Each Plugwise system consists of Circle+, one or more Circles, the Plugwise Stick and the Source software. These components communicate with each other wirelessly, using the highly efficient and energy-saving ZigBee protocol.

The Plugwise system has been designed to do three things:

1: Provide details of energy consumption per appliance

Each Circle contains a small power meter that accurately registers energy consumption of connected appliances. A Circle stores the energy consumption data, until it is requested by the Source software.

2: Save energy by creating switching schemes

With the Source management software you can create switching schemes for appliances connected to the Circles. Thus you save significant amounts of energy, merely by switching off appliances in periods when they are not used. If you need to use an appliance that has been switched off by a Circle simply remove the Circle from the socket and put it back in( or switch it on and off at the socket); the appliance will resume operation. The switching scheme will resumefrom the next scheduled event.

3: Create virtual power groups and switch them wirelessly

With the Source software you can combine Circles in power groups and switch them wirelessly, using Source, a Screen or Switch. Plugwise Switch is ideal for switching on or off a work station, AV stack and/or your ambient lighting in one go. You can create as many groups as you want, without having to modify the wiring of your premises or the Circles.

Economic energy consumption with ZigBee

The Plugwise system is based on a wireless mesh network (ZigBee 2.4 GHz). This technology offers many advantages:

• Extremely energy-efficient - the energy consumed by a Plugwise system is a mere fraction of the energy saved.
• 128-bit AES encryption protection - your energy consumption data is safe and privacy is guaranteed.
• Mesh network support – the network reorganises itself; new appliances are recognized and incorporated automatically.
• Open international standard (enhanced with a private protocol) – future-proof and easily extendable with other Plugwise modules
• Each element has its own unique code and is therefore identifiable.

Plugwise components are reliable and high quality (KEMA Keur and tested by TÜV Rheinland for compliance with the radio and auxiliary equipment R&TTE 1999/5/EG directive). Plugwise products have a life expectancy of more than 10 years.

Plugwise - a future-proof platform

A Plugwise system is a future-proof investment. In the near future energy supply and demand will be even more closely linked, using so-called ‘smart grids’. Although such systems are still in their infancy, the Plugwise system has been designed to cooperate with intelligent meters and smart grids. We can also upgrade your firmware over the air via Source