Development of Electrical Equipment Monitoring

and Control Systems with IoT Technology

in the Context of Energy Efficiency
Raditya Wisnu Wardhana1,*, Muhammad Zaki Syahman1, Raihan Fauzi1,
Riean Noer Hakiki1, Rajwajilan Arridho1, Ulfah Mediaty Arief2,3,4, Sri Sukamta5,6
1Electrical
Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Semarang State University, Semarang, Indonesia
2Graduate School of Electrical Engineering, Hasanuddin University, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
3Graduate School of Electrical Engineering, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

4Graduate School of Electrical Engineering, Semarang State University, Semarang, Indonesia

5Graduate School of Electrical Engineering, IKIP, South Semarang, Indonesia

6Graduate School of Electrical Engineering, Kristen Satya Wacana University, Salatiga, Indonesia

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed:

E-mail: radityawisnu78@gmail.com

Abstract: Due to increasingly rapid technological developments, the use of electronic devices
continues to increase. This causes an increase in electrical power usage and the need for a tool to
control and monitor daily electrical power usage. So it can provide effectiveness and efficiency in
the use of electrical power. Therefore, a tool was developed that has the function of controlling and
monitoring electrical power usage that integrates with the Internet of Things (IoT). IoT appears as
both a potential and a challenge in developing tools. In the construction of this tool, a Raspberry Pi
Zero is used, which will then be combined with other components and connected to a smartphone
for monitoring. This integration will result in efficiency and effectiveness in the use of electrical
resources, as well as making maintenance easier. It is hoped that once this tool is realized it will be
able to control and also save electricity usage so that it can reduce costs and reduce carbon dioxide
emissions.

