FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Configuring Bluetooth
Upgrading Firmware
Get Warranty Expiration Using PSM
Determine Firmware Version
SureStart™
How do I configure Bluetooth?
(Individual messages and steps may vary)
- If Bluetooth communications were not built into your computer, please get an adapter or purchase one here - then verify that your USB-to-Bluetooth adapter is installed in a USB port.
- Turn on your PowerSight meter.
- Open Bluetooth menu from the lower right of your PC screen.
- If you don't see a Bluetooth icon to click, see the complete guide here: Connecting to Bluetooth Help Guide
- You can also watch our step-by-step YouTube tutorial on Pairing a PowerSight Meter Via Bluetooth
How do I determine which version of firmware I have in my PowerSight?
Get Firmware Version from the PowerSight Unit
For meters with keypads, press the “Admin” key of the keypad once or twice until it says “Identify Unit?” Next, press the “Yes” key. The firmware version is the number after “FW:” (for instance “FW:5.20 has 5.20 firmware, which is of the 5.2 series). PS2500 meters do not have a keypad. With those meters, turn it on and press the “Next” button several times until it displays the firmware level.
Get Firmware Version Using PSM-A
- Turn the PowerSight unit on.
- Open PSM-A and connect the PowerSight unit. Video Guide Here
- When connected, hover over the green “Connected to PS…” box
- Find the firmware version in the first section of the pop-up box
How do I upgrade the firmware in my PowerSight meter?
PowerSight can have its capabilities enhanced via upgrades over the Internet. If you have a model PS2500, PS3550, PS4550, or PS5000 meter and it is under warranty, you can receive upgrades to your PowerSight analyzer via the internet. This allows you to receive the benefits of our improvements without returning your analyzer for an upgrade. How to tell if your PowerSight can receive a firmware upgrade If you have a PS2500, PS3550, PS4550, or PS5000 meter, the meter can have its firmware upgraded without returning the unit to us. Models PS250 and PS3550 have to be returned to the factory for a firmware upgrade. For meters with keypads, press the “Admin” key of the keypad several times until it says “Check Warranty?” Press the “Yes’ key. The warranty expiration data appears on the bottom line of the display. If that date is not yet passed, you will be able to receive a free firmware upgrade. PS2500 meters do not have a keypad. With those meters, turn it on and press the “Next” button several times until it displays the warranty expiration date. How to get your firmware upgrade Contact Summit Technology via email or telephone. If your meter is capable and under warranty, we will email the firmware upgrade to you. See the previous section to determine if your meter is capable and under warranty. Procedure for upgrading the firmware
- Receive our email with the upgrade attachment file. For model PS4550, the filename is PS4550-XXX.s19, where “XXX” is the version number of the firmware (such as “32M”). For model PS2500 and PS3550, the firmware will be p35aXXX.s19, where “XXX” is the version number.
- Store the attachment in your \PowerSight directory. Write over any previous version that may already be there.
- Close all other programs. Close any background processes that may be doing background communications. An interference in the communications flow during upgrading can potentially result in a failure that can only be solved by returning your meter to Summit Technology.
- Make sure the meter is being charged by its power supply (the red “charging” indicator near the DC input jack needs to be lit) while you perform the upgrade.
- Start PSM (PowerSight Manager program). Connect your PowerSight meter to your PC and verify that the green “Unit Connected” box appears on the main menu of PSM.
- At the top of the main menu, click on “Tools”, then click on “Firmware Upgrade”
- Browse, if necessary, to select the firmware upgrade file (such as “PS4550-32M.s19”) in the File Name box.
Click “Upgrade”. The upgrade process will take a few minutes. - If there is a problem, click “upgrade” again. If it still fails, contact the factory.
- The meter should now function properly with the enhancements of the new firmware.
How do I get the Warranty Expiration Information from PowerSight Using PSM-A?
