Automatic Street Light Controller with Energy Consumption Measurement using Arduino

Abstract

This project presents the design and implementation of an Automatic Street Light Controller with Energy Consumption Measurement using an Arduino microcontroller. The primary objective is to reduce energy wastage by automating the operation of street lights based on ambient light levels and to monitor the energy consumed by each light. The system uses a Light Dependent Resistor (LDR) to detect the intensity of surrounding light. When the ambient light falls below a predefined threshold (e.g., during night-time or cloudy conditions), the Arduino activates the street lights. Conversely, when sufficient daylight is detected, the lights are automatically turned off. This intelligent switching helps conserve electricity and extend the life of lighting fixtures. The sensor readings are processed by the Arduino and can be displayed on an LCD module or transmitted to a remote monitoring system for further analysis. This feature allows municipalities or maintenance teams to track energy usage and identify malfunctioning units.

Introduction

This project proposes a smart, automated street lighting system using Arduino, LDR sensors, and current sensors to:

• Automatically control street lights based on ambient light

• Monitor real-time energy consumption

• Improve energy efficiency, reduce manual intervention, and support smart city development

Problem with Traditional Systems

• Rely on manual control or fixed timers

• Cannot adapt to real-time light conditions

• Lead to energy waste and high maintenance costs

Proposed Solution

A low-cost, Arduino-based system that:

• Uses an LDR sensor to detect light intensity

• Automatically switches lights ON/OFF

• Employs a current sensor (e.g., ACS712) to measure energy consumption

• Displays energy data on an LCD for local monitoring

Key Components

• Arduino Uno: Microcontroller for processing sensor inputs and controlling lights

• LDR: Detects surrounding light levels

• ACS712: Measures current for real-time energy monitoring

• Relay Module: Controls high-power lights using low-voltage signals

• IR Sensor (optional): For future enhancements like motion detection

• LCD Display: Shows system status and energy usage

• Jumper Wires, Breadboard, Power Supply: For circuit connections and power

Software Functionality

• Programmed using the Arduino IDE

• Functions include:

  • Reading light levels

  • Switching lights ON/OFF

  • Measuring and calculating energy (Current × Voltage × Time)

  • Displaying information

Expected Outcomes

• Automatic light control based on environmental conditions

• Real-time energy usage monitoring

• Reduction in energy waste

• Scalable and low-cost solution for both rural and urban use

Future Enhancements

• Integration with IoT for remote control and monitoring

• Addition of motion sensors to further optimize energy use

• Use of solar panels for sustainable energy

• Data logging to SD cards or cloud for performance analysis

Literature Review Highlights

• Manual systems are inefficient and costly (Kumar et al., 2016)

• LDR sensors offer effective light-based switching (Sharma & Gupta, 2018)

• Arduino is widely used in low-cost automation (Patel et al., 2019)

• Current sensors help in real-time power tracking (Rao & Babu, 2020)

• IoT integration is a growing trend in smart city projects (Singh & Mehta, 2021)

Methodology

The system is developed through:

1. Hardware design (component selection and integration)

2. Sensor interfacing (LDR and current sensor)

3. Software programming (logic implementation)

4. Testing and validation (to ensure correct operation)

Conclusion

This project successfully demonstrates the design and implementation of an automatic street light control system combined with real-time energy consumption measurement using an Arduino microcontroller. By utilizing a Light Dependent Resistor (LDR), the system efficiently detects ambient light levels and automatically switches street lights ON or OFF, reducing human intervention and preventing unnecessary energy usage. The integration of a current sensor (ACS712) enables continuous monitoring of electrical consumption, which can be displayed in real-time, allowing for improved transparency, fault detection, and future optimization. This makes the system not only energy-efficient but also cost-effective, reliable, and environmentally friendly. The project addresses common issues in traditional street lighting systems and provides a scalable foundation for future smart lighting solutions. With enhancements like IoT integration, motion detection, and solar power, the system can evolve to become a key component of smart city infrastructure, contributing to both urban sustainability and modern energy management.

References

[1] Chen, • S. Sharma and R. Gupta, “Automatic Street Light Control System using Light Dependent Resistor,” International Journal of Advanced Research in Electrical, Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 1345–1349, Mar. 2018. [2] M. Kumar, A. Yadav, and V. Singh, “Smart Street Lighting System Using Arduino UNO,” International Journal of Engineering Sciences & Research Technology, vol. 5, no. 6, pp. 254–258, 2016. [3] A. Patel, S. Mehta, and R. Jaiswal, “Arduino Based Street Light Control with Energy Monitoring System,” International Journal of Innovative Research in Science, Engineering and Technology, vol. 8, no. 5, pp. 1239–1243, May 2019. [4] M. V. Rao and S. Babu, “Real-Time Energy Monitoring System Using ACS712 and Arduino,” International Journal of Engineering and Technology, vol. 7, no. 2.23, pp. 55–58, 2020. [5] Arduino.cc, “Arduino UNO Rev3,” [Online]. Available: https://store.arduino.cc/products/arduino-uno-rev3 [6] Allegro Microsystems, “ACS712 Current Sensor Datasheet,” [Online]. Available: https://www.allegromicro.com/en/products/sense/current-sensors/acs712 [7] T. Singh and R. Mehta, “IoT Based Smart Street Lighting System for Smart Cities,” International Journal of Computer Applications, vol. 182, no. 40, pp. 25–30, 2021.

Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Anjali Bhoyar Mam, Shantanu Shahade, Sujal Gupta, Raj Patil, Shantanu Dhavas. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.