diff --git a/wa/framework/configuration/core.py b/wa/framework/configuration/core.py
index 8db5d553..cfe5ea65 100644
--- a/wa/framework/configuration/core.py
+++ b/wa/framework/configuration/core.py
@@ -118,6 +118,10 @@ class LoggingConfig(dict):
         'color': True,
     }
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def from_pod(pod):
+        return LoggingConfig(pod)
+
     def __init__(self, config=None):
         dict.__init__(self)
         if isinstance(config, dict):
@@ -136,6 +140,9 @@ class LoggingConfig(dict):
         else:
             raise ValueError(config)
 
+    def to_pod(self):
+        return self
+
 
 def get_type_name(kind):
     typename = str(kind)
@@ -254,7 +261,7 @@ class ConfigurationPoint(object):
     def set_value(self, obj, value=None, check_mandatory=True):
         if value is None:
             if self.default is not None:
-                value = self.default
+                value = self.kind(self.default)
             elif check_mandatory and self.mandatory:
                 msg = 'No values specified for mandatory parameter "{}" in {}'
                 raise ConfigError(msg.format(self.name, obj.name))
diff --git a/wa/instrumentation/energy_measurement.py b/wa/instrumentation/energy_measurement.py
index 6c7a17c3..b796e32f 100644
--- a/wa/instrumentation/energy_measurement.py
+++ b/wa/instrumentation/energy_measurement.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ from wa import Instrument, Parameter
 from wa.framework import pluginloader
 from wa.framework.plugin import Plugin
 from wa.framework.exception import ConfigError
-from wa.utils.types import list_of_strings, list_of_ints, list_or_string
+from wa.utils.types import list_of_strings, list_of_ints, list_or_string, obj_dict
 
 
 class EnergyInstrumentBackend(Plugin):
@@ -214,18 +214,16 @@ class EnergyMeasurement(Instrument):
         self.measurement_csv = None
         self.loader = loader
         self.backend = self.loader.get_plugin(self.instrument)
-        self.params = {}
+        self.params = obj_dict()
 
         if self.backend.instrument.mode != CONTINUOUS:
             msg = '{} instrument does not support continuous measurement collection'
             raise ConfigError(msg.format(self.instrument))
 
         supported_params = self.backend.get_parameters()
-        for name, value in supported_params.iteritems():
-            if name in self.instrument_parameters:
-                self.params[name] = self.instrument_parameters[name]
-            elif value.default:
-                self.params[name] = value.default
+        for name, param in supported_params.iteritems():
+            value = self.instrument_parameters.get(name)
+            param.set_value(self.params, value)
         self.backend.validate_parameters(self.params)
 
     def initialize(self, context):
diff --git a/wa/utils/types.py b/wa/utils/types.py
index f299eefb..d19bdf1f 100644
--- a/wa/utils/types.py
+++ b/wa/utils/types.py
@@ -107,6 +107,12 @@ def list_of(type_):
     def extend(self, other):
         list.extend(self, map(type_, other))
 
+    def from_pod(cls, pod):
+        return cls(map(type_, pod))
+
+    def _to_pod(self):
+        return self
+
     def __setitem__(self, idx, value):
         list.__setitem__(self, idx, type_(value))
 
@@ -116,6 +122,8 @@ def list_of(type_):
                     "__setitem__": __setitem__,
                     "append": append,
                     "extend": extend,
+                    "to_pod": _to_pod,
+                    "from_pod": classmethod(from_pod),
     })