Setting up a dimmer in Home Assistant using the Tuya integration locally can be a bit involved, especially if you're opting for a local solution (which does not communicate with the Tuya cloud). As of my last update in January 2022, local control of Tuya devices was possible through third-party integrations like "LocalTuya". Here’s a general step-by-step guide for setting it up:
Prerequisites:
Ensure you have Home Assistant installed and running.A Tuya dimmer switch already set up through the Tuya or Smart Life app.
Get Tuya Device Local Key:
You'll need the device's ID and local key, which aren't easily accessible. The process to obtain these might change, but there are several guides available online that demonstrate how to do this using methods like intercepting the Tuya app's API calls.
Install LocalTuya:
Use Home Assistant’s HACS (Home Assistant Community Store) to install the LocalTuya integration. If you don’t have HACS, you will need to install that first.After installation, restart Home Assistant.
Add LocalTuya Integration:
Navigate to Configuration -> Integrations in the Home Assistant UI.Click on ADD INTEGRATION and search for "LocalTuya".Start adding your device using its IP address, Device ID, and Local Key which you obtained earlier.
Set Up the Dimmer:
During the setup in the LocalTuya integration, you will be prompted to configure the device functions. For a dimmer, there should be an option to set it as a light with dimming capabilities.Make sure to save the configuration.
Add to Lovelace UI:
Once you've added the dimmer, you can add it to your Lovelace UI. Go to your dashboard and edit it to include the new dimmer entity. It should have dimming controls by default.
Optional (YAML configuration):
If you prefer YAML, you can configure LocalTuya using it. Please refer to the LocalTuya GitHub repository or its documentation for specific YAML configuration examples.
Test Your Dimmer:
You should now be able to control your dimmer from the Home Assistant interface, including adjusting its brightness level.
Note: Local control means the communication is between Home Assistant and the device directly in your network, without relying on the Tuya cloud. This can be advantageous for reliability and privacy. However, be aware that the process can be a bit more complicated than the cloud setup and may require periodic maintenance if anything changes in the way Tuya devices operate or if there are updates to the LocalTuya integration.
Lastly, always ensure you have backups of your Home Assistant configuration and keep track of any changes you make. It's good practice in case something goes wrong or you want to revert to a previous state.
Check out this video made by one of our customers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?