Use the feedback form or call SoftSwitching Technologies at 608-662-7310 (8am to 5pm M-F, US Central time zone). Please have the serial number of your I-Sense monitor handy or include it in the email.
The I-Sense Discovery Utility displays the IP address and serial numbers of all
active Ethernet-capabable I-Senses on the local (same subnet) network and provides double-click
access to launch a browser window into the I-Sense Management Console. Click on the
"Launch" image above to install and run the utility.
The modem configuration of the I-Sense requires the entry of 2
ISP access phone numbers. The modem dials these phone numbers
to send PQ data to the I-Grid servers.
Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. You can download it from Adobe.
Monitor configuration is accomplished via the on-board web-based Management Console. The Mangement Console is
a set of web pages that allows you to easily configure the I-Sense nominal voltage, sensing channels
and communication settings. You can either connect the monitor to your network or create a direct connection
by connecting an Ethernet cable direcly between a computer and the I-Sense monitor. See the product manual
for detailed setup instructions.
Yes. You can use the optional power adapter (sold separately) to power the unit without voltage being applied to the
sensing channels. After installation, the monitor will power itself from the voltage applied to the sensing channels. The
optional power adapter should not be connected when voltage is applied to the sensing channels.
The I-Sense continuously monitors the incoming three phase utility voltage, and records power
disturbances such as voltage sags, swells, outages or transients. Visit SoftSwitching's web site for further
details on power quality disturbances and power reliability disturbances.
In addition to all privileges accorded to registered I-Grid users, you get access to all data
gathered by your specific I-Sense monitor(s) from anywhere in the world. You get administration privileges
for your I-Sense, including setting up passwords, email notification of power events recorded by your monitor.
You also get access to advanced summary and detail
reports on your
power quality data as well as data exporting capability (Excel, XML and PQDIF formats).
The identity of an I-Sense owner is treated as confidential and is not available to
casual I-Grid users, or to other I-Sense owners. Data, stripped of owner identity may be used
for various types of aggregation and analysis. Some of the aggregated data is accessible
universally on the I-Grid web site.
The I-Sense currently detects two types of power quality events:
RMS Variation events and Waveshape Variation events.
An RMS Variation event is triggered by the I-Sense when the voltage on any
of the monitored phases rises above an upper threshold (112%), or falls
below a lower threshold (87%).
A Waveshape Variation event algorithm continuously compares each data
point on the waveform with the moving average of that point over previous
60 Hz cycles. In other words, the algorithm "learns" the voltage waveform
and then detects variations from the "learnt" waveform. This algorithm is
sensitive to small deviations and allows triggering on waveform deviations
that may not cause an RMS Variation event.
The I-Sense samples voltage at a rate of 96 points per 60 Hz cycle.
However, the I-Sense reports events at a resolution of 32 points per 60 Hz
cycle. The rate conversion from 96 points per cycle to 32 points per
cycle is accomplished by simply averaging every three points.
The unit has a rechargeable battery so it can operate during complete
power outages. The unit will attempt to connect to the I-Grid web site
and report the start of the outage. Afterwards it will power itself off
to conserve battery power. When the power is restored, the unit
automatically starts and connects to the I-Grid web site to report the
end of the power outage.
Press and hold the (heartbeat) button until the green LED stops
flashing (about 10 seconds). Then simply unplug or unwire the unit and move it. To power the unit back on,
cycle power to the unit.
Pushing the (heartbeat) button instructs the unit to immediately
report a "heartbeat" event to the I-Grid. Push the button and then login to the I-Grid web site and check
to make sure the unit reported the event.
Yes, but with a few caveats. When an I-Sense monitor is registered, several aspects of its configuration are changed:
Zip code the monitor is located in for geographical mapping purposes.
Phone number for local dial-in access point (if modem communication option is used).
Time zone the monitor is located in for event time stamps.
If you move the I-Sense once it has been registered, you need to change the configuration of the monitor to
reflect its new location under "Manage My I-Senses"
The battery cover is located on the bottom surface of the i-Sense. Battery replacement may be safely performed while
mains power is applied. To replace or check batteries:
Loosen two Phillips-head screws and remove the battery cover to access the battery holder
Carefully disconnect the battery plug and pull the battery holder straight out.
Replace or check batteries. Use only the same type rechargeable battery: Nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH), 1.2V
AA-size, rated 2000mAh to 3000mAh. Do not use any other battery type.
Important: be sure that battery polarity matches the markings on the battery holder (+ and -)
The unit must be initially configured via the Ethernet port. If the modem is selected to connect to the
I-Grid servers, the ethernet port my be left unplugged after configuration is complete.
