diff --git a/dbus-node-red-grid-meter/grid_meter.py b/dbus-node-red-grid-meter/grid_meter.py
index 201b678..d9e76aa 100644
--- a/dbus-node-red-grid-meter/grid_meter.py
+++ b/dbus-node-red-grid-meter/grid_meter.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ class NodeRedMetergrid-meter:
     self._dbusservice.add_path('/Latency', None)    
     self._dbusservice.add_path('/FirmwareVersion', 1.0)
     self._dbusservice.add_path('/HardwareVersion', 0)
-    self._dbusservice.add_path('/Connected', 1)
+    self._dbusservice.add_path('/Connected', 0)
     self._dbusservice.add_path('/Role', 'grid')
     self._dbusservice.add_path('/Position', 0)
     self._dbusservice.add_path('/Serial', 12345678)
@@ -70,19 +70,20 @@ class NodeRedMetergrid-meter:
   
   def _getNodeRedData(self):
     URL = "http://localhost:1880/meters"
-    meter_r = requests.get(url = URL)
-    
-    # check for response
-    if not meter_r:
+    try:
+        meter_r = requests.get(url = URL, timeout=5)
+    except requests.exceptions.RequestException as e:
+        self._dbusservice['/Connected'] = 0
         raise ConnectionError("No response from NodeRed - %s" % (URL))
-    
+       
     meter_data = meter_r.json()     
     
     # check for Json
     if not meter_data:
+        self._dbusservice['/Connected'] = 0
         raise ValueError("Converting response to JSON failed")
     
-    
+    self._dbusservice['/Connected'] = 1
     return meter_data