REDUCTION OF ELECTRICITY THIEF USING IOT

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of

Bachelor of Engineering Degree in
Electrical and Electronics Engineering

by

NIKESH KUMAR S (Register No. 39140034)

JEEVANANTHAM D S (Register No. 39140019)

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING

SCHOOL OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS

SATHYABAMA
INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(DEEMED TO BE UNIVERSITY)
Accredited with Grade “A” by NAAC
JEPPIAAR NAGAR, RAJIV GANDHI SALAI, CHENNAI - 600 119
APRIL 2023
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING

BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that this Project Report is the bonafide work of

NIKESH KUMAR S (Reg. No. 39140034) and JEEVANANTHAM D S (Reg. No.
39140019) who carried out the project entitled “REDUCTION OF ELECTRICITY
THIEF USING IOT" under our supervision from November 2022 to April 2023.

Dr. S. JAYAPRAKASH
Internal Guide

Dr. V. SIVACHIDAMBARANATHAN
Head of the Department

Submitted for Viva voce Examination held on_____________________

Name:

Signature:

Internal Examiner External Examiner

ii
 DECLARATION

We NIKESH KUMAR S (Reg. No. 39140034) and JEEVANANTHAM D S (Reg.

No. 39140019) hereby declare that the Project Report entitled “REDUCTION OF

ELECTRICITY THIEF USING IOT” done by us under the guidance of Dr. S.

JAYAPRAKASH is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of

Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering.

1.

2.

DATE:

PLACE: SIGNATURE OF THE CANDIDATES

iii
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We are pleased to acknowledge our sincere thanks to Board of Management of

SATHYABAMA for their kind encouragement in doing this project and for completing it
successfully. We are grateful to them.

We convey our thanks to Dr. N. M. Nandhita, Dean, School of Electrical and

Electronics Engineering and Dr. V. Sivachidambaranathan, Head of the Department,
Dept. of Electrical and Electronics Engineering for providing us necessary support and
details at the right time during the progressive reviews.

We would like to express our sincere and deep sense of gratitude to our Project
Guide Dr. S. JAYAPRAKASH for his valuable guidance, suggestions and constant
encouragement paved way for the successful completion of our project work.

We wish to express our thanks to all Teaching and Non-teaching staff members of
the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering who were helpful in many ways
for the completion of the project.

iv
 ABSTRACT

In this project Arduino based power theft detection and protection system is designed. An
increase in the demand of electric power for household, commercial and industrial loads
lead to management of electric distribution system become more complicated. Lack of
information at the bases station regarding status of the distribution network has been
identified as the major bottleneck to its effective monitoring and controlling. Electrical
power theft detection and protection system is used to detect and protect an unauthorized
tapping on distribution line. In this project ACS712 series current sensor has been used
as the interfacing instrument between the power line current and Arduino. To isolate
power line from power theft system relay used as switching gear. Arduino control all
operations that all devices do. This system would provide a simple way to detect and
prevent an electrical power theft without any human interference, maximize the profit
margin of power utility company and Prevent fault due to overload. The theft detection of
electricity also became possible by using this system through which server received the
message when users by passed the meter. This system provides billing activity in addition
to detection and protection power theft.

v
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER TITLE PAGE NO.

NO.
ABSTRACT v

LIST OF FIGURES ix

LIST OF TABLES xi

LIST OF SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATIONS xii

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 GENERAL 1

1.2 MOTIVATION FOR THE SELECTION OF PROBLEM 2

1.3 OVERVIEW 2

2 LITERATURE SURVEY

2.1 MAJOR FINDINGS FROM LITERATURE SURVEY 4

2.2 EXISTING BLOCK DIAGRAM 8

2.3 OPEN PROBLEMS IN EXISTING SYSTEM 8

2.4 DISADVANTAGES 8

2.5 IEEE STANDARDS FOLLOWED 9

2.6 CONSTRAINTS 10

vi
 2.7 TRADEOFF 10

2.8 PREREQUISITES 11

3 AIM AND SCOPE OF THE PRESENT

INVESTIGATION
3.1 AIM OF THE PROJECT 13

3.2 SCOPE OF THE PROJECT 13

3.3 OBJECTIVES 14

3.4 ADVANTAGES 14

4 HARDWARE AND PROJECT DESCRIPTION

4.1 HARDWARE CIRCUIT DIAGRAM 16

4.2 EXPLANATION 16

4.3 HARDWARE COMPONENTS 17

4.3.1 Arduino UNO 18

4.3.2 Power supply circuit 25

4.3.3 Voltage sensor 26

4.3.4 Current sensor 27

4.3.5 Battery 28

4.3.6 LCD 30

4.3.7 Buzzer 35

4.3.8 Relay 36

4.3.9 NodeMCU 38

4.4 SOFTWARE REQUIRED 40

vii
 4.4.1 Arduino IDE 40

4.4.2 Embedded C 42

4.4.3 Thingspeak 43

4.5 BLOCK DIAGRAM 45

4.6 PROPOSED SYSTEM EXPLANATION 46

4.7 WORKING MODULES 46

4.8 ADVANTAGES 47

4.9 APPLICATIONS 48

5 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

5.1 HARDWARE OUTPUT 49

5.2 SIMULATION OUTPUT 50

5.3 IOT DATA 50

6 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

6.1 SUMMARY 52

6.2 FUTURE SCOPE 52

6.3 CONCLUSION 53

REFERENCES 55

viii
 LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE NO. TITLE PAGE NO.