Press the RESET and (heartbeat) buttons simultaneously
until both LEDs fast-blink for 1-2 seconds to reset the Management Console login credentials and the networking settings to their default values.
A standard Ethernet cable will work if the network interface card on the computer supports gigabit Ethernet.
Otherwise, a special Ethernet crossover cable will be required. An Ethernet crossover cable will work with
any Ethernet network interface card type.
The default IP address of the I-Sense is 192.168.1.200. You can use the I-Sense Discovery Utility
to find the monitor on your local network. If the I-Sense is not connected to your network, you can reset the networking
settings (and Management Console username/password) to their default values by pressing the RESET and
(heartbeat) buttons simultaneously until both
LEDs fast-blink for 1-2 seconds.
The I-Sense Management Console is an on-board, web-based management utility for configuring and verifying
status of the I-Sense monitor. You can access the management console for your monitor by typing the IP address
of the monitor into the location bar of your web browser. If you don't know the IP address of your I-Sense, you
can find it on your local network using the I-Sense Discovery Utility
The modem in each I-Sense requires a touch-tone compatible analog or non-PBX/digital phone line. Any phone
line used by a fax machine or other modem will work. Another good indicator is if a
laptop with a modem can dial out on the phone line. Note that for email notification of sustained
power outages the phone line must remain operational during such an outage.
You can select local ISP access phone numbers using the phone number lookup page.
Consult your telephone company for connection rates. With over 2000 dial-in
access points, it is very likely that the phone number the unit dials will
be a local phone call. In any case, the I-Sense owner is responsible for
any telephone charges incurred.
Yes, but be aware that only one device can be using the phone line at any one time. Email notification will be
delayed if the other device is using the phone line when a power quality event is detected by the unit. The I-Sense will check for a dial tone
before attempting to dial. If the unit detects that the line is in use, it will try again in a few minutes.
The standard configuration for a unit will connect once a day to report a "heartbeat" event. However, the dialing behavior
of each I-Sense can be customized to dial
as soon as a power quality event is detected.
at a certain time or if the event storage memory of the unit is becoming full.
Verify the I-Sense LEDs: If the flash rate of the red LED is 2 or 4, the Ethernet interface
has not finished initialization. Wait at least 1 minute for the monitor to stop attempting to connect
to a DHCP server.
Verify the Computer Settings: The networking settings of the computer must be set to:
IP Address: 192.168.1.200
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway: 192.168.1.1
Primary DNS Server: 192.168.1.201
Secondary DNS Server: 192.168.1.200
Also verify that the Flow Control and Speed & Duplex of your computer's network
interface card is set to Auto.
Standard vs. Crossover Ethernet Cable: A standard Ethernet cable will work if the network interface card on the computer supports gigabit Ethernet.
Otherwise, a special Ethernet crossover cable will be required. An Ethernet crossover cable will work with
any Ethernet network interface card type.
Reset the I-Sense Networking Settings: The networking settings of the I-Sense might not be at the default
values. Press the RESET and (heartbeat) buttons simultaneously
until both LEDs fast-blink for 1-2 seconds to reset the Management Console login credentials and the networking settings to their default values.
Reset the I-Sense: Reboot the I-Sense by pressing the RESET button until both LEDs fast-blink for 1-2 seconds.
Verify I-Sense IP Address: Run the I-Sense Discovery Utility to "find" your
I-Sense (and display its IP address).
Inspect Physical Connection: Verify that the I-Sense monitor is connected to an active Ethernet network. Verify
that the green LED on the Ethernet port of the I-Sense is solid green (link found).
Verify the I-Sense LEDs: If the flash rate of the red LED is 2 or 4, the Ethernet interface
has not finished initialization. Wait at least 1 minute for the monitor to stop attempting to connect
to a DHCP server. If the LEDs are not on, the unit may have lost power and is in the middle of an outage PQ event.
Reset the I-Sense: Reboot the I-Sense by pressing the RESET button until both LEDs fast-blink for 1-2 seconds.
Reset the unit by holding in the "RESET" button about 3 seconds until the green and red LEDs fast-blink. The fast-blink LED sequence
denotes that the monitor is restarting.
If you are using the modem communication option, your I-Sense monitor is most likely configured to initiate a dialup to the I-Grid servers only on PQ events whose
worst-case RMS is < 87% or > 115% of nominal (or on heartbeat/power up events). Transient events rarely are severe
enough to cause the I-Sense to dial under these circumstances. Although it is possible to configure the I-Sense to initiate
a connection on every event, we recommend leaving the dialing threshold at < 87% to avoid tying up the phone line
for what is usually an insignificant event.
(heartbeat) button until the green LED stops
flashing (about 10 seconds). Then simply unplug or unwire the unit and move it. To power the unit back on,
cycle power to the unit.