Digital Loggers

Frequently Asked Questions

Updated 08/15/2018

ETHERNET POWER CONTROLLER 5


Download a users guide.  Check the specifications.

Watch the video  overview here- or call (408) 330-5599 for a free trial


What are the latest new features?
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Setup
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How do I set up network access from Windows? from a Mac? - Thanks to John McClintock for these instructions
Do I need a crossover cable?
How do I set up port forwarding?
On initial setup, I can't establish a Ethernet communications from a Windows PC.  Help!
What is the default IP address?  How do I reset to defaults? 
What is the default password?
How do I set up a router to port forward for Internet access? -Thanks to Mike G.  Find more specific port forwarding examples here.
What is the default IP address?
How do I reset to defaults
How do I use the keypad to set it up?
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Miscellaneous Questions
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What are the CRITICAL and PROTECT functions?
What's the new Lua Language and Scripting all about?
The session timeout is too short. Can I make the session longer?
How do I enable AutoPing?  Explain the Auto-Ping settings
How do the meters work?
How can I get a dry contact relay output?
How do I enable Battery Backup? How long will the battery run? What is the battery lifetime?
What's syslog?  How can I keep an event log?
Can you develop custom firmware or custom hardware for my app?
Do you have a ruggedized version? Something suitable for mobile use?
Where can I find the manual or spec sheet for the earlier model?

How do I set up event notifications? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enternal APIs - Communicating with the power controller
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How can I connect to Amazon Echo, Alexa, Dot or Tap products?
How can I connect to Google Assistant or Google Home?
How can I access the switch from my own application or remote script?  What's the cURL API?
My program ran fine on the Web Power Switch 7, but doesn't connect now.  Help!
Is this product compatible with legacy plaintext scripts and http control?
How can I control the switch from my own applications? 
What is the recommended REST API?
Have any SNMP setup tips?
Do you support MQTT?
How can I set up IFTTT?
Do you have a Visual Basic.NET example program?  Thanks to Alan Holmes
Do you have a C++ programming example?
Do you have a .NET programming example?
Do you have a Java programming example?
Do you have a compiled Windows command line tool or a Perl example?
Do you have a Python programming example?
Do you have a Crestron control module?
How can I run a perl script from LabView?
Where can I find iPhone, iPad, or Android apps for Digital Loggers?
Do you support PowerMan?

Question:  I have on earlier Ethernet Power Controlller II, III, or  PC-8000 model.  Where can I find information?
Answer:  For firmware information on PC-8000 units without power metering, (circa 2008-9), click here. 
For information on the Ethernet Power Controller II or Ethernet Power Controller II LCD (circa 2010 to 2011), click here. 
The manual for the EPCR3 built from 2011 to 2014 is here.
Question:  How do the meters work?
Answer:  The Ethernet Power Controller has four internal meters.  Bus A and Bus B each have one separate current and voltage meter.  The voltage meters measure the input voltage on each bus.  The current meters measure the total current drain for all the switched devices on each bus.  One un-switched outlets on each bus bypass the meters to provide un-metered "house power". The unswitched outlets are located in the center of the panel.  Although the product will easily handle 15A on each bus, it's recommended to stay in the 13A range or so to add headroom for dynamic loads.  There is a manual power factor correction which can be entered for each bus to correct non-PFC loads.  Histograms and meter readouts can be customized to suit your needs.   Two cumulative energy meters are provided.  They accumulate use over time in kWh.  A power billing / notification utility for Windows is here.
Question:  How do I enable battery backup?
Answer:  Open the battery hatch on the right side of the faceplate by gently pressing the tab behind the faceplate to the right and pulling the hatch cover forward.  Connect the polarized battery connector, positive-to-positive, negative-to-negative.  The battery will power the web server, internal logic, Ethernet, WiFi and LCD for several minutes during a power outage.  Recharge time to 90% capacity is 48 hours.  Batteries are Li-ION.  Typical battery life is 24 months at 100F.  Do not attempt to replace the battery with any other type of cell.  Inexpensive replacement batteries are available from digital Loggers (408) 330-5599.  Disconnect the battery if leave the power controller shut off for more than a month.
Question:  How can I control and customize the LCD display?
Answer:  The LCD can be used to display current and voltage settings, outlet status, or any message of your choice.  You can operate the LCD in "billboard" style, displaying a series of user defined messages.  To customize the LCD, you'll want to write a script using the Lua scripting language.   You can also use the display to send messages from remote systems (ie. service alert warnings).  To send messages remotely, write a script first, saving it in EEPROM then start the script from your remote system.  Learn more about scripting here.
Question:  Is this product compatible with the older (less secure) HTTP plaintext command syntax? 
Answer:  To use the earlier HTTP commands described here and CURL scripts that use plantext login, you'll need to enable this legacy setting on the SETUP page.  For new code development, the RestAPI is recommended.:
Question:  What is the default IP address?  How do I reset to defaults?  What is the default password?
Answer:  192.168.0.100
To reset to defaults, use a non-conductive pen or toothpick (NOT A PAPERCLIP) to click the "Reset to default" button located near the network connector. 
Wait for the message to stop scrolling. You can press the Up/Down arrows to select the type of reset needed. Holding down the reset button will reset everything to defaults.
The default user is "admin" and password is "1234".
Question:  On initial setup, I can't establish a Ethernet communications from a Windows PC.  Help!
Answer:  If your default Windows settings won’t access the controller, follow these steps to reach the controller’s IP.  You'll find a more extensive explanation in the user's manual.
Before adding an IP, close network programs and browsers.