2.1 Existing system block Diagram 8

4.1 Circuit diagram 16

4.2 Arduino UNO 19

4.3 Arduino UNO pinout 21

4.4 Pin Diagram 25

4.5 Power Supply Circuit 25

4.6 Voltage Sensor 26

4.7 Current Sensor 27

4.8 Battery 29

4.9 2x16 Line Alphanumeric LCD display 30

4.10 Basic LCD screen 31

4.11 LCD Screen 32

4.12 LCD Background 32

4.13 Character LCD pins with 1 Controller 33

4.14 Character LCD pins with 2 Controller 34

4.15 Buzzer 35

4.16 Relay 37

4.17 Node MCU 38

4.18 Block Diagram 45

4.19 Methodology 47

5.1 Hardware Output 49

ix
5.2 Simulation Output 50

5.3 Photocopy of current graph using IOT 51

5.4 Photocopy of voltage graph using IOT 51

5.5 Photocopy of power graph using IOT 51

x
 LIST OF TABLES

TABLE NO. TITLE PAGE NO.

4.1 Arduino UNO specifications 20

4.2 Buzzer Pin Configuration 36

xi
 LIST OF SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATIONS

IoT - Internet of Things

AMI - Advanced Metering Infrastructure

SCADA - Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition

AI - Artificial Intelligence

ML - Machine Learning

OCR - Optical Character Recognition

RFID - Radio-Frequency Identification

DMS - Distribution Management System

EMS - Energy Management System

TCP/IP - Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol

MQTT - Message Queuing Telemetry Transport

AES - Advanced Encryption Standard

PKI - Public Key Infrastructure

kWh - Kilowatt Hour

xii
 CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION

1.1 GENERAL

Generation, transmission and distribution of electrical energy involve many operational

losses. Whereas losses implicated in generation can be technically defined, but
transmission and distribution losses cannot be precisely quantified with the sending
end information. This illustrates the involvement of nontechnical parameter in
transmission and distribution system. Overall technical losses occur naturally and
caused because of power dissipation in transmission lines, transformers, and other
power system components was discussed in. Technical losses in transmission and
distributions computed with the information about total load and energy billed. On the
other hand, nontechnical losses cannot be precisely computed. It can be estimated
from the difference between the total energy supplied to the customers and the total
energy billed. This kind of loss can be a power theft in the form of meter tampering,
stealing or illegal connections billing irregularities, and unpaid bills. power theft, so has
become a serious concern for the utility company and the government. It has also
different impact like financial and quality of supplied power.
The financial impact of power theft has two-fold manifestations, first there is income
lost or not collected after delivery of the service, second the income lost due to not
charging customers more. If there is power theft, it also leads to non-efficient utilization
of generated power. So, now a day merely generating more power is not enough,
controlling the electrical system has become very important. This can improve power
quality to a great extent and prevent power theft of different forms. But some forms of
electricity are difficulty to measure, and thus to control. For example, theft that involves
tampering with meter to distort the billing information or direct information to the power
system results in commercial loss, is nearly impossible to measure. Since there is lack
of information on both commercial and the legitimate loads in the system, it is difficult
to measure commercial loss. This is due to insufficient inputs for any meaningful loss
calculation. Despite the best efforts by utility, the current results of commercial losses
measurements are often inaccurate, because the figure rely heavily on the records of
13
detected cases, rather than actual measurement of the electrical power system. Even
if utility do have some control over the magnitude of commercial losses, they are not
able to have full control. This has led to a huge lose for electric utilities.

1.2 MOTIVATION FOR THE SELECTION OF PROBLEM

Electricity thefts are increasing every year across domestic as well as industrial
domains which affect the economic status of the country. Various wireless
communication systems are available to detect the power theft, but lacks the required
infrastructure needed to employ them. The project’s aim is to design a system to
monitor the power consumed by load and to detect and eliminate the power theft in
transmission lines and energy meters. This work is also focused on communicating
the theft information to Electricity Board (EB) through IoT. As a network of devices is
connected like sensors it has the ability to exchange real time information through
internet. In this project Raspberry Pi is utilized to detect power theft and send
command to GSM module which sends the theft information message to EB. The
implementation of this system will help save large amount of electricity.

1.3 OVERVIEW

Arduino-based automatic power theft detection technique for electricity is proposed.

In an electricity metering system, tampering is done basically for the purpose of
electricity theft. To protect the electrical energy meter from this theft, attempt a relay
is used at the opening of the meter. The relay is connected to the interrupt pin of the
driver. Hence closed switch applies 12V to the interrupt pin and opened relay drives
the voltage to zero. The relay normally closed when the meter chassis is closed. If
someone tries to open or tamper with the electricity energy meter, that switch gets
opened, and the interrupt pin gets triggered as 0V is sensed by it.

