NETIO PowerCable MQTT 101x is a professional WiFi power socket featuring open API for integration with cloud IoT services. The output socket can be controlled (On/Off) and electricity consumption measured (A, Wh, TPF, V, ..) from any IoT service. The WiFi socket supports the MQTT-flex communication protocol that allows adapting the MQTT communication to your needs. With the NETIO Cloud service, the outputs can be controlled from anywhere. The NETIO Cloud service, provided for a fee, uses SSL security and servers in Europe.
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This version of the product is no longer available. All functions of this model are now included in PowerCable REST 101x.
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The device can be configured with a web browser (MQTT communication settings, WiFi configuration etc). The web interface can be used to control the socket (ON/OFF) and read the measured energy consumption parameters (V, A, kWh, W, Hz, TruePF).
PowerCable MQTT is a smart IoT power socket with WiFi in the form of an extension cable. Using WiFi, the device connects to a local LAN. Then, MQTT or HTTP(s) Push is used to connect to the configured cloud service. The cloud service can control the socket (ON/OFF) and analyze the measured electricity consumption data.
PowerCable MQTT can be connected to any MQTT broker (LAN / internet) or to your own online service. With MQTT-flex, the MQTT communication structure (Topic & Payload + trigger conditions) can be customized to fit your needs.
PowerCable MQTT offers rapid large-scale deployment using NFC configuration as well as quality design and construction. The product operates reliably in a wide temperature range, supports firmware upgrades over the web, can be controlled using its documented API, features accurate measurements of electrical parameters (1% accuracy), offers zero current switching and more.
Usage of PowerCable MQTT 101x
Do you need a 230V electrical socket that can be controlled and metered from a cloud portal? PowerCable MQTT 101x is a product for you. This industrial WiFi socket is ideal for switching 230V electrical sockets on/off and analyzing the power parameters from a cloud. The target MQTT broker can be in the local network or in the public internet.
- IoT applications: Remote monitoring of powered appliances
- Shared premises: Allocating energy costs to individual users
- Smart Home: Integration into residential buildings, energy savings
- Industrial monitoring: IIoT applications, predictive maintenance, efficiency control (energy savings by disconnecting unused equipment) in the manufacturing industry
- Energy consumption measurement for detecting appliance outages (refrigerator, water pump, 3D printer, laboratory equipment, ...)
- In the area of Digital signage or AV (Audio Video) multimedia, companies often use NETIO sockets to control multimedia screens and to monitor their functionality (using power measurements)
Quick WiFi connection setup + WiFi Reconnect
PowerCable MQTT connects to the LAN using WiFi (internal antenna).
Quick network connection setup
Connection to a WiFi network is very simple:
- NETIO PowerCable creates a WiFi Access point that you connect to with your PC or mobile phone.
- It then scans for WiFi networks in the vicinity, and lets you choose from a list and type the password.
- NETIO PowerCable then confirms the connection to the network and displays the assigned IP address.
- NETIO PowerCable devices can be discovered in the LAN using the NETIO Discover tool.
Another option is the NFC-preconfig function that allows for an even easier configuration of the network connection (see the NFC-preconfig section).
WiFi Reconnect for stability and availability
The NETIO WiFi Reconnect feature ensures stable availability of the device in an ordinary WiFi network. WiFi Reconnect ensures a stable LAN connection even in cases of an unstable WiFi AP, a necessity to switch over from one WiFi AP to another due to fluctuating signal, and so on.
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NETIO Cloud
This product can be connected to the NETIO Cloud service (100 outputs can be controlled from 1 web screen). NETIO Cloud is an ideal solution for remote control and restarting.
The paid NETIO Cloud service is operated by NETIO products a.s. as a support for manufactured equipment.
- All products manufactured by NETIO products can be connected to NETIO Cloud.
- The user can control connected devices securely via the web from anywhere (HTTPs).
- The first 3 years are free connection to the service thanks to the "Welcome credit".
- NETIO Cloud can be used in parallel with other Open API protocols.
- Secure device communication to the Cloud service (port 8883 - MQTTs - TLS)
- NETIO Cloud has its own Open API, which can be used to control all devices in a specific user account (MQTTS protocol).
>> More about NETIO Cloud service
Open API for connecting to cloud services
Using M2M communication protocols, the socket can be controlled by issuing a command (On / Off / Toggle / Short On / Short Off) as well as send consumption data to your cloud service. In the cloud, electrical measurements (consumption) can be analyzed in real time in order to monitor numerous electrical appliances that cannot be monitored in any other way. Supply voltage monitoring can reveal, if a TV screen with an advertisement is switched on, whether or not a fridge or an A/C works, and so on. Typical applications include the allocation of electricity costs among individual appliances according to their consumption.
PowerCable MQTT with a cloud service enables cost-effective monitoring of appliances that would be very costly to monitor with other methods in the required numbers.