Keywords: technology, electric power, internet of things

1. Introduction (kWh) for 900 VA electricity usage. The government later

In the current global context, the issue of energy is
becoming increasingly urgent and relevant. With the
continuous growth of the world population, the demand
for energy is also escalating. On the other hand, climate
change and concerns about the environmental impact of
excessive energy consumption have triggered the need to
focus more on energy efficiency. In this regard, electrical
appliances have become a significant source of energy
consumption.
The rapid development of technology has resulted in
widely used electronic devices in everyday life. These
devices, now more easily accessible, have helped improve
the efficiency and effectiveness of human work. In the use
of electronic devices, electric energy becomes crucial, and
regulations such as Law Number 30 of 2009 have
addressed the increase in basic electricity tariffs for
households and small industries. Previously, 23 million
Indonesians enjoyed electricity subsidies from the
government, with a cost of Rp 575 per kilowatt-hour
added a subsidy of Rp 876 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) 1).
Wise management of daily electricity usage is essential.
However, relying solely on kWh meters is not sufficient,
as these devices can only monitor and limit overall energy
usage in the home. Therefore, awareness to truly save
electrical energy is crucial. Energy management can be
realized by observing the electricity consumption on
monitoring devices and turning off electronic appliances
not in use, preventing a significant increase in electricity
usage costs. For better efficiency in electricity savings,
monitoring devices need to be installed on electronic
devices such as TVs, refrigerators, rice cookers, washing
machines, and air conditioners. These monitoring tools
help users manage electricity usage by displaying
information about power, voltage, current, and the cost of
using these electronic devices. Typically, these monitoring
tools are based on microcontrollers and can connect
through the Internet of Things (IoT), allowing remote
access to information about electricity usage without
directly checking the monitoring device 2, 3).
 Electrical equipment is used in various sectors, through energy usage monitoring 8).
including industry, offices, households, and the
transportation sector. Inefficient use of this equipment can
lead to significant energy waste and negative
environmental impacts. Therefore, the development of
systems that can monitor and control electrical equipment
more efficiently becomes an urgent need.
The Internet of Things, abbreviated as IoT, is a concept
aimed at expanding the benefits of always-connected
internet connectivity. It includes capabilities such as data
sharing and remote control, not only for electronic devices
but also for physical objects in the real world.
Fig. 1: The concept of Internet of Things (IoT).
Fundamentally, IoT refers to uniquely identifiable objects
as part of an internet-based structure. The term "Internet
of Things" was first proposed by Kevin Ashton in 1999 The figure above illustrates one of the concepts of the
and became known through the Auto-ID Center at the Internet of Things (IoT). Currently, all fields are being
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) 4). developed using IoT as a base technology. One of the
Internet of Things (IoT) technology emerges as a specific areas to be discussed is the Energy sector, where
potential solution to address these challenges. IoT enables fossil fuels contribute to over 80% of the globally
electrical equipment to connect to the internet and consumed energy. This has significant importance.
communicate with each other. This opens opportunities to Excessive extraction and burning of fossil fuels, due to air
develop systems that can monitor the real-time energy pollution and climate change, have adverse effects on the
usage of equipment and take necessary actions to optimize environment, health, human well-being, and the economy.
it. Currently, IoT platforms and devices do not have The role of IoT becomes crucial in monitoring and
agreed-upon standards or specific technologies. As a managing systems, providing valuable insights into these
result, users often need to configure, research, and critical issues 9).
integrate IoT into various designs and technologies to
optimally implement it in their systems, making it a 2.2 Energy Efficiency
challenging and time-consuming task 5). Energy efficiency is a measure of how well a system or
Monitoring and control systems can assist engineering device can produce the desired energy output compared to
departments in their work activities and identify the amount of energy required as input. The higher the
equipment with energy usage exceeding normal limits. efficiency, the less energy is wasted or lost in the
Additionally, IoT allows for controlling electricity usage conversion or utilization processes. When considering an
and detecting equipment damage, enabling control over electronic device, the use of Energy Efficiency in the
wasteful electricity consumption 6). Internet of Things encompasses the operation and
With the development of this integration, it is hoped to maintenance of power plants and the utilization of new
create prototypes that enable efficient load management energy sources, along with CO2 emissions 10).
and allocation of electrical resources, minimizing energy
waste for effective load management 7).
This research focuses on the development of a
monitoring and control system for electrical equipment
using IoT technology in the context of energy efficiency.
By understanding and controlling the use of electrical
equipment more efficiently, the aim is to reduce energy
waste and its negative impact on the environment. With
this background, the research aims to explore potential
advanced solutions to address the energy efficiency issue
in the use of electrical equipment.
Fig. 2: Semarang 2023 Pollution Data Index.11)
2. Basic Theory
2.1 IoT (Internet of Things) According to IQAir data, the air quality and pollution
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a concept that involves index in Semarang are assessed. The data used is daily,
the use of smart electronic devices connected to the showing fluctuations in pollution levels every ten days.
internet. With the advancement of IoT technology, it can With the presence of this IoT system, it undoubtedly
certainly advance and grow, especially in the field of facilitates monitoring and evaluation of factors
energy efficiency. It provides various services to influencing air and water quality. This enables us to
consumers, reduces energy costs, and can be monitored process them accordingly, aligning with specific needs 12).
 informed decision-making to enhance energy efficiency.
2.3 Monitoring System Through internet network connectivity, this system can be
Monitoring is the real-time or direct observation of a remotely monitored, providing alerts or warnings if any
system, while a system is a sequence of steps used. Thus, abnormal activities occur beyond normal limits.
it can be concluded that a monitoring system is the
structured and repeated observation of activities. Energy
monitoring is a system containing information about the
usage of electricity, air quality, and results obtained from
equipment. The following are components or tools
commonly used to assist in monitoring systems 13).
Monitoring energy efficiency with a focus on detecting
and identifying potential energy wastage aims to support
smarter decision-making. In this context, energy
efficiency not only measures how well a system uses
energy but also includes efforts to reduce unnecessary
energy waste. The use of sensors connected to equipment
or systems enables real-time monitoring of energy Fig. 4: kWh Meter.
consumption. Data collected from these sensors provide a
comprehensive overview of how energy is used in various 2.6 Power Meter
operational conditions. With an integrated monitoring
Integrating a power meter with IoT enables the
system, the potential for energy wastage can be quickly
management and optimization of energy usage across
detected. For example, if a device shows disproportionate
various scopes. The presence of a power meter in the
energy consumption or equipment operates inefficiently,
application of efficient energy usage provides greater
the system can issue alerts or reports, allowing for prompt
visibility and control over energy consumption. There are
corrective actions 14, 15).
concepts employed when utilizing a power meter,
enhancing the ability to monitor and control energy
2.4 Current Sensor utilization effectively.
Current sensors are crucial components used for
detecting and measuring electric current in various
electrical applications, including power systems, motor
control, and energy measurement. They come in different
types such as Current Transformers (CT), Hall Effect
Sensors, and Resistive Sensors.