14
The Arduino immediately sends to the GSM module for sending SMS. Upon receiving
an SMS, the authority can take further legal action against it and penalize the theft
person.

In conclusion, A Wireless Electricity Theft Detection and monitoring system has been
designed and developed with proper integration of both the hardware and the
software. Without any human interface this system provides an effective and easy way
to detect electrical theft.

The use of IoT helps in achieving the numerous advantages of wireless network
communications. we have indicated the theft by increasing the load also and this
method is cost efficient. With remote monitoring of the meter reading and sending
SMS, whenever there are abnormal readings, in the customer electricity meter, the
developed system may able to help Utilities to reduce the incidences of household
electricity theft. An automatic circuit breaker can be integrated into the unit so as to
remotely cut off the power supply to the house or consumer who tries to indulge in
power theft.

15
 CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE SURVEY

2.1 MAJOR FINDINGS FROM LITERATURE SURVEY

Landi, C.; Dipt. Di Ing. Dell" Inf., Seconda Univ. di Napoli, Aversa, Italy; Merola, P.;
Ianniello, G, "ARM-based energy management system using smart meter and Web
server", IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference Binjiang, pp.
1 - 5, May 2011. This paper focuses on the design and implementation of the EB power
monthly calculations. The main part of our work is the fabrication of a cost effective
IOT based smart energy meter which displays readings on EB meter, the instant power
consumption at user side, which is collects the how much amount of power will
consumed per two months. So, the power consumption reading will update at every 6
seconds. So, we can easily note the reading via internet. the readings are updated to
internet via IOT module.
Keywords: EB Power, IOT, EB Meter,IOT Module.

Garab, A.; Bouallegue, A.; Ben Abdallah, "A new AMR approach for energy saving in
Smart Grids using Smart Meter and partial Power Line Communication". IEEE First
International Conference on Renewable Energies and Vehicular Technology
(REVET), pp. 263 - 269, March 2012. The growing demand of energy, the capacity
limitations of energy management, one-way communication, the need of an
interoperability of the different standards, the security of the communication and the
greenhouse gas emissions, leads to emerge a new infrastructure grid: Smart Grid.
Smart Meters are one of the proposed solutions for the Smart Grid. In this paper, an
AMR solution which provides enhanced end-to-end application. It is based on an
energy meter with low-power microcontroller MSP430FE423A and the Power Line
Communication standards. The microcontroller includes an energy metering module
16
ESP430CEl. The aim of this work is to realize a real time pricing thanks to the
proposed communication infrastructure. This solution is with great interest in
economical and low carbon society point of view.

Andrea Zanella, Senior Member, IEEE, Nicola Bui, Angelo Castellani, Lorenzo
Vangelista, Senior Member, IEEE, and Michele Zorzi, Fellow, IEEE, "Internet of Things
for Smart Cities", IEEE Internet of Things Journal, vol. I, no. 1, pp. 22-32, February
2014. The Internet of Things (IoT) shall be able to incorporate transparently and
seamlessly a large number of different and heterogeneous end systems, while
providing open access to selected subsets of data for the development of a plethora
of digital services. Building a general architecture for the IoT is hence a very complex
task, mainly because of the extremely large variety of devices, link layer technologies,
and services that may be involved in such a system. In this paper, we focus specifically
to an urban IoT system that, while still being quite a broad category, are characterized
by their specific application domain. Urban IoTs, in fact, are designed to support the
Smart City vision, which aims at exploiting the most advanced communication
technologies to support added-value services for the administration of the city and for
the citizens. This paper hence provides a comprehensive survey of the enabling
technologies, protocols, and architecture for an urban IoT. Furthermore, the paper will
present and discuss the technical solutions and best-practice guidelines adopted in
the Padova Smart City project, a proof-of-concept deployment of an IoT island in the
city of Padova, Italy, performed in collaboration with the city municipality .

IOT Based Electricity Energy Meter Reading. ' Theft Detection and Disconnection
using PLC modem and Power optimization’ Darshan Iver N. Dr. K A Radhakrishna
Rao [July 2015] . This paper describes PIC18F46k22 Microcontroller based design
and implementation of energy meter using IoT concept. The proposed system design
eliminates the human involvement in electricity maintenance. The Buyer needs to pay
for the usage of electricity on schedule, in case that he couldn’t pay, the electricity

17
transmission can be turned off autonomously from the distant server. The user can
monitor the energy consumption in units from a web page by providing device IP
address. Theft detection unit connected to energy meter will notify company side when
meter tampering occurs in energy meter and it will send theft detect information
through PLC modem and theft detected will be displayed on the terminal window of
the company side. Wi-Fi unit performs the IoT operation by sending energy meter data
to web page which can be accessed through IP address.
The Hardware interface circuit consists of PIC18F46k22 Microcontroller, MAX232,
LCD display, theft detection unit, Triac switch circuit, DB18B20 temperature sensor,
PIR sensor, PLC modem, and ESP8266 Wi-Fi module. Wi-Fi unit performs the IoT
operation by sending energy meter data to web page which can be accessed through
IP address.
KEYWORDS:PIC18F46k22, PIC18F2520, ESP8266 Wi-Fi module, PLC modem.

