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 Useful device but all capabilities do not function Dec 07, 2009
I installed this device (following instructions very carefully). It was not difficult to install the hardware.
The Footprints software is essentially crippled on my system. Here are the issues:
1. Data export does not work.
2. When looking at summaries for an extended period the totals are incorrect.
3. Function to 'learn' a device is completely non-functional.
The vendor does not respond to support e-mails. I have e-mailed three times and received one response asking if I had the latest software. When I responded in the affirmative to that question they never responded again. Also e-mailing to their product information address failed to produce a response. I gave them a significant period of time to respond to each e-mail.
This is a very exasperating case of a vendor overselling their software capabilities and failing to deliver. I wanted to upgrade to their latest device but will not until they deliver on what was already sold to me.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 not pleased with the TED 1001 Oct 13, 2009
couldn't even get it installed because the CT clamps would not fit around the feeds coming into my house. company did not respond with any advice and would not accept reutrns. not happy.....will be posting ebay shortly
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Everyone Should Have One of These Sep 26, 2009
I was kind of skeptical at first, but this thing gives you so much feedback about your energy usage, you cannot help but save some somewhere. You can watch things turn on and off in your house, and see exactly how much energy every item is using. Now this in itself is not a big help, to know how much your refrigerator, or your clothes dryer is using. You're going to use them anyway, and it won't change the amount, unless you decide to dry clothes twice a month instead of every other day.
But let me give you an example of what I found out with this device. My living room TV usually stays on nearly 24/7, even if no one is watching it. I had NO idea it was using 450 watts, or nearly $30 a month to keep on 24/7. I discovered when the air conditioner is running it kicked it up about 5 thousand watts. There are all kinds of things you can discover, and manipulate to within your means.
I wouldn't go so far as to say I think every house in the US should have one of these, but I would go so far as to say that every house in the US with someone who can interpret the data should have one. But if you know what a kilowatt is, and you have basic skills, this thing provides all the feedback you'll ever need, and accurately, I might add.
0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Works good as a generator monitor Jun 22, 2009
Bought this to monitor the output of our our generator so we don't exceed our rated capacity. It does just what we want it to 95% of the time. Some times it locks on a reading and it doesn't work periodically on some outlets but almost all the time it is an invaluable asset to our electrical system.
7 of 7 found the following review helpful:
Very Eye-Opening, Educational Device May 19, 2009
I purchased and installed my TED about 4 months ago. We're not currently using the packaged software. Overall, we're very happy with this device because it gives a unique, literally valuable window into your home's energy usage. I'll focus my observations on points I haven't seen in previous reviews.
Location: We've placed the display unit next to the kitchen sink, where we find ourselves spending a lot of time over the course of the day. Additionally, since we tend to be on our feet already while standing at the sink, we're more likely to recognize an unusual draw and go find the culprit.
Teaching the Kids: We have two boys, aged 4 and 7. Once I explained what the device was, they were immediately fascinated and frequently run around the house, turning things off, and seeing how low they could get the overall draw. To really motivate them, I've tied their allowances to our energy usage.
Energy Savings: It's a cliche', but knowledge is power. I never knew that drying a load of clothes with my electric dryer costs about 50 cents, or that the blower on my gas furnace operates at about 1 kwh (which means about 10 cents an hour in many markets). Just that second point makes you realize why it's important to keep the filter clean on your furnace. I've consistently reduced my monthly electrical bills using TED.
Device Aesthetics: Well, it's not a pretty thing. As someone who's worked in product design and development for over 15 years, I believe I can safely say that the device was designed by a very well-intentioned engineer. The user interface is very simple and clear, the functionality is excellent, but it looks like lab-ware. Not house-ware. I'd like to see a makeover for the next generation.
Noisy Old House Wiring: Our house is about 100 years old and the wiring's pretty ancient. There are a few modern halogen fixtures in the house with 24v transformers that seem to interfere with TED's communications. Basically, when those lights are on, TED doesn't work. On the bright side, this tends to motivate me to go find those lights and turn them off ; )
Overall, I think every house should have one of these devices. In a world that is so dependent on energy, it's odd that the average person knows very little about how much their house is using at any given time. After living with one for several months, I find it's somewhat surprising that energy monitors like TED aren't in everyone's homes. This would seem to be a valuable tool in helping us toward our national goals regarding energy independence.
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