What is an Aztech In-Home Display?
The Aztech In-Home Display is a small clock-sized appliance that communicates wirelessly with electricity meters to display cost and usage information in real-time for the entire home. It combines an easy-to-view graphical display with a coloured light bar that shows how much electricity you are using at a glance.
Who are the users of the Aztech In-Home Display?
The Aztech In-Home Display is for home residents who want to monitor and control their electricity consumption and costs.
Why should utilities or residents consider the Aztech In-Home Display?
The Aztech In-Home Display empowers people to reduce their electricity bill and their carbon footprint by using energy wisely through easily understood information.
How does the Aztech In-Home Display help reduce energy usage?
The Aztech In-Home Display shows hourly, daily and monthly electricity costs and usage patterns. It also shows how much electricity is being used at any given moment. This helps users to stay in control of their electricity costs and change their behaviours in ways that work for each family.
How much can I save with the Aztech In-Home Display?
Pilot studies have consistently shown that an IHD can reduce your energy bills by 7-14%. This translates to an annual savings of from $50-$70, which is the equivalent of free energy for a month.
How does the Aztech In-Home Display differ from other means of reducing energy usage?
Most other energy information services are day-after web displays of use, or lack the ability to download current software for the display showing the latest rates.
What does the light bar do?
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The light bar atop Aztech’s In-Home Display provides homeowners with at-a-glance reminders of energy conservation. Time-of-use periods are typically identified by three colours that sweep across Aztech’s exclusive patent-pending arched light bar. Red is used for the most expensive ($$$) Peak rate period; Yellow is used for the mid-rate ($$) Mid-Peak period; and Green is used for the least expensive ($) Off-Peak period. And, the speed of its motion is proportional to the amount of energy you are consuming. |
What does the screen show?
The In-Home Display’s backlit LCD window shows accurate and detailed information in both graphic and text form. Users can view hourly, daily, and monthly electricity costs and usage patterns, in addition to how much electricity is currently being used. This information empowers people to control their electricity costs, and change usage behaviors in ways that work for each family.
With Aztech’s intuitive technology, utilities can also provide their users with on-screen text messaging for such things as maintenance-related outages, dynamic pricing signals, or critical peaks. Users may have the option to override specific events when notified.
How much history data can the In-Home Display keep?
The IHD is designed to hold more than a month's worth of data, but only the most recent 30 days are displayed.
Is it easy to install?
All you have to do is plug it in!
Many of the electricity monitors on the market today come with both a sensor and a transmitter that you must install yourself. This entails a complex process of connecting various wires to your circuit panel, or affixing a device to the casing of your meter on the outside of your house. Furthermore, you are also required to personally program the device with the rates set by your electricity supplier.
But the Aztech In-Home Display does not require a sensor or a transmitter. It communicates wirelessly with your home’s smart meter via radio signals, and provides reliable transmissions with no interference. The Aztech IHD is also preprogrammed in our factory to track, analyze and calculate the data and time-of-use rates.
What is a smart meter?
Old-fashioned electro-mechanical meters are only capable of tracking your total energy usage over a particular billing cycle. But smart meters monitor this usage as it happens, sending the data back to the utility and to your Aztech In-Home Display. If your home has been equipped with a smart meter by your electricity provider, you will see a digital display on its face; the old meters had spinning dials.
Will it work with my meter?
Our In-Home Display can integrate seamlessly with meters by major manufacturers, and is compatible with more meter types than any other IHD company: Aclara (GE and Landis + Gyr), Elster (REX and REX2), Itron (Centron-ERT and OpenWay), Sensus, Trilliant (GE and Landis + Gyr).
How does it know it is my meter?
Your IHD is also preprogrammed with a unique code that corresponds to the specific meter installed on your home.
How does it receive updates from my meter?
The IHD contains a radio receiver that listens to your meter, which broadcasts use information in a timed sequence to the IHD on its own or upon a request by the IHD.
How does the Aztech In-Home Display fit in with other utility programs?
The Aztech In-Home display compliments nearly all other utility conservation programs. Even in cases where the utility offers reduced rates for installing devices that set air conditioning temperature, the Aztech In-Home Display still tells you what your usage is. The Aztech In-Home Display’s graphical presentation of information is a genuine help in understanding your energy use with or without other ways to save energy or cost.
How is the In-Home Display powered?