Dietmar P.F. Moller, Hamid Vakilzadian, "Ubiquitous Networks: Power Line

Communication and Internet of Things in Smart Home Environments", IEEE, 2014.

Ubiquitous networks in home environments are expanding connectivity to

electronic objects/things which can be used to build home network services. This
approach uses thing-to-thing or thing-to-gateway connections to access the Internet
of Things, allowing data to be stored for cross-referencing and accessing services,
such as remote home sensors, etc. In order to make these ubiquitous networks
available in the home, power line communication is used. These lines carry data
simultaneously with AC electric power. Power lines connect heterogeneous devices
through private electrical networks, allowing greater flexibility in the deployment of
applications that require important data transfer. Broadband access and
advancements in ubiquitous computing have fostered the development of power line
communication offering integrated services through a reliable and robust system at
the physical and data link layer of the open system interconnection (OSI) model. In
this paper we describe application of ubiquitous networks in smart home environment.

18
M. Anas, N. Javaid, A. Mahmood, S. M. Raza, U. Qasim, Z. A. Khan, “Minimizing
Electricity Theft using Smart Meters in AMI”, IEEE Seventh International Conference
on P2P. Parallel, Grid, Cloud and Internet Computing, 2012, pp. 176-182.

Global energy crises are increasing every moment. Everyone has the attention
towards more and more energy production and also trying to save it. Electricity can be
produced through many ways which is then synchronized on a main grid for usage.
The main issue for which we have written this survey paper is losses in electrical
system. Weather these losses are technical or non-technical. Technical losses can be
calculated easily, as we discussed in section of mathematical modeling that how to
calculate technical losses. Whereas nontechnical losses can be evaluated if technical
losses are known.

Theft in electricity produce non-technical losses. To reduce or control theft one can
save his economic resources. Smart meter can be the best option to minimize
electricity theft, because of its high security, best efficiency, and excellent resistance
towards many of theft ideas in electromechanical meters. So in this paper we have
mostly concentrated on theft issues.

19
2.2 EXISTING SYSTEM BLOCK DIAGRAM

Fig 2.1: Existing system block diagram

2.3 OPEN PROBLEMS IN EXISTING SYSTEM

In this Existing system IT and GSM technology is implemented for transmitting the
information about power theft to the EB and prevents the current scenario. This system
is being interfaced with Arduino via serial communication and sensors are interfaced
with uno to sense the load current and voltage. This will prevent the electricity theft as
much as possible. The current system gives solution for the existing problems like
power theft, wastage of energy and transmission line fault that are faced by the
authorized power suppliers.

2.4 DISADVANTAGES

• Higher costs (time and money).

• Cannot able to send data to cloud.

• Cannot able to turn of load from anywhere.

20
2.5 IEEE STANDARDS FOLLOWED

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has several standards
related to the reduction of electricity theft using IoT technology. Some of these
standards include:

1. IEEE 802.15.4: This standard specifies the physical and MAC layer specifications
for low-rate wireless personal area networks (LR-WPANs). It is a common standard
used for IoT devices and can be used for electricity theft reduction.

2. IEEE 802.15.4g: This standard is an amendment to IEEE 802.15.4 and

specifies the physical layer specifications for wireless smart utility networks (Wi-SUN).
It is designed to support smart grid applications, including electricity theft reduction.

3. IEEE 2030.5: This standard specifies the communication protocols for smart
grid energy management systems using Internet Protocol (IP) and web services
technologies. It includes security and privacy features that can help prevent electricity
theft.

4. IEEE 1547.4: This standard provides guidelines for the design, testing, and
certification of distributed energy resources (DER) interfaces with electric power
systems. It includes requirements for anti-islanding and anti-tampering measures that
can help prevent electricity theft.

5. IEEE P1854.1: This is a draft standard for a framework for the detection and
reporting of energy theft. It includes guidelines for the design of energy theft detection
systems that can use IoT devices and other technologies .

21
2.6 CONSTRAINTS

Cost: The cost of implementing IoT-based solutions for electricity theft reduction can
be high. IoT devices, sensors, and other components needed for such solutions can
be expensive, especially if they need to be deployed on a large scale.

Connectivity: IoT devices rely on connectivity to transmit data and communicate with
other devices. However, in some areas where electricity theft is a problem, the
connectivity infrastructure may not be well developed, making it difficult to implement
IoT-based solutions.

Power supply: IoT devices need a reliable power supply to function. However, in
areas where electricity theft is common, the power supply may be unstable, making it
difficult to maintain a reliable connection to IoT devices.

Data privacy and security: IoT devices collect and transmit sensitive data related to
electricity consumption, which can be vulnerable to cyber-attacks and data breaches.
Ensuring the privacy and security of such data can be a challenge.

Regulatory constraints: Some countries or regions may have regulations that limit
the deployment of IoT devices or the collection of certain types of data, which can
make it difficult to implement IoT-based solutions for electricity theft reduction.

