SEGMENT REPORTING (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	$ 5,233	$ 5,727	$ 10,949	$ 9,910
Intersegment Revenue	0	0	39	0
Segment gross profit (loss)	1,272	1,486	3,397	2,686
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Finite-lived	1,116	0	1,116	0
Restructuring Charges	594	0	594	0
Segment depreciation and amortization	359	364	732	656
Segment share based compensation expense	34	0	68	0
Segment net income (loss) before income taxes	(5,299)	(2,839)	(8,414)	(5,675)
Energy & Security Sonar Solutions Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	3,140	3,419	6,186	6,182
Intersegment Revenue	0	0	0	0
Segment gross profit (loss)	1,113	1,337	2,335	2,297
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Finite-lived	0		0
Restructuring Charges	0		0
Segment depreciation and amortization	60	58	117	116
Segment share based compensation expense	0	0	0	0
Segment net income (loss) before income taxes	62	421	314	581
GridSense segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	931	989	2,474	1,907
Intersegment Revenue	0	0	0	0
Segment gross profit (loss)	389	473	1,050	817
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Finite-lived	0		0
Restructuring Charges	594		594
Segment depreciation and amortization	85	93	189	189
Segment share based compensation expense	0	0	0	0
Segment net income (loss) before income taxes	(1,590)	(858)	(2,737)	(2,057)
USSI segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	310	962	635	1,083
Intersegment Revenue	0	0	39	0
Segment gross profit (loss)	(682)	(394)	(850)	(605)
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Finite-lived	0		0
Restructuring Charges	0		0
Segment depreciation and amortization	85	83	169	153
Segment share based compensation expense	34	0	68	0
Segment net income (loss) before income taxes	(2,319)	(2,087)	(4,170)	(3,802)
Power Generation Monitoring segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	408	30	804	115
Intersegment Revenue	0	0	0	0
Segment gross profit (loss)	203	(69)	439	(29)
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Finite-lived	1,116		1,116
Restructuring Charges	0		0
Segment depreciation and amortization	89	89	177	132
Segment share based compensation expense	0	0	0	0
Segment net income (loss) before income taxes	(1,451)	(292)	(1,832)	(307)
All Other Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	444	327	850	623
Intersegment Revenue	0	0	0	0
Segment gross profit (loss)	249	139	423	206
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Finite-lived	0		0
Restructuring Charges	0		0
Segment depreciation and amortization	40	41	80	66
Segment share based compensation expense	0	0	0	0
Segment net income (loss) before income taxes	$ (1)	$ (23)	$ 11	$ (90)

Segment depreciation and amortization

No definition available.

Name:	acfn_SegmentDepreciationAndAmortization
Namespace Prefix:	acfn_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Segment gross profit (loss)

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	acfn_SegmentGrossProfitLoss
Namespace Prefix:	acfn_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Segment net income (loss) before income taxes

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	acfn_SegmentNetIncomeLossBeforeIncomeTaxes
Namespace Prefix:	acfn_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Segment share based compensation expense

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	acfn_SegmentShareBasedCompensationExpense
Namespace Prefix:	acfn_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of impairment loss recognized in the period resulting from the write-down of the carrying amount of a finite-lived intangible asset to fair value.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7658586&loc=d3e16373-109275

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 142

-Paragraph 46

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsFinitelived
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount charged against earnings in the period for incurred and estimated costs associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructurings pursuant to a duly authorized plan, excluding asset retirement obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 420

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 420

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394695&loc=d3e140904-122747

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 420

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394695&loc=d3e140864-122747

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 5

-Section P

-Subsection 3, 4

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of revenue from external customers for the reportable segment. Such disclosure is presented if the amount is: (a) included in the measure of segment profit or loss reviewed by the chief operating decision maker or (b) otherwise regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker, even if not included in that measure of segment profit or loss.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 131

-Paragraph 27

-Subparagraph a

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RevenuesFromExternalCustomers
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of revenue from transactions with other operating segments of the same entity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 131

-Paragraph 27

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RevenuesFromTransactionsWithOtherOperatingSegmentsOfSameEntity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration