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How to Set Thresholds for Machine States

Learn how Guidewheel determines machine states based on load thresholds, and how to update these thresholds to reflect your operations.

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Written by Lawrence Han
Updated over a month ago

Guidewheel uses "Thresholds" to determine the machine state for each device that we track. Setting these thresholds correctly is crucial for getting accurate runtime percentages, and for ensuring that alerts trigger at the correct time.

NOTE: Guidewheel captures data every second, averages that data over the course of a minute, and displays minute-by-minute data on our Uptime page.

Machine State Definitions

  • Running: Load is above the idle threshold (green zone).

  • Idle: Load is between the offline and idle thresholds (yellow zone).

  • Offline: Load is below the offline threshold (red zone).



How to Update Thresholds

  1. Go to Settings.

  2. Click Configurations.

  3. Select Devices.

  4. Find the relevant device and click the Edit icon.

  5. Go to the Thresholds tab.


  6. Adjust the idle, offline thresholds as needed.

  7. Set the Threshold setting to Average, Max or Min

    1. For most devices, Average is the best option

    2. Average thresholds are set using the average active power over the course of a minute

    3. Max or Min will look at the maximum or minimum output for any second within a given minute and determine the machine state based on that highest or lowest second

  8. (Optional) Set a Rated threshold

    1. This setting is helpful if you intend to set alerts based on a machine working too hard

Best Practices for Setting Thresholds

  • Compare the graph on the Uptime or Diagnostics page to your schedule of KNOWN running, idle, and offline time stamps

  • Hover over any point on the Uptime graph to see the Average Active Power at that moment

  • Utilize the "Show Min and Max Range" option to see more detailed Active Power data

  • Set thresholds based on Max or Min output for devices where the average power consumption is very similar between Running and Idle states. Often useful for devices that only use power for a few seconds at a time when producing/running.

  • When possible, give some wiggle room around the threshold. If a running state averages 5.1 kW, set the idle threshold at 4 kW, not 4.9kW

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