diff --git a/charger/template_test.go b/charger/template_test.go
index 9ef5e90d8..0fe9f053a 100644
--- a/charger/template_test.go
+++ b/charger/template_test.go
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ func TestTemplates(t *testing.T) {
 			} else {
 				values[templates.ModbusKeyRS485TCPIP] = true
 			}
-			values = tmpl.ModbusValues(templates.TemplateRenderModeInstance, true, values)
+			tmpl.ModbusValues(templates.TemplateRenderModeInstance, values)
 		}
 
 		templates.RenderTest(t, tmpl, values, func(values map[string]interface{}) {
diff --git a/cmd/configure/helper.go b/cmd/configure/helper.go
index f809e7c24..e77155ebd 100644
--- a/cmd/configure/helper.go
+++ b/cmd/configure/helper.go
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package configure
 
 import (
-	"bufio"
 	"fmt"
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
@@ -15,7 +14,8 @@ import (
 	"gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
-// processDeviceSelection processes the the user selected device, check if it is an actual device and make sure the requirements are set
+// processDeviceSelection processes the user-selected device, checks
+// if it's an actual device and makes sure the requirements are set
 func (c *CmdConfigure) processDeviceSelection(deviceCategory DeviceCategory) (templates.Template, error) {
 	templateItem := c.selectItem(deviceCategory)
 
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@ func (c *CmdConfigure) processDeviceSelection(deviceCategory DeviceCategory) (te
 	return templateItem, nil
 }
 
-// processDeviceValues processes the user provided values, create a device configuration and check if it is a valid device
+// processDeviceValues processes the user provided values, creates
+// a device configuration and check if it is a valid device
 func (c *CmdConfigure) processDeviceValues(values map[string]interface{}, templateItem templates.Template, device device, deviceCategory DeviceCategory) (device, error) {
 	c.addedDeviceIndex++
 
@@ -45,12 +46,14 @@ func (c *CmdConfigure) processDeviceValues(values map[string]interface{}, templa
 		}
 	}
 
-	categoryWithUsage := deviceCategory == DeviceCategoryPVMeter || deviceCategory == DeviceCategoryBatteryMeter || deviceCategory == DeviceCategoryGridMeter
+	var categoryWithUsage bool
 
 	fmt.Println()
-	if categoryWithUsage {
+	switch deviceCategory {
+	case DeviceCategoryPVMeter, DeviceCategoryBatteryMeter, DeviceCategoryGridMeter:
+		categoryWithUsage = true
 		fmt.Println(c.localizedString("TestingDevice_TitleUsage", localizeMap{"Device": templateItem.Title(), "Usage": deviceCategory.String()}))
-	} else {
+	default:
 		fmt.Println(c.localizedString("TestingDevice_Title", localizeMap{"Device": templateItem.Title()}))
 	}
 
@@ -81,24 +84,8 @@ func (c *CmdConfigure) processDeviceValues(values map[string]interface{}, templa
 
 	templateItem.Params = append(templateItem.Params, templates.Param{Name: "name", Value: device.Name})
 	if !c.expandedMode {
-		for index, param := range templateItem.Params {
-			// reduce help texts to one line and add ...
-			help := param.Help.String(c.lang)
-			if help != "" {
-				scanner := bufio.NewScanner(strings.NewReader(help))
-				line := 0
-				for scanner.Scan() {
-					if line == 0 {
-						help = scanner.Text()
-					} else {
-						help += "..."
-						break
-					}
-				}
-				if help != param.Help.String(c.lang) {
-					templateItem.Params[index].Help.SetString(c.lang, help)
-				}
-			}
+		for _, param := range templateItem.Params {
+			param.Help.Shorten(c.lang)
 		}
 
 		b, err := templateItem.RenderProxyWithValues(values, c.lang)
@@ -115,6 +102,7 @@ func (c *CmdConfigure) processDeviceValues(values map[string]interface{}, templa
 				templateItem.Render = fmt.Sprintf("name: {{ .name }}\n%s", templateItem.Render)
 			}
 		}
+
 		b, _, err := templateItem.RenderResult(templates.TemplateRenderModeInstance, values)
 		if err != nil {
 			c.addedDeviceIndex--
@@ -470,11 +458,7 @@ func (c *CmdConfigure) processParams(templateItem *templates.Template, deviceCat
 			}
 
 		default:
-			if !c.advancedMode && param.Advanced {
-				continue
-			}
-
-			if param.Deprecated {
+			if param.Advanced && !c.advancedMode || param.Deprecated {
 				continue
 			}
 
