Help with Cover Automation

Hi. I’ve just installed an Aqara E1 Window blind motor (using ZHA) and am trying to get it to work via automation but can’t, so I’m after some help please as I’ve never had one of these devices before.

I can work the blinds via the UI slider with no problem but the below simple test automation, to half open the blinds, does absolutely nothing.

- alias: TEST BLINDS
  id: test_blinds
  trigger:
    platform: time
    at: '12:38:00'
  action:
    - service: cover.set_cover_position
      target:
        entity_id: cover.living_room_blinds
      data:
        position: 50

More confusingly, the logs show that the device does not support the cover_set_position service…even though it’s a blinds motor. I’m totally confused! :confused:

Any help appreciated, as it’s giving me a headache.

I originally posted this in the Zigbee sub-forum but that may not have been the correct place for it, so apologies for duplication.

After much (very much!!) playing about with various code, I think I may have solved this…but it doesn’t make much sense.

My original automation above, was copied from the HA Documentation for Covers but didn’t work in my case.

Any way, after some messing, below is what I have arrived at that appears to work and opens the blinds to the requested value, though I had to use a different service and entity for the device than the one expected.

If anyone can see anything wrong with the below please let me know because I’d prefer not to have any nasty surprises in the future.

- alias: TEST BLINDS2
  id: test_blinds2
  trigger:
    platform: time
    at: '16:32:00'
  action:
    - service: number.set_value
      target:
        entity_id: number.living_room_blinds_number
      data:
        value: 50.0

If anyone could help explain the above (why the first wouldn’t work and why the second one does) I’d appreciate it, so that I can learn a bit more about this HA minefield :slight_smile: