Energy Meter

[r.vittalkiran]

Hi,
I want to build a Energy Meter(KWH Meter) for 220V input. Please help me in getting started.

[sfiga69]

You can start from here:

AVR465: Energy Meter using tinyAVR and megaAVR devices

http://www.atmel.com/Images/doc2566.pdf

Bye

[r.vittalkiran]

hey, thanks .. but can i have the pcb designs. Any links more?
I'm a kind of new person to this, so can i use Atmega 16.

[kayvee]

..or, if you have a foot in the Microchip camp you can try the MCP3905A.

http://www.microchip.com/wwwproducts/Devices.aspx?dDocName=en028189.

I would certainly recommend a dedicated front end chip such as these, a lot easier to get going with.

[r.vittalkiran]

Similar to what i was looking for. Can i have it's diagram and PCB Layout?
I had seen somewhere in this board, where there was complete PCB Layout and microcontroller code.
The system had an LCD Display.

[Pasca]

I have completed project of Energy Meter a few year ago, with atmega324, LCD 4x20, 2 ads7813 and very sophisticated software + bootloader.
It measure Veff, Ieff, A, P, Q, PF, frequency, Vthd%, Ithd% and energy.
Energy is accounted for by time slots (italian F1 F2 F3) and stored day by day.
The maximum measurable power is 4.5kW and has configurable acustic alarm that emits an audible beep every 1 wh or costant beep when power level exceeds 4kW.
The accuracy achieved by this instrument is very high about 0.5% for P> 4W.
I don't have the layout of the PCB, I have made ​​on "millefori" (I dont know english name may be breadbord?).
The schematic needs a few tweaks, couples phototransistor infrared LEDs should be replaced with commercial optocouplers.
Bye
Pasca

[r.vittalkiran]

I want to use an LED display instead of LCD.

[Pasca]

Hi vittalkiran,
This project is a good start point, if you prefer remove LCD and connect driver for LED display.
I think that LCD can visualize more information, and more other i'd like to show.
I am thinking to start new energy meter project with 18 bits ADC, ARM Cortex M3 and graphic LCD for visualize daily load chats.
I have to clean-up the code, if someone is interested i can share it in a few days, take in account that code is compiled with IAR EWAVR and bootloader is compiled with WinAVR.
Some photos of the prototype.
Bye
Pasca

[alexisnik]

Hello,

I would be interested in developing a wireless based energy meter, could you share the code for the project so I can have it as reference?

Thanks!

[Pasca]

OK!!! alexisnik
but you have to remember that I share it only for non commercial purpose and remember that you have to share your project, too.
Give me a few days.
Bye
Pasca

[alexisnik]

Yes of course, but remember I don't intend to start this project in the following months, I will let you know once I get started...

Did you try to connect them to a central metering system, so that you can monitor the total power consumption?

[Pasca]

Currently, with the energy meter, control energy consumption of my whole house, including its own consumption (about 3W).
The serial port allows you:
1 to read all the measurements
2 to download the records of daily consumption
3 to make the calibration
4 to change some settings eg. display light always on, set value of energy counter, data and time, etc.
5 to update the firmware
It would be possible to connect the meter to a central energy measurement, but it was not necessary for me.
If you want to control energy consumption in a large building, you need more energy meter, then it makes sense to connect them to a central measurement. I would suggest, however, the connection through power line or bus RS485 or Ethernet.
Bye
Pasca

[alexisnik]

You said that the maximum power consumption which can be measured is 4.5KW, which is lower than the power consumption of a medium house at peak times (unless all your power hungry appliances use alternative forms of energy). I was thinking of low-cost, low-power wireless modules which can measure energy in different parts of the house and then upload them online through a gateway (Zigbee home automation - WiFi gateway for example). And maybe at the same time you can control the measured appliance, for example the lights or the air-conditioning.

As I said, at this point these are just thoughts, so feel free to comment!

PS: Nice job with all the extra software features, like firmware update!

[r.vittalkiran]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Plug-USA-Energy-meter-Watt-Voltage-Volt-Meter-Monitor-Analyzer-power-meter-/190668078144?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c64b3fc40
For those who have a confusion, i wanted to build a Energy Meter like one here. The price seems pretty competitive, so i think it'll be economical to buy rather than to build. But, i want to learn by doing the project. Can anyone start posting the Code, Diagram, PCB layouts here, so that we can decide which is better. I know there are many out there, but i'm ain't able to find any energy meter project anywhere. Any place where i can find it? A Simple, Basic Energy meter would help me to start.

