Introduction

Congratulations on your purchase of the new SparOmeter + SparEl program. SparOmeter is a metering device that can be used for metering electricity consumption of stand-alone electrical appliances in your home. The unit can meter appliances that are ‘On’ or in ‘Standby’ mode.

This manual describes how to use the SparEl program. Refer to the separate SparOmeter manual for answers to questions on operating the SparOmeter and for technical data.

Symbols and terminology

Screen fields:

1: Menu options, 2: Program content, 3: Information, 4: Help and status

Download software

Software can be downloaded free of charge at http://www.sparel.dk/sparometer. Download file is called setup.zip and should be unzipped in e.g. c:\sparel_temp. You can then start the installation.

Microsoft .NET framework

Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 must be installed on your computer before completing the installation. If your computer does not have .NET Framework 2.0 or later versions, the installer will refer you to a Web site where the framework can be downloaded free of charge. Alternatively, the program can be downloaded via the Microsoft Windows Update site.

Installation on PC

Note: You need to have administrator rights for the computer on which the software is installed. Run setup.exe in e.g. c:\sparel_temp. Installation will start and the following screen will appear:

After reading the information click ‘Next’. New screen appears:

Now select a folder where the program will be installed. The program will recommend ‘c:\Programmer\Elsparefonden\SparEl\’. You can change the destination folder by typing in a new path or by using the ‘Browse’ button. Having selected a path click ‘Next’. New screen appears:

The installation is ready to install the program on your hard disk. Click ‘Next’ to start installation. New screen appears:

Installation in progress. This will take 1–3 minutes depending on your computer’s speed. New screen appears:

Installation complete. Now click ‘Close’ to start using the SparEl program.

Connect SparOmeter to PC (cable)

SparOmeter comes with a cable for connection to the computer’s serial port. Note which Com port the SparOmeter is connected to (see PC manual as required). You will need this information later in the program when searching for the SparOmeter.

Start program

A new ‘SparEl’ program icon is installed in the ‘Elsparefonden – Software’ folder accessed in the ‘start’ ‘All Programs’ menu.

Start the program by clicking on ‘Sparel’.

Connect SparOmeter / search for SparOmeter (software)

Click ‘Connect SparOmeter’ in the menu options field. New screen appears:

You can allocate the COM port that connects SparOmeter by selecting from the list under ‘Select COM port’. Then click the ‘Search’ button. The program will search for SparOmeter on the selected COM port. New screen appears when SparOmeter is connected:

Note that the buttons ‘Reading meter data’ and ‘Set up new reading’ are now live and can be activated. Refer to section ‘Set up new reading’ if this is the first time that SparOmeter is connected.

Note help text in ‘4: Help and status’ field:

"SparOmeter found and connected. New reading can be set up under menu heading 'Set up new reading'. Meter data can be read under menu heading 'Read meter data'."