- New Folder Structure and Device Organization!
- New Multi-Column Layout!
- Easily Renaming Devices!
- Trigger Firmware Updates Remotely!
- Real-Time Power/Voltage/Current Monitoring
- Custom Calibration for Power, Voltage, and Current Monitoring
- NEW Event Scheduler!
- Uptime monitoring
- Event Logs/Charts
- Detections (NEW) - Power/Voltage/Current Monitoring and Automated Actions
- On/Off Controls - Smart Plug Functionality (Disabled by Default)
With Version 5, the Keep Connect Cloud Service App delivers powerful updates that simplify device management and offer advanced controls. From improved device organization with folder structures to real-time power monitoring and scheduling, these new features enhance your ability to manage your network. Easily trigger firmware updates, monitor uptime, or customize actions based on power fluctuations—everything is designed to give you greater control from anywhere, all within the app.
New Folder Structure and Device Organization! #
You can now organize your devices into folders, making it easier to manage multiple Johnson-Creative devices, especially in an enterprise setup. This feature is particularly useful for businesses with devices deployed across various clients or locations. For instance, you can create folders such as ‘Apartment A’ or ‘Warehouse A’ and group all relevant Johnson-Creative devices under each folder for better organization and easier access.
The user can tap this button to create a new folder, allowing them to categorize and organize their Keep Connect devices and other Johnson-Creative devices more effectively.
Devices can be moved to the new folder created via the button below:
New Multi-Column Layout! #
With the V5 upgrade, the new multi-column layout provides a much-improved experience by mirroring the list of devices and folders in one unified dashboard. This feature allows customers to view their devices across different folders at a glance, rather than having to switch from one folder to another to see their device lists. It offers a more efficient and organized way to manage multiple devices, enhancing overall navigation and control.
Easily Renaming Devices! #
Previously, if you wanted to rename a device, you had to deregister it and then re-register it with the new name. With the V5 update, this process has been greatly simplified. Now, you can easily rename any registered device by simply tapping the rename icon—no need to go through the hassle of deregistering and re-registering. This feature provides a smoother and more user-friendly experience when managing multiple devices.
To so just simply go to each device Dashboard and tap the edit name icon
Trigger Firmware Updates Remotely! #
Before Version 5, updating the firmware required manual steps, such as accessing the device’s settings locally through its own Wi-Fi portal or by reaching the device’s settings via its local IP address on a browser and navigating to the “Manage Firmware” screen.
With the Version 5 update, this process has been simplified. Once your device is online and running V5, you can easily trigger future firmware updates directly from the app, making it far more convenient and efficient to ensure your devices stay up to date.
Real-Time Power/Voltage/Current Monitoring #
With the V5 update, the main dashboard for each device now includes real-time Power, Voltage, and Current monitoring. This feature is primarily designed for Power Pal devices, but it can also be useful for Keep Connect devices, especially when managing other Wi-Fi devices like cameras, thermostats, and more. This real-time data helps provide greater insight into the energy usage and stability of your connected devices, enhancing overall network management.
Custom Calibration for Power, Voltage, and Current Monitoring #
With Keep Connect Version 5, newer units (manufactured with V5 or later) are already factory-calibrated to accurately measure Power, Voltage, and Current. However, for units that were originally produced with earlier versions (V4 and below), this factory calibration was not performed. Therefore, when those units are updated to Version 5, users will need to use the “Enable Custom Calibration” feature to manually adjust the calibration settings. Users also need to enable the setting “Enable Uncalibrated Power Measurements” under the Apps Settings Icon > App Settings for the Measurement Reading to show in the device main dashboard
How to Perform Custom Calibration: #
- Enable Custom Calibration: Toggle the “Enable Custom Calibration” setting.
- Measure Readings: Using a safe and appropriate measuring device (such as a device that is designed for household or office use), take readings for power, voltage, and current of the device connected to Keep Connect.
- Enter Calibration Values: Compare the readings from Keep Connect with those obtained from your external measuring device. Adjust the calibration values for power, voltage, and current in the Keep Connect settings by inputting the correct multiplier values to align Keep Connect’s readings with the actual measurements.
Calibration Factor Formula:
Calibration Factor = Actual Reading / Keep Connect Reading #
Example: #
- Power Calibration Example:
- Keep Connect displays a power reading of 980W.
- After measuring with a multimeter, you find the actual power is 1000W.
- You can input a calibration factor (e.g., 1.02) into the Power Calibration field to bring the Keep Connect reading closer to the true value.
- Voltage Calibration Example:
- Keep Connect shows 118V, but your multimeter reads 120V.
