MQTT entities via configuration.yaml - how to combine into a device?

Infernoken76 · June 18, 2023, 6:18pm

Hi,

I added my Solar Inverter into Home Assistant through MQTT…
And its working perfectly, I’m getting entity data from my Solar Inverter…

I would like to group these entities into a single device, so it’s easier to handle in Home assistant, and I’m not finding how to do this???

This is my current YAML code:

mqtt:
  sensor:
    - name: "Inverter Timestamp"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.Timestamp }}"
    - name: "Inverter Sunrise"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.SunRise }}"
    - name: "Inverter Sunset"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.SunSet }}"
    - name: "Inverter Serial"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.InvSerial }}"
    - name: "Inverter Name"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.InvName }}"
    - name: "Inverter Time"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.InvTime }}"
    - name: "Inverter Status"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.InvStatus }}"
    - name: "Inverter Temperature"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.InvTemperature }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "°C"
      device_class: temperature
    - name: "Inverter Grid Relay/Contactor"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.InvGridRelay }}"
    - name: "Inverter Today Energy"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.EToday }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "kWh"
      icon: mdi:solar-power
    - name: "Inverter Total Energy"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.ETotal }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "kWh"
      icon: mdi:solar-power
    - name: "Inverter Instant Power"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.PACTot | int }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "W"
      device_class: power
      icon: mdi:solar-power
    - name: "Inverter DC Power String 1"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.PDC1 }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "W"
      device_class: power
      icon: mdi:solar-power
    - name: "Inverter DC Power String 2"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.PDC2 }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "W"
      device_class: power
      icon: mdi:solar-power
    - name: "Inverter DC Voltage String 1"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.UDC1 }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "V"
      icon: mdi:solar-power
    - name: "Inverter DC Voltage String 2"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.UDC2 }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "V"
      icon: mdi:solar-power
    - name: "Inverter DC Current String 1"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.IDC1 }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "A"
      icon: mdi:solar-power
    - name: "Inverter DC Current String 2"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.IDC2 }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "A"
      icon: mdi:solar-power

rossk · June 18, 2023, 7:07pm

If you add under each sensor the same device data then it will tie them each one to the same device:

Infernoken76 · June 18, 2023, 7:22pm

Thanks, not sure how to do that…

Could you give a small YAML example?

arganto · June 18, 2023, 7:33pm

You can define via script as well. See here:

rossk · June 18, 2023, 7:34pm

mqtt:
  sensor:
    - name: "Inverter Timestamp"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      device:
        identifiers: 12345
        manufacturer: Who Knows
        name: My Inverter 
        model: V1        
    - name: "Inverter Sunrise"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.SunRise }}"
      device:
        identifiers: 12345
        manufacturer: Who Knows
        name: My Inverter 
        model: V1

The list of acceptable fields under the device heading are in the above link.

You can put as many or as little fields as you like and you can put what you like.

To tie sensors together under the same device just add the device heading and some fields of you choice and make sure that each sensor has the same info like my yaml example above.

Edit: Or you can do it via a script like @arganto says

Infernoken76 · June 18, 2023, 8:53pm

Thanks!

Edited the code as you showed to the following, but there is no device that get created in HomeAssistant…
Entities still update as before, so it keeps working, but seeing the device nowhere…

mqtt:
  sensor:
    - name: "Inverter Timestamp"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.Timestamp }}"
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter Sunrise"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.SunRise }}"
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter Sunset"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.SunSet }}"
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter Serial"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.InvSerial }}"
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter Name"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.InvName }}"
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter Time"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.InvTime }}"
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter Status"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.InvStatus }}"
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter Temperature"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.InvTemperature }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "°C"
      device_class: temperature
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter Grid Relay/Contactor"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.InvGridRelay }}"
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter Today Energy"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.EToday }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "kWh"
      icon: mdi:solar-power
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter Total Energy"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.ETotal }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "kWh"
      icon: mdi:solar-power
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter Instant Power"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.PACTot | int }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "W"
      device_class: power
      icon: mdi:solar-power
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter DC Power String 1"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.PDC1 }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "W"
      device_class: power
      icon: mdi:solar-power
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter DC Power String 2"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.PDC2 }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "W"
      device_class: power
      icon: mdi:solar-power
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter DC Voltage String 1"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.UDC1 }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "V"
      icon: mdi:solar-power
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter DC Voltage String 2"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.UDC2 }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "V"
      icon: mdi:solar-power
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter DC Current String 1"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.IDC1 }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "A"
      icon: mdi:solar-power
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter DC Current String 2"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.IDC2 }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "A"
      icon: mdi:solar-power
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"

rossk · June 18, 2023, 9:13pm

Have you restarted home assistant?

