diff --git a/bundles/org.smarthomej.binding.tuya/src/main/java/org/smarthomej/binding/tuya/internal/config/ChannelConfiguration.java b/bundles/org.smarthomej.binding.tuya/src/main/java/org/smarthomej/binding/tuya/internal/config/ChannelConfiguration.java
index 38d4e9ef42..5b216403e7 100644
--- a/bundles/org.smarthomej.binding.tuya/src/main/java/org/smarthomej/binding/tuya/internal/config/ChannelConfiguration.java
+++ b/bundles/org.smarthomej.binding.tuya/src/main/java/org/smarthomej/binding/tuya/internal/config/ChannelConfiguration.java
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ public class ChannelConfiguration {
     public int dp2 = 0;
     public int min = Integer.MIN_VALUE;
     public int max = Integer.MAX_VALUE;
+    public boolean sendAsString = false;
     public boolean reversed = false;
     public String range = "";
     public String irCode = "";
diff --git a/bundles/org.smarthomej.binding.tuya/src/main/java/org/smarthomej/binding/tuya/internal/handler/TuyaDeviceHandler.java b/bundles/org.smarthomej.binding.tuya/src/main/java/org/smarthomej/binding/tuya/internal/handler/TuyaDeviceHandler.java
index 781f8c7bca..89581d79fe 100644
--- a/bundles/org.smarthomej.binding.tuya/src/main/java/org/smarthomej/binding/tuya/internal/handler/TuyaDeviceHandler.java
+++ b/bundles/org.smarthomej.binding.tuya/src/main/java/org/smarthomej/binding/tuya/internal/handler/TuyaDeviceHandler.java
@@ -148,7 +148,6 @@ public void processDeviceStatus(Map<Integer, Object> deviceStatus) {
     private void processChannelStatus(Integer dp, Object value) {
         String channelId = dpToChannelId.get(dp);
         if (channelId != null) {
-
             ChannelConfiguration configuration = channelIdToConfiguration.get(channelId);
             ChannelTypeUID channelTypeUID = channelIdToChannelTypeUID.get(channelId);
 
@@ -180,6 +179,8 @@ private void processChannelStatus(Integer dp, Object value) {
                         && CHANNEL_TYPE_UID_NUMBER.equals(channelTypeUID)) {
                     updateState(channelId, new DecimalType((double) value));
                     return;
+                } else if (value instanceof String string && CHANNEL_TYPE_UID_NUMBER.equals(channelTypeUID)) {
+                    updateState(channelId, new DecimalType(string));
                 } else if (Boolean.class.isAssignableFrom(value.getClass())
                         && CHANNEL_TYPE_UID_SWITCH.equals(channelTypeUID)) {
                     updateState(channelId, OnOffType.from((boolean) value));
@@ -324,12 +325,12 @@ public void handleCommand(ChannelUID channelUID, Command command) {
                 }
             }
         } else if (CHANNEL_TYPE_UID_STRING.equals(channelTypeUID)) {
-            if (command instanceof StringType) {
-                commandRequest.put(configuration.dp, command.toString());
-            }
+            commandRequest.put(configuration.dp, command.toString());
         } else if (CHANNEL_TYPE_UID_NUMBER.equals(channelTypeUID)) {
-            if (command instanceof DecimalType) {
-                commandRequest.put(configuration.dp, ((DecimalType) command).intValue());
+            if (command instanceof DecimalType decimalType) {
+                commandRequest.put(configuration.dp,
+                        configuration.sendAsString ? String.format("%d", decimalType.intValue())
+                                : decimalType.intValue());
             }
         } else if (CHANNEL_TYPE_UID_SWITCH.equals(channelTypeUID)) {
             if (command instanceof OnOffType) {
diff --git a/bundles/org.smarthomej.binding.tuya/src/main/resources/OH-INF/thing/thing-types.xml b/bundles/org.smarthomej.binding.tuya/src/main/resources/OH-INF/thing/thing-types.xml
index 37de3165e3..2e0d67244c 100644
--- a/bundles/org.smarthomej.binding.tuya/src/main/resources/OH-INF/thing/thing-types.xml
+++ b/bundles/org.smarthomej.binding.tuya/src/main/resources/OH-INF/thing/thing-types.xml
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@
 			</parameter>
 			<parameter name="localKey" type="text" required="true">
 				<label>Device Local Key</label>
+				<context>password</context>
 			</parameter>
 			<parameter name="productId" type="text" required="true">
 				<label>Product ID</label>
@@ -174,6 +175,12 @@
 			<parameter name="max" type="integer">
 				<label>Maximum</label>
 			</parameter>
+			<parameter name="sendAdString" type="boolean">
+				<label>Send As String</label>
+				<description>Send the value as string instead of number.</description>
+				<default>false</default>
+				<advanced>true</advanced>
+			</parameter>
 		</config-description>
 	</channel-type>