[enzine]

@r.vittalkiran:

PIC based project with code , diagram, pcb layout at

http://www.siliconchip.com.au/cms/A_102045/article.html (issue 190)
http://www.siliconchip.com.au/cms/A_102163/article.html (issue 191)

and new chip and firmware at:

http://geoffg.net/energymeter.html

OR:

EPE Magazine May 2007 and June 2007


Ciao
 

[darksky]

I have a number (66) of Analog Devices single phase meter chips.  Think they are ADE7762 if anyone is interested.

Prepared to donate a few free if requester pays postage.

Send me an email.

[r.vittalkiran]

enzine, will have a look at it. I guess it's available on many blogs on internet.
BTW, is this the Old version wherein a special chip(MCP3905A) isn't used?
I need both the projects, so that i can compare with the two and understand them.
BTW, which do you suggest me to do?

[tanveerriaz]

i found russian side 2 wattmeter project use google for translate.
http://dmitrstas.ucoz.ru/publ/chasy/izmerenie/izmeritel_aktivnoj_moshhnosti_mnogokanalnyj_schetchik_vattmetr_mk_atmega8/9-1-0-119

http://radiokot.ru/forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=46464

[Pasca]

hi all,
As promised here there is the source of energy meter, make it good use, I worked hard for more than four months to get to this point.

@alexisnik
Your ideas are very interesting, if you want I'd like to collaborate with you about The Energy Management System for Smart Home, innovative method for rationalize energy consumption in the home.

Bye
Pasca

[enzine]

@r.vittalkiran:

Both the  projects (Silicon Chip and EPE) are the same.

The schematic of this project has already been published on sonsivri:

http://www.sonsivri.to/forum/index.php?topic=1929.0


The main components are PIC16F628 and ADE7756AN

Ciao

[r.vittalkiran]

enzine, thanks. That was what i was looking for. I had gone through that thread sometime ago.
This Energy Meter can only be used to measure resistive loads, and can't be used to measure power of inductive loads. So, i'm now thinking whether it's worth of doing it.
Quote from the other topic

here is project for you but be  carefulness

Appliance Energy Meter

....

link part one http://www.siliconchip.com.au/cms/A_102045/article.html
link part two http://www.siliconchip.com.au/cms/A_102163/article.html

download of pcb,hex,asm ....  

at: http://www.siliconchip.com.au/cms/attachments/show.html?year=2004

look at : July 2004 and August 2004

So here it is, everything that's required to get started!

[enzine]

@r.vittalkiran:

This Energy Meter can only be used to measure resistive loads, and can't be used to measure power of inductive loads.

I think this is incorrect:
I will reprint a statement the article by EPE:

"The result is an accurate power measurement which takes into account the phase angle and the shapes of the voltage and current waveforms."

Ciao

[r.vittalkiran]

Oh okay, Can you spray some information on it's working?
How/Where can i make the suitable box for it? I'm not doing this for commercial purpose, but the Energy meter works along hazardous voltages. So, i thing i need a box too. One Box of that type will be to costly. It'll be better to buy the energy meter for 7$ on Ebay. What will you say?

[enzine]

@r.vittalkiran:

I am attaching the two parts of the article published by EPE.
It also contains detailed information on the theory of operation of the circuit, constructive description  and mechanical assembly.
I suggest you also read the datasheet of the ADE7756AN (Analog Devices).

I recommend you, be very careful with the voltages in the circuit.
I do not know the product sold on ebay, but since the price may be cheaper to buy it.

Ciao

[Ichan]

Microchip has some good application notes and reference design for 1 phase and 3 phase energy meter.

-ichan

[r.vittalkiran]

Thanks enzine,
i downloaded the pcb layouts from the above links. The one in the PDF file seems to be bit hard to understand. I'm not able to understand that, do you think an expert can understand where to place components. Since i don't have any machine, i'll probably goto a dealer/workshop where they can convert the pcb layout into PCB. I suppose, the computer/machine does all the job.

Link: http://www.siliconchip.com.au/cms/attachments/show.html?year=2004
File:Energy Meter - Both Pcbs (04107041 & 2) (PDF)

[alexisnik]

@alexisnik
Your ideas are very interesting, if you want I'd like to collaborate with you about The Energy Management System for Smart Home, innovative method for rationalize energy consumption in the home.

Thank you, I have thought about many features for this system! Right now I am swamped with other projects (which I get paid for   ), so as soon as I am free I plan to start development on this. Who knows, something good might come out of it!

Cheers,

Alex

[Pasca]

OK!!! I am here if you need.
Good job.

Bye
Pasca

[enzine]

an expert can understand where to place components.

Have a look at pag 53 - fig. 8 and pag.55  - fig.10 of EPE project in order to understand how to install parts on PCBs.

Good luck!

Ciao

[r.vittalkiran]

Have a look at pag 53 - fig. 8 and pag.55  - fig.10 of EPE project in order to understand how to install parts on PCBs.

Good luck!

Ciao

Oh thanks! should i have to place the components manually, or is there anyway i can do it with some machine? I'm new to this, so can i make it done somewhere for some dollars?

[pickit2]

Oh thanks! should i have to place the components manually, or is there anyway i can do it with some machine? I'm new to this, so can i make it done somewhere for some dollars?

your link for energy meter on e-bay sold for $4.75 to $20, many sold.
you wanted to learn how to do it your self, but did not respond to advice given in posts ie: read app-notes from Atmel and Microchip.
now you want to farm out your project, pcb to be made by someone else, pcb to be stuffed by someone else, with auto placement machine (my place of enployment charge £1000 to set up such work)
how about testing to see if the product meets regulations, even for your own safety, do you by any chance stick your finger in to mains socket to test for power?
my advice is take up knitting, alot more rewarding than the posts I have read in this topic.

[Thiru09]

Dear Mr. Kiran,

First, study the design posted by Pasca and provided application notes. Leave the whole project construction for a while.
Construct small part of it, say, inputs section, do some experiments, and understand the application thoroughly.
Ask doubts, if any, regarding the design.

Though you can manage the electronics part, it may be difficult to obtain the mechanical enclosure (poly-carbonate or metal), terminals etc.

Better buy the ready made product, if you have any urgency.

do you by any chance stick your finger in to mains socket to test for power?

Regards,
Thiru

[enzine]

Oh thanks! should i have to place the components manually, or is there anyway i can do it with some machine? I'm new to this, so can i make it done somewhere for some dollars?

@ r.vittalkiran
I hope not to offend your sensibilities, but honestly, given the questions you ask,
you probably do not have all the skills to carry out this project.

In this case, buy this instrument and begins to realize simple projects and especially projects that operate with low voltages (less than 30V).

I repeat, having your health care, in this project are lethal voltages present !!!.
Be careful!

Ciao

[alexisnik]

I agree.

I would say that I am quite experienced with electronics, but with high voltages you really have to know what you are doing! You can cause great damage if you are not careful, and more importantly, you could get seriously injured. This is the main reason I want to start this project when I have the time, and not be in a hurry.

My personal advice is to first study very carefully before you try anything!

[Pasca]

I do not hide the fact that in developing this project once I got the electric shock and another time I accidentally damaged a display that has touched the container connected to earth. yet I have 30 years of experience.
The caution with this type of project is never enough.
Bye
Pasca

[nordiceng]

I suggest to visit analog devices website and there you will find a lot of new energy meters (SAMRT METERS)

[jumulab]

Hi all,
the device that you have seen in ebay is a commonly named sub-metering, an energy meter to
make measures in a home environment, not for tariff and billing purposes or to be used by an
supplier.
You have some good examples in NXP and other not mentioned in Texas Instrumenst with their
MSP430 family. Look at :
http://www.ti.com/lsds/ti/microcontroller/16-bit_msp430/end_equipment/smart_metering.page?DCMP=MSP430Metering&HQS=Other+EM+430metering

And for NXP sub-metering  with ARM devices : see NXP EM783.
Today all the manufacturers have application notes and devices for this purposes.
It is very easy to make the digital signal processing with an microcontroller with an AD converter.
whit only 8 bits  and a little OP. AMPs and good current trafos you can build an energy meter
better than 1% class.

[Ret12_12]

Hi i have found this if helps and it is not too late ... http://openenergymonitor.org/emon/applications/homeenergy
http://openenergymonitor.org/emon/buildingblocks/how-to-build-an-arduino-energy-monitor

I have test the current and working :-)

PS for 5V i use i set the bellow values
emon1.current(3, 61.600);             // Current: input pin, calibration. - 33 ohm

[ehnonymouse]

Texas instruments also have some interesting MSP-430 microcontrollers for energy measurement. Olimex have some MSP-430 development products

[monkey]

Freescale have two energy meter designs, using the Kinetis mcu but you need ask local sales rep for the design files.

http://www.freescale.com/webapp/sps/site/prod_summary.jsp?code=RDHC08DPM&fsrch=1&sr=3

[nordiceng]

please who have information about smart energy meter