The devices should be found / shown as a device in your mqtt integration.

francisp · June 19, 2023, 5:41am

You need to use a discovery script to create a device.

rossk · June 19, 2023, 12:58pm

Is this to make the device show up in HA natively? if so where would the device be shown in HA?
I thought it would only ever show up in HA as a device under the MQTT integration itself or am I missing something here?

francisp · June 19, 2023, 1:00pm

so it show like this:

rossk · June 19, 2023, 1:53pm

Yeah that’s what I thought we were talking about - that is exactly what I have by simply adding the device info in to the MQTT template sensors I created - no script run.

Infernoken76 · June 19, 2023, 2:03pm

Hi,

tried several things and restarts, but with the YAML I’m seeing the entities in Home Assistant, but no device…

YAML content:

mqtt:
  sensor:
    - name: "Inverter Timestamp"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.Timestamp }}"
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter Sunrise"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.SunRise }}"
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter Sunset"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.SunSet }}"
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter Serial"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.InvSerial }}"
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter Name"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.InvName }}"
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter Time"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.InvTime }}"
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter Status"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.InvStatus }}"
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter Temperature"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.InvTemperature }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "°C"
      device_class: temperature
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter Grid Relay/Contactor"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.InvGridRelay }}"
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter Today Energy"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.EToday }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "kWh"
      icon: mdi:solar-power
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter Total Energy"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.ETotal }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "kWh"
      icon: mdi:solar-power
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter Instant Power"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.PACTot | int }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "W"
      device_class: power
      icon: mdi:solar-power
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter DC Power String 1"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.PDC1 }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "W"
      device_class: power
      icon: mdi:solar-power
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter DC Power String 2"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.PDC2 }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "W"
      device_class: power
      icon: mdi:solar-power
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter DC Voltage String 1"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.UDC1 }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "V"
      icon: mdi:solar-power
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter DC Voltage String 2"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.UDC2 }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "V"
      icon: mdi:solar-power
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter DC Current String 1"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.IDC1 }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "A"
      icon: mdi:solar-power
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter DC Current String 2"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.IDC2 }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "A"
      icon: mdi:solar-power
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"

Now tried the alternative and started to make a script carefully with one entity:

But how do I link the value_template into this script?
value_template: "{{ value_json.Timestamp }}

DRAFT SCRIPT:

alias: MQTT Discovery SBFSpot
sequence:
  - service: mqtt.publish
    data:
      topic: homeassistant/sensor/inverter_timestamp/config
      retain: true
      payload: |
        {
          "state_topic": "sbfspot/123456",
          "name": "Inverter Timestamp",
          "unique_id": "unique_id_inverter_timestamp",
          "object_id": "inverter_timestamp",
          "device": {
              "identifiers": ["SBFSpot-SB4000"],
              "name": "SBFSpot-SB4000",
              "model": "V1",
              "manufacturer": "SBFSpot",
          }
        }
mode: single

rossk · June 19, 2023, 2:07pm

You have no “unique_id” set so i dont think it will show - try adding a unique_id also.

Cant help on the script side as I have never needed to do this to create an MQTT device before.

I have approx 30 MQTT sensors set up for my workshop / garage heater and they all show up under 1 MQTT device, as you can see from the following, each sensor has its own unique ID and each sensor also has the exactly the same device info - this should be all that is needed to group them as the same device - or at least this is how I have always done it - no scripts ever used to achieve this…

sensor:

  - name: Garage Heater Desired Temp
    unique_id: garage_heater_desired_temp
    state_topic: "AfterburnerBB2F90/sts/TempDesired"
    device_class: temperature
    unit_of_measurement: °C
    state_class: measurement
    device:
      identifiers: BB2F90
      manufacturer: MrJones
      name: Workshop Afterburner
      model: Afterburner V2
    availability:
      topic: "AfterburnerBB2F90/status"
      payload_available: "online"
      payload_not_available: "offline"


  - name: Garage Heater Internal Temperature Sensor
    unique_id: garage_heater_internal_temp
    state_topic: "AfterburnerBB2F90/sts/TempBody"
    device_class: temperature
    unit_of_measurement: °C
    state_class: measurement
    device:
      identifiers: BB2F90
      manufacturer: MrJones
      name: Workshop Afterburner
      model: Afterburner V2
    availability:
      topic: "AfterburnerBB2F90/status"
      payload_available: "online"
      payload_not_available: "offline"

Infernoken76 · June 19, 2023, 6:32pm

Yes!

