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12. Home Assistant Integration

Version: 1.2.0
Date: 2025-12-24

Complete guide for integrating ACRouter with Home Assistant using MQTT Auto-Discovery.



Table of Contents



Overview

ACRouter supports MQTT Auto-Discovery, which means Home Assistant automatically creates all entities when the device connects. No manual YAML configuration required!


Features

  • Automatic device and entity creation
  • Real-time power monitoring sensors
  • Mode selection control
  • Parameter adjustment (gain, threshold)
  • Emergency stop button
  • Availability tracking (online/offline)
  • Device grouping with manufacturer info



Prerequisites

  1. Home Assistant installed and running
  2. MQTT Broker (Mosquitto recommended)
  3. Can be the Home Assistant Mosquitto add-on
  4. Or external broker
  5. MQTT Integration configured in Home Assistant
  6. ACRouter with MQTT enabled



Setup


Step 1: Install MQTT Broker

Option A: Home Assistant Add-on (Recommended)

  1. Go to Settings > Add-ons > Add-on Store
  2. Search for "Mosquitto broker"
  3. Click Install
  4. Start the add-on
  5. Configure credentials in add-on configuration

Option B: External Broker

See 11_MQTT_GUIDE.md for Mosquitto setup.


Step 2: Configure MQTT Integration

  1. Go to Settings > Devices & Services
  2. Click "Add Integration"
  3. Search for "MQTT"
  4. Enter broker details:
  5. Broker: localhost (if using add-on) or broker IP
  6. Port: 1883
  7. Username/Password (if configured)


Step 3: Configure ACRouter

Via serial console:

bash
# Set broker URL
mqtt-broker mqtt://192.168.1.10:1883

# Set credentials (if required)
mqtt-user homeassistant
mqtt-pass your_password

# Set friendly device name
mqtt-device-name "Solar Router"

# Ensure HA Discovery is enabled
mqtt-ha-discovery 1

# Enable MQTT
mqtt-enable


Step 4: Verify Discovery

  1. Go to Settings > Devices & Services > MQTT
  2. Look for "ACRouter Solar" device
  3. All entities should be automatically created



Auto-Discovered Entities


Sensors

Entity Description Unit Device Class
sensor.acrouter_grid_power Grid import/export power W power
sensor.acrouter_solar_power Solar generation power W power
sensor.acrouter_load_power Load consumption power W power
sensor.acrouter_voltage AC voltage V voltage
sensor.acrouter_dimmer Dimmer level % -
sensor.acrouter_wifi_signal WiFi signal strength dBm signal_strength


Select

Entity Description Options
select.acrouter_router_mode Router operating mode off, auto, eco, offgrid, manual, boost


Numbers

Entity Description Range
number.acrouter_control_gain P-controller gain 10-1000
number.acrouter_balance_threshold Balance deadband 0-1000 W
number.acrouter_manual_level Manual dimmer level 0-100%


Buttons

Entity Description
button.acrouter_emergency_stop Emergency stop
button.acrouter_reboot Restart device
button.acrouter_refresh Force data refresh


Device Info

All entities are grouped under a single device with:

  • Name: ACRouter Solar (or custom name)
  • Manufacturer: RobotDyn
  • Model: ACRouter
  • SW Version: 1.2.0
  • Configuration URL: http://device_ip



Dashboard Example


Lovelace Card YAML

yaml
type: entities
title: ACRouter Solar
entities:
  - entity: select.acrouter_router_mode
    name: Mode
  - entity: sensor.acrouter_dimmer
    name: Dimmer Level
  - type: divider
  - entity: sensor.acrouter_grid_power
    name: Grid Power
  - entity: sensor.acrouter_solar_power
    name: Solar Power
  - entity: sensor.acrouter_load_power
    name: Load Power
  - type: divider
  - entity: sensor.acrouter_voltage
    name: Voltage
  - entity: sensor.acrouter_wifi_signal
    name: WiFi Signal


Gauge Card for Power

yaml
type: gauge
entity: sensor.acrouter_grid_power
name: Grid Power
min: -3000
max: 3000
severity:
  green: -3000
  yellow: 0
  red: 500


Custom Button Card

yaml
type: horizontal-stack
cards:
  - type: button
    entity: button.acrouter_emergency_stop
    name: STOP
    icon: mdi:stop
    tap_action:
      action: call-service
      service: button.press
      target:
        entity_id: button.acrouter_emergency_stop
    show_state: false
  - type: button
    entity: button.acrouter_reboot
    name: Reboot
    icon: mdi:restart
    tap_action:
      action: call-service
      service: button.press
      target:
        entity_id: button.acrouter_reboot
    show_state: false


Complete Dashboard View

yaml
title: Solar Router
views:
  - title: Overview
    cards:
      - type: vertical-stack
        cards:
          - type: entities
            title: Status
            entities:
              - entity: select.acrouter_router_mode
              - entity: sensor.acrouter_dimmer
              - entity: sensor.acrouter_voltage

