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Detail of Selected Balance Sheet Accounts (Activity in Allowance for Doubtful Accounts) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2015 | Mar. 31, 2014 | Mar. 31, 2015 | Mar. 31, 2014
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Balance at beginning of period | $ 1,844 us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent | $ 673 us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent | $ 1,577 us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent | $ 572 us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent
Bad debt expense/(recovery) | 186 powl_ProvisionForRecoveryOfDoubtfulAccounts | (170)powl_ProvisionForRecoveryOfDoubtfulAccounts | 469 powl_ProvisionForRecoveryOfDoubtfulAccounts | (60)powl_ProvisionForRecoveryOfDoubtfulAccounts
Uncollectible accounts written off, net of recoveries | (120)us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableWriteOffs |  | (122)us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableWriteOffs | (9)us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableWriteOffs
Change in foreign currency translation | (29)powl_IncreaseDecreaseDueToForeignCurrencyTranslation | (2)powl_IncreaseDecreaseDueToForeignCurrencyTranslation | (43)powl_IncreaseDecreaseDueToForeignCurrencyTranslation | (2)powl_IncreaseDecreaseDueToForeignCurrencyTranslation
Balance at end of period | $ 1,881 us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent | $ 501 us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent | $ 1,881 us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent | $ 501 us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent

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- Definition A valuation allowance for trade and other receivables due to an Entity within one year (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer) that are expected to be uncollectible. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 4 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35738203&loc=d3e5074-111524 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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- Definition Amount of direct write-downs of accounts receivable charged against the allowance. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35738203&loc=d3e5074-111524 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 954 -SubTopic 310 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35755819&loc=SL9156395-115594 + Details
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