Limited awareness: In some areas, there may be limited awareness or understanding

of the benefits of IoT-based solutions for electricity theft reduction, which can make it
challenging to gain support and adoption for such solutions.

2.7 TRADEOFF

Cost vs. benefits: The cost of implementing IoT-based solutions for electricity theft
reduction may be high, but the benefits of reducing theft can be significant in terms of
cost savings, improved revenue collection, and improved grid stability.

22
Privacy vs. security: IoT devices collect sensitive data related to electricity
consumption, which can be vulnerable to cyber-attacks and data breaches. Balancing
the need for data privacy and security is a critical tradeoff in implementing such
solutions.

Coverage vs. granularity: IoT devices can provide granular data on electricity
consumption, but the coverage area of such devices may be limited. Balancing the
need for broad coverage and granular data is an important tradeoff in implementing
IoT-based solutions for electricity theft reduction.

Reliability vs. complexity: IoT devices can provide reliable data on electricity
consumption, but the complexity of such devices and the associated software can
make them more challenging to implement and maintain.

Energy consumption vs. functionality: IoT devices need a reliable power supply to
function, but the energy consumption of such devices can be significant, which can
impact their functionality and deployment.

2.8 PREREQUISITES

IoT infrastructure: A reliable and robust IoT infrastructure is needed to support the
deployment of IoT devices and sensors for electricity theft reduction. This includes a
network architecture that can support the collection, transmission, and processing of
data from these devices.

Data management: An effective data management strategy is critical for IoT-based

solutions for electricity theft reduction. This includes data collection, storage, analysis,
and visualization to help identify patterns of electricity theft and enable real-time
response.

23
Analytics and machine learning: Advanced analytics and machine learning
algorithms are needed to analyze the large volumes of data generated by IoT devices
and sensors for electricity theft detection and prevention. These algorithms can help
identify anomalies, patterns, and trends that may indicate electricity theft.

Regulatory compliance: IoT-based solutions for electricity theft reduction must

comply with relevant regulations and laws, including data privacy and security
regulations.

Stakeholder buy-in: Successful implementation of IoT-based solutions for electricity

theft reduction requires stakeholder buy-in from both utilities and customers. This
includes educating customers about the benefits of such solutions and ensuring that
utilities have the necessary resources and support to deploy and maintain these
solutions.

Technical expertise: IoT-based solutions for electricity theft reduction require

technical expertise in areas such as IoT device design, data analytics, cybersecurity,
and network infrastructure. Ensuring that the necessary technical expertise is available
is critical for successful implementation.

24
 CHAPTER 3
AIM AND SCOPE OF THE PRESENT INVESTIGATION

3.1 AIM OF THE PROJECT

The aim of the reduction of electricity thief using iot is Arduino based power theft
detection and protection system is designed. An increase in the demand of electric
power for household, commercial and industrial loads lead to management of electric
distribution system become more complicated. Lack of information at the bases station
regarding status of the distribution network has been identified as the major bottleneck
to its effective monitoring and controlling. Electrical power theft detection and
protection system is used to detect and protect an unauthorized tapping on distribution
line. In this project ACS712 series current sensor has been used as the interfacing
instrument between the power line current and Arduino. To isolate power line from
power theft system relay used as switching gear. Arduino control all operations that all
devices do.

3.2 SCOPE OF THE PROJECT

This system would provide a simple way to detect and prevent an electrical power theft
without any human interference, maximize the profit margin of power utility company
and Prevent fault due to overload. The theft detection of electricity also became
possible by using this system through which server received the message when users
by passed the meter. This system provides billing activity in addition to detection and
protection power theft.

25
3.3 OBJECTIVES

• IOT use things to things connection to access the internet of things, allow data
to store and access services. Services over internet of things development
according to need of person to person and thing to person, machine to machine
interaction without human interaction.
• As there is limited non-renewable resources are present in our daily life,
Electricity is one of them which utilized in every country that results abundant
losses due to electricity larceny. Power theft is going to be the key challenges.
• A smart energy meter is used to minimize the electricity larceny. Basically,
energy meter is a device that calculates the cost of electricity consumed by
homes, business, or an electrical device. It reduces the theft of electricity.

3.4 ADVANTAGES

Cost savings: Reducing electricity theft using IoT can help save costs for both
electricity providers and consumers. Electricity providers can reduce their losses due
to theft, and consumers can benefit from reduced electricity bills.

Increased revenue: With the reduction in theft, electricity providers can increase their
revenue by accurately billing their customers and charging them for the electricity they
use.

Improved efficiency: IoT can provide real-time monitoring of electricity consumption

and identify any anomalies or theft attempts. This can help utilities quickly identify and
resolve issues, thereby improving efficiency.

Improved safety: Electricity theft can be dangerous and can result in accidents and
fires. By reducing theft, IoT can help improve safety for both consumers and electricity
providers.

26
Environmental benefits: Reduction in electricity theft can lead to a reduction in
overall electricity consumption, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and
environmental impact.

Improved reliability: IoT can help identify areas where electricity theft is prevalent
and where there is a high demand for electricity. This can help utilities improve their
infrastructure and ensure a more reliable electricity supply.

