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User friendly guide

This user friendly guide page contains important information not provided in the original and gives hints for easy first time operation of the device.

If you want the minimum knowledge needed to get started use the quick guide. For faster start use the fast guide. Or jump directly to the how to reset guide  or battery replacement guide. The same guides apply to many different brands and models.

This website and the updated instructions are not associated with the manufacturer of the device.

Contents

  1. 1 Important warnings
    1. 1.1 Helpful hints for new users: read this before starting out
    2. 1.2 Setting the power cost per unit
    3. 1.3 Setting a maximum load warning level ('Type 1' only)
    4. 1.4 Effect of maximum load warning ('Type 1' only)
    5. 1.5 Setting the correct clock time
    6. 1.6 Viewing recorded data
    7. 1.7 Clearing recorded data
    8. 1.8 Overflow conditions
    9. 1.9 Battery replacement
    10. 1.10 Technical Specifications
  2. 2 Discuss the user friendly guide
    1. 2.1 Comments

Important warnings

  1. Do not plug two or more meters together
  2. Do not use any appliance which will exceed 10 amps in load
  3. Always ensure the plug of any appliance is fully inserted into the meter outlet
  4. If cleaning of the meter is required, remove the mains power and wipe with a damp cloth

Helpful hints for new users: read this before starting out

To avoid screen blanking
  • The LCD screen will blank after a few seconds when it is is not plugged in and the keypad is not in use. To avoid this inconvenience, plug in the device while setting up the unit for the first time.
To return to data viewing mode after setting the cost per kWh (or maximum load warning level) you can do one of the following:
    • 'Type 2' - do not press any key for at least 30 seconds. After 30 seconds you will be returned to viewing mode automatically
    • 'Type 1' - press and hold the FUNC button for 5 seconds. This will exit editing mode and return you to viewing mode

To increase battery life

Batteries will last longer if the meter remains plugged in. This will consume a small amount of power - 'Type 2' < 0.5W, 'Type 1' < 2W.

Setting the power cost per unit

  1. Press the FUNC button repeatedly until the VOLTac symbol appears in the top right hand corner of the display.
  2. Press and hold the FUNC button until the display changes to COST/Kwh. ('Type 1' - hold for five seconds or longer)
  3. Press the SET button to begin editing the cost per unit. The SET symbol will now appear in the top right hand corner of the display. Use the UP button to set each digit, use the SET button to move to the next digit.
  4. Use the SET button to accept the position of the decimal point. Example: 00.25 = 25 cents per kWh unit.
  5. If you are paying the same Kwh unit cost every day of the week then press the UP button until "MO TU WE TH FR SA SU" appears in the display. Press the SET button when complete. Alternatively, set the desired days on which this price will apply.
  6. Next set the time of day when this price is active. If your power company charges one unit price no matter what time of day it is then you can ignore this item. Otherwise use the UP and SET buttons until the desired activation time for this price is displayed.
  7. Press the FUNC button to complete the price setting operation for Price 1.
  8. Set Price 2 if required otherwise move to the next step.
  9. Wait 30 seconds or longer for the device to automatically exit price mode and return to the display mode ('Type 1' only - optionally press and hold FUNC button for five seconds or longer)

Setting a maximum load warning level ('Type 1' only)

  1. Press the FUNC button repeatedly until the VOLTac symbol appears in the top right hand corner of the display.
  2. Press and hold the FUNC button for five seconds or longer until the display changes to COST/Kwh.
  3. Press the FUNC button repeatedly until AMP &  MAX LOAD is displayed on the lcd screen.
  4. Use the SET and UP buttons to set the maximum load in amps.

Effect of maximum load warning ('Type 1' only)

When the load exceeds the user defined maximum load warning level the OVER LOAD WARNING indicator will appear and flash in the display. All user control will be disabled. To regain user control you must reduce or switch off the appliance load.

Setting the correct clock time

  1. Press the FUNC button repeatedly until the CLOCK symbol appears in the bottom right hand corner of the display.
  2. Use the UP button to toggle between 12/24hr time
  3. Press the SET button to begin setting the correct time. The SET symbol will now appear in the top right hand corner of the display. Use the UP button to select the day of the week. Then use UP and SET to edit and confirm each clock digit.

