SmartHomeShop Docs

Troubleshooting

Rapidly flashing red status LED on a VLAN without internet

If your WaterP1MeterKit continues to report measurements but its red status LED flashes rapidly after startup, the firmware update check may be blocked by your firewall or IoT VLAN.

The local WaterP1MeterKit firmware reads a small version manifest from SmartHomeShop GitHub Pages. This check only determines whether new firmware is available. It does not send sensor readings, Home Assistant data, Wi-Fi passwords or API keys to GitHub.

ESPHome's standard status LED reports errors from every firmware component. A blocked update check can therefore look like a device startup error even while WaterP1MeterKit itself is working normally.

Confirm the cause

Open the WaterP1MeterKit logs in ESPHome and look for http_request.update or Failed to fetch manifest. If these messages are not present, investigate power, network and sensor initialization before changing the update settings.

Disable scheduled firmware checks

  1. Open the ESPHome Device Builder app/add-on in Home Assistant. This is different from the ESPHome integration under Settings > Devices & services.
  2. Find WaterP1MeterKit and select Take control or Adopt.
  3. Save a copy of the generated YAML, including its API encryption key.
  4. Select Edit and add this block at the bottom of the YAML, without extra indentation:
update:
  - id: !extend firmware_update
    update_interval: never
  1. Save the file, select Validate, and then select Install > Wirelessly.

After installation, WaterP1MeterKit keeps measuring and communicating locally with Home Assistant, but it no longer performs scheduled firmware checks. You can still update it later through ESPHome or the SmartHomeShop web flasher.

ESPHome still downloads the WaterP1MeterKit packages: configuration from GitHub while compiling. That request is made by the Home Assistant/ESPHome host, not by WaterP1MeterKit itself.

If validation says that firmware_update does not exist, remove the block again and install a current WaterP1MeterKit firmware version first. A rapidly flashing LED that remains after this change can indicate another real firmware or hardware error.

If you encounter any issues with the WaterP1MeterKit, try the following steps:

Quick fix for N/A electricity values: if the kit powers on but power data stays empty, adopt the device in Home Assistant → ESPHome Device Builder app, and test the older DSMR profile from the Usage Guide. If only gas is missing, usually test gas_mbus_id values 1 to 4 instead. If Belgian DSMR water is missing, update firmware and enable DSMR Water Consumed first; it is disabled by default.

General Troubleshooting Steps

  1. Ensure All Cables Are Securely Connected

    • Verify that the USB-C power cable is securely connected to both the WaterP1MeterKit and the power adapter.
    • Ensure the RJ12 cable is firmly connected to the P1 port of your energy meter and the WaterP1MeterKit.
    • Check that the water sensor is properly attached to the universal holder and that the holder is securely fastened to your water meter.

  2. Check the Power Source

    • Make sure the power adapter is plugged into a working electrical outlet.
    • If using Power over Ethernet (PoE), ensure your Ethernet cable is connected to a PoE-enabled port on your router or switch.

  3. Restart the WaterP1MeterKit

    • Unplug the power cable from the WaterP1MeterKit, wait for 10 seconds, and then plug it back in.

  4. Restart Home Assistant

    • Sometimes a simple restart of Home Assistant can resolve connectivity or integration issues. Navigate to Settings > System > Restart within Home Assistant.

  5. Update Home Assistant

    • Ensure you are running the latest version of Home Assistant. Go to Settings > System > Updates to check for and install any available updates.

Switching between WiFi and Ethernet (PoE) Connection

The WaterP1MeterKit supports both WiFi and Ethernet (PoE) connections. There are three ways to switch between them:

Method 1: Via Home Assistant (Recommended for WiFi → Ethernet)

  1. Connect Ethernet cable first (important!)
  2. In Home Assistant, go to the WaterP1MeterKit device page
  3. Find the "Firmware Variant" selector
  4. Change from "WiFi (local)" to "Ethernet (local)"
  5. The device automatically downloads and installs the new firmware

⚠️ Warning: WiFi stops immediately when switching to Ethernet. Make sure the Ethernet cable is connected!

Method 2: Via USB-C Web Flasher

Use this method for:

  • Switching from Ethernet back to WiFi (selector won't work)
  • Initial setup before installation
  • Recovery if device is offline
  1. Connect WaterP1MeterKit to computer via USB-C
  2. Go to smarthomeshop.io/en/firmware
  3. Select WaterP1MeterKit, then your hardware version (V1, V2, V3, or V4)
  4. Choose WiFi or Ethernet firmware
  5. Click Install firmware

Method 3: Via the Setup Page

Choose Ethernet on the setup page when you connect to the hotspot. The device installs the Ethernet firmware over WiFi in about two minutes. Then plug in the network cable.

How to Check Current Firmware

Check the device page in Home Assistant: the WiFi Signal entity only exists on WiFi firmware. You can also look at the Ethernet port LED (without cable connected):

  • Green/Yellow LED on = Ethernet firmware installed
  • LED off = WiFi firmware installed

👉 See Network Configuration for detailed instructions.

WiFi Connectivity Issues

  1. Check WiFi Signal Strength

    • Ensure that the WaterP1MeterKit is within range of your WiFi router. Weak signal strength can cause connectivity issues.
    • If necessary, move the WaterP1MeterKit closer to the router or use a WiFi extender to improve signal strength.

