Support & FAQ

1. How many transmitters can be linked to one ENVI or TREC?
2. Can a transmitter be linked to multiple ENVI or TREC displays?
3. Are ENVI and TREC transmitters and IAMs interoperable?
4. When will the Individual Appliance Monitors (IAMs) be available?
5. How much history does the ENVI store and how does it store it?
6. Can I connect it to the cable running to my TV?
7. What is the maximum number of IAMs that can be connected to a TREC or ENVI?
8. Can a transmitter be mounted inside a metal meter cabinet?
9. How many tariffs can be set per day, and can it vary by day?
10. Why is my 700W Microwave using far more than 700W?
11. I have a grid-connect solar system. How will this affect the readings?
12. Can I use multiple CT Clamps connected to one transmitter to monitor multiple circuits?
13. Why is my display showing '0' watts (or is very low)?
14. Does the device need batteries?
15. How do I stop the LED lighting
16. Will information be lost in the event of a power cut?
17. Does it matter where I put the monitor?
18. Do I unplug it when I go on holiday?
19. How much does it cost to run?
20. Why do I see some dashes instead of energy (watts) occasionally?
21. Is it available in other colours?
22. Can I have more than one monitor (say for a study)?
23. Does it have to be professionally installed?
24. Who should I contact if it stops working?
25. How do I keep my monitor clean?
26. Are there monitors available for the poor of sight?
27. Can I check my monitor while I’m away from home?
28. Can I use it on my three phase supply?
29. Can I view data from months ago?
30. How can I detect faulty appliances?
31. Why is the energy used different than my revenue meter shows?
32. Are the TREC and the ENVI available to buy?
33. Can I buy the PC cable?
34. My tariff alters after a number of units, what figure should I enter into the display?
35. Why is there no high-usage warning on the ENVI?

How many transmitters can be linked to an ENVI or a TREC?
Up to ten transmitters can be linked to one ENVI or TREC.
The input from each transmitter can be seen on the ENVI or TREC by scrolling through the display using the up and down buttons.

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Can a transmitter be linked to multiple ENVI or TREC displays?
A transmitter can be linked to multiple ENVI and / or TREC displays. The same readings from will be shown on each display tuned to that transmitter.
There is no limit to the number of displays that can be linked to one transmitter.

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Are ENVI and TREC transmitters and IAMs interoperable?
All Current Cost transmitters and IAMs are interoperable with all Current Cost displays.
This means that any transmitter or IAM can be linked to both a TREC and an ENVI display.

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When will the Individual Appliance Monitors (IAMs) be available?
Individual Appliance Monitors (IAMs) will be available from our webshop end of this year.

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How much history does the ENVI store?
The ENVI stores seven years of history. For more information, please see our Wiki here

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Can I connect it to the cable running to my TV?
No - within a normal appliance cable there are multiple cores, with current running both ways. This cancels out the effect that the ENVI relies on to detect power consumption.
If you want to monitor the power consumption of your TV, an Individual Appliance Monitor (IAM) available from July will detect and send this information to your ENVI.

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What is the maximum number of Individual Appliance Monitors (IAMs) that can be connected to a TREC or ENVI?
Up to ten IAMs can be connected to a TREC or an ENVI. There are ten channels available on the TREC and ENVI - normally one would be connected to a transmitter monitoring the whole-of-house power and mounted in the meter box. That leaves nine spare channels that can be connected to nine IAMs. These nine spare channels can also be connected to extra transmitters if required.

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Can a transmitter be mounted inside a metal meter cabinet?
Yes it can. The "Faraday's Cage" effect has little or no impact on the range and capability or the Current Cost transmitters.

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How many tariffs can be set per day, and can it vary by day?
A Peak Tariff and an Off-Peak Tariff can be set on the ENVI if required. A different tariff structure cannot be set per day. We recommend using some of the excellent software that is available if you require this information.

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Why is my 700W Mircowave using far more than 700W?
700W is the power that is being output by the microwave - to generate 700W of microwave energy it must use more electrical energy - normally 1.2kW - 1.4kW.

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I have a grid-connect solar system. How will this affect the readings?
A solar system requires that the transmitter needs to be installed between the inverter and the fuseboard/switchboard. See here for more information.

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Can I use multiple CT Clamps connected to one transmitter to monitor multiple circuits?
It is recommended that you use a separate CT Clamp and transmitter for each individual circuit you wish to monitor.

The Transmitter is designed to have three inputs specifically for monitoring 3-phase power supplies. As a result, the ENVI will display the cumulative total of the power being drawn for all CT Clamps connected to each transmitter, as people rarely care about the power being drawn on individual phases of a 3-phase supply.