          - type: glance
            title: Power
            entities:
              - entity: sensor.acrouter_grid_power
                name: Grid
              - entity: sensor.acrouter_solar_power
                name: Solar
              - entity: sensor.acrouter_load_power
                name: Load

          - type: entities
            title: Settings
            entities:
              - entity: number.acrouter_control_gain
              - entity: number.acrouter_balance_threshold
              - entity: number.acrouter_manual_level

          - type: horizontal-stack
            cards:
              - type: button
                entity: button.acrouter_emergency_stop
                name: Emergency Stop
                icon: mdi:stop-circle
              - type: button
                entity: button.acrouter_refresh
                name: Refresh
                icon: mdi:refresh



Automations


Night Boost Mode (Cheap Tariff)

yaml
alias: "Solar Router - Night Boost"
description: "Enable BOOST mode during cheap night tariff"
trigger:
  - platform: time
    at: "23:00:00"
action:
  - service: select.select_option
    target:
      entity_id: select.acrouter_router_mode
    data:
      option: "boost"
mode: single


Morning Auto Mode

yaml
alias: "Solar Router - Morning Auto"
description: "Switch to AUTO mode in the morning"
trigger:
  - platform: time
    at: "07:00:00"
action:
  - service: select.select_option
    target:
      entity_id: select.acrouter_router_mode
    data:
      option: "auto"
mode: single


Emergency Stop on High Power

yaml
alias: "Solar Router - Emergency High Power"
description: "Emergency stop if load exceeds 3000W"
trigger:
  - platform: numeric_state
    entity_id: sensor.acrouter_load_power
    above: 3000
    for:
      seconds: 10
action:
  - service: button.press
    target:
      entity_id: button.acrouter_emergency_stop
  - service: notify.mobile_app
    data:
      message: "ACRouter emergency stop triggered - load exceeded 3000W"
mode: single


Notify on Disconnect

yaml
alias: "Solar Router - Offline Alert"
description: "Notify when router goes offline"
trigger:
  - platform: state
    entity_id: select.acrouter_router_mode
    to: "unavailable"
    for:
      minutes: 5
action:
  - service: notify.mobile_app
    data:
      message: "ACRouter is offline!"
      title: "Solar Router Alert"
mode: single


Solar Surplus Routing

yaml
alias: "Solar Router - Auto Enable on Surplus"
description: "Enable AUTO mode when solar surplus detected"
trigger:
  - platform: numeric_state
    entity_id: sensor.acrouter_grid_power
    below: -100
    for:
      minutes: 1
condition:
  - condition: state
    entity_id: select.acrouter_router_mode
    state: "off"
action:
  - service: select.select_option
    target:
      entity_id: select.acrouter_router_mode
    data:
      option: "auto"
mode: single



Energy Dashboard


Configure Energy Sensors

ACRouter power sensors can be integrated with Home Assistant Energy Dashboard.

  1. Go to Settings > Dashboards > Energy
  2. Add Grid consumption: sensor.acrouter_grid_power (when positive)
  3. Add Solar production: sensor.acrouter_solar_power

Note: The Energy Dashboard requires energy sensors (kWh), not power sensors (W). You may need to create template sensors or use integration helpers.


Template Sensor for Energy (Optional)

yaml
# configuration.yaml
template:
  - sensor:
      - name: "ACRouter Grid Import Energy"
        unit_of_measurement: "kWh"
        device_class: energy
        state_class: total_increasing
        state: >
          {% set power = states('sensor.acrouter_grid_power') | float(0) %}
          {% if power > 0 %}
            {{ (power / 1000) | round(3) }}
          {% else %}
            0
          {% endif %}



Troubleshooting


Device Not Discovered

  1. Check MQTT connection:
    bash mqtt-status
    Should show State: Connected

  2. Check HA Discovery enabled:
    bash mqtt-ha-discovery 1 mqtt-publish

  3. Check MQTT integration in HA:

  4. Settings > Devices & Services > MQTT

  5. Click "Configure" > Check broker settings

  6. Restart discovery:
    bash mqtt-reconnect


Entities Show "Unavailable"

  1. Check device is online:
  2. Look at status/online topic

  3. Should be online

  4. Check WiFi connection:
    bash wifi-status

  5. Check broker connection:

  6. Verify broker is reachable from HA
  7. Test with mosquitto_sub


Values Not Updating

  1. Check publish interval:
    bash mqtt-interval 5000

  2. Force refresh:
    bash mqtt-publish

  3. Check MQTT messages are being received:
    bash mosquitto_sub -h broker_ip -t "acrouter/#" -v


Mode Select Not Working

  1. Check command topic subscription:

  2. Device should log: MQTT: Command: mode = auto

  3. Verify mode is valid:

  4. Must be: off, auto, eco, offgrid, manual, boost

  5. Check mode compatibility:

  6. Some modes require specific sensors configured



See Also

Last Updated: 2025-12-24

Table of Contents Overview Prerequisites Setup Auto-Discovered Entities Dashboard Example Automations Energy Dashboard Troubleshooting See Also