Get started – First Steps with CTOOLS

    To log in to CTOOLS, please use your known login credentials.
     
    Username: You received your username from us during the system setup.
    Password: You received your password from us during the system setup.


    Widgets

    At the top of the interface, there are four colored status widgets that provide a quick overview of the current system status:

    • Daily Usage
    • Current Power
    • Active Sockets
    • Channel Errors

    Clicking on one of these widgets acts as a filter for the table below (Remote Reading Overview). The displayed channels will then be accordingly restricted:

    • Daily Usage – Shows only channels that have consumed electricity today.
    • Current Power – Shows only channels that are currently drawing power (value in the Power column > 0 W).
    • Active Sockets – Shows only channels whose outlets are currently switched on.
    • Channel Errors – Shows only channels with active errors, indicated by an orange or red symbol in the Status column (e.g., power outage, communication error, power limit exceeded).

    Remote Metering Overview

    Tools

    Additional functions are available via the Tools button.

    1. Language Setting
    Here you can change the language of the user interface.

    2. Data Export
    The following exports are available:

    • Export of Current Meter Readings – Creates an overview of all current consumption values (Description column) for the displayed channels – including timestamp of the retrieval. Ideal for interim readings, manual documentation, or billing.
    • Export of the Assignment Table (UIDs to Description) – Creates a table in which each channel is clearly assigned to its internal UID as well as the displayed description. This export is often needed for automated further processing in a connected PMS (Property Management System).

    Filter


    Using the Filter field in the top-right corner of the table, you can limit the view to specific channels. Several filter options are available:

    1. Free Text Search
    The entry searches the following fields:

    • Description (e.g., Platz 12, UV 1, -1F01)
    • Comment
    The search is not case-sensitive and reacts dynamically to every term entered.

    2. Search by UID
    Using the prefix #, you can specifically search for a channel’s UID – e.g., #1001012. This is particularly helpful for technical analysis.

    3. Multiple Filters
    Several search terms can be separated by a semicolon (;). In this case, all channels that match any of the entered terms are displayed.

    💡 Beispiel: Platz 1;Platz 2;#1001012 shows all channels whose description contains “Platz 1” or “Platz 2,” as well as the channel with the UID 1001012.

    Status


    In the Status column, the current state of a channel is represented by colors and symbols. The status display provides information at a glance about the availability of the distribution cabinet, the switching state of the outlet, and – if activated – additional features such as occupancy detection, guest control, or payment systems.

    You can sort the Status column by clicking on the column header to quickly see certain conditions such as power outages, active outlets, or switched-off channels.

    Color Meanings

    • Gray: The channel is switched off.
    • Green: The channel is active – the outlet is switched on. If a channel does not have a switching function, this state is shown in green by default.
    • Yellow: The channel should be on, but currently is not. Possible causes include a tripped breaker or an active power limit.
    • Red: A fault has occurred.

    Symbols

    Some symbols appear only if certain additional features are enabled in the system. These can usually be activated individually for each channel. The meanings of the symbols are as follows:

    Channels with Power Meters and Switchable Outlets

    Basic Symbols:

    • Gray light bulb with a slash    – The channel is switched off.
    • Green light bulb    – The channel is switched on, no plug detected or no occupancy detection available.
    • Orange lightning bolt    – Power outage; no voltage at the input of the control module (usually a tripped breaker).
    • Orange speedometer icon    – Power limit has been exceeded.

    Additional Symbols with Activated Occupancy Detection
    (Outlets must be equipped with auxiliary contact switches):

    • Gray plug icon    – The channel is off, but a plug is inserted into the outlet.
    • Green plug icon    – The channel is on, plug is inserted.
    • Grünes, durchgestrichenes Stecker-Symbol  – Kanal ist eingeschaltet, Stecker steckt nicht in der Steckdose.
    • Green plug icon with a circular arrow    – Credit-Automatic or Consumption-Automatic mode is active, plug is inserted.

    Additional Symbols with Enabled Guest Control
    (Control by the guest via Quick Check):

    • Green light bulb with a person icon    – Guest control is active, the guest has switched on the outlet.
    • Orange user icon with a lock    – Guest control is active, the guest has switched off the outlet.

    Additional Symbols with RFID Functionality
    (Requires a transponder reader in the distribution cabinet or pedestal):

    • Green card    – Activated via RFID transponder.

    Additional Symbols with Online Payment Function via QR Code
    (The guest activates the outlet themselves by making a payment):

    • Green Stripe logo    – Activated by a Stripe payment.
    • Green PayPal logo    – Activated by a PayPal payment.

    Other Symbols – General

    • Red warning triangle   – Connection to the distribution cabinet interrupted. The meter reading has not been updated for more than five minutes. Control commands cannot currently be executed.

    Description


    The Description field is used to identify and assign a channel. It can contain up to three pieces of information:

    • Site designation – freely selectable, e.g., Platz 123 or Mobile Home 7
    • Distribution number (optional) – assignment to a specific distribution cabinet, e.g., UV 1
    • Breaker designation (optional) – indication of the associated breaker in the cabinet, e.g., –1F12

    All entries are purely informative and have no effect on the channel’s functionality. You can use these fields individually depending on your site structure.

    You can sort the Description column alphabetically – either ascending or descending – to quickly find sites or systematically check distribution cabinets.

    Reading


    In the Reading column, the current meter reading of the power meter installed in the distribution cabinet is displayed in kilowatt-hours. This value steadily increases and is never reset.

