YouLess LS110 User manual
User Manual
YouLess energy monitor
Model LS110
Version: 1.3-EN (Concept)
Date: 10/08/2013
Copyright and Trademark Information
YouLess is a trade name and registered trademar of PostFossil B.V.
© 2012-2013 PostFossil B.V.
All rights to this document are reserved.
All mentioned trademar s and registered trademar s are the intellectual property of their
respective owners.
Version History
Version Date Description
1.0 05/12/2011 Initial release
1.1 01/03/2012 myEnersave->Bidgely rebranding change
1.2 07/03/2013 Added flash procedure and small changes
1.3 (concept) 10/08/2013 Minor changes and improvements
Used Sym ols
This text is relevant for computer users running the Microsoft Windows operating system.
This text is relevant for computer users running the Apple OS X operating system.
This text is relevant for computer users running the Linux operating system.
Warning of a potential pitfall that can occur in a specific case.
General information or tip.
2 YouLess User Manual
Contents
YouLess description.......................................................................................................................................... 5
Device usage................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Type indication................................................................................................................................................................. 5
Pac age contents............................................................................................................................................................ 5
Physical interface............................................................................................................................................................ 6
Preconditions................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Networ configuration....................................................................................................................................... 8
Configuration with Windows configuration wizard........................................................................................................... 9
Requirements............................................................................................................................................................. 9
Configuration wizard.................................................................................................................................................. 9
Manual networ configuration........................................................................................................................................ 11
Manual networ configuration on Mac OS X............................................................................................................11
Networ configuration on Linux.....................................................................................................................................13
Meter settings................................................................................................................................................................ 13
Physical installation on the electricity meter.................................................................................................... 14
Positioning..................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Analog meter............................................................................................................................................................ 14
Digital meter.............................................................................................................................................................15
Verification..................................................................................................................................................................... 15
Analog meter............................................................................................................................................................ 16
Digital meter.............................................................................................................................................................16
Web browser interface.................................................................................................................................... 17
Overview........................................................................................................................................................................ 17
Home............................................................................................................................................................................. 17
Configuration................................................................................................................................................................. 18
Networ .................................................................................................................................................................... 18
Electricity meter....................................................................................................................................................... 19
Upload...................................................................................................................................................................... 21
System..................................................................................................................................................................... 22
Logging.......................................................................................................................................................................... 23
Measurements......................................................................................................................................................... 23
Special functions............................................................................................................................................. 25
Reset to factory defaults................................................................................................................................................ 25
Generic procedure................................................................................................................................................... 25
Specific procedure................................................................................................................................................... 26
Flashing firmware updates............................................................................................................................................ 26
Requirements........................................................................................................................................................... 26
Flash procedure....................................................................................................................................................... 27
Blind flashing............................................................................................................................................................ 28
Flashing with a direct ethernet cable connection.....................................................................................................28
Troubleshooting....................................................................................................................................................... 28
Information sources........................................................................................................................................ 30
YouLess website............................................................................................................................................................ 30
Bidgely........................................................................................................................................................................... 30
PVOutput....................................................................................................................................................................... 30
YouLess User Manual 3
Solar-Yield..................................................................................................................................................................... 30
Technical Specifications.................................................................................................................................. 31
Safety and warranty........................................................................................................................................ 32
Safety information.......................................................................................................................................................... 32
Maintenance.................................................................................................................................................................. 32
Warranty........................................................................................................................................................................ 32
Conformity..................................................................................................................................................................... 32
Contact.......................................................................................................................................................................... 33
Appendix......................................................................................................................................................... 34
4 YouLess User Manual
YouLess description
The YouLess is a networ ed digital device that reads and stores the electricity consumption
from the main electricity meter. Current and historical meter readings are made available
digitally on the local networ (LAN) and / or on the internet, via the device ethernet networ
connector.
These data readings can be displayed on various devices, such as des top computers,
smartphones and tablets. This way, electricity consumption information is made visible in the
users everyday digital environment.
Various software applications that can connect with the YouLess are made available for
download freely.
Because of the open data interface of YouLess, it is also possible for third parties to read the
measurement data from the networ , and to integrate them in custom software or systems.
Device usage
The YouLess is designed to inform about how much electricity is consumed and when pea s
occur, which creates awareness. Through this awareness, it is made easier to identify
unnecessary energy consumption and thus save on energy costs.
Type indication
This manual applies to the YouLess model LS110.
Package contents
The YouLess comes as a set with the following components:
•YouLess LS110
•USB wall mount power supply
•USB power cable
•Ethernet networ cable
YouLess User Manual 5
Physical interface
The YouLess is equipped with two connectors:
1. USB mini B connector for power supply
2. RJ-45 LAN connector for connection to a wired ethernet networ .
The LAN connector features two built-in LEDs:
green: An ethernet lin with a networ device (switch, router or modem) is
established
yellow: Networ activity indicator (reception of data)
NB: when no networ lin is established, the yellow LED will function as an
alignment help for positioning the YouLess on an analog meter.
The bottom side photo-sensor is used to read the electricity meter.
The top side green status LED gives information about the device state. The following LED
status signals are possible:
Status LED signal Signal meaning
2 seconds on, followed by 2 short
consecutive pulses
The device has been restarted after a (power) reset
Off Default state: device is waiting for a measurement pulse
Single pulse The device detected a measurement pulse.
Blin ing slowly
(1 second on, 1 second off)
The device networ adapter has not yet been configured and
is in factory default mode; no IP address has been assigned
Blin ing
(½ second on, ½ second off)
The device is in de firmware update mode and waits for the
firmware flash utility to start flashing
Blin ing fast The firmware flash utility is updating the device firmware by
programming the device flash memory
Blin ing very fast The factory settings reset procedure has been performed and
the device is busy wiping the internal non-volatile memory.