@@ -493,7 +477,9 @@ func (c *CmdConfigure) processParams(templateItem *templates.Template, deviceCat
 					}
 				}
 				additionalConfig[param.Name] = nonEmptyValues
+
 			default:
+				// TODO make processInputConfig aware of default values added by template
 				if value := c.processInputConfig(param); value != "" {
 					additionalConfig[param.Name] = value
 				}
@@ -593,8 +579,10 @@ func (c *CmdConfigure) processModbusConfig(templateItem *templates.Template, dev
 
 	values := make(map[string]interface{})
 	templateItem.Params[modbusIndex].Value = choiceTypes[index]
+
 	// add the interface type specific modbus params
 	templateItem.ModbusParams(choiceTypes[index], values)
-	// Update the modbus default values
-	_ = templateItem.ModbusValues(templates.TemplateRenderModeInstance, true, values)
+
+	// update the modbus default values
+	templateItem.ModbusValues(templates.TemplateRenderModeInstance, values)
 }
diff --git a/cmd/configure/types.go b/cmd/configure/types.go
index 6173e7474..d56e7bf49 100644
--- a/cmd/configure/types.go
+++ b/cmd/configure/types.go
@@ -57,28 +57,35 @@ type DeviceCategoryData struct {
 var DeviceCategories = map[DeviceCategory]DeviceCategoryData{
 	DeviceCategoryCharger: {
 		class:       DeviceClassCharger,
-		defaultName: defaultNameCharger},
+		defaultName: defaultNameCharger,
+	},
 	DeviceCategoryGuidedSetup: {
-		class: DeviceClassMeter},
+		class: DeviceClassMeter,
+	},
 	DeviceCategoryGridMeter: {
 		class:          DeviceClassMeter,
 		categoryFilter: DeviceCategoryGridMeter,
-		defaultName:    defaultNameGridMeter},
+		defaultName:    defaultNameGridMeter,
+	},
 	DeviceCategoryPVMeter: {
 		class:          DeviceClassMeter,
 		categoryFilter: DeviceCategoryPVMeter,
-		defaultName:    defaultNamePVMeter},
+		defaultName:    defaultNamePVMeter,
+	},
 	DeviceCategoryBatteryMeter: {
 		class:          DeviceClassMeter,
 		categoryFilter: DeviceCategoryBatteryMeter,
-		defaultName:    defaultNameBatteryMeter},
+		defaultName:    defaultNameBatteryMeter,
+	},
 	DeviceCategoryVehicle: {
 		class:       DeviceClassVehicle,
-		defaultName: defaultNameVehicle},
+		defaultName: defaultNameVehicle,
+	},
 	DeviceCategoryChargeMeter: {
 		class:          DeviceClassMeter,
 		categoryFilter: DeviceCategoryChargeMeter,
-		defaultName:    defaultNameChargeMeter},
+		defaultName:    defaultNameChargeMeter,
+	},
 }
 
 type localizeMap map[string]interface{}
diff --git a/meter/template_test.go b/meter/template_test.go
index 38a8d3123..1ed90dbc3 100644
--- a/meter/template_test.go
+++ b/meter/template_test.go
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ func TestTemplates(t *testing.T) {
 			} else {
 				values[templates.ModbusKeyRS485TCPIP] = true
 			}
-			values = tmpl.ModbusValues(templates.TemplateRenderModeInstance, true, values)
+			tmpl.ModbusValues(templates.TemplateRenderModeInstance, values)
 		}
 
 		templates.RenderTest(t, tmpl, values, func(values map[string]interface{}) {
diff --git a/util/templates/template.go b/util/templates/template.go
index 35e6f4098..bafa62324 100644
--- a/util/templates/template.go
+++ b/util/templates/template.go
@@ -181,18 +181,6 @@ func (t *Template) Defaults(renderMode string) map[string]interface{} {
 	return values
 }
 
