Designing a power saving mode system to monitor and control the power consumption of households for Kanyegaramire Solar Mini-Grid

Abstract

This project presents a new strategy for controlling loads in a mini-grid with the aim of providing the consumers with the benefit of using high priority loads of their choice, even when energy from the battery bank is very little. A simple low-cost bidirectional system consisting of ZigBee protocols is utilized to control and monitor the loads of consumer. The adopted design calculates the consumed power continuously and turns off the low priority appliances in case of lack of power from the battery bank. The Microcontroller in the distribution control centre will continuously monitor the power supply and load demand values. In case if the power supply is less than the certain predefined level of demand, this signal is transmitted through the ZigBee module to the microcontroller in the consumer premises as follows i. When the batteries are charged in the range of 100%-40%; all the loads can be connected. ii. When the batteries are charged in the range of 39%-20%; only low consuming loads such as lights and phone only are on. iii. When the batteries are charged below 20%; no load can be connected to the system so as to prevent the battery from being drained and damaged.