Arduino stops working correctly as soon as a energy meter is connect

Hello,

I'm working on a simple Arduino-based circuit where the Arduino reads sensor values and performs certain actions (like controlling relays or motors) based on those readings. Everything works fine—until I connect an energy meter to the setup.

As soon as the energy meter is connected (even without any data being read from it), the Arduino starts behaving erratically—printing garbage values on the Serial Monitor, resetting, or freezing entirely.

The energy meter is powered through the same extension board as the Arduino. The Arduino is connected to a power strip via a USB charger, and I've made sure the grounds are common. I’ve tried isolating components and even moving the energy meter to a different socket, but the issue persists.

The circuit includes relays and is built on a prototyping board. I initially thought it might be a wiring issue or capacitor placement, but nothing has helped so far.

I’m still new to this and trying to understand what might be causing this interference or instability. Could it be EMI, ground loops, or some issues with shared power lines?

Any guidance or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Regards
Photo:

Please read the pinned post 'How to get the most from the forum'. Pay special attention to how to post ALL your Auto Formatted code and wiring diagrams. If there is relevant serial output, also post it in code tags. A photo of a hand-drawn wiring diagram is fine. Your picture above is unreadable.

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Are you also using a breadboard with motor power?

Please post an annotated schematic showing exactly how you have wired this. Be sure to show all hardware items, power sources etc. Note any wires over 10"/25cm.