[RD1-Pro] Direct Zigbee Binding

[RD1-Pro] Direct Zigbee Binding

Introduction

The Candeo RD1-Pro with firmware v2 supports direct Zigbee binding, allowing it to control compatible Zigbee lights or Zigbee groups directly.

For most Home Assistant users, we strongly recommend using the Candeo binding Blueprints. They make the process considerably easier and automatically configure the correct RD1-Pro endpoint and Zigbee clusters.

You can also create the bindings manually. Instructions for both methods are included below.

Tip: Choose your path — jump to ZHA Blueprint, ZHA manual, Zigbee2MQTT Blueprint, or Zigbee2MQTT manual.

Contents

What is direct Zigbee binding?

Zigbee binding creates a direct relationship between Zigbee devices.

With the RD1-Pro bound directly to a compatible light or Zigbee group:

  • Single press toggles the bound light or group.
  • Rotating the knob dims or brightens the bound light or group.
  • Commands travel directly between the Zigbee devices rather than through a Home Assistant automation.

This provides fast and responsive control and means normal bound control can continue even if Home Assistant or Zigbee2MQTT is temporarily unavailable.

Direct binding is different from using a Home Assistant automation. Both the RD1-Pro and the target must be connected to the same Zigbee network.

Requirements

Direct binding requires:

  • Candeo RD1-Pro
  • Zigbee firmware v2.0.0 or later
  • MCU firmware v2.0.0 or later
  • RD1-Pro in either Remote Mode (REM) or Dual Purpose Mode (DPM)
  • A compatible Zigbee light or Zigbee group on the same Zigbee network

The RD1-Pro uses its dedicated endpoint 3 for direct control.

The required Zigbee clusters are:

  • On/Off – 0x0006
  • Level Control – 0x0008

The target device must support the appropriate clusters. For example, a device supporting On/Off but not Level Control may switch correctly but will not support rotary dimming.

Remote Mode (REM)

Use REM when the RD1-Pro is being used primarily as a Zigbee remote control.

The knob can directly toggle and dim its bound Zigbee light or group.

Dual Purpose Mode (DPM)

Use DPM when the RD1-Pro should control both:

  • its locally connected wired lighting load; and
  • a directly bound Zigbee light or group.

The Candeo Blueprint is the easiest way to configure RD1-Pro binding with ZHA.

It automatically creates the required binding from endpoint 3 for both:

  • On/Off
  • Level Control

This avoids having to configure the RD1-Pro’s binding details manually.

Before you start

You will need:

The RD1-Pro and target must both be on the same ZHA Zigbee network.

1. Import the Blueprint

Import the Candeo RD1-Pro – Bind to Light or Zigbee Group in ZHA Blueprint into Home Assistant, then create a new script using the Blueprint.

2. Select the RD1-Pro

Under Candeo RD1-Pro v2, select the RD1-Pro that you want to use.

The RD1-Pro must be in REM or DPM mode.

3. Choose what you want to bind

The Blueprint allows you to bind the RD1-Pro to either:

  • an individual Zigbee device/light; or
  • an existing ZHA Zigbee group.

Binding to a light

Choose Zigbee Device / Light, then select the required Zigbee light.

Binding to a group

Choose ZHA Zigbee Group, then enter the group’s Zigbee Group ID. The group must already exist in ZHA.

Note: A ZHA Zigbee group is not the same as a normal Home Assistant software light group.

4. Create and run the script

Save the script and run it.

The Blueprint creates the following bindings from RD1-Pro endpoint 3:

  • On/Off
  • Level Control

Existing unrelated RD1-Pro bindings are not intentionally removed.

5. Test the binding

Once completed:

  • Single press the RD1-Pro — the bound target should toggle.
  • Rotate clockwise — brightness should increase.
  • Rotate anticlockwise — brightness should decrease.

Checking the ZHA binding

To inspect the RD1-Pro binding table:

Settings → Zigbee → Devices → RD1-Pro → three-dot menu → Manage Zigbee device → Bindings

The direct-control bindings should originate from endpoint 3.

