Adding Matter device (Eve Energy)

Configuration
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I thought I would share my experience adding a US/Canada 4th generation Eve Energy Plug to HA using:

  • Standard HA installation (HAOS, Supervisor, Core, etc.) As of this writing HA core version 2024.11
  • HA OTBR AddOn/Integration
  • HA Matter Server AddOn/Integration
  • HA iOS Companion App for commissioning.

The Eve Energy Plug Device:

  • Product number: 10EBU4151
  • Model number: 20EBU4101
  • Comes loaded out of the box with Matter/Thread firmware
    • After commissioning one can find the versions: Firmware: 3.2.1, Hardware: 1.1

Prerequisites:

  • IP Networking:
    • IPv6 enabled in HA. HA should have an IPv6 address other than an fe80:: If you don’t have any home routers running IPv6, then the HA OTBR should be advertising an IPv6 prefix and if HA core IPv6 networking is set to automatic, then HA core should be getting this prefix and assigning itself a full IPv6 address something like fdaf::
    • Flat Network: HA should have its IPv6 interface on the same LAN that the iOS device’s WiFi will be on when commissioning the Eve Device.
  • Preferred Router/Preferred Border Router.
    In HA’s Thread Integration under CONFIGURE, one should see
    • the HA OTBR under the list of “Preferred Networks”. Along with this, there should be an (i) icon which means HA core has the Thread dataset/credentials used by the OTBR’s Thread network.
    • It should also have an icon that looks like a “key in a smartphone” which means this is the Thread dataset/credentials that can be passed to your iOS device (see next).
  • Apple Keychain:
    • Go into the HA iOS Companion App->Settings->Companion App->Debugging->Thread. You should see not see an entry in the APPLE KEYCHAIN. If there is already an entry and it does not match that of the HA Thread integration, then commissioning a device will not work.
    • Go to HA’s UI->Settings->Integration->Thread click CONFIGURE. Click on the button SEND CREDENTIALS TO PHONE. It should reply with a checkmark.
    • Go into the HA iOS Companion App->Settings->Companion App->Debugging->Thread. You should see one entry in the APPLE KEYCHAIN. This should be the same Thread dataset/credentials as in the HA Thread integration.
  • Factory Reset the Eve device: Press and hold button for 10seconds until LED flashes Red. This is optional, but I did it just in case the device had some other non-factory default settings.

Commissioning:

  • Location: I commissioned the Eve device very near the OTBR’s Thread radio (in my case a SkyConnect/ZBT-1). It is not strictly required to locate the Eve device near the thread radio when commissioning, but I did just to be safe. I later moved the Eve device to its intended location.
  • iOS HA Companion App (located very near the device):
    • UI->System->Devices->Add Device
      Choose Matter
      Will ask if new device or one already on the network, pick New device
    • Scan QR code,
      will ask if you want to add to Home Assistant (say yes)
      It will try to connect to the device (should be trying to connect using Bluetooth);
      Here is where it gets tricky:
      It failed the first time with “Unable to Add Accessory Home couldn’t connect to this accessory”
      Tried a few other times with different power up sequences with the same failure, but eventually it worked. Not sure but the sequence that seemed to work was to unplug the Eve device and while unplugged scan the QR code then while it tries to connect, the App will eventually ask you to make sure the device is plugged in, then plug in the Eve device and then a little while longer it will connect successfully.
    • Once successful, the App will prompt to see if you want to rename the device. I did rename it, but didn’t seem to get passed to HA.

At this point, the Eve Energy device was successfully added to HA and entities created including energy sensors.