LOW COST SMART ENERGY METER
Thousands of digital/analogue meters must be read on a daily basis in order to ensure accurate and timely billing. While smart-metering solutions exist, their cost is a constraint in their widespread deploymentin Pakistan [1].How can we automate the meter-reading process in acost-effectivemanner?In
2025-06-28 16:28:31 - Adil Khan
LOW COST SMART ENERGY METER
Project Area of Specialization Electrical/Electronic EngineeringProject Summary Project Summary:Thousands of digital/analogue meters must be read on a daily basis in order to ensure accurate and timely billing. While smart-metering solutions exist, their cost is a constraint in their widespread deploymentin Pakistan [1].How can we automate the meter-reading process in acost-effectivemanner?In order to solve the above-stated problem, we proposed the “IoT Based Low-Cost Smart Metering System” which will be able to address the challenges currently available in the regular digital automated metering system in Pakistan. Low-Cost Smart Metering with its unique performance with the Internet of Things (IoT) tends to be an efficient system for electricity management, secure against intervention by third parties, and reliable for tracking and real-time remote monitoring. Hence, the proposed solution work is carried out by analyzing available functions and journals on the existing design of Smart Metering and discussed on further preferable applications. In the current working system, electricity meter reading for electricity usage and billing is done byhuman workers from home to home and building to building [2]. The purpose of this project is to develop a Smart Electricity Meter. This can reduce human errors and helps to retrieve the real-time meter value via Application and shows it to customer's mobile Applications through IoT. The proposed product can be implemented in houses as well as in industry. Furthermore, the proposed product not only saves human effort and time but also reduced the company expenditure.
Reference:[1] https://innovation.ke.com.pk/innovation-verticals/
[2] Said., Gabi, Seamed, K. A. Awan., and A.Khattak. "Electrical Energy Regulation and Load Management for addressing Power Crisis in Pakistan." In Proceedings of 2nd International Multi-Disciplinary Conference, vol. 19, p.20. 2016.
Project Objectives Project Objectives:This project embarks on the following objectives.
- Automate the meter-reading process in acost-effectivemanner.
- Indicate the tempering or electricity theftand service provider and consumer.
- Energy meters will bring a solution of creating awareness on unnecessary wastage of power and will tend to reduce wastage of power.
- Real time monitoring of energy consumptionand accurate billing.
In the proposed system, the consumers could interact with the system using a Smartphone application. The Arduino controller is programmed in such a way that the input is the electric power that is been consumed by the domestic or industrial load which is captured by the energy meter. Once the input is given to the Arduino it calculates the number of units used and the cost of the units. The power supply is given to the entire system. The SIM900 (which works over a GSM network) sends alert messages to the consumer when the usage of power crosses a certain limit [3]. The limit for each customer can also be programmed into the controller. The number of units used, and the cost are displayed on the LCD screen (16-bit LCD screen). The system is a remotely monitored energy meter with help of Wi-Fi, IoT MQTT protocol. ANDROID APP: will supply the monitoring of the real-time parameters of consumption such as voltage current and power and shows the units used and remaining.
The implementation of the proposed projectis shown Figure :
The following are the benefits of the project:
- Meter can be used as prepaid or postpaid.
- Accurate and timely billing.
- Consumer can see its credit and top up accordingly.
- Theft free meter.
- Automate the meter-reading process in acost-effectivemanner.
When +5-volt supply can be provided to the Arduino, LCD, and GSM modem, then Arduino can be in on condition. After that Arduino will supply a signal to the display “SYSTEM READY” on the LCD. According to the programming of Arduino which display different characters. After that GSM modem sends the message to the electricity board. Then the electricity board can be recharged by the energy meter through a GSM modem. The load should be connected to the energy meter by using a relay module. After some power is consumed by the load the energy balance should be reduced to its minimum value. Then an alert message sends to the user. Due to the low balance condition, the Arduino will send the signal to the relay module to disconnect the supply.
It can be controlled through a mobile app to measure current, voltage, and power, this app is also used to read remaining units. It also shows energy consumption.
Final Deliverable of the Project HW/SW integrated systemCore Industry Energy Other Industries Others Core Technology Internet of Things (IoT)Other Technologies Cloud InfrastructureSustainable Development Goals Affordable and Clean Energy, Responsible Consumption and ProductionRequired Resources| Item Name | Type | No. of Units | Per Unit Cost (in Rs) | Total (in Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total in (Rs) | 51590 | |||
| ENERGY METER | Equipment | 1 | 7000 | 7000 |
| ARDUINO UNO atmega328p WITH ACCESSORIES | Equipment | 1 | 2000 | 2000 |
| NODEMCU ESP8266 | Equipment | 1 | 700 | 700 |
| LCD 16*2 | Equipment | 1 | 400 | 400 |
| ZMPT | Equipment | 1 | 450 | 450 |
| ACS712 CURRENT SENSOR | Equipment | 1 | 400 | 400 |
| 4 CHANNEL RELAY | Equipment | 1 | 300 | 300 |
| MOUNT PIN CHANNEL | Equipment | 1 | 330 | 330 |
| FEMALE HEADERS | Equipment | 1 | 60 | 60 |
| LOAD | Equipment | 4 | 250 | 1000 |
| GSM SIM900a | Equipment | 1 | 3500 | 3500 |
| I2C LCD DRIVER | Equipment | 1 | 270 | 270 |
| POSTER AND REPORTS PRINTING | Miscellaneous | 1 | 6000 | 6000 |
| FINAL MODEL DECORATION | Miscellaneous | 1 | 3000 | 3000 |
| WIRING AND TOOLS | Equipment | 1 | 5000 | 5000 |
| 8051 DEVELOPMENT BOARD | Equipment | 1 | 2200 | 2200 |
| SIM800 MODEM | Equipment | 1 | 1840 | 1840 |
| PCB FABRICATION | Equipment | 3 | 1440 | 4320 |
| 555 TIMER IC | Equipment | 2 | 10 | 20 |
| BODY STRUCTURE MATERIAL | Equipment | 4 | 3200 | 12800 |