ABSTRACT

An Automated distribution board is a component of an

electricity supply system which automatically divides and control

electrical power feed into subsidiary circuits, while providing a

protective fuse or circuit breaker for each circuit, in a common

enclosure. The traditional board is an assembly of panels, each of

which contains switches that allow electricity to be redirected.

Inside the power distribution board is a bank of busbars -

generally wide strips of copper to which the switchgear is

connected. These act to allow the flow of large currents through

the switchboard, and are generally bare and supported by

insulators.

This seminar work discusses the design of an automated power

distribution board incorporating a switchboard, which is usually

found connected in or around the switchyard. The design is

advancement to the type we have had in the past where an

operator has to go around the switch board in order to control

power supply to various areas connected to the station. Here, an

electronic circuit built around a programmable microcontroller

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chip connects the power supply to the switchboard. This circuit

controls the supply of electric power from its source to the various

switch gears on the distribution board thereby eliminating the

stress that would have been incurred if it were to be manually

operated.

The control circuit can also be connected to a computer system

so that a program designed and running on the computer creates

a user interface between the computer and the operator, such

that the whole control of the switchyard is done from the comfort

of an office using a computer system.

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 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND

The need for power regulation and distribution has brought about

many technological renovations in the power industry. It is

therefore required that power should be regulated, distributed

and inter-switched between different loads without damage to the

equipments. The automated power distribution board is one

among the new technology that can handle the inter-switching

between different loads via the same control system without

damaging the equipments involved.

A distribution board (or panelboard) is a component of an

electricity supply system which divides an electrical power feed

into subsidiary circuits, while providing a protective fuse or circuit

breaker for each circuit, in a common enclosure. Normally, a main

switch, and in recent boards, one or more Residual-current

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devices (RCD) or Residual Current Breakers with Overcurrent

protection (RCBO), will also be

The automated distribution board as the name implies

incorporates a small electronic device that can be used to switch

on to different loads. For example, in offices and factories, lights

near windows may be turned off without affecting those farther

from the windows. The night watchman or cleaning crew may

control all the lights in the building from one or two points. And

the ever watchful foreman may turn off small machines from his

desk during lunch. Added to all these features is the reduction of

the danger of shock.

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OBJECTIVES

The automated power distribution board is a type that can be

automatically operated stand alone or from the computer system.

A program is written on the computer with a comprehensive

graphic user interface that ensures user friendliness. Icons and

text are displayed on the program so that a user can click on any

of them and the corresponding function is carried out

immediately. More importantly is that the program can be written

as a thread and stored in the microcontroller memory so that the

process can be carried out accordingly. The main objective of the

work is to design a convenient environment which allows

manipulation of electricity distribution to different areas from one

computer terminal.

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IMPORTANCE

Some major importance of this design is listed below;

1. It ease the stress of going around a switchyard or switchbox

to control power supply to different areas

2. The user can click on a button found on the graphic user

interface which initializes an already existing program

thereby making the whole process easy and interesting.

3. Furthermore, the operator can have a schedule of duration

at which power gets to each of the areas by just writing a

small program

4. Finally, switching power ON or OFF to various areas with this

device is very fast and eliminates the problems of arcing

encountered with the use of ordinary mechanical switches.

APPLICATION

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When built as a project, it can be used in electricity distributing

stations from where power is supplied to different areas in a

community or town. The project itself is an interface with

connections for input and output devices. There are two inputs

which are the AC power line supply and the computer interface

connector (parallel port connector). The device also has six output

terminals which can be connected to supply power to six different

areas. The power supply in this case can come from a generating

station into the interface device where it is now switched to

different areas of choice from the computer system.

To use this device in distributing power to six different areas, the

following steps are followed

1. Plug the power supply cord to a power source or generator

2. Connect the parallel or serial port cable to the parallel or

serial port interface on the computer

3. Now write a program using the ASM compiler, compile and

store it in the memory of the microcontroller.

