How to configure a digital energy meter

WHEN TO USE THIS

Use this guide if:

• You have connected a digital energy meter to a Factbird device.
• You want to monitor energy consumption on a production line.
• You want to display energy consumption as a KPI.

PREREQUISITES

Before starting:

• The digital energy meter has been installed and connected.
• The Factbird device is online.
• A sensor exists for the energy meter, or you are ready to create one.
• You have permission to edit sensor settings.

STEPS

1. Open the sensor settings

   • Open the production line that the energy meter is connected to.
   • Locate the sensor associated with the energy meter.
   • Open the sensor Settings.
     
     

   Note: If the sensor does not already exist, create a new sensor before continuing. 
   

2. Configure the sensor type
   • Open the Basic Information tab.
   • Set Sensor Type to Counter Accumulate. 
     
3. Enable the Energy Meter option
   • Open the Sensor Setup tab.
   • Enable the Energy Meter toggle. 
     
     

4. Configure the measurement unit

   • Open the Data tab.
   • Enter the unit produced by your energy meter, for example:
     • kWh
     • Wh
     • MWh

   The selected unit will be used when displaying energy consumption throughout Factbird. 
   

5. Save the configuration
   • Save the sensor configuration.
   • Wait for the updated configuration to be applied to the device.
6. Verify the energy data
   • Open the production line overview.
   • Confirm the Consumed KPI is visible.
   • Verify that the value changes as energy is consumed on the production line. 
     

EXPECTED RESULT

After completing these steps:

• The digital energy meter is configured.
• Energy consumption is collected by Factbird.
• The Consumed KPI is available on the production line.
• Energy usage can be analysed across shifts, batches, and custom time periods.

TROUBLESHOOTING

Issue: The Consumed KPI is not displayed.

• Try: Verify the sensor is configured as Counter Accumulate.

• Try: Confirm the Energy Meter option is enabled.
• Try: Check that the sensor is assigned to the correct production line.

Issue: No energy data is being recorded.

• Try: Verify the energy meter is wired correctly.

• Try: Confirm the meter is generating pulse outputs.
• Try: Check that the Factbird device is online and receiving sensor signals.

Issue: The displayed values appear incorrect.

• Try: Verify the configured unit matches the energy meter output.

• Try: Confirm the pulse configuration on the energy meter matches the expected pulse rate (for example, pulses per kWh).

STILL NEED HELP?

Contact Support and include:

• The energy meter model.
• The production line name.
• The configured sensor settings.
• Screenshots of the sensor configuration.
• A description of the issue.

RELATED ARTICLES

• Set up an Analog Sensor
• Basic Sensor Settings