Fig. 5: Schneider Power Meter.

In Schneider PowerLogic, real-time energy monitoring

Fig. 3: ACS712.
The ACS712 is a current sensor utilized in control
systems, employing Hall Effect technology to control the
current passing through a conductor. Its primary functions
include providing a Zero-Current Output Voltage and
offering Overcurrent Protection.
2.5 kWh Meter
Utilizing a kWh meter is an effective approach for
monitoring and managing energy usage more efficiently.
With the assistance of IoT, we can access real-time data
and identify patterns in energy consumption, enabling
is facilitated by displaying voltage and current values,
including incoming currents. The PowerLogic system
simplifies the real-time energy monitoring process.
Integrating a power meter with IoT, such as smart
appliances, enables seamless data analysis within optimal
time periods.
2.7 Controller
Raspberry Pi, a series of compact single-board
computers (SBCs), was crafted in the United Kingdom by
the Raspberry Pi Foundation in collaboration with
Broadcom. Since 2013, a subsidiary of the Raspberry Pi
Foundation, now known as Raspberry Pi Ltd 16), has
overseen the development and support of Raspberry Pi
devices. Initially designed to advance the teaching of basic
computer science in schools17, 18, 19), the original model
gained unexpected popularity20), extending beyond its
intended market for applications like robotics. Its
widespread use spans diverse fields, including weather
monitoring21), owing to its affordability, adaptability, and
open design. Primarily embraced by computer and
electronic enthusiasts, Raspberry Pi's incorporation of
HDMI and USB standards has contributed to its popularity.
Fig. 6: Raspberry Pi 5 22).
3. Methods
In designing this system, a sequential research method
was chosen because the system design needs to progress
gradually and in accordance with established procedures.
The advantage of this method lies in the ease of
conducting the research process. The use of this sequential
method is done by taking or collecting data data in
accordance with the procedure and processed into the
guideline literature used, the following is a chart diagram
carried out in this study as shown in Figure 7:
Fig. 7: Methods Chart Diagram
Based on the flow chart above, there are several stages,
there is problem identification, for the identification of
this problem we can take from the main problem, namely
the excessive use of electricity. With these problems, we
can take the theme of organizing energy to be more
efficient and of course become quality.
In the next stage, namely making observations or
looking for several sources of reference related to efficient
energy and data that has been recapitulated based on
previous researchers who took the theme of efficient
energy, we take data and record important points that will
be discussed in the research and review each reference to
make a reference.
After data collection and data collection are complete,
then determine the main point, namely making a prototype
by applying IoT in Energy monitoring, in energy
monitoring itself there are several points including
electricity consumption which can be monitored regularly
through the system.
When building this prototype a several components are
needed. These component will later be arranged into a
single system that will run and expected to be able to do
its job well so that resulting tool will work optimally.
These component will be shown on table below.
Table 1. Components
Component Description Amount
Microcontoller Raspberry Pi 1
Zero
Relay Relay 1
Current sensors CT clamp 1
current sensor
Power converter AC to DC 1
converter
module
Breadboard 830 node point 1
Once the components have been determined, it’s time
to assemble and programming the components to produce
the desire tool. Carry out trials after the prototype is
successfully built and then record the result of the tool’s
performance wether it meets the purpose of making the
tool or not.
4. Results and Discussion
In this IoT-based monitoring design, a Power Relay is
employed, activated by the current or circuit signal. The
control kit, based on SparkFun Beefcake, is connected to
Raspberry Pi V3, serving as an intermediary for the
electrical energy flow to the testing device. The relay
switches between states of 25 amps and 60 amps, catering
to different target equipment. Monitoring involves a
Current Transformer utilizing a magnetic field to measure
current through a wire. The analog signal from the CT
clamp is converted to digital using an example, such as a
toaster, through an analog-to-digital converter (ADS1115).
 Fig. 8: Design

In this implementation, a 5W AC to DC power converter

module is utilized to supply power to the Raspberry Pi through Fig. 9: Flowchart of the design.
a source from lighting or an A/C unit and configured accordingly.
Calibration curve formulas can be created using Python or Energy monitoring is conducted using a current
MATLAB code, aiming to monitor and reference device voltage. transformer clamp installed on the main cable leading to
the A/C unit, which is then connected to the smart node.
𝑃=𝐼𝑥𝑉 (1) This clamp sends analog data to an analog-to-digital
converter, which can be processed by the Raspberry Pi.
The installation of lighting units follows a similar method,
This is the fundamental formula for calculating
except for its voltage values. Lighting units provide a
electrical power, where the power is equal to the product
supply voltage of 120V vs. 220V, and therefore, they use
of current and voltage.
a 30A solid-state relay and bypass and pass-through
switches (unit) for 120V. Although data collection from
𝑃 = (𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑥 𝐶𝑇 𝑐𝑙𝑎𝑚𝑝 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒) 𝑥 𝑉 lighting units is not explicitly designed, the CT clamp is
(2) still employed in the configuration for error detection and
control assurance. The following is a hardware
implementation diagram for monitoring energy to
In some systems, especially those using Current
enhance efficiency.
Transformers (CT), the power calculation is refined by
introducing a calibration factor and CT clamp offset. The
calibration factor adjusts the measurement to account for
specific characteristics of the system, while the CT clamp offset
considers any offset introduced by the CT clamp.
A smart node is engineered to communicate with various
hardware components, aiming to transmit energy data at hourly
intervals to a MySQL relational database instance hosted on
Amazon Web Services. Once the data is input and stored in the
database, it can be subsequently read from the application. The
functionality includes sending data to the database to alter device
status. The data is interpreted and responded to by the smart node
to fulfill commands. The following is a flow diagram illustrating
the Energy Efficiency monitoring design.
Fig. 10: Hardware implementation diagram

The iOS mobile application is the primary graphical

user interface (GUI) for the product. This interface allows
users to manipulate the power status of electronic devices.
The application provides component statuses and verifies
whether the components successfully respond to
requested power status changes. It also enables hourly
data to be interactively displayed on the screen and in
various time increments. Data can be viewed per unit and
hourly increments over one day, week, or month.
Components are separated based on their types (e.g., AC
or lighting) within the application. PHP, a server-side
scripting language designed for web development.

Fig. 11: User Interface Display
5. Conclusions
In order to improve energy efficiency, the IoT-based
monitoring system described utilizes sensor technology,
current measurements, and control settings to monitor
and manage device power consumption. Through the
integration of Raspberry Pi as a control hub, current
sensors like CT, and analog-to-digital converters, the
system can collect energy usage data from connected
devices. This information is stored in a managed
database on Amazon Web Services for further analysis.
The user interface, based on a mobile app, allows users
to control devices, track energy usage patterns, and
make more effective decisions regarding power
consumption management. The system not only
provides visibility into energy usage but also offers
tools to take appropriate actions to enhance efficiency,
reduce energy waste, and overall manage resources
more wisely.
Acknowledgements
Our gratitude goes to the Faculty of Engineering, State
University of Semarang, which has entrusted students to
conduct technological research carried out in the
"Research Methods" course through the direction and
guidance of our teachers, namely ms Ulfah Mediaty
Arief,and mr Sri Sukamta.
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