- You can adjust the Voltage Calibration by entering 1.017 to correct the reading on Keep Connect.
- Current Calibration Example:
- Keep Connect reports a current of 4.8A, but your multimeter reads 5A.
- Input a calibration factor of 1.042 in the Current Calibration field to correct this
NEW Event Scheduler! #
The Event Scheduler is a powerful new feature introduced in V5, allowing users to schedule reboots of Keep Connect on specific dates, days of the week, or even recurring intervals.
Unlike Keep Connect’s usual Auto Reset Interval, which reboots the device on a rolling basis (e.g., every 2, 3, or 15 days) and works alongside reboots triggered by internet loss detection. For example, if the Auto Reset Interval is set for every 15 days but a reboot occurs on day 7 due to internet loss, the next scheduled reset will shift to 15 days after that.
With the Event Scheduler, enabled through the Keep Connect Cloud Service App, users can schedule exact dates for reboots, regardless of other resets triggered by internet loss. The cloud service ensures that the server pushes the reboot instruction at the exact time and date set, providing more flexibility.
Key Features: #
- Schedule reboots on a specific date.
- Set recurring events (e.g., every Monday, every Sunday, or specific days of the week).
- Schedule monthly reboots on a specific day of the month.
- Even set yearly reboots (though this might be a rare use case).
This new feature, made possible through the app, provides greater control and precision for network maintenance, ensuring that users can manage their network reboots on their own terms.
Uptime monitoring #
Event Logs/Charts #
Detections (NEW) - Power/Voltage/Current Monitoring and Automated Actions #
With the V5 update, a brand-new “Detections” feature is introduced, allowing devices to monitor and take action based on fluctuations in power, voltage, and current. This feature is particularly useful for Power Pal devices however also now utilized by Keep Connect devices, designed to manage electrical devices that may fluctuate in power consumption. By setting detection thresholds, users can now automate actions such as tripping or power cycling a device, or simply receiving notifications.
This feature is vital for maintaining the health of electrical devices that rely on consistent power levels, ensuring that they stay within safe operating limits. Let’s dive into the key elements of the Detections feature:
Detection Types: #
- Voltage: Monitors voltage levels to ensure they remain within safe thresholds.
- Power: Detects power consumption, useful for high-energy devices.
- Current: Tracks the flow of current to ensure devices are operating correctly.
Conditions: #
- Greater Than: Trigger action if the power, voltage, or current exceeds the specified threshold.
- Less Than: Trigger action if the detected values fall below the set threshold.
Actions: #
For Power Pal, there are three potential actions that can be taken when the threshold is breached:
- None: The device only sends a notification, no physical action is taken.
- Trip: Automatically cuts off power to protect the connected device from over-voltage, over-power, or over-current conditions.
- Power Cycle: Shuts off and restarts the connected device to reset its operation.
Notification Settings: #
In addition to triggering physical actions, users can configure notifications when thresholds are breached. Here are the available notification settings:
- Notification Delay (Seconds): Time to wait before sending the first notification after detecting a breach.
- Message Resend Count (Default 1): How many times the notification message will be resent.
- Message Resend Interval (Minutes): The interval between each resend of the notification.
- Message Re-arm Dropout (Minutes): Time before the detection system re-arms and becomes ready to monitor again after resolving the issue.
This detection system adds a layer of protection and automation for managing electrical devices, ensuring safety and timely action when power-related issues arise.
On/Off Controls - Smart Plug Functionality (Disabled by Default) #
In Version 5, Keep Connect introduces On/Off Controls, allowing the device to function like a typical smart plug. However, this feature is disabled by default to ensure that the core functionality of Keep Connect—monitoring and rebooting routers to maintain network connectivity—remains intact.
Enabling the On/Off Controls: #
There is a specific setting within the Settings Icon > App Settings menu where users can toggle this feature. Once enabled, a Power Icon will appear on the main dashboard, giving users the ability to manually toggle the power on or off, similar to how smart plugs operate.
Important Notes: #
- Use with Caution for Routers: This feature should only be enabled if Keep Connect is not monitoring a router or network device for internet checks. If a router is plugged into Keep Connect and the user turns it off using the On/Off control, Keep Connect will lose its connection to the cloud server, which relies on the router or network being online.
- Recommended for Other Devices: This functionality is ideal if Keep Connect is being used to control other devices such as cameras, switches, or other electronic devices that do not rely on network connectivity to the cloud.
By carefully managing how this feature is used, Keep Connect can serve both as a network monitoring and rebooting tool and as a versatile smart plug for other devices.