Go to the Network Settings – Local Area Network or use the keyboard shortcut <Windows-R> - type “ncpa.cpl” and click OK. 

Right click on your LAN connection and choose “Properties”

Highlight “Internet Protocol” and click the “Properties” button.

Make note of the current settings.

Select "Use the following IP address".

Enter an IP address such as 192.168.0.5.

Enter a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0.

Delete any gateway entry.

Close all windows for the configuration to take effect.

Start your Browser and type 192.168.0.100 in the URL field. The index page should be displayed.

The default user name is "admin" (lower case) and password is “1234”

Set the IP address of the unit to your network, then restore your settings.
Question:  Can I set the session timeout longer?
Answer:  Yes
Log into the unit and choose the External APIs link.
If the REST API is not enabled, check the REST API checkbox and press submit.
Scroll own to the "Browse the REST API" link Eg: 192.168.0.100/restapi/
Select the auth (Authentication server object) link
Select Cookie timeout Eg: http://192.168.0.100/restapi/auth/cookie_timeout/


Enter a time in seconds.
3600 = 1 hour
7200 = 2 hours
86400 = 1 day
604800 = 1 week

Click the PUT button.

The next time you login, the timeout will take effect.
Question:  Can you explain the auto-ping settings?
Answer: 

Enabling autoping for a device
To enable autoping, the check-box to the left of the IP address must be checked, then the change button pushed. You will get a message "Autoping will automatically be enabled after 10 successful pings". This prevents rebooting units before conditions are properly established.

AutoPing Properties

Enable AutoPing
Enables the auto-ping module

Time between pings(2-3600 seconds)

How long between each ping to the target device.


Ping timeout to reboot (2-3600 seconds)

How long the pings may fail before rebooting the device.

Ping responses to enable autoping (0-100 pings)
How many pings should be sucessful before enabling the autoping. This setting prevents enabling autoping on an unreliable network and rebooting equipment unnecessarily.

Times to attempt reboot (1-255 attempts)
Number of times to attempt power cycling before giving up and disabling autoping (leaving the outlet on).

Device reboot delay: seconds. (1-43200) seconds
Length of time after a power cycle before checking for a response from the device. This allows a device or computer time to completely boot up.

Question:  How can I control the switch from my own applications?
Answer: 

 Downloadthe latest User Utility which includes PowerMan support for Linux. Your application can use HTTP communications. There are programming examples from several languages listed in the top section.
Windows users can download a Perl interpreter to run the script version.  This script (ver 4.x) is compatible with all DLI power controllers.

Question:  My program used to run fine on EPCR3, but it won't run on the new EPCR 5?
Answer:  It's possible that the program requires legacy login methods which accept plaintext authentication. Go to the Setup page and tick the "Allow legacy plaintext login methods" checkbox, then click "Submit". If the program works, please inform the author that the preferred authentication method is by using the more secure challenge/response mechanism. 
Question:  Can you develop custom firmware for my application?
Answer:  Gladly.  We've done this for many customers.  After we agree on a -very specific- project description, we can send you an estimate of the time involved to code, debug and test.
Question:  Can you develop custom hardware for my application?
Answer:  Gladly.  We've done this for many customers.   Please call with your requirements.  To amortize NRE, practical minimum order quantities are typically 100-1000 units.
Question:  Do you support PowerMan?
Answer:  Yes, absolutely.  The latest code is added to the tarball. Download the latest User Utility here.
Question:  What is the blue LCD for?
Answer:  The blue LCD shows outlet status during power up, the IP address, netmask, outlet names, and other useful information.  Time and date stamps for significant events (such as power outages or emergency shutdowns) are also displayed.  You can program this display to display your own messages using the scripting feature.

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If we haven't answered your questions here, please call (408) 330-5599 or send us an email. 
We'll be glad to help.
© Digital Loggers, Inc. 2015.