# Adafruit IO Basics: Schedule Actions
## Overview
**Add simple scheduling to your projects** with an Adafruit IO schedule action. **Turn on or off** **lamps, fans, solenoids, and other small appliances without the headache of reading and parsing output from real-time-clock (RTC) or obtaining the network time**.
This guide's project is a continuation of the [IoT Power Outlet guide](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-io-a-c-power-relay) where we built an internet-connected electrical outlet with an Adafruit PyPortal and connected it to Adafruit IO. This guide will take the IoT Power Outlet guide one step further by adding some scheduling logic to the outlet to turn a lamp on or off at a specific time or day.
This project is _not only for scheduling and automating lights_ - you may adapt it to control a fish feeder, turn off an interactive art exhibit at night, water your plants at specific times, or schedule anything powered by an A/C outlet.
## What are Adafruit IO Actions?
Adafruit IO **Actions add some lightweight logic to your IoT project without writing extra code**. Actions are a way to do something when a certain situation occurs. This guide focuses on the simplest action type - **schedule actions**.
## What is a scheduled action?
You can configure a scheduled action to **publish a value to a feed** , send an email containing the value of a feed, or even send a webhook message to a URL at a **specific time**.
Scheduled triggers allow _robust_ scheduling actions such as sending a value to a feed “At 11:15 AM, only on the 2nd August”, “Every 4 hours”, or “Everyday at 15 minute intervals between 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM”.
They also utilize your Adafruit IO account's local timezone - no complicated date-time math required!
## Parts
You will need the following parts to complete this guide
### Adafruit PyPortal - CircuitPython Powered Internet Display
[Adafruit PyPortal - CircuitPython Powered Internet Display](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4116)
**PyPortal** , our easy-to-use IoT device that allows you to create all the things for the “Internet of Things” in minutes. Make custom touch screen interface GUIs, all open-source, and Python-powered using tinyJSON / APIs to get news, stock, weather, cat photos,...
Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4116)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4116/guides)
### Controllable Four Outlet Power Relay Module version 2
[Controllable Four Outlet Power Relay Module version 2](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2935)
Say goodbye to hazardous high voltage wiring and create the [Internet of Things](https://www.adafruit.com/categories/342) with safe, reliable power control. The **IoT Power Relay** from [Digital...](http://www.digital-loggers.com/iot.html)
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2935)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2935/guides)
### STEMMA JST PH 2mm 3-Pin to Male Header Cable - 200mm
[STEMMA JST PH 2mm 3-Pin to Male Header Cable - 200mm](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3893)
This cable will let you turn a JST PH 3-pin cable port into 3 individual wires with high-quality 0.1" male header plugs on the end. We're carrying these to match up with our Hallowing, for extending and connecting sensors or LEDs - and the wires are even color coded!
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3893)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3893/guides)
### 5V 2.5A Switching Power Supply with 20AWG MicroUSB Cable
[5V 2.5A Switching Power Supply with 20AWG MicroUSB Cable](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1995)
Our all-in-one 5V 2.5 Amp + MicroUSB cable power adapter is the perfect choice for powering single-board computers like Raspberry Pi, BeagleBone, or anything else that's power-hungry!
This adapter was specifically designed to provide 5.25V, not 5V, but we still call it a 5V USB...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1995)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1995/guides)
### Part: Micro-USB Cable
quantity: 1
USB cable - USB A to Micro-B - 3 foot long
[Micro-USB Cable](https://www.adafruit.com/product/592)
- [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-io-basics-scheduled-triggers/create-an-adafruit-io-action.md)
## Featured Products
### Adafruit PyPortal - CircuitPython Powered Internet Display
[Adafruit PyPortal - CircuitPython Powered Internet Display](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4116)
**PyPortal** , our easy-to-use IoT device that allows you to create all the things for the “Internet of Things” in minutes. Make custom touch screen interface GUIs, all open-source, and Python-powered using tinyJSON / APIs to get news, stock, weather, cat photos,...
Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4116)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4116/guides)
### Controllable Four Outlet Power Relay Module version 2
[Controllable Four Outlet Power Relay Module version 2](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2935)
Say goodbye to hazardous high voltage wiring and create the [Internet of Things](https://www.adafruit.com/categories/342) with safe, reliable power control. The **IoT Power Relay** from [Digital...](http://www.digital-loggers.com/iot.html)
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2935)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2935/guides)
### STEMMA JST PH 2mm 3-Pin to Male Header Cable - 200mm
[STEMMA JST PH 2mm 3-Pin to Male Header Cable - 200mm](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3893)
This cable will let you turn a JST PH 3-pin cable port into 3 individual wires with high-quality 0.1" male header plugs on the end. We're carrying these to match up with our Hallowing, for extending and connecting sensors or LEDs - and the wires are even color coded!
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3893)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3893/guides)
### 5V 2.5A Switching Power Supply with 20AWG MicroUSB Cable
[5V 2.5A Switching Power Supply with 20AWG MicroUSB Cable](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1995)
Our all-in-one 5V 2.5 Amp + MicroUSB cable power adapter is the perfect choice for powering single-board computers like Raspberry Pi, BeagleBone, or anything else that's power-hungry!
This adapter was specifically designed to provide 5.25V, not 5V, but we still call it a 5V USB...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1995)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1995/guides)
### USB cable - USB A to Micro-B
[USB cable - USB A to Micro-B](https://www.adafruit.com/product/592)
This here is your standard A to micro-B USB cable, for USB 1.1 or 2.0. Perfect for connecting a PC to your Metro, Feather, Raspberry Pi or other dev-board or microcontroller
Approximately 3 feet / 1 meter long
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/592)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/592/guides)
### Adafruit Metro M4 Express AirLift (WiFi) - Lite
[Adafruit Metro M4 Express AirLift (WiFi) - Lite](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4000)
Give your next project a lift with _AirLift_ - our witty name for the ESP32 co-processor that graces this Metro M4. You already know about the **Adafruit Metro M4** featuring the **Microchip ATSAMD51** , with it's 120MHz Cortex M4 with...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4000)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4000/guides)
### Adafruit AirLift FeatherWing – ESP32 WiFi Co-Processor
[Adafruit AirLift FeatherWing – ESP32 WiFi Co-Processor](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4264)
Give your Feather project a _lift_ with the Adafruit AirLift FeatherWing - a FeatherWing that lets you use the powerful ESP32 as a WiFi co-processor. You probably have your favorite Feather ([like the Feather M4](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3857)) that comes with its own...
Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4264)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4264/guides)
### Adafruit AirLift Shield - ESP32 WiFi Co-Processor
[Adafruit AirLift Shield - ESP32 WiFi Co-Processor](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4285)
Give your Arduino project a _lift_ with the Adafruit AirLift Shield - a shield that lets you use the powerful ESP32 as a WiFi co-processor. You probably have your favorite Arduino-compatible ([like the Metro M4](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3382) or the classic
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4285)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4285/guides)
## Related Guides
- [Adafruit HUZZAH32 - ESP32 Feather](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-huzzah32-esp32-feather.md)
- [Adafruit PyPortal - IoT for CircuitPython](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-pyportal.md)
- [Adafruit Metro M4 Express AirLift (WiFi)](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-metro-m4-express-airlift-wifi.md)
- [Adafruit AirLift FeatherWing - ESP32 WiFi Co-Processor](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-airlift-featherwing-esp32-wifi-co-processor-featherwing.md)
- [Adafruit AirLift Shield - ESP32 WiFi Co-Processor](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-airlift-shield-esp32-wifi-co-processor.md)
- [NeoTrellis Feather Case Assembly](https://learn.adafruit.com/neotrellis-feather-case-assembly.md)
- [Discord and Slack Connected Smart Plant with Adafruit IO Actions](https://learn.adafruit.com/discord-and-slack-connected-smart-plant-with-adafruit-io-triggers.md)
- [Purple Air AQI Display](https://learn.adafruit.com/purple-air-aqi-display.md)
- [CircuitPython Display_Text Library](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuitpython-display-text-library.md)
- [Network Connected RGB Matrix Clock](https://learn.adafruit.com/network-connected-metro-rgb-matrix-clock.md)
- [PyPortal Guitar Tuner](https://learn.adafruit.com/pyportal-guitar-tuner.md)
- [PyPortal Winamp MP3 Player](https://learn.adafruit.com/pyportal-winamp-mp3-player.md)
- [TFT Spirit Board](https://learn.adafruit.com/tft-spirit-board.md)
- [Upgrading AirLift ESP32 Firmware](https://learn.adafruit.com/upgrading-esp32-firmware.md)
- [PyPortal US Election Calendar](https://learn.adafruit.com/pyportal-electioncal-us.md)
- [Using Dashblock to Create Custom APIs for PyPortal](https://learn.adafruit.com/using-dashblock-to-create-custom-apis-for-pyportal.md)
- [PyPortal Twitter Follows Trophy](https://learn.adafruit.com/pyportal-twitter-follows-trophy.md)
- [Daily UV Index PyPortal Display](https://learn.adafruit.com/pyportal-uv-index.md)
- [PyPortal Word of the Day Display](https://learn.adafruit.com/pyportal-word-of-the-day-display.md)
- [PyPortal Event Countdown Clock](https://learn.adafruit.com/pyportal-event-countdown-clock.md)