The inputs from the individual CT Clamps can be seen using the software when the ENVI is connected to a PC.
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Why is my display showing '0' watts (or is very low)?
A fairly easy mistake is to place the CT Clamp around either more than one cable or a multi-core cable. The CT must be placed around one single mains cable, ideally the 4th from the left as you look at the meter. If you place it around both Live and Neutral, it will have a cancelling effect or possibly a very low reading that doesn't reflect the real figure.
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Does the device need batteries?
The monitor has been specifically designed to run off the mains power supply, so it's always on, ready to give you information at a glance. Using batteries has an environmental impact ... and of course they always need changing. The ENVI transmitter uses 2x D-cell batteries with a lifespan of seven years, and the TREC transmitter uses 2x C-cell batteries with a lifespan of four years.
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How do I stop the  LED lighting?
If you don't actually want a low rate tariff set-up: 
Press and hold the left hand triangle button for more than 3 seconds, toggle between options with the square button and note the rate.

Press and hold both triangle buttons for more than 3 seconds, toggle between the options using the square button and set the low rate to the same value as the normal.
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Will information be lost in the event of a power cut?
All stored information (time, unit cost, historic data) will be held in memory, although the clock will remain at the time when the power was removed.
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Does it matter where I put the monitor?
No, but it makes good sense to place it where you can easily glance at it, perhaps the kitchen. The radio signal from the transmitter should cover a distance of 30 metres, but solid walls and obstructions can affect this.
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Do I unplug it when I go on holiday?
You could do, but you may find it interesting to see the power you are using/wasting when the house is left unoccupied and theoretically when it should be using virtually nothing.
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How much does it cost to run?
Depending on your unit cost ~ About 6 cents per week.
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Why do I see some dashes instead of energy (watts) occasionally?
From time to time the display unit may temporarily lose its signal, this can be caused by a number of things but it should reconnect in a matter of seconds.
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Is it available in other colours?
It is available in Black or White.
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Can I have more than one monitor (say for a study)?
Yes, in fact this makes great sense so you can keep an eye on energy usage more frequently.
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Does it have to be professionally installed?
Although the ENVI device is not intrusive (this means that no electrical connection is made), due to liability reasons we insist that a professional electrician must perform the installation. In the UK and NZ, non-professionals install the transmitter, but we are afraid this cannot be permitted in Australia.
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Who should I contact if it stops working?
In the first instance you can email our Technical Team ~ helpme@smartnow.com.au
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How do I keep my monitor clean?
A slightly damp sponge or cloth, do not immerse in water.
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Are there monitors available for the poor of sight?
We are continually making improvements and changes to our range, we hope to have an 'audible alert' version available soon.
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Can I check my monitor while I’m away from home?
The ENVI device is equipped with a serial port for direct contact with your home or business PC. Software we are developing now will allow all sorts of communication. It is not good practice of course to leave your PC on (even in stand-by) while you are not using it.
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Can I use it on my three phase supply?
Yes, the ENVI product will allow for up to three clamps, the total usage is displayed on the monitor, but can be viewed individually on a PC.
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Can I view data from months ago?
Software is being developed which will allow you to interrogate historic data, via your PC. You can view usage on the monitor for up to three months (90 days)
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How can I detect faulty appliances?
Keep an eye on the monitor when different appliances turn on and off, check the consumption against the manufacturers specification, it may differ slightly and older machines are almost certain to use more. There will come a time when the appliance is using far more than it should and replacement should be considered.
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Why is the energy used different than my revenue meter shows?
The ENVI solution is specifically designed to highlight areas of usage (and more importantly wastage) it is not intended to replace or compete with your more accurate installed meter. It can complement your installed system by showing you what appliances are costing money now or recently, whereas your meter will show you accumulated usage. The ENVI solution receives information every six seconds, your meter continually records usage.
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Is the ENVI unit available to buy?
The ENVI and the TREC are available at our online shop. It is also worth investigating some green tariffs available, not only might you get a free energy monitor, but you may well be offered a better tariff and further incentives.
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Can I buy the PC cable?
Yes you can - through the shop on this website.
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My tariff alters after a number of units, what figure should I enter into the display?
The ENVI monitor is designed to highlight wastage and is not intended to be a revenue meter. The reason a cost is on there is to offer some relevancy to the wattage used. The best currency to highlight wastage is energy (expressed as watts) although money ultimately saved is an obvious benefit.

A good solution, offered by a user is:
Add the two tariffs together, then add five per cent GST, finally divide by two, and enter this value in as a single tariff.
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Why is there no high-usage warning on the ENVI?
At SmartNow, we believe that high-usage indicators or 'traffic light' systems send misleading signals. They indicate that leaving a house full of devices on standby that draw 100W is 'good' behaviour, but that putting the kettle on for a cheeky cup of tea is 'bad behaviour'. We believe this is totally inappropriate.

A good solution, offered by a user is:
Add the two tariffs together, then add five per cent GST, finally divide by two, and enter this value in as a single tariff.
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