-// Update the default value of a param
-//
-// Used for modbus params, which are dynamically added after selecting the interface
-func (t *Template) SetParamDefault(name string, value string) {
-	for i, p := range t.Params {
-		if p.Name == name {
-			t.Params[i].Default = value
-			return
-		}
-	}
-}
-
 // return the param with the given name
 func (t *Template) ParamByName(name string) (int, Param) {
 	for i, p := range t.Params {
@@ -292,7 +280,7 @@ func (t *Template) RenderResult(renderMode string, other map[string]interface{})
 		return nil, values, err
 	}
 
-	values = t.ModbusValues(renderMode, false, values)
+	t.ModbusValues(renderMode, values)
 
 	// add the common templates
 	for _, v := range t.ConfigDefaults.Presets {
diff --git a/util/templates/template_documentation.go b/util/templates/template_documentation.go
index d0089ad8d..5f66f7f6a 100644
--- a/util/templates/template_documentation.go
+++ b/util/templates/template_documentation.go
@@ -1,12 +1,10 @@
 package templates
 
 import (
-	"bufio"
 	"bytes"
 	_ "embed"
 	"fmt"
 	"regexp"
-	"strings"
 	"text/template"
 
 	"github.com/Masterminds/sprig/v3"
@@ -53,7 +51,7 @@ func (t *Template) RenderDocumentation(product Product, values map[string]interf
 			}
 
 			modbusData := map[string]interface{}{}
-			modbusData = t.ModbusValues(TemplateRenderModeDocs, true, modbusData)
+			t.ModbusValues(TemplateRenderModeDocs, modbusData)
 
 			modbusOut := new(bytes.Buffer)
 
@@ -70,31 +68,16 @@ func (t *Template) RenderDocumentation(product Product, values map[string]interf
 	var hasAdvancedParam bool
 	var newParams []Param
 	for _, param := range t.Params {
-		// reduce help texts to one line and add ...
-		help := param.Help.String(lang)
-		if help != "" {
-			scanner := bufio.NewScanner(strings.NewReader(help))
-			line := 0
-			for scanner.Scan() {
-				line++
-				if line == 1 {
-					help = scanner.Text()
-				} else {
-					help += "..."
-					break
-				}
-			}
-			if help != param.Help.String(lang) {
-				param.Help.SetString(lang, help)
-			}
-		}
+		param.Help.Shorten(lang)
 
 		if param.Deprecated || param.Name == ParamUsage {
 			continue
 		}
+
 		if param.Advanced {
 			hasAdvancedParam = true
 		}
+
 		newParams = append(newParams, param)
 	}
 	t.Params = newParams
diff --git a/util/templates/template_modbus.go b/util/templates/template_modbus.go
index 6ffb64859..7f66bd7c5 100644
--- a/util/templates/template_modbus.go
+++ b/util/templates/template_modbus.go
@@ -34,11 +34,11 @@ func (t *Template) ModbusParams(modbusType string, values map[string]interface{}
 	t.Params = append(modbusParams, t.Params...)
 }
 
-// set the modbus values required from modbus.tpl and and the template to the render
-func (t *Template) ModbusValues(renderMode string, setDefaults bool, values map[string]interface{}) map[string]interface{} {
+// ModbusValues adds the values required for modbus.tpl to the value map
+func (t *Template) ModbusValues(renderMode string, values map[string]interface{}) {
 	choices := t.ModbusChoices()
 	if len(choices) == 0 {
-		return values
+		return
 	}
 