Thank you, it’s working now…

My code:

mqtt:
  sensor:
    - name: "Inverter Timestamp"
      unique_id: "inverter_timestamp"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.Timestamp }}"
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter Sunrise"
      unique_id: "inverter_sunrise"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.SunRise }}"
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter Sunset"
      unique_id: "inverter_sunset"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.SunSet }}"
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter Serial"
      unique_id: "inverter_serial"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.InvSerial }}"
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter Name"
      unique_id: "inverter_name"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.InvName }}"
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter Time"
      unique_id: "inverter_time"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.InvTime }}"
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter Status"
      unique_id: "inverter_status"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.InvStatus }}"
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter Temperature"
      unique_id: "inverter_temperature"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.InvTemperature }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "°C"
      device_class: temperature
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter Grid Relay/Contactor"
      unique_id: "inverter_grid_relay_contactor"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.InvGridRelay }}"
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter Today Energy"
      unique_id: "inverter_today_energy"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.EToday }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "kWh"
      icon: mdi:solar-power
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter Total Energy"
      unique_id: "inverter_total_energy"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.ETotal }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "kWh"
      icon: mdi:solar-power
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter Instant Power"
      unique_id: "inverter_instant_power"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.PACTot | int }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "W"
      device_class: power
      icon: mdi:solar-power
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter DC Power String 1"
      unique_id: "inverter_dc_power_string_1"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.PDC1 }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "W"
      device_class: power
      icon: mdi:solar-power
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter DC Power String 2"
      unique_id: "inverter_dc_power_string_2"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.PDC2 }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "W"
      device_class: power
      icon: mdi:solar-power
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter DC Voltage String 1"
      unique_id: "inverter_dc_voltage_string_1"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.UDC1 }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "V"
      icon: mdi:solar-power
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter DC Voltage String 2"
      unique_id: "inverter_dc_voltage_string_2"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.UDC2 }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "V"
      icon: mdi:solar-power
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter DC Current String 1"
      unique_id: "inverter_dc_current_string_1"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.IDC1 }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "A"
      icon: mdi:solar-power
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"
    - name: "Inverter DC Current String 2"
      unique_id: "inverter_dc_current_string_2"
      state_topic: "sbfspot/123456"
      value_template: "{{ value_json.IDC2 }}"
      unit_of_measurement: "A"
      icon: mdi:solar-power
      device:
        identifiers: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        manufacturer: "SBFSpot"
        name: "SBFSpot-SB4000"
        model: "V1"

rossk · June 19, 2023, 7:52pm

Glad you got it sorted

123 · June 22, 2023, 12:29pm

The documentation for MQTT Discovery has always claimed it’s not possible to define a device using YAML configuration.

Documentation for MQTT Binary Sensor:

Are you saying that the documentation is no longer correct and it’s possible to define a device in YAML?

rossk · June 22, 2023, 1:18pm

Yes, 100% - I have multiple MQTT devices setup all containing multiple sensors that were simply created in mqtt.yaml and as long as each sensor has its own unique_id, then its simply a case of adding exactly the same device info to each sensor you want grouped.

This is how I have always done it, I have never used a script to achieve this functionality.

123 · June 22, 2023, 1:51pm

Do you recall approximately when you first started to use it?

FWIW, it didn’t work in the distant past (logged it as an error; there are posts by users who tried it but failed) so it has changed since then.

In addition, whoever changed it overlooked to update the documentation because, as seen in the screenshot above, it still warns that device is only supported via MQTT Discovery.

There have been a lot of changes made to the MQTT integration so it’s challenging to pinpoint which PR added the ability to define device in YAML.

https://github.com/home-assistant/core/pulls?q=is%3Apr+is%3Aclosed+label%3A"integration%3A+mqtt"+

Skimming the titles of PRs merged in the past few months hasn’t revealed anything obvious. In addition, I don’t recall this new capability mentioned in recent (i e. last 6 months) Release Notes. Either I missed it or it’s older than a half-year.

It’s a welcome change, but a seemingly stealthy one.

rossk · June 22, 2023, 2:11pm

Difficult to remember, but if it helps I can tell you that the last time I set up a new MQTT device was 05/02/2023 - so it must have been changed prior to that.

123 · June 22, 2023, 10:02pm

I contacted the MQTT integration’s most prolific contributor (jbouwh) and he has confirmed that the long-standing inability to define a device in YAML was eliminated some time ago. The exact date is unclear but it may have been a year ago when the format for defining MQTT entities was changed significantly. Anyway, he has updated the documentation and it no longer makes the claim that the device option is exclusively supported by MQTT Discovery.

tl;dr
To all long-standing users who still remember when you could not define a device in YAML, and only via MQTT Discovery, that limitation no longer exists.