System to Monitor the Health of Earthing System and Alert Staff in Case of Malfunction

Abstract

The safety and operational reliability of electrical systems are fundamentally dependent on an effective earthing (or grounding) mechanism, which ensures that fault currents are safely diverted to the ground, preventing electric shocks, pro¬tecting equipment, and mitigating fire risks. Traditional earthing systems, however, may degrade over time due to environmental factors, leading to unsafe conditions. This paper proposes a real¬time monitoring system utilizing Arduino-based architecture to continuously assess the health of earthing systems. By integrating high-precision sensors for voltage and current measurements, the proposed system provides real-time diagnostics and early fault detection. It further supports automated alert mechanisms to notify maintenance personnel in case of abnormal readings, thus enhancing operational safety and reducing the potential for severe malfunctions. While the initial setup may involve higher costs, the long-term benefits in terms of reduced downtime, optimized maintenance, and enhanced safety make this system an indispensable tool for modern electrical infrastructure.

Introduction

Earthing is vital for electrical safety, providing a low-resistance path for fault currents to prevent shocks and equipment damage. Traditional earthing system checks are often manual, time-consuming, and error-prone. This research proposes an automated, Arduino-based real-time monitoring system integrating voltage and current sensors to continuously assess earthing health. The system detects abnormalities like excessive voltage or stray currents, alerts maintenance personnel via audible alarms and LCD display, and can disconnect circuits through a relay to prevent hazards.

The system architecture includes an Arduino microcontroller, AC voltage sensor (ZMPT101B), two ACS712 current sensors, buzzer, LCD, and relay. It measures voltage between neutral and earth and current on phase and neutral lines, compares readings to thresholds, and triggers alerts or disconnects circuits if faults are detected. A reset function allows operators to restore normal operation after fault resolution.

The methodology involves continuous sensor monitoring, data processing on the Arduino, real-time alerts, and user-friendly feedback on the LCD. The system was tested successfully in simulated fault conditions, reliably detecting grounding faults and providing immediate warnings, thereby improving safety and maintenance efficiency.

Conclusion

The Arduino-based real-time monitoring system for earthing systems offers a robust and efficient solution for ensuring electrical safety. The integration of voltage and current sensors allows for continuous monitoring, providing early detection of faults and timely alerts. This automated solution reduces the risk of electrical hazards, enhances maintenance efficiency, and improves the overall safety and reliability of electrical infrastructure.

References

[1] Jovin Chui, ”A Fault Detection and IoT Monitoring System for Single¬Phase Wiring,” International Journal of Electrical Engineering, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 142-147, 2021. [2] RR Sharma, KP Wath, YP Bawangade, MD Ghatole, ’’Design of a Talking Energy Meter Based on Microcontroller,” IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics, vol. 47, no. 1, pp. 128-133, 2020. [3] Daoru Pan, H. Zhang, and S. Liu, ’Design and Implementation of IoT System and Equipment for Lightning Parameter Monitoring,” Interna¬tional Conference on Electrical Engineering, pp. 25-30, 2019. [4] MD Joshi, S. Agarwal, and R. Shinde, ”Auto Watering System for Substation Earthing Using Soil Moisture Sensors,” International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 75-80, 2020. [5] Abdul Arif bin Arni, ’Development of Earthing Tester for Electrical Wiring in Residential Buildings,” Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology, vol. 38, no. 4, pp. 54-59, 2021.

Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Harshwardhan Mane, Shreyas Borde, Siddhant Gadilkar, Roshan Jadhav, Siddhesh Desai. 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.