--- a/esp-bedside-panel.yaml
+++ b/esp-bedside-panel.yaml
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 # https://home.fox.co.nz/gitea/zorruno/zorruno-homeassistant/src/branch/master/esphome/esp-bedside-panel.yaml
 #:########################################################################################:#
 # VERSIONS:
+# V1.56 2026-09-04 Added latched blackout after 10 seconds below 1 lx with immediate exit
 # V1.55 2026-08-16 Show only Clock time and date in Blackout ambient-light mode
 # V1.54 2026-08-16 Dimmed Clock time and date palette in Blackout ambient-light mode
@@ -248,7 +249,6 @@
 #   Bright light: approximately 642-643 lx
   ambient_lux_multiplier_default: "200"
-
-  display_blackout_lux_threshold_default: "2"
   display_dark_lux_threshold_default: "20"
   display_bright_lux_threshold_default: "250"
@@ -921,21 +921,6 @@
     step: 5
     mode: box
 
-  - platform: template
-    id: display_blackout_lux_threshold
-    name: "${friendly_name} Blackout Lux Threshold"
-    icon: mdi:brightness-1
-    entity_category: config
-    optimistic: true
-    restore_value: true
-    initial_value: "${display_blackout_lux_threshold_default}"
-    unit_of_measurement: "lx"
-    min_value: 0
-    max_value: 20
-    step: 0.5
-    mode: box
-
   - platform: template
     id: display_dark_lux_threshold
@@ -1228,6 +1213,45 @@
     update_interval: 3s
     lambda: |-
       const float voltage = id(ambient_light_voltage).state;
+
+      if (isnan(voltage)) {
+        return NAN;
+      }
+
+      float multiplier = id(ambient_lux_multiplier).state;
+
+      if (isnan(multiplier) || multiplier <= 0.0f) {
+        multiplier = 200.0f;
+      }
+
+      return voltage * multiplier;
+    on_value:
+      then:
+        - if:
+            condition:
+              lambda: |-
+                return !isnan(x) && x >= 1.0f;
+            then:
+              - script.stop: latch_display_blackout
+              - lambda: |-
+                  id(display_blackout_active) = false;
+              - if:
+                  condition:
+                    lambda: |-
+                      return id(lvgl_ready) && id(display_is_dimmed);
+                  then:
+                    - script.execute: apply_dim_backlight
+                  else:
+                    - if:
+                        condition:
+                          lambda: |-
+                            return id(lvgl_ready);
+                        then:
+                          - script.execute: apply_active_backlight
+            else:
+              - if:
+                  condition:
+                    lambda: |-
+                      return !isnan(x) && x < 1.0f && !id(display_blackout_active);
+                  then:
+                    - script.execute: latch_display_blackout
-      float multiplier = id(ambient_lux_multiplier).state;
-
-      if (isnan(voltage)) {
-        return NAN;
-      }
-
-      if (isnan(multiplier) || multiplier <= 0.0f) {
-        multiplier = 200.0f;
-      }
-
-      return voltage * multiplier;
 
   - platform: homeassistant
@@ -1918,6 +1942,12 @@
     restore_value: false
     initial_value: "false"
 
+  # True after ambient light remains below 1 lx for 10 continuous seconds.
+  - id: display_blackout_active
+    type: bool
+    restore_value: false
+    initial_value: "false"
+
   # True only while the Security page is visible.
@@ -3133,31 +3163,52 @@
-  # Four ambient ranges are used:
-  #   Blackout: lux < Blackout Lux Threshold
-  #   Dark:     Blackout threshold to Dark Lux Threshold
-  #   Normal:   between Dark and Bright thresholds
-  #   Bright:   lux >= Bright Lux Threshold
+  # Blackout latches after ambient light remains below 1 lx for 10 seconds and
+  # exits immediately when ambient light reaches 1 lx. The remaining ranges are:
+  #   Dark:   lux <= Dark Lux Threshold
+  #   Normal: between Dark and Bright thresholds
+  #   Bright: lux >= Bright Lux Threshold
   #
   # The active and clock/idle brightness levels are independently adjustable
   # and restored after reboot.
 
+  - id: latch_display_blackout
+    mode: single
+    then:
+      - delay: 10s
+      - if:
+          condition:
+            lambda: |-
+              const float lux = id(ambient_light_illuminance).state;
+              return !isnan(lux) && lux < 1.0f;
+          then:
+            - lambda: |-
+                id(display_blackout_active) = true;
+            - if:
+                condition:
+                  lambda: |-
+                    return id(lvgl_ready) && id(display_is_dimmed);
+                then:
+                  - script.execute: apply_dim_backlight
+                else:
+                  - if:
+                      condition:
+                        lambda: |-
+                          return id(lvgl_ready);
+                      then:
+                        - script.execute: apply_active_backlight
+
   # Keep the idle Clock unobtrusive at the minimum usable backlight level.
   - id: apply_clock_blackout_palette
@@ -3146,15 +3197,7 @@
       - if:
           condition:
             lambda: |-
-              const float lux = id(ambient_light_illuminance).state;
-              float blackout_threshold =
-                id(display_blackout_lux_threshold).state;
-
-              if (isnan(blackout_threshold)) {
-                blackout_threshold = 2.0f;
-              }
-
-              return !isnan(lux) && lux < blackout_threshold;
+              return id(display_blackout_active);
@@ -3212,22 +3255,12 @@
           brightness: !lambda |-
             const float lux = id(ambient_light_illuminance).state;
 
-            float blackout_threshold =
-              id(display_blackout_lux_threshold).state;
             float dark_threshold =
               id(display_dark_lux_threshold).state;
             float bright_threshold =
               id(display_bright_lux_threshold).state;
 
-            if (isnan(blackout_threshold)) {
-              blackout_threshold = 2.0f;
-            }
-
             if (
               isnan(dark_threshold) ||
-              dark_threshold <= blackout_threshold
+              dark_threshold <= 0.0f
             ) {
               dark_threshold = 20.0f;
             }
@@ -3239,7 +3272,7 @@
 
             float brightness_percent;
 
-            if (!isnan(lux) && lux < blackout_threshold) {
+            if (id(display_blackout_active)) {
               brightness_percent =
                 id(display_blackout_brightness).state;
@@ -3280,22 +3313,12 @@
           brightness: !lambda |-
             const float lux = id(ambient_light_illuminance).state;
 
-            float blackout_threshold =
-              id(display_blackout_lux_threshold).state;
             float dark_threshold =
               id(display_dark_lux_threshold).state;
             float bright_threshold =
               id(display_bright_lux_threshold).state;
 
-            if (isnan(blackout_threshold)) {
-              blackout_threshold = 2.0f;
-            }
-
             if (
               isnan(dark_threshold) ||
-              dark_threshold <= blackout_threshold
+              dark_threshold <= 0.0f
             ) {
               dark_threshold = 20.0f;
             }
@@ -3307,7 +3330,7 @@
 
             float brightness_percent;
 
-            if (!isnan(lux) && lux < blackout_threshold) {
+            if (id(display_blackout_active)) {
               brightness_percent =
                 id(display_blackout_brightness).state;