if not is_number(val) %}
          unavailable   
        {% elif val < 0.5 %}
          ok
        {% else %}
          problem
        {% endif %}
      availability: >
        {{ is_number(states('sensor.smoke_detector_2_by_wood_stove')) }}

maybe you see the problem how to fix that unknown... i know i have a 2nd question about the button card but like to fix this..

[dcapslock]

Suggest you work to get your template sensr right with help from the forum, then button card will just work fine.

[comet424]

ah ok ill go ask
and 2nd question
Button card text looses its Centering when you go from 250px to 350px wide its not perfectly centering text but why does the wider you go the text drops do you know? not a big deal just noticed it dropping

[comet424]

so under alarms its 225px wide under water sensors is 350px wide both are 40px high.. do you happen to know why this happens not a big deal was just playing around to line them all up but doesnt seem you can