Binding with ZHA manually

You can also use ZHA’s own binding interface instead of the Candeo Blueprint.

The Blueprint method is recommended because it automatically handles the RD1-Pro-specific binding configuration.

1. Check the prerequisites

Make sure:

  • RD1-Pro firmware is v2.0.0 or later.
  • The RD1-Pro is in REM or DPM mode.
  • The RD1-Pro and target are paired with the same ZHA network.
  • The target supports Zigbee On/Off and Level Control.

2. Open the RD1-Pro binding controls

In Home Assistant go to:

Settings → Zigbee → Devices → RD1-Pro

Open the three-dot menu next to Reconfigure and select Manage Zigbee device.

Then open the Bindings tab.

3. Select the target

Choose either:

  • a compatible device under Bindable devices; or
  • an existing Zigbee group under Bindable groups.

Select the required target and choose Bind or Bind group.

4. Check the resulting binding

After binding, inspect the RD1-Pro’s binding table.

For RD1-Pro direct lighting control, the required bindings are from endpoint 3 using:

  • On/Off – 0x0006
  • Level Control – 0x0008

If the required endpoint 3 bindings have not been created, use the Candeo ZHA Binding Blueprint instead.

5. Test the RD1-Pro

Check that:

  • Single press toggles the target.
  • Clockwise rotation increases brightness.
  • Anticlockwise rotation decreases brightness.

For Home Assistant users running Zigbee2MQTT, the Candeo Blueprint is again the easiest method.

The Blueprint automatically tells Zigbee2MQTT to create the binding from the RD1-Pro’s endpoint 3 using:

  • genOnOff
  • genLevelCtrl

You therefore do not need to manually select the RD1-Pro endpoint or clusters.

Before you start

You will need:

The RD1-Pro and target must be on the same Zigbee2MQTT network.

1. Find the RD1-Pro Friendly Name

Open Zigbee2MQTT and select the RD1-Pro. Note its exact Friendly Name.

This is the Zigbee2MQTT Friendly Name, which may be different from the name shown for the device in Home Assistant.

2. Find the target Friendly Name

Find the Zigbee light you want to control and note its exact Zigbee2MQTT Friendly Name.

If you are binding to a group, create the group first and note the group’s Friendly Name.

3. Import the Blueprint

Import the Candeo RD1-Pro – Bind to Light or Zigbee Group in Zigbee2MQTT Blueprint into Home Assistant, then create a script from the Blueprint.

4. Enter the devices

Enter:

  • RD1-Pro Friendly Name
  • Target Light or Group Friendly Name

Use the names exactly as they appear in Zigbee2MQTT.

5. Create and run the script

Save and run the script.

The Blueprint requests bindings from endpoint 3 for:

  • genOnOff
  • genLevelCtrl

6. Check the result

If successful, the RD1-Pro should immediately control the target.

Test:

  • Single press — toggle.
  • Clockwise rotation — brighten.
  • Anticlockwise rotation — dim.

Checking the Zigbee2MQTT binding

Open:

Zigbee2MQTT → RD1-Pro → Bind

Check the binding entries for the RD1-Pro.

Binding with Zigbee2MQTT manually

If you do not use Home Assistant Blueprints — or do not use Home Assistant at all — the binding can be configured directly in Zigbee2MQTT.

Method 1: Zigbee2MQTT frontend

1. Check the prerequisites

Make sure:

  • RD1-Pro firmware is v2.0.0 or later.
  • The RD1-Pro is in REM or DPM mode.
  • Both devices are connected to the same Zigbee2MQTT network.
  • The target supports On/Off and Level Control binding.

2. Open the Bind page

In the Zigbee2MQTT frontend:

  • Open the RD1-Pro.
  • Select the Bind tab.

3. Configure the binding

Select the required target device or Zigbee group.

The RD1-Pro direct-control binding must use:

  • Source endpoint: 3
  • Clusters: genOnOff, genLevelCtrl

Create the binding.