  2. Reconnect to WiFi

    • If the WaterP1MeterKit is not connecting to your WiFi network, power it off and on again.
    • Connect to the WiFi hotspot waterp1meterkit (V4 with older firmware: waterp1meterkit-v4). The password is the same as the name.
    • Follow the on-screen instructions to select and connect to your WiFi network.

  3. Check WiFi Network Configuration

    • Ensure your WiFi network is set to 2.4 GHz, as the WaterP1MeterKit does not support 5 GHz networks.
    • Verify that your WiFi network is not using a hidden SSID. If it is, make sure to manually enter the SSID and password during the setup process.

  4. Verify WiFi Firmware

    • Ensure that the WiFi firmware is installed. Check the Ethernet port LED (without cable): LED off = WiFi firmware. See the "Switching between WiFi and Ethernet" section above for instructions.

Ethernet / PoE Connectivity Issues

  1. Check Ethernet Cable Connection

    • Ensure the Ethernet cable is securely connected to both the WaterP1MeterKit and a PoE-enabled port on your router or switch.
    • Verify that the Ethernet cable is not damaged and is functioning properly.

  2. Verify PoE Power Supply

    • Ensure your router or switch supports PoE and is providing power to the WaterP1MeterKit through the Ethernet cable.
    • If possible, test the Ethernet cable and PoE port with another device to confirm they are working correctly.

  3. Verify Ethernet Firmware

    • Ensure that the Ethernet firmware is installed. Check the Ethernet port LED (without cable): LED on = Ethernet firmware. See the "Switching between WiFi and Ethernet" section above for instructions.

Data Reading Issues

  1. Water Meter Data Not Updating

    The sensor detects the rotating metal plate inside your water meter. If it's not detecting water usage, check the positioning:

    📺 Need visual guidance? See the Installation Guide for video tutorials on proper sensor positioning.

    Sensor positioning checklist:

    • Sensor covers approximately 50% of the rotating metal 1-liter indicator (not the entire indicator!)
    • The crosshair (center point) of the sensor is aligned so the metal plate passes through it once per full rotation
    • The side with the red LED is facing DOWN (toward the water meter glass)
    • The black side is visible (facing up)
    • Sensor is firmly pressed into the holder

    Testing:

    • Turn on a tap and watch for the green LED flash
    • The green LED should flash once per liter of water used
    • If no flash: adjust position by 1-2mm and test again
    • If flashing multiple times per liter: sensor may be positioned over too much of the indicator

    Common mistakes:

    • Sensor covering 100% of the indicator (can't detect transitions)
    • Sensor positioned off-center from the metal plate's rotation path
    • Red LED facing up instead of down (wrong orientation)
    • Sensor not firmly seated in holder

    Also check for any physical obstructions or dirt that might be blocking the sensor.

  2. Energy Meter Data Not Updating

    • Verify that the RJ12 cable is securely connected to both the energy meter's P1 port and the WaterP1MeterKit.
    • WaterP1MeterKit is meant for smart meters with a P1 / RJ12 port. DSMR5 / ESMR5 usually work out of the box.
    • The kit does not get power from the P1 port. It always needs USB-C or PoE, also on older meters.
    • If the kit powers on but electricity values stay N/A, unknown, or only partial fields fill in, adopt the device in ESPHome and apply an older DSMR UART profile. See the Usage Guide for exact YAML examples.
    • If gas data is missing while electricity works, also check the Gas and Water MBus Configuration section. Belgian meters often need a different gas_mbus_id.

  3. Belgian DSMR Water Data Not Showing

    • Update to firmware V1 1.13, V2 1.14, V3 1.13, or V4 1.11 or newer.
    • In Home Assistant, open the WaterP1MeterKit device and enable DSMR Water Consumed. This entity is disabled by default.
    • Confirm that your smart meter exposes digital water data through the P1 telegram. The physical MBus port on the meter is not used directly by the WaterP1MeterKit.
    • Keep water_mbus_id: "2" first. Only change it if your meter documentation or support case indicates another water MBus ID.
    • Add either DSMR Water Consumed or Water Total Consumption to the Energy Dashboard, not both.

LED Indicator Issues

  1. Red Status LED Flashing

    • A red flashing status LED indicates that the WaterP1MeterKit is not connected to your network or Home Assistant. Follow the steps in the Connect to WiFi section to resolve this issue.

  2. Green LED Not Flashing During Water Usage

    • Ensure the water sensor is properly installed and positioned on the water meter.

  3. Power LED

    • The power LED indicates that the device is receiving power. It is red on V4, white on V2 and V3 and blue on V1. If this LED is off, it means there is no power provided by either the USB-C cable or PoE, or the device might be faulty.

Advanced Troubleshooting

  1. Accessing the Web Interface

    • If you are unable to connect the WaterP1MeterKit to your WiFi network, access the fallback web interface by navigating to http://192.168.4.1/ in your browser while connected to the WaterP1MeterKit hotspot.

  2. Firmware Updates

    • Ensure the WaterP1MeterKit is running the latest firmware. Refer to our firmware page for instructions on how to update the firmware.

  3. Factory Reset

    • If all else fails, perform a factory reset on the WaterP1MeterKit. This can be done by reflashing the unit via USB-C. Refer to our firmware page for instructions on how to reflash the latest firmware, which will reset the device back to its original state and remove the saved SSID information.

Additional Resources

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve most issues with your WaterP1MeterKit. If you continue to experience problems, please reach out for further assistance.