Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Document Period End Date Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Type Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] Accrued Expenses [Abstract] Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $446 and $488 at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively Accounts receivable, net Trade receivables Accounts payable Accounts Payable, Current Professional fees Accrued expenses Accrued expenses Accrued Liabilities, Current Other Accumulated Comprehensive Loss [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] Accumulated depreciation Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment Other accumulated comprehensive income Additional paid-in capital Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash provided by (used in) operating activities: Stock-based compensation Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards Release of Restricted Stock Accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts Allowance for doubtful accounts Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares) Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items] Antidilutive Securities, Name [Domain] Antidilutive Securities [Axis] Impairment on fixed assets Asset Impairment Charges Total Current assets: Current assets: ASSETS ASSETS Assets [Abstract] Total current assets Assets, Current Total assets Assets Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents, end of period Change in cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Common Stock [Member] Common Stock, shares outstanding (in shares) Common stock - $0.001 par value; 30,000 shares authorized; 19,298 and 19,171 issued and 19,244 and 19,125 outstanding at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 repectively Common Stock, shares issued (in shares) Common Stock, par value (in dollars per share) Common Stock, shares authorized (in shares) Comprehensive loss: Comprehensive loss Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Computers and Purchased Software [Member] Construction in Progress [Member] Cost of product revenue Total cost of goods sold Cost of Goods and Services Sold Cost of service and other revenue Cost of goods sold: Deferred revenue Deferred Revenue, Current Depreciation expense Net loss per share, basic and diluted (in dollars per share) Basic and diluted net loss per share (in dollars per share) Net Loss Per Share Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Net Loss Per Share [Abstract] Translation gain (loss) on subsidiaries in foreign currencies Compensation and benefits Equipment [Member] Equity Component [Domain] Fair Value, Hierarchy [Axis] Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring [Table] Fair Value, Measurements, Fair Value Hierarchy [Domain] Fair value of cash equivalents Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Abstract] Fair Value of Financial Instruments Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Level 3 [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] Level 1 [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] Level 2 [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Furniture and Fixtures [Member] Loss on disposal of fixed assets Gain (Loss) on Sale of Property Plant Equipment General and administrative Gross profit Gross Profit Guarantor Obligations, Nature [Axis] Guarantor Obligations, Nature [Domain] Performance guarantees outstanding to customers Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] Guarantees [Abstract] Guarantees Guarantees [Text Block] Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (Unaudited) [Abstract] Accounts payable Accrued expenses Long term liabilities Deferred revenue Accounts receivable Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Prepaid expenses and other assets Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid Expense and Other Assets Inventories Increase (Decrease) in Inventories Restricted cash Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash for Operating Activities Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] Allowances for obsolescence Inventory Valuation Reserves Inventory [Abstract] Finished goods Inventories Inventories Inventory, Net Raw materials Work in process Leasehold Improvements [Member] Total current liabilities Liabilities, Current Current liabilities: LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Liabilities and Equity Revolving line of credit Changes in warranty liability [Roll Forward] Movement in Standard Product Warranty Accrual [Roll Forward] Financing activities Net cash used in investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Net cash provided by financing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Investing activities Operating activities Net loss Net loss Net loss Net loss Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Demonstration Units [Member] Office Equipment [Member] Operating expenses: Total operating expenses Operating Expenses Loss from Operations Operating Income (Loss) Supplemental Balance Sheet Information [Abstract] Deposits and other Net translation gain on foreign subsidiaries Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax Other income, net Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) Long-term liabilities Other Liabilities, Noncurrent Other Issuance costs of private placement Payments of Stock Issuance Costs Purchases of property and equipment Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Performance-based Options [Member] Performance Guarantee [Member] Preferred Stock - $0.001 par value; 2,000 shares authorized Preferred Stock, shares authorized (in shares) Preferred Stock, par value (in dollars per share) Prepaid expenses and other Proceeds from private placement of common stock Proceeds from draw on revolving line of credit Proceeds from sale of fixed assets Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment Proceeds from employee stock purchases Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised Long-term warranty liability Warranty accrual at end of period Warranty liability Warranty liability included in accrued expenses Property, Plant and Equipment, Type [Domain] Property and Equipment [Abstract] Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type [Abstract] Property and equipment, net Property and equipment, net Property and Equipment [Line Items] Property and equipment, gross Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross Property and Equipment Property, Plant and Equipment, Type [Axis] Charge to allowance for doubtful accounts Receivables [Abstract] Payments on revolving line of credit Repayments of Lines of Credit Research and development Money-market funds Restricted Cash [Abstract] Restricted Stock Units [Member] Restricted Stock [Member] Restricted cash Accumulated deficit Accumulated Deficit [Member] Retained Earnings [Member] Revenue Recognition [Abstract] Product revenue Total revenue Revenue, Net Revenues: Service and other revenue Changes in warranty liability Computation of basic and diluted net loss per share Schedule of inventory Accrued Expenses Schedule of Accrued Liabilities [Table Text Block] Schedule of Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Table] Schedule of Guarantor Obligations [Table] Schedule of Property, Plant and Equipment [Table] Accounts receivables Selling and marketing Stock-based compensation Share-based Compensation Shares held in treasury (in shares) Shares Paid for Tax Withholding for Share Based Compensation Balance (in shares) Balance (in shares) Shares, Outstanding Significant Accounting Policies Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] Beginning Balance Ending Balance Standard Product Warranty Accrual Warranty expense Standard Product Warranty Accrual, Warranties Issued Warranty charges incurred Standard Product Warranty Accrual, Payments Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items] Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited) [Abstract] Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (Unaudited) [Abstract] Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) [Abstract] Employee Stock Options [Member] Stock Options [Member] Release of Restricted Stock (in shares) Employee stock purchases Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised Employee stock purchases (in shares) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period Stockholders' equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Total stockholders' equity Balance Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Subsequent Events Subsequent Events [Abstract] Subsequent Event Type [Domain] Subsequent Event [Line Items] Subsequent Event Type [Axis] Subsequent Event [Table] Subsequent Event [Member] Supplemental Balance Sheet Information Supplemental Balance Sheet Disclosures [Text Block] Property, income, state, sales and franchise tax Translation gain (loss) on subsidiaries denominated in foreign currencies Translation Adjustment Functional to Reporting Currency, Loss (Gain), Reclassified to Earnings, Net of Tax Treasury stock Treasury Stock, Value Treasury Stock [Member] Shares used in computing net loss per share, basic and diluted (in shares) Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding used in computing basic and diluted net loss per share (in shares) The maximum amount of securities to be sold under the shelf registration. Maximum amount of securities to be sold under shelf registration Maximum amount of securities to be sold under shelf registration Warranty Liability [Abstract] Denominator [Abstract] Denominator [Abstract] Numerator [Abstract] Numerator [Abstract] Under a multiple element arrangement, the maximum period over which extended maintenance agreements (EMAs), consumables, and repair and maintenance or consulting services generally are delivered. EMAs, consumables, repair, maintenance and consulting services general deliverable period, maximum Under a multiple element arrangement, the minimum period over which extended maintenance agreements (EMAs), consumables, and repair and maintenance or consulting services generally are delivered. EMAs, consumables, repair, maintenance and consulting services general deliverable period, minimum Under a multiple element arrangement, the typical period subsequent to product delivery during which commissioning and installation takes place. Commissioning and installation period The minimum number of products included in the entity's most significant multiple element arrangements (MEAs) related to second tier products. Second tier products include design services, project management, commissioning and installation services, spare parts or consumables, and extended maintenance agreements. Minimum number of second tier products included in significant MEAs The minimum number of products included in the entity's most significant MEAs related to first tier products. Minimum number of first tier products included in significant MEAs Minimum number of CleanSource UPS or PowerHouse products included in significant MEAs The number of criteria that must be met for the company to recognize revenue. Number of criteria to be met for revenue recognition The extended maximum products warranty period from date of shipment to primary OEM customer. Extended products warranty period from date of shipment to primary OEM customer, Maximum The standard products warranty period from date of shipment to end user for primary OEM customer. Standard products warranty period for primary OEM customer The standard power quality products warranty period from date of shipment. Standard power quality products warranty period from date of shipment The standard power quality products warranty period from date of commissioning. Standard power quality products warranty period from date of commissioning Interest related to total debt, bank fees and issuance fees, less interest income. Interest Expense Net Interest expense, net Document and Entity Information [Abstract]