4. Test the result

Single press and rotate the RD1-Pro to confirm that the target responds correctly.

Method 2: Zigbee2MQTT MQTT API

Advanced users can create the same binding directly through the Zigbee2MQTT MQTT API.

Publish to:

zigbee2mqtt/bridge/request/device/bind

with the following information:

{ "from": "RD1-Pro Friendly Name", "from_endpoint": 3, "to": "Target Friendly Name", "clusters": [ "genOnOff", "genLevelCtrl" ] }

Replace the Friendly Names with the exact Friendly Names configured in Zigbee2MQTT.

For a Zigbee group, use the group’s Friendly Name as the target.

Zigbee2MQTT requires the group’s Friendly Name rather than its numeric Zigbee Group ID when using this binding request.

After sending the request, check the response from Zigbee2MQTT and verify the resulting entries on the RD1-Pro’s Bind page.

What happens after binding?

Once the binding is configured:

RD1-Pro controlBound light or group
Single pressToggle on/off
Rotate clockwiseIncrease brightness
Rotate anticlockwiseDecrease brightness
Double pressDoes not directly control the bound target
Hold / releaseDoes not directly control the bound target


With Extra Button Commands enabled, double press, hold and release can therefore still be used separately by Home Assistant automations while single press and rotary dimming directly control the bound lighting.

Direct binding versus Home Assistant control

Direct binding is ideal where you want straightforward, resilient:

  • On/off control
  • Brightness control

between the RD1-Pro and Zigbee lighting.

A normal Home Assistant Blueprint or automation may be more suitable if you need to control:

  • Wi-Fi lights
  • lights connected through a separate Hue Bridge
  • devices on another Zigbee network
  • colour
  • colour temperature
  • scenes
  • scripts
  • non-light devices
  • more complex automation logic

A device cannot be directly Zigbee-bound across separate Zigbee networks.

For example:

  • An RD1-Pro on ZHA cannot directly bind to a lamp on Zigbee2MQTT.
  • An RD1-Pro on Zigbee2MQTT cannot directly bind to a lamp on ZHA.
  • A Hue lamp remaining on a separate Hue Bridge cannot be directly bound to an RD1-Pro on ZHA or Zigbee2MQTT.

Removing or changing a binding

If you want the RD1-Pro to stop controlling a particular light or group, the binding should be removed.

Candeo provides separate RD1-Pro – Unbind from Light or Zigbee Group Blueprints for both:

These are the easiest way to remove a specific direct binding without intentionally changing unrelated bindings.

If you need to clear the RD1-Pro’s direct-control bindings and start again, use the appropriate RD1-Pro – Clear / Reset Bindings Blueprint: ZHA or Zigbee2MQTT.

Removing a binding manually in ZHA

Go to:

Settings → Zigbee → Devices → RD1-Pro → Manage Zigbee device → Bindings

Select the existing target and choose Unbind or Unbind group as appropriate.

Removing a binding manually in Zigbee2MQTT

Go to:

Zigbee2MQTT → RD1-Pro → Bind

Locate the required binding and remove/unbind it.

Troubleshooting

If the binding does not work, check the following:

  • The RD1-Pro is running Zigbee firmware v2.0.0 / MCU firmware v2.0.0 or later.
  • The RD1-Pro is in REM or DPM mode.
  • Both devices are on the same Zigbee network.
  • Both devices are online and responsive.
  • The target supports the required Zigbee clusters.
  • The RD1-Pro binding uses endpoint 3.
  • On/Off and Level Control have been bound.
  • For ZHA Blueprint users, ZHA Toolkit v1.2.0 or later is installed and enabled.
  • For Zigbee2MQTT Blueprint users, the exact Zigbee2MQTT Friendly Names have been entered.
  • For Zigbee2MQTT groups, the group’s Friendly Name is being used rather than its numeric Group ID.

If you configured the binding manually and cannot get the correct endpoint or clusters to bind, we recommend removing the attempted binding and using the appropriate Candeo Binding Blueprint instead.