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4. Turn on the switch on the interface, at this point, an

indicator lamp comes on. The program starts and power is

supplied to the various points as specified in your program.

5. You can also control directly from the computer, Run the

interface program on the computer system connected to the

device

6. Click on any of the icon button to see the effect on the

device

7. If an area e.g. area A, is turned on from the computer, a

lamp on the project board comes on indicating that power is

been supplied to that area while others remain off showing

that they are not yet turned ON from the computer.

8. Other buttons corresponding to the areas can also be clicked

and the same output is gotten on their indicator.

9. Furthermore, the user can decide to click other buttons

which can turn on more than one device at a time.

10. Also some button can be clicked to run an already

scheduled program which can distribute the power evenly to

all the areas over a specific duration.

11.
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 CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

This work illustrates the importance of using a automation in

the supply of power to various areas in a particular location. It can

refer to the automatic power supply to various departments

around the campus. In one of his articles, John Runyon explains

the various importance of using a computer and automation in

controlling devices and appliances in homes and outdoors. Among

many is the ease with which so many devices can be controlled

automatically from a computer system. He also mentions that

computer control can only be achieved with the aid of a hardware

interface and a program running on the computer system.

Early 1961, John Heater, according to the result of his

research earlier in 1960, was able to build a computer interface

device (smart box) that can be connected to the computer and its

different output of various voltages can be used to turn ON and

OFF electric motors attached to them. This smart box comes with

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a software program which must be installed on the computer

before communication can be effective.

In 1982, a student from Harvard University built a

multipurpose computer/electronics interface with a USB

connection to the computer and 220v ac output at different

output terminals. This output was connected to power different

laboratories in the school. With this interface and its program

installed on a computer system, a power supply routine program

can be designed on the computer so that home appliances

connected to it can be switched ON and OFF just with a click on

the computer.

Today, these interfaces have been so upgraded that they can

communicate devices without any wire connection running from

the interface to the appliances. This aim was achieved with the

advent of infrared and radio wave transmission of signal. In both

cases, information is transmitted from one point to another

through space thereby totally eliminating the use of wires. There

are various computer/electronics interface device in the market

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for sell. One can buy any and easily install them by connecting it

between the computer and appliances.

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 CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH AND DESIGN METHODOLOGY

Basically, research on this work (automated power distribution

board) was done both on the internet and on various

Electrical/Electronic textbooks. Finally, we arrived at designing six

partitions on a board which represents six different sections to

which power will be supplied. Using FEDPONEK as our case study,

these six sections may represent six blocks or departments in the

institutions e.g. Admin Block, Student Affairs Block, School of

Engineering Technology, School of Business and Management

Technology, School of Environmental Design, and Hostels. The

control circuit and computer interface will be located at one side

of the same board with two connectors running out. These

connectors are for power and computer parallel port connection.

Also on each of the above mentioned six partitions, electric bulbs

are situated as indicators to show that power has gotten to any of

the areas. Finally, a program will be designed on the computer

with Java programming language from which we can control the

flow of power to each of these six areas.

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THE PROPOSED DESIGN

COMPUTER

INTERFACE

Junction Box

Indicator lamp

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The above diagram is a picture of our design for this work. The

control of each bulb above represents the supply of power to the

six areas mentioned above. Each of the individual lamp can be

operated automatically from a stored program or from the

computer via the program. Also, the program allows the user to

switch ON more than one lamp at a time meaning that all the

combinations needed to switch theses lamps have been included

in the program. The electrical connection between the computer

and the board is possible with the interface. Below is the diagram

of the electronics circuit found inside the interface;

One of the major protective devices to the power

distribution board is the high power circuit breaker:

For reasons of aesthetics and security, circuit breaker panels are

often placed in out-of-the-way closets, attics, garages, or

basements, but sometimes they are also featured as part of the

aesthetic elements of a building (as an art installation, for

example) or where they can be easily accessed. However, current

US building codes prohibit installing a panel in a bathroom (or

similar room), in closets intended for clothing, or where there is

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insufficient space for a worker to access it. Specific situations,

such as an installation outdoors, in a hazardous environment, or

in other out-of-the-ordinary locations may require specialized

equipment and more stringent installation practices.

