This article details a winning hackathon project: a real-time energy monitoring system leveraging the Internet of Things (IoT). This innovative solution provides users with granular, real-time data on energy consumption, including voltage and current, for both domestic and commercial applications. The system's key strength lies in its comprehensive feature set, extending beyond basic monitoring to encompass insightful visualizations, cost estimations (including rebates and penalties), and a proactive alert system for critical events like overvoltage or exceeding usage limits. This allows for proactive energy management and substantial cost savings.The system employs an ESP32 microcontroller for data acquisition and transmission, coupled with a cloud-based MQTT broker and a user-friendly Node-RED dashboard for data visualization and alert management. Its architecture seamlessly integrates with neighboring smart meters to provide context during power outages, differentiating it from simpler monitoring systems. This combination of robust hardware, intelligent software, and a well-designed user interface delivers a practical and effective solution for optimizing energy usage and promoting financial transparency.
Pros And Cons
- Provides real-time energy monitoring for both commercial and domestic use.
- Offers a dashboard to process and display data, including insightful information.
- Includes alerts for over-voltage, under-voltage, and usage beyond threshold limits.
- Monitors real-time cost, including rebates and penalties.
- Provides low power factor alerts for commercial purposes.
- Offers time-of-day optimization to promote off-peak hour usage.
- Communicates with neighboring smart meters to determine if a power outage is localized or area-wide.
- Features a user-friendly dashboard.
Read more: AMI Meter Reading Guide: Understanding Your Smart Electricity Meter
System Overview and Architecture
This IoT-based energy monitoring system provides real-time data on current and voltage consumption for both commercial and domestic applications. The system uses sensors to collect data, which is then transmitted via onboard Wi-Fi (ESP32) to a cloud platform. A user-friendly dashboard processes and displays this data, offering valuable insights into energy usage.
Key features include real-time monitoring of voltage, current, and power, along with insightful visualizations. The system also calculates energy costs, incorporating rebates and penalties, making it useful for budget management. Alerting mechanisms are implemented for events such as overvoltage, undervoltage, and exceeding predefined usage limits.
Dashboard Functionality and Features
The dashboard offers a clear and intuitive interface, displaying real-time energy consumption data through gauges and charts. It provides separate views for domestic and commercial settings, each tailored to specific needs. The commercial view includes advanced features like power factor analysis and cost estimation based on hourly consumption.
For domestic users, the dashboard focuses on essential parameters and provides alerts for potential issues. The system's ability to estimate costs, factoring in rebates and penalties, adds a crucial element of financial transparency and control for users.
Alert System and Smart Meter Integration
The system incorporates a robust alert system that notifies users of critical events such as overvoltage, undervoltage, and exceeding usage thresholds. This proactive approach to energy management ensures users are aware of any potential issues.
A unique feature is the integration with neighboring smart meters. In case of a power outage, the system communicates with neighboring meters to determine whether the outage is localized or widespread, providing more context to the user.
Technical Implementation and Software Details
The system's backend utilizes an ESP32 microcontroller for data acquisition and transmission. A cloud-based MQTT broker (e.g., HiveMQ) facilitates communication between the ESP32 and the Node-RED-based dashboard. The dashboard provides real-time visualization of the data and handles the alert system.
The ESP32 firmware incorporates libraries for sensor reading, Wi-Fi connectivity, and MQTT communication. Calibration factors are manually set to account for sensor inaccuracies. NGROK is employed to expose the dashboard to the internet.
Conclusion
This real-time energy monitoring system showcases a compelling application of IoT technology, offering valuable features for both home and commercial use. The integration of alert systems, cost estimation, and neighboring smart meter communication distinguishes it from simpler energy monitoring solutions.
The user-friendly dashboard, combined with the robust backend infrastructure, makes this system a practical and effective tool for energy management and cost savings. The system's success in a hackathon demonstrates its innovative approach and potential impact on smart energy solutions.