Your PowerSight may only be able to work with one series of PSM-A (PowerSight Manager - Advanced) software, once your warranty has expired. Summit Technology maintains several series of software for PowerSight products. Presently, there are two versions that are supported: the 4.0 and 4.1H series. PSM versions below the 4.0 series are no longer supported. As the series numbers get higher, additional major features are added. In general, all PowerSight units can be made to work with the latest version of PSM-A, but it requires being covered by an original or extended warranty to move to a higher series. Examining the warranty information in your PowerSight unit will give you the information needed to determine its software compatibility.
Getting the Warranty Information from PowerSight Using PSM-A.
- Turn the PowerSight unit on.
- Open PSM-A and connect the PowerSight unit. Video Guide Here
- When connected, hover over the green “Connected to PS…” box
- Near the middle of the pop-up box is the “Warranty Expires On” date
Note 1: the number or letter after the series number specifies what version of the series the software is. For instance, 4.19 is the ninth release of the 4.1 series.
Getting the Warranty Information from PowerSight Using its Keypad:
- Turn the PowerSight unit on.
- Press the “Admin” key at the lower left a few times, until it says “Check Warranty?” Press “Yes”.
- The number at the far right on the bottom line of the display is the version of PSM-A that the unit is eligible to work with.
If the warranty expiration date shown at the left on the bottom line is a date still in the future, you are probably eligible to upgrade to the latest PSM-A series. - If your unit successfully connects with a newer version of PSM-A software and the unit is still covered by warranty, the eligibility number on the second line at the right will automatically change to show the new series number. For instance, if it successfully connected to a version of the PSM-A 4.1 series, the number at the lower right would change from 4.0 to 4.1.
Note 2: If you attempt to upgrade to a higher version of PSM, when you are out of warranty, or no warranty date is shown, it will fail to operate correctly.
Note 3: If you attempt to connect with a version of PSM-A that is lower than the version the unit is presently eligible with, there may be incompatibility issues. For instance, if your unit is eligible for version 4.1 and you receive a data log from it using version 3.1 of PSM-A, there is a good chance that the data log will be corrupted in some way.
What is SureStart™?
SureStart™ eliminates connection and setup errors. One of the biggest problems in monitoring commercial power is discovering at the end of the study that the data is flawed or useless due to connection or setup errors: SureStart™ is a program employing patent pending technology that applies artificial intelligence to automatically identify what type of power system is present and identify what errors in connections or setups are probably present. It is advanced beyond any other system in three ways:
- It makes these determinations regardless of the power system type.
- It does this even in the presence of multiple connection or wiring errors.
It presents the results in clear English statements. No longer do you need to worry about whether your setup was right or your connections were correct. No longer do you need to study waveforms, phasor diagrams, or magnitude and phase measurements prior to leaving your monitoring device. Even the most knowledgeable professional makes errors in setup and connection. And even if the connections are correct, the wiring of the system may not be, and it is best to know that before the monitoring session has begun. Here are examples of errors that SureStart™ automatically detects when connected to single-phase, two-phase, wye, delta, 4-wire delta, grounded delta, open delta, DC, and other power systems:
- One two, or three voltages not connected.
- One, two, or three currents not connected to the source cables.
- One, two, or three currents not connected to the meter.
- Two or three connections to the same voltage.
- Two or three connections to the same current.
- Voltages misidentified.
- Currents misidentified.
- One, two, or three current sensors backwards.
- Two voltage connections switched.
- Two current probes switched.
- All voltages rotated one position left.
- All voltages rotated one position right.
- All currents rotated one position left.
- All currents rotated one position right.
- One, two, or three phases not present.
- One phase being presented as two or three phases.
- One or two phases shorted to neutral or ground.
- Neutral not connected to ground.
- Non-standard voltage due to improper loading.
- Non-standard voltage due to power system problem.
- Non-standard frequency due to power system problem.
- Non-standard phase shift between phases due to power system problem.
- Improper frequency or voltage mode setting in the meter.
- Improper input ratios in the meter.
- Finally, combinations of all the above listed errors.
SureStart™, combined with our SurePower™ and SureSense™ technologies, provides the most reliable operating platform in the industry for monitoring power. Take a step towards peace of mind and useful results, with SureStart™.