Viewing recorded data

Use the FUNC button to cycle through all display modes until reaching the desired display mode:


 Indicator  Data displayed
 VOLTac (default)  Real time line voltage, real time line frequency, day, time
 AMP  Real time amp usage, real time power factor, day, time
 WATT  Real time watt usage, real time power factor, day, time
 WATT MAX ('Type 1' only)
  Max. recorded line power (watts), time max line power recorded ('Type 1' only)
 Kwh  Total recorded kilowatt hours
 Total Price
 Total price of recorded kilowatt hours, total on time of load.
 Total Price1
  Total price for Price 1 category only, total on time of load in Price 1 category
 Total Price 2
  Total price for Price 2 category only, total on time of load in Price 2 category

Clearing recorded data

To clear recorded data in the following categories: WATT MAX, Kwh, Total Price, Total Price1, Total Price 2
Use the FUNC button to view any of the categories named, then press and hold the FUNC button to clear all recorded data in these categories. 'Type 1' only - hold the FUNC button for at least five seconds.

Note: Users of meters with CO2 functions report the FUNC button does not clear recorded data in the CO2 and Kwh categories. Please comment below if you have a solution for this. Please comment below with your model number if your meter has this problem.

To clear all data in memory including the current time and all program data
Use a ball point pen or similar item to press the MASTER CLEAR reset button for five seconds or longer. After releasing the MASTER CLEAR button, an LCD test pattern will be displayed to indicate the master reset function is complete.

Overflow conditions

If total price or total kilowatt hours exceed 9999.9, then "----" will appear on the LCD and the OVER indicator will flash. You must clear the recorded data.

Battery replacement

Battery replacement 'type 1'
Battery replacement 'type 2'

Technical Specifications

Technical specifications as provided with an EMA-1 'type 1' purchased in New Zealand 2010 and a 'type 2' purchased in 2012.

 Specification 'Type 1'
 'Type 2'
 Power supply
  250V AC 50Hz
  240V AC 50Hz
 Max. Load
  10A, 2500W
  10A, 2400W
 Measure voltage range
  210-301V AC
  200-276V AC
 Measure voltage accuracy
  +/-3%  +/-1%
 Measure current range
  0.02-10A  0.01-10A
 Measure current accuracy
  +/-3%
  +/-1%
 Measure power range
  0-3100W  0.2W-2760W
 Measure power accuracy
  +/-4% or +/-10W
  +/-1% or +/-0.2W
 Accumulative electric quantity range
  0 -9999.9kWh  0 -9999.9kWh
 Measure frequency range
  45-65Hz  45-65Hz
 Clock accuracy
  +/- 1 minute per month
  +/- 1 minute per month
 Power cost
  <2W  <0.5W
 Operating temperature
  -10 deg c to +40 deg c
  -10 deg c to +40 deg c
 Battery
  2x1.5V LR44/AG13
  3x1.5V LR44/AG13
 Battery life
  about 3 months without AC power  about 3 months without AC power


Discuss the user friendly guide

Comments

 17/9/2010 01:13  Donald I am interested in how the Price 1 and Price 2  activation times work?
If set to the same time- does price 1 override price 2?
If activation times are different then presumably the price used is the one with the closest activation time before the current time. Can you confirm (have you tested) that the meter is intelligent enough to do this correctly?
I guess many people just have a single power rate but I wonder if it needs spelling out in a little more detail just how this works. Thanks for all the good information on this site.
 17/9/2010 23:20  Ema-1 [moderator] [a little late posting this - {storm damage, work commitments, a problem with safari on iphone} - whoops!]
 19/9/2010 11:33  Ema-1 [moderator] Good comments. If you would like to examine that I will verify at some stage and update the instructions.
 10/9/2010 02:22  Richard Hankins Your updated instructions are appreciated - when compared to the original ones!

I have just bought a Maplin N67HH meter in the UK, which is also labelled as "KES02-01", both numbers being in your list of similar meters to the Elto EMA-1.

I am having a problem resetting the Kwh and CO2 readings. I note the instruction to press and hold the FUNC button for 5 secs while in those screens. Unfortunately - this does absolutely nothing with my meter.