27
 CHAPTER 4
HARDWARE AND PROJECT DESCRIPTION

4.1 HARDWARE CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

Fig 4.1: Circuit diagram

4.2 EXPLANATION

IoT devices and sensors: These devices can be deployed in electrical infrastructure,
such as power lines, to monitor electricity consumption and detect anomalies that may
indicate electricity theft.

Communication network: A communication network, such as a cellular network or Wi-

Fi network, can be used to transmit data from the IoT devices and sensors to a central
database for processing and analysis.

28
Central database: The data collected by the IoT devices and sensors can be stored in
a central database, where it can be processed and analyzed to identify patterns of
electricity theft.

Data analytics and machine learning: Advanced data analytics and machine learning
algorithms can be used to analyze the data collected by the IoT devices and sensors
to identify anomalies and patterns that may indicate electricity theft.

Alerts and notifications: If the system detects anomalies or patterns that indicate
electricity theft, alerts and notifications can be sent to relevant stakeholders, such as
utilities or law enforcement agencies, to enable real-time response.

Control systems: Control systems can be used to monitor and control electricity
distribution to prevent electricity theft. For example, if the system detects that electricity
theft is occurring in a particular area, the control systems can be used to cut off power
supply to that area until the issue is resolved.

User interface: A user interface can be developed to provide real-time information on

electricity consumption and to enable utilities and customers to monitor electricity
usage and identify potential issues.

4.3 HARDWARE COMPONENTS

The list of hardware components that are required are:

• Arduino Uno R3

• Voltage Sensor

• Current Sensor

• Load

29
• Iot Wifi Modem

• Power Supply Unit

• Lcd

Software Requirement

• ARDUINO IDE

• Embedded C

4.3.1 Arduino UNO

Arduino is an open-source electronics platform based on easy-to-use hardware and

software. Arduino boards are able to read inputs - light on a sensor, a finger on a
button, or a Twitter message - and turn it into an output - activating a motor, turning
on an LED, publishing something online. You can tell your board what to do by sending
a set of instructions to the microcontroller on the board. To do so you use the Arduino
programming language (based on Wiring), and the Arduino Software (IDE), based on
Processing.

Over the years Arduino has been the brain of thousands of projects, from
everyday objects to complex scientific instruments. A worldwide community of makers
- students, hobbyists, artists, programmers, and professionals - has gathered around
this open-source platform, their contributions have added up to an incredible amount
of accessible knowledge that can be of great help to novices and experts alike.

Arduino was born at the Ivrea Interaction Design Institute as an easy tool for fast
prototyping, aimed at students without a background in electronics and programming.
As soon as it reached a wider community, the Arduino board started changing to adapt
to new needs and challenges, differentiating its offer from simple 8-bit boards to
products for IoT applications, wearable, 3D printing, and embedded environments. All
Arduino boards are completely open-source, empowering users to build them

30
independently and eventually adapt them to their particular needs. The software, too,
is open-source, and it is growing through the contributions of users worldwide.

4.3.1.1 Input and Output

Arduino - ArduinoBoardUno Each of the 14 digital pins on the Uno can be used as
an input or output, using pinMode(), digitalWrite(), and digitalRead() functions. They
operate at 5 volts. Each pin can provide or receive a maximum of 40 mA and has an
internal pull-up resistor (disconnected by default) of 20-50 kOhms.

The Uno is one of the more popular boards in the Arduino family and a great
choice for beginners.

Fig 4.2: Arduino UNO

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 Table 4.1: Arduino UNO specifications

Microcontroller ATmega328P – 8 bit AVR family

microcontroller

Operating Voltage 5V

Recommended Input Voltage 7-12V

Input Voltage Limits 6-20V

Analog Input Pins 6 (A0 – A5)

Digital I/O Pins 14 (Out of which 6 provide PWM output)

DC Current on I/O Pins 40 mA

DC Current on 3.3V Pin 50 mA

Flash Memory 32 KB (0.5 KB is used for Bootloader)

SRAM 2 KB

EEPROM 1 KB

Frequency (Clock Speed) 16 MHz

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 Fig 4.3: Arduino UNO pinout

4.3.1.2 Power (USB / Barrel Jack)

Every Arduino board needs a way to be connected to a power source. The Arduino
UNO can be powered from a USB cable coming from your computer or a wall power
supply that is terminated in a barrel jack. In the picture above the USB connection is
labelled (1) and the barrel jack is labelled (2). The USB connection is also how you will
load code onto your Arduino board.

4.3.1.3 Pins (5V, 3.3V, GND, Analog, Digital, PWM, AREF)

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 The pins on your Arduino are the places where you connect wires to construct a
circuit (probably in conjunction with a breadboard and some wire.
They usually have black plastic ‘headers’ that allow you to just plug a wire right into
the board. The Arduino has several different kinds of pins, each of which is labelled
on the board and used for different functions.

GND (3): Short for ‘Ground’. There are several GND pins on the Arduino, any of which
can be used to ground your circuit.

5V (4) & 3.3V (5): As you might guess, the 5V pin supplies 5 volts of power, and the
3.3V pin supplies 3.3 volts of power. Most of the simple components used with the
Arduino run happily off of 5 or 3.3 volts.