PowerCable MQTT 101x supports several open M2M protocols for connecting to any cloud service or broker:
- MQTT-flex (configurable MQTT)
- HTTP(s) Push - JSON
- HTTP(s) Push - XML
MQTT / MQTT-flex
MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) is a M2M protocol for exchanging messages. It is often used for IoT applications and for communicating with a cloud because the device actively establishes the connection to the server. The protocol includes native support for SSL encryption.
MQTT has become popular in recent years; however, different devices support different data structures and different rules for sending messages. This complicates data processing at the server side. To alleviate this problem, NETIO allows customizing the message structure using the “MQTT-flex” extension.
MQTT-flex configuration
The MQTT protocol in PowerCable MQTT 101x can be configured in detail thanks to the MQTT-flex extension. In the text-based MQTT-flex configuration, it is possible to define the MQTT message structure (Topic / Payload) as well as the conditions for sending individual messages (periodically, when a value changes by more than x, and so on).
More information about MQTT-flex
- NETIO Glossary: MQTT-flex in detail
- Information for developers: MQTT-flex in the NETIO Wiki
- AN40: Getting started with PowerCable MQTT-flex via HiveMQ MQTT broker to mobile App
Standard configuration
In the default configuration, all measured values are sent every 15 minutes, and the current [A] and power [Wh] values are sent whenever the consumption of the connected appliance changes.
HTTP(s) Push - JSON
PowerCable MQTT 101x periodically connects to the specified server over http / https and sends data in a .json (JavaScript Object Notation) structure. The communication is one-way only; it can only be used for the measured values.
- The time period for connecting to the server can be set as short as 10 seconds.
- JSON uses the standard http port 80 (enabled in most local area networks).
- The HTTPs version uses SSL encryption.
- The JSON format is very common
HTTP(s) Push - XML
PowerCable MQTT 101x periodically connects to the specified server over http / https and sends data in a .xml (EXtensible Markup Language) structure. The communication is one-way only; it can only be used for the measured values.
- The time period for connecting to the server can be set as short as 10 seconds.
- The XML protocol uses the default http port 80 (enabled in most internal networks)
- The HTTPs version uses SSL encryption.
NFC pre-config - Install the device in 60 seconds
The WiFi network (SSID and password) to which the PowerCable connects at the installation site can be configured without even turning the device on. Our mobile application (NETIO Mobile 2) transfers the configuration from a phone or a tablet over NFC. This technology significantly reduces the installation time when installing many devices.
The entire process including unpacking takes at most 60 seconds, and then your smart socket is connected to the MQTT broker.
NFC pre-config can be also used for a quick integration with a cloud portal. The cloud portal provides the configuration file for the mobile app. The configuration is then uploaded to the PowerCable over NFC, even without the need to switch the device on.
Electrical measurement
PowerCable MQTT 101x measures all important electrical parameters. Detailed electrical measurements of electrical quantities can be analyzed to discover the real state of the powered appliances.
The measured electrical values are shown in the web interface as well as in the supported M2M cloud protocols (MQTT and HTTP(s) Push XML / JSON).
Each PowerCable is two-point calibrated during manufacturing to measure consumption with a high accuracy.
- Current [A]
- Output power [W]
- Energy [Wh]
- TPF (True Power Factor)
- Voltage [V]
- Grid frequency [Hz]
- Phase [-180 … 180°]
>> More about electrical metering
Software for recording measured values (comming soon)
For simple applications, NETIO has prepared a simple NETIO-data-collector tool. It runs on a server (in the customer’s network or in the public internet) and collects electricity consumption data for individual electrical sockets.
- Data input: Any NETIO device with HTTP Push (up to 250 devices tested)
- Data output: Database with energy consumption of input devices in time as a .csv file
- Runs on: Python scripts, any server.
Software applications by third parties
We support similar applications by third parties. Look for our ANxx (Application Notes) and third-party applications.
Industrial product quality
NETIO sockets are made with quality in mind. Each unit includes a set of supporting functions to ensure reliability and long service life of your equipment:
- Open M2M APIs
- NFC pre-config: Installation at customer’s premises in 60 seconds
- Wide operating temperature range (-10 to 65 °C)
- Accurate energy metering (<1%), every unit is calibrated
- Firmware upgradeable over the web, backwards compatibility
- IOC - Independent Output Control
- PowerUp state – defined output state after power-up
- WiFi Reconnect
- ZCS – Zero Current Switching
Mobile Application
PowerCable MQTT 101x can be controlled over the local network using the NETIO Mobile 2 app (for Android mobile devices).
- The mobile app can be used to control several devices and all their outputs.
- The mobile device must be connected to the same LAN (via WiFi).
- NETIO Mobile2 can scan the LAN and discover connected devices. WiFi connection to the LAN is required.
NETIO Mobile 2 is not available for iOS users. We recommend using third-party apps:
- AN39 NETIO and third-party mobile apps for iPhone – iOS (URL API, Telnet, Modbus)
- AN38 NETIO and third-party mobile apps for Android (URL API, Telnet, Modbus)