Strangely the same resetting instruction worked just fine with the WATTS MAX and TOTAL PRICE screens.

Is this likely to be a fault - or perhaps a version difference? Any clues from other users?
 8/11/2010 20:49  Mike Thanks for doing this - very useful but I wish I had seen this site a lot earlier.You have missed setting the decimal point (called a radix point in the original instructions) when setting the price.

My beef with the instructions is that nothing is explained. The power factor, for example, I had never heard of, and I have a Science degree and 40 years of Science teaching under my belt. If I have it right this means I only get charged for the real (true) power, not the apparent power, in NZ. Is this correct? I never knew that V X A = W is only true for resistive loads and not for inductive loads.
 10/11/2010 00:01  Ema-1 [moderator] Mike, thanks for the heads up about the radix. I'll get to fixing that.

Power factor - as far as I am aware no retailer in NZ charges domestic/residential users for low power factor. Industrial and commercial users are a different story.

The reason power factor is not featured in most instructions is that it can be difficult to explain in clear terms. Inductive loads are not the only case to cover. I had thought of adding a page on power factor and you have prompted me to start on it. I'll post here and on the Recent Updates page when that is complete or near to it.
 10/11/2010 00:17  Ema-1 [moderator] Richard, if you are still visiting from time to time - I mean to verify this reset but have not had the opportunity. If anyone else can do so in the meantime that would be great - just remember to note your model number in case there are variations in behaviour.
 10/11/2010 00:26  Ema-1 [moderator] Donald, I think you are right. I'll add some more explanation for the two tariff case when I next get the opportunity.
 10/11/2010 10:14  Ema-1 [moderator] Richard, the EMA-1 model correctly clears Kwh usage with no master reset needed. It is likely all similar models without CO2 usage also correctly clear Kwh without a master reset.

Users of the similar Watts Clever EW-AUS4001 have also reported being unable to reset Kwh or CO2 without using the master reset and wiping everything. Watts Clever have not responded to these reports.

It is possible the problem affects all CO2 tracking models in the similar models list.

My guess is Maplin will be happy to exchange your N67HH for a similar device without the CO2 function once you point out this problem and the misleading instructions.

The other approach is subtraction of the before and after total kWh when monitoring a new appliance. This could be more convenient than a reset.
 11/03/2011 15:11  Bill Nankervis Well Done!  You should be working for the manfacturer.  Their instrauctions are incomplete.
 30/03/2011 18:52  Chas Thanks for the updated instructions! I have the Powertech MS6118 and found that holding the function button does not reset that particular function unless the device being measured is either switched off of un-plugged from the unit.

Hope this help.

The user friendly guide, quick guide and fast guide apply to these similar meters:

EMA-1 N1185. Jaycar Power Meter MS-6115. Maplin N67HH, N67FU, N35HN. Energy Genie Appliance Power Meter, Energenie Plug in Powermeter. Watts Clever Plug-in Energy Monitor EW-AUS4001, Jaycar MS-6118 Greenhouse Gas (CO2) Meter. Mort Bay Energy Saving Power Board. Ningbo KML Nikkai KES02-01, KAS02-01, KFS02-01, KIS02-01, KSS02-01, KGS02-01, KSS01-01, KIS01-01, KGS01-01, KFS01-01, KES01-01, KAS01-01. Philex Ecopower 76942R Plug Through Energy Meter. Philex Energy Monitor Eco-Power 76942R. Plug in Energy and Power Monitor. Controletti 4962-2 Multifunction Power Meter. Power Accessories Plug in Power Meter/Monitor, Nikkai Plug-In Power, Energy and CO2 Meter, Brennenstuhl Eco-Line Technik 5 Way Plug Socket with Energy Meter, Eco-Line Technik energy meter EM 235, Power Strip with Energy Cost Meter. Alltronics P8133. Lindy Energy Saving Power Meter. MPM01 Mains Power Meter. Pro-elec Energy Meter. Proteam Green Power Energy Tracker HO1569. Easy Life EL-EPM02, EL-EPM02HQ, EL-EPM02FHQ. EMF-1. Hartig-Helling Energy Check SU 201. Arlec PC222 Energy Cost Meter. Power Tech Plus Multifunction Energy Meter. A+ Intelligent Power Meter.