Im making a project the can detect if there is a loss of current or a tapped wire is present in your service drop wire, after the metering device before your circuit breaker at home...
This is my first time to use Arduino,
Im using Arduino uno, and ACS712 Current sensors,,,
need help programming,,,
see attachments..
osel:
Im making a project the can detect if there is a loss of current or a tapped wire is present in your service drop wire, after the metering device before your circuit breaker at home...This is my first time to use Arduino,
Im using Arduino uno, and ACS712 Current sensors,,,
need help programming,,,
see attachments..
the best way to get this started is to put one unit on and read the current
put it on a wire in the house, like both ends of an extension cord.well, two extension cords.
then put something like a lamp in the connection at the center of the two cords.
then turn the lamp on to consume power, your program should show that the total at each end is different.
have you been able to get one sensor to work ?
post your sketch and where you are having the problem.
what am I missing ?
if I have a retail store or a condominium, , the main power comes into the building at one place.
the wires can run quite some distance before it reaches my location
I only have the meter at the entrance.
anyone can tap in and steal power.
I see this a couple times of year. I do facilities maintenance on thousands of retail stores.
Detection downstream of the meter is easy with glasses. Just switch off everything in the house and see if the meter is still running.
The clever thief will connect upstream of the meter - but then that is the electric utility's loss.
...R
Robin2:
Detection downstream of the meter is easy with glasses. Just switch off everything in the house and see if the meter is still running.The clever thief will connect upstream of the meter - but then that is the electric utility's loss.
...R
so, if I have a detector that watches for a load past my illegal tie-in.
and if the load goes too zero, I switch all my power off....
you have to remember that thieves are every bit as smart as you are.
Although I have seen the power meter pulled to kill power and people in the next space come out to see why their lights just went off.
it may be very possible that in the country that the OP is working from, stealing power could be an everyday occurrence and that is why the meter is on the pole.
I like this tag line :
I ask here how to change a light bulb, I get answered with a question, what color is the light bulb ,or what do you need the light bulb for? get a flashlight.
dave-in-nj:
I ask here how to change a light bulb, I get answered with a question, what color is the light bulb ,or what do you need the light bulb for? get a flashlight.[/color]
That is because so often here, people ask, "Where can I buy tungsten", or "How can I put a skylight in my basement apartment", or "My light switch doesn't work", when all they need to do is change a light bulb.
aarg:
That is because so often here, people ask, "Where can I buy tungsten", or "How can I put a skylight in my basement apartment", or "My light switch doesn't work", when all they need to do is change a light bulb.
but more often someone asks how to monitor a wire for power on each end to see if there is a load in between and someone tells them to wear glasses.
Somehow I think that if the service drop line is aerial, as in the first diagram, visual inspection would be straightforward.
But I digress ...
Paul__B:
Somehow I think that if the service drop line is aerial, as in the first diagram, visual inspection would be straightforward.But I digress ...
maybe your eyes are better than mine !
my point is that the OP did not ask us to question his choices, but to offer help on the technology.
I truly belive that measuring loss on a power line is a viable activity for an Arduino.
and, his premise does not fall squarely into the XY problem.
I know that I have run into meters that run underground, over 200 feet, below other stores, then up, into the store in which I have to verfiy power. the problem is high usage. higher than it was for prior years.
more than once we have found that someone tied into the power lines. and no matter how many x-ray glasses I get to see through clothes, none have allowed me to see into steel wiring troughs or below ground or through walls.
it it were some simple activity such was one wire to one house, then there would not need to be any have a special technology.
if you live in a high-rise, this is also a viable option.
This device has been discussed here before with respect to AC measurements.
dave-in-nj:
it it were some simple activity such was one wire to one house, then there would not need to be any have a special technology.
Here, in the UK, almost every meter is inside the property it serves. Therefore, there is little chance of your electricity being stolen, although it's not unknown for that to happen, E.g. in communal attics or basements. It does, however, make it more likely that the supplier's electricity is stolen, through people bypassing their meter.
