TED 5000 - Customer Support - Welcome

Special TED 5000 Support for Energy Circle Customers

The TED 5000 is one of the most versatile whole house home energy monitors. As a result of our real world testing of this product in the homes of Energy Circle staff, we've flushed out some of the challenges of installing, setting up and using the newest TED. As an added benefit to buying your TED from Energy Circle, we're pleased to provide this page of video installation support and Frequently Asked Questions.

If you have challenges with the product that you're unable to resolve with this information, call us at (877) 865-0395. Our technical staff is available to help.

Video Support

Firmware Updates

The TED 5000 uses "firmware" to do it's thing. From time to time, new firmware is released that fixes bugs, adds new features, and occasionally creates new bugs. If everything is working for you, don't worry about staying up to date with every firmware release. If you are having problems, visit the TED 5000 Firmware Update page to see if you have the latest and greatest.

Note that there are several ways to update firmware: using the Footprints software from your web browser, or using an application designed for your operating system (Windows, Mac OS X). We have found that sometimes the browser/Footprints method is slow, or gets half-way through and fails, but also found that in other cases, the operating system versions don't work quite as expected. Both methods accomplish the same thing, so if one doesn't work, try the other.

FAQ

How Does TED communicate?

The CT clamps sense the current flowing into your house and send to the MTU
The MTU sends readings every few seconds over the power lines using "PLC" to the gateway
The gateway plugs into one of the circuits in your house and reads the signal from the MTU
The gateway stores data in "flash memory" (like a digital camera)
The gateway connects to your LAN via your router using an ethernet wire
The gateway is a little computer that can send back web pages (a web server) with the data you request
The gateway sends a wireless "Zigbee" signal to the optional display(s)
The gateway can also send data to Google PowerMeter through your network

What is Power Line Communication (a.k.a. Power Line Carrier or PLC)?

PLC is a way to use the power lines in your house to send information. It is how TED communicates from the power box to the TED Gateway.

What's a Switch Mode Device?

Most modern electronics (computers, routers, TVs, etc.) use low voltage; a switch mode device turns the normal voltage of your house into low voltage. It's a kind of transformer.
Switch mode transformers use special electronics that create power-line noise that can interfere with TED's PLC.

Can I resolve power line noise with a noise filter?

Yes ... but the noise filter has to be between the device creating the noise on the circuit that the TED gateway is plugged into (e.g. a router, TV, etc.) -- in most cases it will be easier to find another circuit that is not being used by electronics -- perhaps in the kitchen or hallway.

What if I don't have a router?

If your Internet "modem" has extra ethernet ports, then it's a router, but otherwise, you'll need to install one. Good routers can be purchased for less than $40 and can also act as an extra level of networking security in your home network.

There are no readings on Footprints or Display.

Have you entered the ID number of the MTU in the Footprints setup?
Is the LED light on the right side of the gateway blinking solid green (not amber or amber then green) every few seconds? If not see Power Line Communication item.

Reading stays the same for a long time.

Most likely the TED is frozen. This is generally caused by power line noise. You can reset the TED using Footprints, or unplug and replug the gateway (See above for power line noise solutions -- you may want to find a different plug).

I have very high readings.

See power line noise. Spikes in power (noise) can confuse the TED.

How do I set up Google PowerMeter?

You'll need a Google account (free) if you don't already have one. Set up is through the Footprints software, and is generally very quick
It will take 15 minutes for the first readings to start displaying
Some features such as comparison to past only work after Google PowerMeter has enough data to compare against

Bootloader in progress on Display

Usually this can be resolved simply by unplugging the display, pressing the button, and plugging it in again.

Can I modify the data in the TED (or Google PowerMeter)

No. Unfortunately, even incorrect zero, or high readings that throw off overall trends and calculations cannot be changed at this time.

How to identify a dual pole breaker?

Most breakers in your house serve normal electrical devices like lights, refrigerators, computers, TVs and so on -- these use 120 volts; high-load appliances like clothes dryers or electric heat need 240 volts, so use both of the "phases" of electricity coming into your house, 120V + 120V = 240V at the same time.
A dual pole (or dual phase, or two phase) breaker is wider, and has a plastic tie between the switch handles on the breaker.

Which circuit do I plug the gateway into?

Closer to the circuit box is better
Within range of an ethernet wire from your router
A circuit that doesn't have lots of things plugged but which does have a receptacle you can plug TED into

I have a Non-Windows Environment.

In order to load the Footprints web page in your browser, you need to know its address. Windows networking uses a simple naming service that lets the TED gateway register itself as TED5000. However in Apple or Linux networks, you may need to use the "IP Address" of the gateway.
When the gateway starts, it requests an IP address on your network from your router. Typically, addresses start 192.168.1.x or 10.0.0.x where "x" is the important part.
If you do have a Windows computer, open a command prompt and type "ping TED5000", then after a few seconds, Ctrl+C. If you get a message like "unknown host" then move to the next step. Otherwise, the address returned (e.g. 32 bytes from 192.168.1.104) can be used in your browser, e.g. http://192.168.1.104/ to find the TED server.
If you have a Mac, the easiest way to find the address is to use the OS X firmware update utility which will scan your network to locate the TED.
If this doesn't work, on a Mac, open the Terminal application (from Applications > Utilities)
type "hostname" and note what it returns
type "ping <hostname>", then Control+C to stop pings.
Record the first three of the 4 numbers (the IP address), e.g. 192.168.1 or 10.0.0
To the first three numbers, add .255, e.g. 192.168.1.255; this is called the "broadcast address"
now type "ping <broadcast address>"
you'll get back multiple addresses. Try any of these addresses in your browser; one should be TED's.

There is a Blinking Amber Light on Side of Gateway.

See power line noise bullet, above

How do I get a stuck mini-CD out of a motorized CD/DVD drive (e.g. on a Mac or other laptops)?

Try the "post-it note to get CD out" trick

The gateway is warm.

This suggests it's working very hard to try to get data from the MTU, which suggests power line noise

How do I get the latest Firmware updates?

Check Footprints, Help > About, and write down the versions of Gateway, and Footprints
Check http://www.theenergydetective.com/ted-5000-firmware-upgrade.html and follow instructions there.

What do the lights on the gateway mean?

Front (with TED logo): it's plugged in and getting power
Top (around where Ethernet cable is plugged in): one solid green means the cable is plugged into a working router, blinking green means it is getting data
Right side (hard to see when off -- in a notch near the back middle): blinking green every few seconds means gateway is receiving data from the MTU, amber then greenish means it is having trouble getting data from the MTU. See Line Noise.

Can I see my data on an iPhone or other mobile device?

Yes, but only if you have a wireless network and are within range of your home router. There are several iPhone apps that improve on the Footprints software.

Can I share the Google PowerMeter widget?

While there's an option to do so, sharing your widget does not work at present -- Google PowerMeter is tied to your personal Google account and can be installed on the iGoogle home page as a widget.

Other troubleshooting information: