How to modify behaviour of helper values on lovelace

[runarorested (Rubén Martínez Cabello)]

Hello, I’m new to Home Assistant, so please explain if this can be done:

I’m trying to manage a complex heating control made in Node Red, and integrate it so I can control it from HomeAssistant dashboard, Lovelace.

To do so, I’ve registered the devices in Home Assistant and replaced MQTT actions with calls to NodeRed with “Current State” nodes to read values and sensors, and “Call Service” nodes to perform actions (turn off, turn on).

I’ve also created via Home Assistant helpers entities that will replace input and output variables on my automation, like “how many watts of solar energy surplus you must have to automatically turn on an electric heater or whatever device?” (a number, input value) and “How many electric heaters are suposed to be on right now?” (a number, output value), so i can parametrice it’s behaviour.

The thing is, when I expose said entities in the interface, they all appear as slider controllers with a stepping of one unit (type input_number).

I want to make output values as read only text values, like “%d electric heaters”, or “%03d watts”, instead of modificable slicer values (type sensor, for read only, and formatting output).

I want to make input values as sliders with steppings, or text numbers with increase/decrease step buttons. For example, the reserved minimal power draw should be established with a minimun of 500 and a maximun of 2000 wats, in 100 watts steps, so the slider would only have 16 possible positions (500w, 600w, 700w, …, 1900w, 2000w)

What I’ve read out there seems to sugest to create home-assistant automations that parse/correct/modify the behaviour of the value, or make read only duplicates (sensor), but I don’t see them changing the physical behaviour of the controller in lovelace, or how to make the values read-only.

Do I need to install custom cards to enable this behaviours, or is it possible with the standard cards?

[Biscuit (Geoff)]

@runarorested

I want to make input values as sliders with steppings, or text numbers with increase/decrease step buttons. For example, the reserved minimal power draw should be established with a minimun of 500 and a maximun of 2000 wats, in 100 watts steps, so the slider would only have 16 possible positions (500w, 600w, 700w, …, 1900w, 2000w)

All settings for input.numbers are available in the helper-create, and you can set minimum value, maximum value, and step value for the input-number.

Input entities (like numbers, switches, and text) are special, and will always show on Home Assistant display as manually adjustable in the entities card, but as just a display (“read only”) on the entity card.

@runarorested

I want to make output values as read only text values, like “%d electric heaters”, or “%03d watts”, instead of modificable slicer values (type sensor, for read only, and formatting output).

If you have an input-number/text then it has to go somewhere on HA display in a format that permits change. If you then wish to display the input state value in a different form (such as changing an input.number 1300 to a specific text string), then yes it will have to be modified. This can be done either using a template sensor or an HA automation, or in Node-RED, but will have to end up as a new sensor of one type or another. You may find that you can start with one (hidden) HA display tab for just the input controls on entities cards, and another (visible) display tab with entity cards for ‘read only’ display, or just use template sensors.

Hope this helps!

[runarorested (Rubén Martínez Cabello)]

Thanks for the quick response.

I’ve seen your images, and these options do not appear to me.

First, I’ve just updated Home Assistant to the latest version just now and rebooted: Core 2025.4.3 and Frontend 20250411.0.

I’ve stiched the “entities” card into multiple “entity” cards, allowing me to format the output. It’s bulkier, but that’s just what I needed. Also, the slider for modification it is hidden in the pop up dialog, making it safer to use qith a phone. Thanks for that.

Still, the helper assistant do not let me set steps, or create read only values like sensors.

May this be because it is an old installation even if upgraded periodically? Or maybe a Hacs card is interfering? I’ve installed in Hacs:

• Stack In Card
• Restriction Card
• auto-entities
• card-mod
• Bubble Card
• Power Flow Card Plus
• Config Editor Card
• Node-RED Companion
• FreeDS
• SMA EV Charger
• Govee LAN Control

Any idea how to make the display-mode and step size and unit options to appear?

[Biscuit (Geoff)]

Home Assistant is updated regularly, although I think the Helper - Input Number has been around for quite a while. It is always good to reboot after updating.

Since your image shows half of the UI editing fields, I would first suspect a caching issue in your browser. All of what you see runs in JavaScript in the browser, so sometimes it is necessary to clear browser cache and/or reboot the machine you are using.

If you can’t get the helper integration to do exactly what you want, there is always the possibility of using YAML in the config. You can find the Input Number documentation here

[Mikefila]

That looks like the home assistant theme, in case it is not, try the default HA theme. Custom themes have been known to hide elements.

If restarting/clearing the cache doesn’t help, you can try creating the number with the fields missing. After the entity is created, step size etc can be modified in the entity’s settings. Click on the entity, then the gear on the top right.