You need to measure the current at the meter base (or just read the meter) and then read the current at the main disconnect and compare the two
Get IOT Energy Meter inside house
Arduino Yun/Yun shield made IOT ( Internet of Things) Energy Meter.
http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=347910.msg2399729#msg2399729
This is the setting of clustered energy meters... at this stage, visual inspection of your service dropwires is almost imposible because of clustered wires... im creating a device that can monitor it automatically...
by Kirchoff,s Current law.. the current entering your wire must be equal to the current leaving the wire... by installing current sensors at both ends of the wire.. the device can monitor if there is a difference between the current entering the wire and the current leaving it.. if there is a large amount of difference,, there is another point where the current goes,, , a tapped wire may be present or a ground fault occurs in the system...
The project will be composed of two devices which communuicates wirelessly,, the first device will be placed after the meter,.. and the second device will be placed before the main switch of the house..
im an electrical student with a little knowledge in electronics and know nothing about programming...
the first device will be composed of the arduino uno and two acs712 to monitor the currents in two wires. the two readings of the sensors will be sent to the second device wich also have two current sensors... the total readings of the current sensors from the first device wil be sent to the second device thru radio frequency.. the second device will compare the total readings received from the first device to the total readings of the second device... indicators will be triggered according to the comparisons of the readings...
if readings in device 1 = redings in device 2 --> green indicator lights
if readings in device 1 > readings in device 2 --> red indicator light with alarm.. a tapped wire may be present.
if device stops communicating --> orange indicator light.. device may be tampered
NEED HELP PROGRAMMING THIS DEVICE>> 
I wonder how that tin foil hat feels on all those who would not just listen to the OP and address his questions ?
OSEL,
I did not see on the data sheet ;
http://www.allegromicro.com/~/Media/Files/Datasheets/ACS712-Datasheet.ashx
the ratings of the power coming in. I did not see the power (voltage and current) you have. since so many have all ready put their collective foots in their mouths, I would not want to assume anything.
two questions come to mind immediately.
#1) are you allowed to put anything on the pole near the meters ?
#2) wireless communication. if you want to measure all of, it looks like over 150 meters, then you would need to have some way to isolating your exact device so your wireless receiver could pick the one matched unit.
in looking at this project, it would appear that the only physical location would be to have a meter socket extender. to place your unit on the meter socket. or better yet, have a meter that will be able to send out it's data.
here in the U.S. we can buy both meters and sockets. the solution I would come up with would be to put on a meter in the house and compare it to my bill. if they were different, then I would try to determine where the problem is. that would mean that someone could tie into my line for at least a month before I found out.
That would have to be one of the most lethal things I have ever seen!
you will need to get two of the devices. one sensor and one wireless sender.
I would look at the ESP8266
this device is wireless and can take inputs like an Arduino.
this will be all you need for processing.
if it can do the wireless, then your solution is simpler.
sorry, but you really need to make sure all the hardware can work for this application before you think about programming.
and once you know the hardware can work, the software is often already available.
Paul__B:
That would have to be one of the most lethal things I have ever seen!
kinda looks like one of my projects.... just without the bucket truck.
dave-in-nj:
OSEL,
I did not see on the data sheet ;http://www.allegromicro.com/~/Media/Files/Datasheets/ACS712-Datasheet.ashx
the ratings of the power coming in. I did not see the power (voltage and current) you have. since so many have all ready put their collective foots in their mouths, I would not want to assume anything.
two questions come to mind immediately.
#1) are you allowed to put anything on the pole near the meters ?
#2) wireless communication. if you want to measure all of, it looks like over 150 meters, then you would need to have some way to isolating your exact device so your wireless receiver could pick the one matched unit.
in looking at this project, it would appear that the only physical location would be to have a meter socket extender. to place your unit on the meter socket. or better yet, have a meter that will be able to send out it's data.
here in the U.S. we can buy both meters and sockets. the solution I would come up with would be to put on a meter in the house and compare it to my bill. if they were different, then I would try to determine where the problem is. that would mean that someone could tie into my line for at least a month before I found out.
Voltage is 230Vac 60hz..
it will be only installed for single family dwelling units, which only consumes not more than above 30 amperes of current...
electricity thieves cannot be apprehended unless they are caught in the act of tapping or removing a wire from your lines, so i think one of the best way is a real time alarm which will notify you automatically
if there is an unusual activity within your wire,,
im only starting to build a prototype,, a consultation to the electricity service provider will be made for adding a secured board under the meters where this device can be placed...
