diff --git a/makefu/2configs/home/ham/automation/light_buttons.nix b/makefu/2configs/home/ham/automation/light_buttons.nix
index 32d134ecc..89caf1a41 100644
--- a/makefu/2configs/home/ham/automation/light_buttons.nix
+++ b/makefu/2configs/home/ham/automation/light_buttons.nix
@@ -1,22 +1,77 @@
-# light.wohnzimmerbeleuchtung
-# light.wohnzimmer_deko
-# light.arbeitszimmerbeleuchtung
-# light.arbeitszimmer_deko
-# light.schlafzimmerbeleuchtung
 
 let
-  toggle = light: btn:
+  btn_state = light: btn: halfbright:
+  let
+    maxbright = 255;
+    transition = 0.2; # seconds
+  in
+  # this function implements a simple state machine based on the state and brightness of the light (light must support brightness
   {
-    alias = "Toggle Light ${light} via ${btn}";
+    alias = "Cycle through states of ${light} via button ${btn}";
     trigger = {
       platform = "state";
       entity_id = "sensor.${btn}_click";
       to = "single";
     };
     action = {
-      service = "light.toggle";
-      data.entity_id = light;
-      data.transition = 0;
+      choose = [
+        {
+          # state 0: off to half
+          conditions = {
+            condition = "template";
+            value_template = ''{{ states("${light}")  == "off" }}'';
+          };
+          sequence = [
+            {
+              service = "light.turn_on";
+              data = {
+                entity_id = light;
+                brightness = halfbright;
+              };
+            }
+          ];
+        }
+        {
+          # state 1: half to full
+          conditions = {
+            condition = "template";
+            value_template = ''{{ states('${light}')  == 'on' and ( ${toString (halfbright - 1)} <= state_attr("${light}","brightness") <= ${toString (halfbright + 1)})}}'';
+          };
+          sequence = [
+            {
+              service = "light.turn_on";
+              data = {
+                entity_id = light;
+                brightness = maxbright;
+              };
+            }
+          ];
+        }
+        {
+          # state 2: full to off
+          conditions =  {
+            condition = "template";
+            # TODO: it seems like the devices respond with brightness-1 , maybe off-by-one somewhere?
+            value_template = ''{{ states("${light}")  == "on" and state_attr("${light}","brightness") >= ${toString (maxbright - 1)}}}'';
+          };
+          sequence = [
+            {
+              service = "light.turn_off";
+              data = {
+                entity_id = light;
+              };
+            }
+          ];
+        }
+      ];
+      # default: on to off
+      # this works because state 0 checks for "state == off"
+      default = [{
+        service = "light.turn_off";
+        data = {
+          entity_id = light;
+        };
+      }];
     };
   };
   turn_off_all = btn:
@@ -34,11 +89,9 @@ let
   };
 in {
   services.home-assistant.config.automation = [
-    (toggle "light.arbeitszimmerbeleuchtung" "arbeitszimmer_btn1")
-    (toggle "light.schlafzimmerbeleuchtung" "schlafzimmer_btn2")
-    (toggle "light.wohnzimmerbeleuchtung" "wohnzimmer_btn3")
-    (turn_off_all "arbeitszimmer_btn1")
+    # (btn_state "light.arbeitszimmerbeleuchtung" "arbeitszimmer_btn1")
+    (btn_state "light.schlafzimmer_komode_osram" "schlafzimmer_btn2" 128)
+    # (btn_state "light.wohnzimmerbeleuchtung" "wohnzimmer_btn3")
     (turn_off_all "schlafzimmer_btn2")
-    (turn_off_all "wohnzimmer_btn3")
   ];
 }