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Detail of Selected Balance Sheet Accounts - Activity in Allowance for Doubtful Accounts (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2017 | Sep. 30, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2015
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Balance at beginning of period | $ 811 | $ 746 |
Bad debt expense (recovery) | (160) | 187 | $ (29)
Uncollectible accounts written off, net of recoveries | (472) | (120) |
Change due to foreign currency translation | 0 | (2) |
Balance at end of period | $ 179 | $ 811 | $ 746

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- Definition Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable write offs (recoveries). + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | powl_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Increase (decrease) due to foreign currency translation. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | powl_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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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 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 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=66008989&loc=d3e5074-111524 + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Amount of expense related to write-down of receivables to the amount expected to be collected. Includes, but is not limited to, accounts receivable and notes receivable. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.5) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585 + Details
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Balance Type: | debit
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