    Clicking the meter reading opens a detail window with additional information. If available, the following are displayed:

    • Consumption History – Shows the power consumption of recent days or defined periods in a table. These data can be used for analysis or billing.
    • Serial Number – The serial number assigned to the respective power meter (if stored).
    • Calibration Period – If the calibration period has expired, a red badge with a white flag will appear right after the kWh value in the Reading column.

    Action


    In the Action field, you can select different switching functions for the outlet of a channel. Depending on the system configuration, module type, and equipment, the following options are available:


    • Off – The outlet is switched off.
    • On – The outlet is switched on. The consumption counter (Consumption column) is automatically reset to 0.00 kWh.
    • Credit – The outlet remains on until the entered credit is used up.
    • Credit Auto – The outlet switches off once the defined meter reading is reached. It also switches off if the plug is removed and not reinserted within a certain time. Note: Only available for outlets with occupancy detection (auxiliary contact switch).
    • Consumption Auto – The outlet is permanently on, but switches off if the plug is removed and not reinserted in time. Note: Also only available with occupancy detection.
    • Guest Control ON – The guest has set the channel to ON via Quick Check.
    • Guest Control OFF – The guest has set the channel to OFF via Quick Check. Turning the outlet on or off via guest control does not reset the consumption counter.
    • RFID – The channel was activated by a transponder directly at the outlet.
    • Stripe – The channel was activated by an online payment via Stripe.
    • PayPal – The channel was activated by an online payment via PayPal.

     📘 Note: RFID, Stripe, and PayPal actions can only be triggered by the guest directly at the outlet or via QR code – not through the dashboard. These states are displayed in the interface, but can be overridden at any time by a new action (e.g., “Off”).


    If a channel has no switching function (e.g., pure metering points), only the Reset action is available.

    • Reset – Resets the consumption counter (Consumption column), while the meter reading (Reading column) remains unchanged.


    Below the action selection, there is also a table of the channel’s recent changes. You can see whether the outlet was switched manually, via API, by the guest, or automatically. Power outages and power limit triggers are also recorded. Earlier entries can be loaded if needed.


    Additional Functions in the Action Area

    As soon as a channel is switched on, a symbol appears next to the Action field, where additional settings can be made – for example, automatic shut-off or credit management.

    Symbol Indicators:

    • Grayed-out clock – No shut-off time has been set.
    • Blue clock – A shut-off time has been activated.
    • Target icon – A credit or target value is active.

    Setting Options for the Active “Credit” Action:

    If you selected Credit as the action, a target icon will appear instead of the clock. In this case, the following options are available:

    • Enter Credit Value – Enter a consumption value in kilowatt-hours (e.g., 5) in the Credit field. No “+” sign is necessary.
    • Increase Credit – Use the +5 and +10 buttons to gradually increase the existing credit.
    • Set Target Value – Instead of a credit amount, you can also define a fixed meter reading (e.g., 3421.7) as a shut-off limit. When this value is reached, the outlet automatically switches off.
    • Reset – The currently set credit can be reset at any time.

    💡 Example: A guest contacts you the evening before their departure requesting to pay for their entire stay in advance. They still need electricity until they leave. Based on their consumption over the past few days, you know they will need another 20 kWh. In the Action field, select Credit and enter 20 in the Credit field. Once that consumption is reached, the outlet automatically switches off. Alternatively, you can build a total credit of 20 kWh by pressing +10 and +10. If you prefer to control the shut-off time based on the meter reading, enter the desired target value (e.g., 3560.0) in the corresponding field.

    Comment


    The comment field is freely available for use. Any free text can be entered here – e.g., for internal notes, agreements with the guest, or usage notes.

    When you enter a new comment, the previous content is completely overwritten and not stored historically. There is no automatic backup or tracking.

    Comments are for local orientation only and have no impact on the function or control of the channel.

    Quick Check


    By clicking the blue Quick Check button, an individual link in the format https://qc.zfa.io/AAAAAA is copied to the clipboard. Using this link, an overview of the respective channel can be accessed – for example, by a guest for independent control of the outlet.

    Additional functions are available through the dropdown menu next to the button:

    • Open link directly
    • Send link to the guest via email or SMS
    • Provide link as a printout

    📘 Note: The default action when clicking the button (e.g., Copy or Open) can be customized in the system settings. All functions available in the dropdown menu are possible choices.

    Power


    The Power column shows the electrical power currently being drawn at the outlet in watts.


    Clicking on the displayed value opens a settings window in which you can individually adjust the power limit for the respective channel. By default, a limit of 3650 W is set. You can either select a suggested value from the menu or manually enter a custom limit.


    This column can also be sorted – either ascending or descending – to quickly identify the highest-consuming devices.


    📘 Note: If the set limit is exceeded, the channel can be automatically deactivated. The shut-off time is usually 60 seconds.


    Consumption


    The Consumption column shows the power consumption since the outlet was last switched on, in kilowatt-hours.


    If the channel has drawn power on the current day, the consumption for today is also displayed.


    You can sort the consumption display in the column header based on the following criteria:


    • Highest total consumption (Total)

    • Highest daily consumption (Today)

    • Lowest daily consumption (Today)

    The consumption counter is automatically reset when the outlet is switched on. The meter reading in the Reading column remains unchanged.



    Schlagwörter: Quick Guide
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