 	// only add the template once, when testing multiple usages, it might already be present
@@ -46,10 +46,6 @@ func (t *Template) ModbusValues(renderMode string, setDefaults bool, values map[
 		t.Render = fmt.Sprintf("%s\n%s", t.Render, modbusTmpl)
 	}
 
-	if !setDefaults {
-		return values
-	}
-
 	modbusConfig := t.ConfigDefaults.Modbus
 	_, modbusParam := t.ParamByName(ParamModbus)
 
@@ -58,9 +54,20 @@ func (t *Template) ModbusValues(renderMode string, setDefaults bool, values map[
 		modbusInterfaces = append(modbusInterfaces, modbusConfig.Interfaces[choice]...)
 	}
 
+	// set default interface type
+	if len(modbusInterfaces) == 1 {
+		values[ParamModbus] = modbusInterfaces[0]
+	}
+
 	for _, iface := range modbusInterfaces {
 		typeParams := modbusConfig.Types[iface].Params
+
 		for _, p := range typeParams {
+			// don't overwrite custom values
+			if values[p.Name] != nil {
+				continue
+			}
+
 			values[p.Name] = p.DefaultValue(renderMode)
 
 			var defaultValue string
@@ -84,21 +91,13 @@ func (t *Template) ModbusValues(renderMode string, setDefaults bool, values map[
 				}
 			}
 
-			if defaultValue == "" {
-				continue
-			}
-
-			if renderMode == TemplateRenderModeInstance {
-				t.SetParamDefault(p.Name, defaultValue)
-			} else {
+			if defaultValue != "" {
 				values[p.Name] = defaultValue
 			}
-
 		}
+
 		if renderMode == TemplateRenderModeDocs {
 			values[iface] = true
 		}
 	}
-
-	return values
 }
diff --git a/util/templates/template_types.go b/util/templates/template_types.go
index be7f47ff5..f5e3cc772 100644
--- a/util/templates/template_types.go
+++ b/util/templates/template_types.go
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 package templates
 
-import "reflect"
+import (
+	"bufio"
+	"reflect"
+	"strings"
+)
 
 const (
 	ParamUsage  = "usage"
@@ -79,7 +83,7 @@ var predefinedTemplateProperties = []string{"type", "template", "name",
 	ModbusKeyTCPIP, ModbusKeyRS485Serial, ModbusKeyRS485TCPIP,
 }
 
-// language specific texts
+// TextLanguage contains language-specific texts
 type TextLanguage struct {
 	Generic string // language independent
 	DE      string // german text
@@ -99,7 +103,7 @@ func (t *TextLanguage) String(lang string) string {
 	return t.DE
 }
 
-func (t *TextLanguage) SetString(lang, value string) {
+func (t *TextLanguage) set(lang, value string) {
 	switch lang {
 	case "de":
 		t.DE = value
@@ -110,6 +114,33 @@ func (t *TextLanguage) SetString(lang, value string) {
 	}
 }
 
+// Shorten reduces help texts to one line and adds ...
+func (t *TextLanguage) Shorten(lang string) {
+	help := t.String(lang)
+	if help == "" {
+		return
+	}
+
+	scanner := bufio.NewScanner(strings.NewReader(help))
+
+	var line int
+	var short string
+
+	for scanner.Scan() {
+		line++
+		if line == 1 {
+			short = scanner.Text()
+		} else {
+			short += "..."
+			break
+		}
+	}
+
+	if help != short {
+		t.set(lang, short)
+	}
+}
+
 // Update the language specific texts
 //
 // always true to always update if the new value is not empty
@@ -261,7 +292,7 @@ type Product struct {
 // TemplateDefinition contains properties of a device template
 type TemplateDefinition struct {
 	Template     string
-	Covers       []string  // list of covered outdated tempate names
+	Covers       []string  // list of covered outdated template names
 	Products     []Product // list of products this template is compatible with
 	Capabilities []string
 	Requirements Requirements