Design and Implementation of an Arduino-Based Over/Under Voltage Protection System for Domestic Applications

Abstract

Voltage instability in residential power systems poses significant risks to electrical appliances, leading to inefficiencies, safety hazards, and irreversible damage. This paper presents a low-cost, Arduino Uno-based protection system designed to monitor and mitigate overvoltage (>250V) and undervoltage (<200V) conditions in real time. The system integrates a ZMPT101B voltage sensor for precise AC voltage measurement, a 16x2 LCD for user-friendly status display, and a relay module for automated load disconnection during anomalies. Calibrated to operate within ±3% accuracy, the system processes voltage data via an ATmega328P microcontroller, triggering load isolation within 1.5–2 seconds of detecting unsafe conditions. Experimental validation under simulated voltage fluctuations (180–260V) demonstrated 98% reliability in load protection. Compared to industrial-grade solutions, this system reduces costs by 70% while maintaining robust performance, making it ideal for household applications. Future enhancements include IoT integration for remote monitoring and machine learning for predictive fault detection.

Introduction

Voltage stability is essential to protect electrical devices from damage caused by overvoltage or undervoltage conditions. While industrial protection systems exist, they are often costly and complex for residential use. This project proposes a cost-effective Arduino-based voltage monitoring and protection system that measures AC voltage in real time, displays the data on an LCD, and automatically disconnects loads when voltage deviates beyond ±10% of the nominal 230V (thresholds: undervoltage 200–230V, overvoltage 230–250V).

Key components include the ZMPT101B sensor for accurate AC voltage sensing, an Arduino Uno microcontroller to process signals and control a relay, and a 16x2 LCD for user feedback. The relay isolates the load during abnormal voltage conditions to prevent damage. The system allows user customization of thresholds and includes data logging capabilities.

The design incorporates a power supply, sensor interface, relay driver, and display unit. The software samples voltage at 1kHz, computes RMS voltage, compares it with thresholds, and triggers the relay accordingly. Calibration against a multimeter ensures ±3% accuracy.

Testing showed fast response times (1.5–1.8 seconds) with high accuracy (around 98%) in tripping for fault conditions. Compared to commercial devices, this solution is more affordable ($25 vs. $85), though with slightly slower response and lower precision.

Future enhancements include IoT connectivity for remote monitoring, integration of current sensors for overload protection, machine learning for predictive voltage analysis, improved user interfaces, and scalability to three-phase systems.

Conclusion

Voltage stability is critical for ensuring the longevity and safety of electrical devices. Fluctuations caused by grid instability, load variations, or environmental factors can lead to equipment damage, inefficiencies, or hazards like fires [1]. Industrial protection systems exist but are often costly and complex for residential use. This work addresses this gap by proposing an Arduino-based system that combines real-time voltage monitoring, user-friendly display, and automated load disconnection.

References

[1] ZMPT101B Datasheet. Hunan Yuxin Electronics, 2020. [2] Arduino LLC. Arduino Uno Technical Specifications, 2023. [3] Songle Relay SRD-05VDC-SL-C Manual, 2019. [4] HD44780 LCD Datasheet. Hitachi, 2018. [5] LM7805 Voltage Regulator Datasheet. Texas Instruments, 2021. [6] Blynk IoT Platform. https://blynk.io [7] SIM800L GSM Module Guide. SIMCom, 2022. [8] ACS712 Hall-Effect Sensor Datasheet. Allegro MicroSystems, 2020. [9] Varistor (MOV) Application Notes. Littelfuse, 2021. [10] Arduino Mega 2560 Rev3 Specifications. Arduino LLC, 2023. [11] Hochreiter, S. Long Short-Term Memory, Neural Computation, 1997. [12] PZEM-004T Energy Meter Datasheet. Peacefair, 2020. [13] ILI9341 TFT Display Datasheet. Ilitek, 2019. [14] CE Marking Directive. European Commission, 2022. [15] Kundur, P. Power System Stability and Control. McGraw-Hill, 1994. [16] IEEE Standard 1159-2019. Recommended Practice for Monitoring Electric Power Quality. [17] G. Holmes, Arduino-Based Smart Home Systems, Springer, 2021.

Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Ajeet Kumar, Arvind Maurya, Tej Pratap Pandey, Ritesh Yadav, Lalit Singh. 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.