A circuit breaker is an automatically operated electrical switch

designed to protect an electrical circuit from damage caused by

overload or short circuit. Its basic function is to detect a fault

condition and, by interrupting continuity, to immediately

discontinue electrical flow. Unlike a fuse, which operates once and

then has to be replaced, a circuit breaker can be reset (either

manually or automatically) to resume normal operation. Circuit

breakers are made in varying sizes, from small devices that

protect an individual household appliance up to large switchgear

designed to protect high voltage circuits feeding an entire city.

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 VCC

VCC
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6

K K K K K K

29 30
27 25
31 26

Q3 Q4 Q5 Q6
Q1 Q2

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0 20 0 0 0 0 0
J2 7 13 R7
U1E
8 18 R8
1 R1 U1F
9 14 R9 21
2 R2
U1D
3 R6 15 R10 22

4 R3 10
U1C
11 16 R11 23
5 R5
U1B
6 R4 12 17 R12 24

U1A

Fig; circuit diagram of the computer interface

COMPONENT IDENTIFICATION AND VALUES

J2 = Computer Parallel Port Interface

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R1-R6 = 330 ohm Resistors

R7-R12 = 560 ohm Resistors

U1A-U1F = CD4050 Hex Buffer

Q1-Q6 = H9014 NPN Transistors

K1-k6 = 12v single pole, double throw DC Relay

D1-D6 = IN4001 Diodes

CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION

On the left of the diagram above is a computer parallel port

interface (DSUB25M). Six bit information coming from the
computer is sent via this interface through 330 ohm resistors
each to the six input terminals of a Hex buffer (4050BT). The six
output terminals of this buffer are connected to the base
terminals of six transistors whose collectors also connect to drive
six different relays. One of the unconnected terminals of the relay
is connected to incoming 220v AC live terminal while the other is
connected to the live terminal connecting the area. So when any
of these relay is energized, the load (Area) connected to it is
powered.

Apart from the 220v ac power supply going directly to the loads
via a relay, the entire circuit gets its power supply from a 12v DC
power pack. This pack gets input from the same AC source

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mentioned above, rectify and filter it before sending it to the
circuit. Below is the circuit diagram of the 12v DC power supply;

2 D1
T1
C1
4 1 3 J1

3
4
2

Fig; circuit diagram of the power supply

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 CHAPTER FOUR

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

The seminar work has successfully discussed the design of a

simple automated power distribution board. As already

mentioned, an automated power distribution board is a

component of electric installation which divide, supply and control

electric power feed to other subsidiary circuits. The aim of this

work was achieved by designing a prototype switchboard on a

plywood with six partitions representing six different areas to

which electric power should be fed. The automation was made

possible by connecting the switchboard through an interface

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circuit described in chapter three to a general purpose computer.

With the aid of a program designed in the computer with Java

language, the switching of power from the distribution board to

other sub circuit is possible by just clicking an icon. Also a

subroutine program can be initiated which can automatically

control power supply without a human operator.

It is very clear that this work is in line with the technology

advancement going on in developed countries. It is hereby

recommended that Nigeria and other African countries embrace

and introduce this method of power supply to its power sector.

This will go a long way to reduce stress of going around switching

and monitoring power supply as everything can now be done just

from one computer.

REFERENCE
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Horowitz, Paul and Hill, Winfield, “The Art of Electronics,
Cambridge”: Cambridge University Press, 2004.

Electronics Fault Diagnosis

G.C loveday

Theraja, B. L. and Theraja A. K. A Textbook of Electrical

Technology(coloured editon), New Delhi: Rajindra and Ravendra
Press, 2003.

http//www.wikkipedia.com

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Chapter one

• Background

• Problem statement

• Aim of research

• Justification of research

• Scope of work

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