Continuously on The web interface password reset procedure has been
performed and the device is now accessible without a
password
6 YouLess User Manual
LAN
Power
Status LED
Sensor
Preconditions
To ma e full use of all YouLess benefits, the following preconditions must exist:
1. A wall soc et for the YouLess USB AC power adapter must be present. Alternatively,
the YouLess can be powered from a device with a USB port, for instance a
modemrouter. The provided USB cable can be used for this purpose.
2. The electricity meter on which the YouLess will be deployed, must provide one of the
following options for reading the meter:
•a rotating metal disc with a blac or red mar ing (analog meter)
•a LED pulse indicator (digital meter)
Generally, all electricity meters feature either of these readout capabilities, thus
ma ing the YouLess universally usable.
3. In order for the YouLess measured values to be available on the local networ
and/or the internet, the YouLess must be connected with the local networ using the
provided ethernet cable. Therefore, it is convenient if the internet modemrouter or
another type of networ connection soc et is located near the meter.
The latter precondition is not strictly required since the YouLess features an internal logging
memory in which up to 1 year of readings can be recorded. This log data, for example, can
be read out at certain times with a laptop and a direct cable connection. However, in such a
scenario not all capabilities of the YouLess are exploited. It is therefore recommended to use
the YouLess as a connected device in order to fully benefit from all capabilities.
YouLess User Manual 7
If a wired networ access near the electricity meter is not available or practical, a
wireless ethernet adapter (not provided) can be used to wirelessly connect with an
available WiFi networ . A WiFi signal near the electricity meter is necessary for this
alternative connection method.
Alternatively, if no WiFi signal is available near the meter, a homeplug powerline adapter
(not provided) set can be used to connect the YouLess with the wired networ . In this case,
the networ signal is transmitted over the mains power cables using wall mount powerline
adapters.
Network configuration
The YouLess is a networ device, li e for example a Networ Attached Storage (NAS) or a
media player. Such devices must have a networ IP address assigned to them in order to be
accessible on the networ . The YouLess utilizes a fixed (static) IP address which is to be
configured when installing the device.
Since it can be useful to be able to access the YouLess web interface during the physical
installation on the electricity meter, the topic of networ configuration is covered in this
manual before the physical installation on the electricity meter. Thus, the YouLess does not
need to be placed on the meter yet in order to perform the networ configuration. It is
sufficient for the YouLess to be connected somewhere on the local networ and to be
powered.
Connect the YouLess to the local networ as follows:
1. Plug the USB AC adapter into a wall soc et and connect the YouLess to the USB
adapter with the provided USB mini cable.
2. Verify that the status LED on the YouLess blin s slowly to indicate that the networ
settings are not yet configured. If the LED is not blin ing slowly, please refer to
paragraph Reset to factory defaults on page 25.
3. Connect the LAN connector to the internet modem or other networ appliance using
the provided networ cable. The networ connector rectangular green lin LED lights
continuously to indicate that there is a networ lin . The networ connector
rectangular yellow LED blin s occasionally to indicate networ activity.
8 YouLess User Manual
2
1
3
Configuration with the Windows configuration wizard
In order to ease the networ configuration, a networ configuration wizard tool for Windows
is provided. This wizard automatically assigns an IP address to the YouLess after stepping
through a few wizard screens.
Requirements
The following elements are required:
•The wizard executable file YouLess-config.exe. This utility can be downloaded from
the YouLess site http://www.youless.net
•A Windows XP/Vista/7/8 PC with a networ connection (wired or wireless).
•The configuration wizard must run with Administrator privileges. Windows will
automatically as for permission for elevated execution privileges.
•Any firewall software should preferably be disabled while running the configuration
wizard.
Configuration wizard
De YouLess networ settings can be configured using the configuration wizard:
1. On the Windows PC, run YouLess-config exe. Clic “Next” after the welcome
screen.
2. Ma e sure that the YouLess is powered and connect the YouLess to the local
networ . Clic “Next” to proceed.
YouLess User Manual 9
Firewall software might obstruct the configuration wizard. Therefore, it is recommended
to temporarily disable firewall software while running the configuration wizard.
The configuration wizard requires Administrator privilages only to access certain
networ functions needed to configure the YouLess.
The configuration wizard does not install any software on your PC and does not apply
any changes to your PC. The wizard is run only once and therefore does not need to
be installed. The sole purpose of this utility is to ma e the networ configuration easier.
3. In the first screen, enter the last two combinations of the YouLess serial number.
These two combinations can be found on the bac of the YouLess device. Clic
"Next" to continue.
4. On the next screen, select the networ adapter from the drop down list which
connects the PC to the home networ . Most computers will have one (fixed) or two
(fixed + wireless) networ adapters. The wireless adapter can usually be recognized
by the name (WiFi or Wireless). If the wireless networ has the same IP numbering
as the wired networ , then both types of adapters can be selected for the purpose of
configuration. If however these networ s are different, then the wired networ
adapter must be selected.
5. After the networ adapter is selected, the associated networ numbering topology of
the networ is automatically detected and an appropriate IP address for the YouLess
will be suggested. Optionally, an alternative IP address may be entered. Clic
“Configure” to start the configuration process.
6. The wizard will now show the progress of the YouLess configuration process. Finally,
on the last screen a hyperlin to the YouLess will be shown. Clic on this hyperlin
to browse the YouLess web interface.
10 YouLess User Manual
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5
It is recommended to ma e note of the assigned IP address and / or create a boo mar
in the browser. This IP address is needed to access the YouLess with browsers,
apps and widgets.
Table of contents