The device operates through the use of a standard AC plug. It also contains batteries, which can be used for temporary portable operation when one might wish to monitor appliances in various rooms, or to maintain the IHD during a power outage. The batteries will provide data to the display for approximately one day when fully charged. When operating on battery power, the light bar and LCD backlight will automatically turn off as a conservation measure. They will turn back on momentarily when a button is pressed.
Can I replace the batteries myself?
Yes, although the batteries should last from three to five years under normal use. The batteries are accessed by removing the 4 screws on the back of the enclosure. They should be replaced with three “AA” NiMH batteries.
Where should I place my In-Home Display?
The In-Home Display is lightweight and compact, so that you can place it in a convenient and easy-to-view location. For maximum benefit, it should be placed in a high traffic area such as a kitchen or a family room.
Must I stay within a certain range from the meter location?
The IHD should be located within 30 to 60 feet of the meter, depending on the way your home is constructed.
Can I synchronize my utility bill and the IHD?
All cost estimates are for informational and educational purposes only. Although you may get a close estimate of your bill if you reset the Summary View to the date of your electricity bill, there is no direct connection between the Aztech In-Home Display and the utility’s billing system. Cut-offs in time of billing and various other taxes and surcharges make it very difficult to forecast what your monthly bill will be.
If I purchased my own Aztech In-Home Display, how do I set it up?
Simply plug in the supplied AC adapter and connect it to the Aztech In-Home Display. A new IHD will ask for the language choice (English, Spanish or French), the date and time, and then the ERT ID. Once these three parameters are entered, the Aztech In-Home Display is ready for use. If the rate information was not factory programmed, it will also need to be entered if cost monitoring is desired. (Rates can be programmed into your In-Home Display at our factory if supplied at time of ordering.)
How do I turn the Aztech In-Home Display on and off?
The display turns ON automatically by attaching a powered AC adapter, or by pressing the middle ( √) button. The display can be powered OFF by pressing and holding the middle ( √) button.
Can I turn off the light bar?
Although the light bar provides very useful information, it can be turned off via the Configuration menu.
How do I access the Configuration menu?
Press and hold the right ( ►) button, then press the middle (√) button.
How do I use the buttons?
The left (▲) and right ( ► ) buttons navigate most of the usual screens. The right ( ► ) button selects the Main, History or Summary views. In each view, the left (▲) button provides more information. The center (√) button is often used to make a selection. It is also turns the IHD ON and OFF.
Can I update software features or rate information using the USB port?
The USB power connector can also be used as a port to attach the IHD to a computer. Aztech is putting in place a website and working with utilities so that customers can update their IHD to a newer software version by registering their IHD. After registration, the customer can follow instructions on the website to download the most current software. The IHD must remain connected to the computer USB port during the software update process.
If utility rates change, how do I update the In-Home Display?
You can update the rates through the Electricity Rates section of the Configuration menu, or via USB interface.
Can I add new features to the Aztech In-Home Display?
Yes! Custom features are also possible, subject to the appropriate cost recovery. They can be factory programmed or added in the field by downloading new software via the USB interface.
Why doesn't my Aztech In-Home Display show the correct time?
If the type of smart meter installed on your residence updates the time automatically, it may take an hour for this to show up on your IHD. If you need to re-set the time manually, just follow the directions that came with your Aztech In-Home Display.
Does the Aztech In-Home Display retain the date and time when powered down?
Not presently. The date and time must be re-entererd upon power-up.
What is Zigbee?
If the license included with your smart meter includes the Zigbee protocol, your Aztech In-Home Display will be ZigBee compliant.
The ZigBee Alliance is a global ecosystem of companies creating wireless solutions for use in energy management, commercial and consumer applications. Utilities across the U.S. and Canada have validated ZigBee Smart Energy as the clear choice for next generation energy management solutions, selecting it as the leading wireless standard for implementing home area networks (HAN) as part of Smart Grid initiatives. Today, more than a quarter billion ZigBee-enabled smart meter implementations are underway by utilities in North America.
How much does the Aztech IHD cost?
Pricing for a single unit is $249, but our primary clients are utility companies who purchase the IHD in bulk and supply them to their customers. Many utilities carry it, and will give a device to you upon request.
What is your Return Policy?
You can read our standard Terms and Conditions by clicking here: Return Material Authorization.pdf.
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