Analog (6): The area of pins under the ‘Analog In’ label (A0 through A5 on the UNO)
are Analog In pins. These pins can read the signal from an analog sensor (like a
temperature sensor) and convert it into a digital value that we can read.

Digital (7): Across from the analog pins are the digital pins (0 through 13 on the UNO).
These pins can be used for both digital input (like telling if a button is pushed) and
digital output (like powering an LED).

PWM (8): You may have noticed the tilde (~) next to some of the digital pins (3, 5, 6,
9, 10, and 11 on the UNO). These pins act as normal digital pins, but can also be used
for something called Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM).

AREF (9): Stands for Analog Reference. Most of the time you can leave this pin alone.
It is sometimes used to set an external reference voltage (between 0 and 5 Volts) as
the upper limit for the analog input pins.

4.3.1.4 Reset Button

Just like the original Nintendo, the Arduino has a reset button (10). Pushing it will
temporarily connect the reset pin to ground and restart any code that is loaded on the
Arduino.

34
 This can be very useful if your code doesn’t repeat, but you want to test it multiple
times. Unlike the original Nintendo however, blowing on the Arduino doesn’t usually
fix any problems.

4.3.1.5 Power LED Indicator

Just beneath and to the right of the word “UNO” on your circuit board, there’s a
tiny LED next to the word ‘ON’ (11). This LED should light up whenever you plug your
Arduino into a power source. If this light doesn’t turn on, there’s a good chance
something is wrong. Time to re-check your circuit.

4.3.1.6 TX RX LEDs
TX is short for transmit RX is short for receive. These markings appear quite a bit
in electronics to indicate the pins responsible for serial communication.
In our case, there are two places on the Arduino UNO where TX and RX appear once
by digital pins 0 and 1, and a second time next to the TX and RX indicator LEDs (12).
These LEDs will give us some nice visual indications whenever our Arduino is
receiving or transmitting data (like when we’re loading a new program onto the board).

4.3.1.7 Main IC

The black thing with all the metal legs is an IC, or Integrated Circuit (13). Think of
it as the brains of our Arduino.
The main IC on the Arduino is slightly different from board type to board type, but
is usually from the AT mega line of IC’s from the ATMEL company. This can be
important, as you may need to know the IC type (along with your board type) before
loading up a new program from the Arduino software. This information can usually be
found in writing on the top side of the IC. If you want to know more about the difference
between various IC’s, reading the datasheets is often a good idea.

4.3.1.8 Voltage Regulator

The voltage regulator (14) is not actually something you can (or should) interact
with on the Arduino. But it is potentially useful to know that it is there and what it’s for.

35
 The voltage regulator does exactly what it says – it controls the amount of voltage
that is let into the Arduino board. Think of it as a kind of gatekeeper; it will turn away
an extra voltage that might harm the circuit. Of course, it has its limits, so don’t hook
up your Arduino to anything greater than 20 volts.

4.3.1.9 ATmega 328

ATmega-328 is basically an Advanced Virtual RISC (AVR) micro-controller. It

supports the data up to eight (8) bits. ATmega-328 has 32KB internal built in memory.
This micro-controller has a lot of other characteristics.

ATmega 328 has 1KB Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory
(EEPROM).

This property shows if the electric supply supplied to the micro-controller is

removed, even then it can store the data and can provide results after providing it with
the electric supply.

Moreover, ATmega-328 has 2KB Static Random Access Memory (SRAM). Other
characteristics will be explained later. ATmega 328 has several different features
which make it the most popular device in today’s market. These features consist of
advanced RISC architecture, good performance, low power consumption, real timer
counter having separate oscillator, 6 PWM pins, programmable serial USART,
programming lock for software security, throughput up to 20 MIPS etc. ATmega-328
is mostly used in Arduino.

ATmega328 is an eight (8) bit micro-controller. It can handle the data sized of up
to eight (8) bits. It is an AVR based micro-controller. Its built-in internal memory is
around 32KB. It operates ranging from 3.3V to 5V. It has an ability to store the data
even when the electrical supply is removed from its biasing terminals. Its excellent
features include the cost efficiency, low power dissipation, programming lock for
security purposes, real timer counter with separate oscillator.

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 Fig 4.4: Pin diagram

4.3.2 POWER SUPPLY CIRCUIT:

Fig 4.5: Power supply circuit

37
4.3.3 Voltage sensor

A voltage sensor is an electronic device that measures and monitors the electrical
potential difference, or voltage, between two points in an electrical circuit. It is
commonly used in various applications, including power systems, industrial processes,
consumer electronics, and automotive systems. The voltage sensor plays a critical
role in ensuring the safe and efficient operation of electrical equipment by providing
accurate voltage measurements and transmitting the information to other devices or
systems for further processing or control.

Fig 4.6: Voltage sensor

A typical voltage sensor consists of several key components, including a sensing

element, signal conditioning circuitry, and an output interface. The sensing element is
the part of the voltage sensor that comes into contact with the electrical circuit and
converts the electrical voltage into a measurable signal, which is then processed by
the signal conditioning circuitry. The signal conditioning circuitry amplifies, filters, and
isolates the signal to ensure accurate and reliable measurements. The output interface
provides the means for transmitting the processed voltage measurement to other
devices or systems, such as analog or digital output signals, communication protocols,
or display interfaces.

