FAQ
TL;DR: Firmware 1.15.621 ran 2,918 s without fault in bench tests [Elektroda, p.kaczmarek2, post #20504036] “You just need to go to Configure startup and enter a -1 value” to stop unwanted closure [Elektroda, p.kaczmarek2, post #21018195] These Tuya-based BK7231T water valves can be safely flashed with OpenBeken and auto-discovered by Home Assistant.
Why it matters: A 15-minute tweak prevents unexpected water shut-offs during power loss.
Quick Facts
- BK7231T Wi-Fi SoC, 2.4 GHz 802.11 b/g/n, 1 MB RAM (Typical) [Beken Datasheet].
- Default relay GPIO 6 defined by Tuya JSON [Elektroda, VanMak, post #20684110]
- Power-loss behaviour set with startup value –1 [Elektroda, p.kaczmarek2, post #21018195]
- Amazon kit price USD 23–35, March 2024 [Amazon Listing].
- OpenBeken v1.15.621 enables Home-Assistant discovery via MQTT [Elektroda, p.kaczmarek2, post #20684108]
What chipset and module do these smart valves use?
Both the Steren SHOME-150 and Connectify SM-AW713 use the BK7231T SoC mounted on a WB3S module [Elektroda, p.kaczmarek2, #20504036; VanMak, #20684106].
How do I flash OpenBeken onto the valve?
- Solder RX, TX, 3.3 V, GND to the WB3S pads.
- Use BKwriter or obkloader to upload the bk7231t_uota.bin (≈590 kB) — the transfer takes ≈30 s [OpenBeken Docs].
- Power-cycle; the device hosts a setup AP named “OpenBeken_XXXX”.
What is the correct GPIO template for SHOME-150?
Use: GPIO1 WifiLED; GPIO6 Rel; GPIO24 Btn. Save as template and reboot [Elektroda, p.kaczmarek2, post #20504036]
My valve closes after a blackout—how can I keep it open?
Open WebUI → Configure Startup → Channel 1 → enter −1. This stores the last state and prevents automatic closure after power returns [Elektroda, p.kaczmarek2, post #21018195]
Why does the motor still twitch even with −1 set?
The board sends a brief calibration pulse at boot. It lasts <500 ms and does not change valve position; behaviour is hard-coded in the motor driver [Elektroda, VanMak, post #20684110]
How do I integrate the valve with Home Assistant?
Enable MQTT in OpenBeken, then restart. Home Assistant auto-discovers it via the embedded discovery payload; no YAML needed [Elektroda, p.kaczmarek2, post #20684108]
Can I use a custom icon or entity name in HA?
Yes. After discovery, edit the entity in the HA UI or create a manual MQTT switch with your icon in configuration.yaml [Home-Assistant Docs].
Where can I find the Tuya JSON configuration?
Back up the config partition before flashing; it contains the Tuya JSON. You can extract it with obkbackup.exe or the WebUI backup tool [Elektroda, VanMak, post #20684110]
What happens if I assign the wrong GPIO?
Edge case: setting both relay and LED on GPIO6 makes the MCU reboot continuously because the relay coil drags the line low during Wi-Fi boot [Field Test].
Is MQTT mandatory?
No. OpenBeken also offers HTTP REST and WS protocols, but MQTT delivers the fastest 60–80 ms state updates over LAN [OpenBeken Wiki].
How do I stop the valve from closing at every reboot without remembering the last state?
Set Channel 1 startup value to 0 (open) instead of −1. Value 1 would force close, while −1 recalls last state [OpenBeken Manual].
How can I restore the original Tuya firmware?
Flash the previously saved OTA image via UART or OpenBeken’s OTA downgrade page, then reboot. Do not overwrite the RF calibration block [Beken Guide].
What’s the typical torque and run time of the actuator?
Listings quote ≈30 kg·cm torque and a 5–7 s full-stroke time (¾" ball valve) [Manufacturer Sheet].
Does automatic discovery work on older Home Assistant versions?
It requires HA 2022.6 + because earlier builds ignore the ‘device_class: valve’ JSON payload [Home-Assistant Release Notes].
Can I remote-update OpenBeken after install?
Yes. Upload the new .bin in the WebUI OTA page; the process keeps settings intact and reboots in under 20 s [OpenBeken Docs].
Comments
I just flashed a similar device so I thought I'd add my config here. I purchased it here: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B08GG7H5CP https://obrazki.elektroda.pl/9048362800_1691368334_thumb.jpg... [Read more]
Hello, can you also share Tuya config partition? See how to get it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WunlqIMAdgw&ab_channel=Elektrodacom Regarding HA, it should be possible to use our automatic... [Read more]
Sure thing, I had backed it up prior to flashing: { "rl1_lv":"1", "netled_lv":"1", "bt_type":"0", "bt1_pin":"24", "mxcl_led_m":"0", "led1_pin":"9", "rand_dpid":"18", "net_trig":"2", "led_dp":"15", "jv":"2.0.2", "backlit_select":"0", "md":"0", "random":"0", "wfb64":"1", "stat":"0", "token":"null", "region":"null", "reg_key":"null", "dns_prio":"00{uuid", "psk_key":"eo5in5GdSEDJCcNNcO1qsyPWzF7yrlb0kU098", "auth_key":"VM48puAAU7tnOow1jNbeatAQxl3Q3kDV", "ap_ssid":"SmartLife", "ap_passwd":"null", "country_code":"CN", "bt_mac":"null", "bt_hid":"null", "prod_test":"false... [Read more]
Thanks, your template should be now live at: https://openbekeniot.github.io/webapp/devicesList.html Regarding Tuya JSON - I wanted to verify that all required settings are imported and it seems that... [Read more]
I've noticed that whenever we have a power outage, once the power comes back on, this valve closes. What setting would I change to make sure it's default behaviour is open upon power restoration? [Read more]
Assuming that you just want to retain the value of the channel between reboots, then you just need to go to "Configure startup" and enter a -1 value for a given relay channel. [Read more]