What happens when my guest's balance runs out?

Refrigerator group stays on, the rest switches off

When a guest's balance reaches zero, the standard electricity groups in the accommodation are switched off, but the group to which the refrigerator is connected continues to operate. Lighting, sockets for general use and other appliances on the regular groups then lose power, while the supply for cooling remains on. This prevents food from spoiling in the event that a guest forgets to top up in time, or stops purchasing new kWh at the end of their stay.

Which groups exactly fall under "refrigerator group" and which under the switchable groups is a matter determined during installation. The module only switches the groups that are actually connected to it; groups that the electrician has kept separate from it — such as typically the refrigerator, but in practice this could also be a smoke detector or frost protection — remain energised at all times, regardless of balance. For a landlord this is especially relevant during setup: what is designated as "always on" during installation determines what a guest with an empty balance can and cannot still use.

Basis in the installation standard

How an electrician divides and separates groups in a distribution board falls under NEN 1010, the standard for low-voltage installations. This standard has legal status through the Building Decree and describes, among other things, how groups may be safely separated and combined. The separation between a switchable group and a group that must always have power — as is customary for a refrigerator — is arranged by the installer within that framework. The exact division of groups in a specific distribution board is not described in this standard itself, but in the installation diagram that belongs to the relevant accommodation.