Helpers added to Refoss EM06P cannot initialize at boot

[andrebrait]

I'm not sure why this happens, but this is the only integration (custom or otherwise) for which a helper, when added to a device, simply won't start.

It says something along the lines of "entity without state" and, until I edit the helper and save it again, it will remain stateless and unusable.

This happens every time I restart HA. Unsure whether it happens when I reload this integration itself, but I don't remember noticing that.

Steps to reproduce:

1. Create a helper (e.g. a template that inverts the power reading of a specific meter)

2. Add it to a Refoss device

3. Restart HA
4. Go to helpers and observe the red warning sign. Also check that everything that uses that helper can't use its values.

5. Edit the helper in any way. You need to modify it, even with stuff that doesn't make any difference (e.g. * 1) and it comes back to life.

If I remove it from the device and leave everything else equal, I never run into this issue. I also don't run into this issue for any other device I have helpers added to.

[l0rn]

I got the exact same issue - frustrating.
In my case its a utility meter that "looses" the relation to the input sensor (refoss em06p) on reboot, probably because its not initializing properly (or delayed). When i "hard refresh" the utility meter by changing some random setting, it immediately works again.

[l0rn]

so i have #8 in use since 4 days and it seems to be ok