EQUITY Dividend Reinvestment Plan (Details) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Equity [Abstract]
Shares available under dividend reinvestment plan		600,000
Discount to market price - dividend reinvestment plan	5.00%

The discount rate from market value on purchase date that participants pay for shares under the dividend reinvestment plan

No definition available.

Name:	acfn_DiscountToMarketPriceDividendReinvestmentPlan
Namespace Prefix:	acfn_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration