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 Public Float 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] Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $399 and $337 at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively Accounts Receivable, net, Trade receivables Accounts payable Accounts Payable, Current Accrued Expenses [Abstract] Professional Fees Accrued expenses Accrued expenses Accrued Liabilities, Current Accumulated depreciation Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment Other accumulated comprehensive income (loss) Additional paid-in capital Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash used in operating activities: 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] Total Assets, Fair Value Disclosure Current assets: Current assets: ASSETS Total current assets Assets, Current Total assets Assets Short-term investments 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) Cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure Common Stock Comprehensive loss: Comprehensive income (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 income (loss) per share, diluted (in dollars per share) Diluted income (loss) per share: Net income (loss) per share, basic (in dollars per share) Basic net income (loss) per share Common stock equivalents that were not included in the calculation because the option price was greater than the average market price of the common shares or the net loss would cause the effect of the options to be anti-dilutive:[Abstract] Net Income (Loss) Per Share Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Net Income (Loss) Per Share [Abstract] Translation gain (loss) on subsidiaries in foreign currencies Compensation and benefits Equipment [Member] 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] (Gain) 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] CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS [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 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] 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 income (loss) Net income (loss) Net income (loss) Net cash used in operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Other income (expense), net Operating expenses: Total operating expenses Operating Expenses Operating profit (loss) Supplemental Balance Sheet Information [Abstract] Deposits and other Long term liabilities Other Liabilities, Noncurrent Demonstration Units [Member] Other Machinery and Equipment [Member] Other Purchases of treasury stock Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock Issuance costs of private placement Payments of Stock Issuance Costs Purchases of property and equipment Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Performance Guarantee [Member] Prepaid expenses and other Proceeds from private placement of common stock Proceeds from draw on revolving line of credit Proceeds from employee stock purchases Long-term warranty liability Warranty expense Product Warranty Accrual, Warranties Issued Warranty Liability [Abstract] Beginning Balance Ending Balance Ending Balance Product Warranty Accrual Warranty liability Warranty liability included in accrued expenses Warranty charges incurred Product Warranty Accrual, Payments 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] Change 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 Revenue Recognition [Abstract] Product revenue Total revenue Revenue, Net Revenues: Service and other revenue Changes in warranty liability Computation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per share Inventory Accrued Expenses 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 Significant Accounting Policies Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS [Abstract] CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS [Abstract] Employee Stock Options [Member] Stock Options [Member] Stockholders' equity: Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Total stockholders' equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Supplemental Balance Sheet Information Supplemental Balance Sheet Disclosures [Text Block] Property, income, state, sales and franchise tax Unrealized gain on marketable securities Trading Securities, Change in Unrealized Holding Gain (Loss) 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 Shares used in computing net income (loss) per share, basic (in shares) Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares) Shares used in computing net income (loss) per share, diluted (in shares) Weighted average shares for diluted net income per share (in shares) Dilutive effect of employee stock options and restricted stock awards (in shares) Interest related to total debt, bank fees and issuance fees, less interest income. Interest Expense Net Interest expense, net The standard power quality products warranty period from date of commissioning. Standard power quality products warranty period from date of commissioning The standard power quality products warranty period from date of shipment. Standard power quality products warranty period from date of shipment 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 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 number of criteria that must be met for the company to recognize revenue. Number of criteria to be met for revenue recognition 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 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 Under a multiple element arrangement, the typical period subsequent to product delivery during which commissioning and installation takes place. Commissioning and installation period 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 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 Numerator [Abstract] Numerator: [Abstract] Denominator [Abstract] Amounts included in: [Abstract] Amounts included in [Abstract] Document and Entity Information [Abstract]