Frequently Asked Questions about Staywatt
What happens if my guest runs out of credit?
The standard circuits switch off: lights, outlets, air conditioning. The refrigerator circuit always stays on. Your guest receives advance notice that he is running low, and topping up takes him half a minute in the app.
Will my guest be in the dark if the WiFi fails?
No. If the connection is broken, nothing changes: the box remembers its state and keeps the power on. Even after a power outage, everything returns to how it was, with the meter reading it had. The system defaults to keeping power on in case of doubt.
Do I need to hire an electrician?
We recommend it. The unit goes behind the main switch in your meter box, and your insurance and installation standard depend on it; for a certified installer it's a job of about an hour. You can send the drawing to them beforehand, and it's also in the box. You activate it yourself afterward with your phone — the installer doesn't need to be involved anymore.
How many boxes do I need?
One box monitors four circuits, and almost everyone has enough with that. If you have more than four circuits, you add another box. If you have three-phase power, you need one per phase. Our selection tool asks three questions and puts the right number straight in your cart.
Who sets the price per kWh?
You do. You enter what electricity costs you and what you charge your guest; the difference is your margin and that stays with you. We add a small surcharge on top which appears as a separate line on your monthly invoice, so you always see what is whose.
How do I pay you?
One invoice per month, afterwards, with a payment link in it. You pay with credit card, iDEAL or a transfer, whenever you have seen the invoice. We never deduct anything from your account — there is no direct debit authorization in this system.
What happens to credit my guest does not use?
It stays in their account and they can simply use it next time. If they want it back, they can: they request it in the app and it goes back to the same payment method they used to pay. In some countries that choice is legally required, and we offer it there.
Does this also work for my charging station?
Yes. Each station is its own object with us with its own QR code and its own rate — charging power can be more expensive than household power. If your guest is staying with you, they charge from the same credit and see house and car separately on their bill. If you only have charging stations and no cottages, the system works just as well.
Can someone who isn't staying here charge?
Yes. They scan the same QR code on the pole and sign up with just their email address and a code from their email — no charging card, no subscription, nothing to install. Their credit then only applies to your poles and not to your accommodations.
What if a guest forgets to stop charging?
Then it stops automatically: at the end of their stay, and as soon as their credit runs out. A pole with no one connected to it is switched off, so a pole never stays open where the next passer-by could charge for free.
What if I stop?
You keep the boxes: they are yours, not ours. You can unplug them and attach them to another account, for example if you sell the property. The subscription comes with a sixty-day money-back guarantee.
Does my guest need to install an app?
That is the most convenient way, because then they see their consumption live and get notified if the credit runs out. If that does not work — an old phone, no account in the store — the same QR code opens a web page where they can also buy normally. Buying must always be possible.
Can I take my data with me?
Yes, and without asking us. In your settings there is a button with which you download all your data at once: your objects, your bookings, your consumption per property and your invoices. That is a regular file that you can import into your own bookkeeping or another system. We do not lock you in — when you leave, you take everything with you.
How does the system know which booking belongs to my guest?
The QR code in the property already says which object it is about, so your guest only enters their email address. We look up the booking that is running or starting soon, show the dates for confirmation and send a six-digit code. That way no one can claim a stay with someone else's address. If it does not work by email — for a booking via a platform for example — we ask for the reservation number as well.