The Pontos Base water manager
Does the Pontos Base have DVGW certification (Germany)? Yes, the Pontos Base has DVGW certification for Germany.
How does the Pontos Base work? The Pontos Base with a built-in Wi-Fi connection features:
- an electronic water meter device (using a turbine);
- an electrically operated shut-off (ball valve);
- a pressure sensor;
- a display.
Once installed, the Pontos Base is permanently connected to a server via coding. When prompted, it reports data – for example volume flow, flow rate per time, duration of volume flow, pressure drop or temperature – from the drinking water installation to the server.
The maximum permissible parameters can be set and changed at any time directly on the Base’s display or in the hansgrohe home app. Even if the Internet is down, the parameters will continue to be monitored. However, communication with the server will not take place during this time. Power is supplied via the mains adapter. A battery for short-term protection against power failure is included in the scope of delivery.
How and where is the Pontos Base installed? hansgrohe would like to make customers aware that this product must be installed by a qualified plumber as it is connected to the water mains and positioned near the water meter. This means that incorrect installation may impair the water supply to the whole home. We also recommend that you install a filter (after the Pontos Base) to protect the subsequent installation. If there is a water softener, it should also be connected after the Pontos Base.
How does the Pontos Base detect a leak?The Pontos Base monitors a drinking water installation for leaks, taking various criteria into account. The ‘volume’, ‘time’ and ‘flow rate’ criteria recorded in a cycle act as actual values. These are measured and calculated when the water is flowing and compared with the set nominal values. If one of these nominal values is exceeded, it will assume there is a leak.
Which types of leaks might occur?
- Volume leak. Within a water withdrawal, the cumulated water volume (litres, m³) is measured. If the volume exceeds the set limit value, the Pontos Base assumes there is a leak.
- Time leak. The time is measured within a water withdrawal. If the time exceeds the set limit value, the Pontos Base assumes there is a leak.
- Flow leak. The flow is measured within a water withdrawal. If the flow exceeds an individual limit value for a set time, the Pontos Base assumes there is a leak.
- Microleak. In order to detect microleaks, the system is locked via the shut-off unit for three minutes during an unused period at night (three hours with no water withdrawal). If water is detected when the shut-off unit is opened, the Pontos Base will also assume there is a leak here.
Each of these criteria results in closing the shut-off unit and preventing or minimising water damage. You will be notified of a possible leak at the same time via a push notification from the hansgrohe home app.
The Pontos Base will also receive a message from the Pontos Scout as soon as this device has registered a build-up of water. Both products need to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network so that they can communicate. The Pontos Base will then immediately shut off the pipeline and report this to your smartphone.
What is included in the Pontos Base’s scope of delivery?A Pontos Base with two 1” brass connections, a 9V block battery for the emergency power supply, an Emergency On key, a mains plug with cable and the technical product information required for installation.
How is the Pontos Base set up? It must be installed and set up by a qualified plumber as installation involves working on the property’s central water supply. During the installation process, the required steps will be displayed and explained to the specialist in the hansgrohe home app.
How does the Base’s self-learning phase work after setup?After setup, the device is immediately ready for operation. You can now define individual parameters and profiles or start a self-learning phase limited to 1-28 days. The learned parameters are then stored in an additional profile.
If the optimum operating parameters are available, you can also set these manually. You can restart the self-learning phase at any time. During the installation process, all the required steps will be displayed and explained to you in the hansgrohe home app.
What can be controlled via the Pontos Base control panel?The device can be shut off and reopened using the control panel. The control panel also displays various user profiles (e.g. ‘At home’ or ‘Away’) and the relevant settings (e.g. ‘leak at 500 litres’). The profiles can also be changed via the device. You can conveniently configure and monitor all other settings and parameters via the hansgrohe home app.
How can I set my own user profile?The devices’ parameters are defined in user profiles. They include the basic parameters of ‘volume’, ‘time’ and ‘flow’. Three profiles are stored in the factory settings: ‘At home’ (standard profile), ‘Away’ and ‘Holiday’. Another profile is automatically created after a ‘self-learning phase’ (e.g. 14 days). You can also set up five more profiles at a later date to reflect your user behaviour (for example, increased need when away).
You can also adjust the parameters of all pre-installed profiles to suit your needs. User profiles have the advantage that the basic parameters are no longer interdependent (e.g. long time with small volume for regeneration, ion exchangers or high flow for short time with use of flush valves).
You can also use your user profiles to implement protection levels that are used temporarily, e.g. large short-term water requirements (pool filling) or deactivation of the system in the winter (garden irrigation). You can conveniently configure and set all settings relating to the user profiles via the hansgrohe home app.
Is there a self-check feature to test the functionality?In order to guarantee the long-term functionality of the shut-off valve and to prevent contamination, the ball valve is rotated through 360° in 60-day cycles. This simultaneously checks the function of the motor and the limit switches.
Please note that during the forced actuation of the ball valve, it will not be possible to withdraw water. As this is the case, you can select a suitable time to perform this measure, for example at night. You can configure and set the forced actuation via the hansgrohe home app.
How long is the Pontos Base's battery life (emergency power supply)?In mathematical terms, the battery capacity is approximately 24 hours for ongoing operation or roughly 500 openings and closings. However, the lifetime depends on the battery type, charge level and torque of the shut-off valve. This means that ten cycles are possible, even with significantly depleted batteries. Please note that the battery is only intended for emergency operation, i.e. as a one-off to close the shut-off valve in case of leak and simultaneous power failure. If the battery capacity is insufficient, you will be notified of the need to replace the batteries via the hansgrohe home app.
What is the emergency open function?If both the electricity and battery supply fail, there is an emergency open function. Alongside the battery, an emergency installation key is integrated into the product. This can be used to open and close the pipeline manually. All details on this are outlined in the operating instructions.
What is the electrical conductivity of water and how is it measured?The conductivity is indicative of the water’s hardness and contamination. Pure water is not conductive, meaning it can’t carry an electric current. Only substances dissolved in water, such as chlorides, sulphates or carbonates, make the water conductive. By measuring this conductivity, the amount of particles dissolved in the water can be implied.
The more particles dissolved in the water, the more conductive the water is. In other words, the dirtier the water, the better the conductivity. The Pontos Base measures the electrical conductivity of the water to provide an indicator for the hardness of the water. This may also suggest you need to clean/descale your showers more often. You can access the information on water hardness under ‘Statistics’ in the hansgrohe home app.
What is the maximum water flow rate of the Pontos Base? The Pontos Base’s maximum flow rate is 54 l/min.
How can I save an emergency contact? Please store an emergency contact in the hansgrohe home app. This telephone number will be used to inform a second person about a possible leak via text message in an emergency.
How do I install a firmware update? To guarantee your Pontos Base is always working properly, we recommend updating the device’s firmware. You will also be able to benefit from the latest features and improvements. You will be sent a notification as soon as new firmware is available. A step-by-step guide will take you through the update process.