Buddy flush plate
What regular maintenance do the toilets need?
Not more than any other toilet. But the optical sensors in the flush plate are sensitive to dirt on the glass. It is recommended to clean the glass regularly.
Does the system flush after power failure?
IPEE Buddy will not flush automatically when power is restored after a power failure.
What is the difference between Dual Flush and Smart Detect and how do they interact?
Dual Flush allows you to manually select a big or small flushing volume (by holding your hand briefly in front of the bottom ToF sensor).
Smart Detect is only applicable for autoflush. It estimates the required flush volume (small/large) based on the user detection time. It has effect only when Dual Flush is enabled.
If Smart Detect is disabled, automatic flush will result in a large flush. Autoflush suggestions (small/large) can always be manually overruled.
Buddy displays a yellow clockwise turning counter. What does this mean?
A yellow counter means that the firmware on the flush plate includes a firmware update for the Spectre sensor. This may occur after installing or updating a flush plate.
Spectre toilet sensor
What does Spectre measure? How does it work?
Spectre consists of sensitive, measuring strips that are glued on the toilet and a plastic housing that holds all the electronics. An electric field is induced in the toilet trough the strips.
IPEE has a patented way of measuring the change of this field. There are two parameters that influences the signal:
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the conductivity of the water
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the height of the water
A specific change in either of these parameters allows IPEE to detect use and clogging.
How does clogging detection work exactly?
Cloggings can be detected after a flush. If the water level remains high for 10 seconds after flushing, this is identified as a blockage. Flushing is then no longer possible. Every 10 seconds the water level is checked again. When the water level returns to its normal height, the system assumes that the problem has been resolved after which flushing is possible again.
Can I force a flush if clogging is detected?
If a clog is detected, flushing is prehibited (both automatic, manual as via the app). However, it’s possible to force a flush by starting the calibration procedure.
What is calibration? Why is it required?
Spectre technology works on the basis of resonance frequency. Because ceramic thickness, salinity, water level, etc. all affect this, Spectre must be calibrated at the neutral, zero position. During the calibration routine, it first performs a flush, then waits briefly for the water surface to stabilize and then measures a value and stores it as a default value.
Is recalibration required when I replace a Buddy flushplate / Spectre sensor?
The calibration value is stored in the Spectre sensor. When a Buddy flush plate is swapped, it’s not required to recalibrate. When the Spectre sensor is replaced, recalibration is required.
Does Spectre measure the extent to which a toilet is used to determine the flush volume?
No, Spectre doesn’t differentiate between urine and faeces. It only detects use or no use. Determining the flush volume is momentarily solely based on timing.
What happens if no Spectre is installed?
If the flush plate is used without the toilet sensor it will function as a regular automatic flush plate. If a person comes within the user detection range it will light up. If the person remains in the area for >5 seconds the flush plate will show that intents to flush if the user leaves.
Depending whether smart detect is activated or ot it will first show half a circle, and after the set smart detect timing a full circle. If the person leaves, without perfoming a manual flush, the flush plate will flush the offered flush volume.
The only differences with a system that includes a Spectre are:
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False flushes are not prevented. The system reacts solely on presence.
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Cloggings can’t be detected, therefor overflow can’t be prevented.
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During the flushing animation the displayed logo will be orange instead of white.
What happens if communication with Spectre is lost?
If communication between flush plate and Spectre fails for some reason the flush plate will act as an automatic flush plate. As if no Spectre was installed: FAQ's | What happens if no Spectre is installed? . It will still flush after every user.
The difference is that the first 5x a person is detected the user interface will remain white. The flush plate will not show that it intents to flush. If the person leaves a flush is performed, but the LED-circle will show a white flush animation.
Power supply
How many toilets can I connect on 1 fuse?
Max power consumption/toilet: 30W
6A x 230V = 1.380W
1.380/30 = 46 toilets
Can the power supply be replaced?
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If the full power supply set is used, the power supply remains accessible by removing the toilet.
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If the essential power supply set is used, it’s the responsibility of the installer to provide a way to make the power supply easily accessible. This can be done by placing it in the ceiling, providing a service hatch, positioning it behind the toilet drain,…
IPEE app
I added a pin code to my Buddy but my smartphone is not asking for it when I connect to it.
The IPEE app remembers the devices you have already connected to before (and for which you have entered the correct PIN).
I added a pin code to Buddy, but can’t remember it.
A pin code can be removed by executing a manual factory reset. This is done by covering both ToF sensors, at close range, for ±30s. When the IPEE logo turns green, disconnect the power. After reconnecting the power, the pin-code has been removed.
Can automatic flushing be turned off?
No, that’s not possible. If demand from the market is high enough this could be implemented as a future feature. But at the moment our experience is that the demand is not high enough.
What is the benchmark to determine the water saved?
The flushing statistics are compared to an electronic flushing system with single flush.
Water saved by preventing flushes assumes an electronic flushing system will perform an automatic flush if a user has been in close proximity for 5 seconds.
The water saved by flushing a small volume small is determined by the flushing volume set. If in “standard mode” a big flush of 6 litres is compared to a small flush of 3 litres. If in “eco mode” a big flush of 4,5 litres is compared to a small flush of 3 litres.
Note: this means that it seems more mwater is saved using standard mode than in eco mode. This way of calculating the water savings will be improved in the next generation of the app.
Are flushing statistics lost when the system gets a factory reset?
No, a factory reset resets all settings, but all statistics are saved.
Are flushing statistics lost when a Spectre is replaced?
No, all statistics are stored on the flush plate. As long as the flush plate is not replaced the statistics are saved.
Do I need wifi or 4G to use the app?
The app doesn’t require internet access to be used. Only the first time the app is used it requires access to the internet to load the languagues and the available documentation. After this first time the app will function perfectly without internet.