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4.3.4 Current sensor

A current sensor is an electronic device used to measure and monitor the flow of
electric current in a circuit. It is widely used in various applications, including power
systems, motor control, battery management, renewable energy systems, and
industrial processes. Current sensors play a crucial role in providing accurate current
measurements, which are essential for monitoring and controlling electrical systems,
ensuring safety, efficiency, and performance.

Fig 4.7: Current sensor

A typical current sensor consists of several key components, including a sensing

element, signal conditioning circuitry, and an output interface. The sensing element is
the part of the current sensor that comes into contact with the electrical current-
carrying conductor and generates a measurable signal proportional to the current. The
signal conditioning circuitry processes the signal, providing amplification, filtering, and
isolation to ensure accurate and reliable measurements. The output interface provides
the means for transmitting the processed current measurement to other devices or
systems, such as analog or digital output signals, communication protocols, or display
interfaces.

39
 Current sensors can be designed to measure different types of current signals,
including DC (direct current) or AC (alternating current) currents, and can have various
input and output current ranges, accuracy levels, and response times depending on
the specific application requirements. They can also measure different current levels,
ranging from low currents in milliamperes to high currents in kiloamperes or even
higher.

Some current sensors also incorporate additional features, such as overcurrent

protection, temperature compensation, fault detection, or galvanic isolation, to
enhance their performance and reliability in challenging environments or critical
applications.

In conclusion, a current sensor is a critical component in electrical systems that

enables accurate measurement and monitoring of current levels. It plays a crucial role
in various applications by providing essential current measurements for monitoring,
control, and protection. By converting current into measurable signals, processing
them, and providing output interfaces for communication or control, current sensors
contribute to the safety, efficiency, and performance of electrical systems. Proper
selection, installation, and calibration of current sensors are essential to ensure their
accurate operation and reliable performance in diverse applications.

4.3.5 Battery

A 12V battery is a type of rechargeable battery that provides a nominal voltage of

12 volts. It is commonly used in a wide range of applications, including automotive,
marine, recreational vehicles, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, solar
power systems, and portable electronics. The 12V battery is a popular choice for
powering various devices and systems due to its relatively high voltage output and
versatility.

40
 Fig 4.8 Battery

A typical 12V battery is composed of one or more electrochemical cells connected

in series to produce a total voltage of 12 volts. The cells are usually enclosed in a
durable plastic or metal case and contain an electrolyte and one or more electrodes
that undergo chemical reactions to generate electrical energy. The most common
types of batteries used to produce 12V output are lead-acid batteries and lithium-ion
batteries.

Lead-acid batteries are a type of rechargeable battery that uses lead plates and
sulfuric acid as the electrolyte. They are widely used in automotive applications and
other high-current applications due to their ability to deliver high power outputs. Lead-
acid batteries are relatively inexpensive and have a long history of reliable
performance, although they are relatively heavy and require periodic maintenance.

Lithium-ion batteries are a type of rechargeable battery that uses lithium ions to
generate electrical energy. They are known for their high energy density, lightweight,
and long cycle life. Lithium-ion batteries are commonly used in portable electronics,
electric vehicles, and solar power systems due to their high-power density and
lightweight design. They are generally more expensive than lead-acid batteries but
offer higher performance and convenience in many applications.

41
 In conclusion, a 12V battery is a common type of rechargeable battery that provides
a nominal voltage of 12 volts. It is widely used in various applications due to its
versatility, including automotive, marine, recreational vehicles, UPS systems, solar
power systems, and portable electronics. Whether it's a lead-acid or lithium-ion
battery, proper handling, charging, and maintenance are essential to ensure its safe
and reliable operation. The selection of the appropriate type of 12V battery depends
on the specific requirements of the application in terms of power output, energy
density, weight, and cost considerations.

4.3.6 LCD

To display accurate messages, we use the LCD Module. Analyzing A smart two-
line LCD display, 16 characters per line used to directors. The (handshake)
presentation session is as follows it emerged. Although D0 to D7th bit are Data lines,
RS, RW and EN pins only control rods and anchors remaining + 5V, - 5V and GND
should be provided to feed. Where RS is the Select Register, RW is Read Write and
EN pin Allow.

The most popular type t LCD regulator is a HITACHI 44780 that provides a visual
interface in the middle controller and LCD. These LCDs are very easy to work with
regulator as they have financial knowledge

Fig 4.9: 2x16 Line Alphanumeric LCD display

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 The LCD requires three control lines (RS, R / W and EN) and 8 (or lines of
information. The number in the information lines depends on the operating system.
Whenever it works in 8-bit mode and then 8+ information lines and three control lines
for example 11 lines are required. In addition, whenever a 4-bit mode is used and
then 4+ information lines and three control lines for example 7 lines are required. How
can we choose which mode to use? It is straightforward with the possibility that you
have enough information lines to go in 8-digit mode and if there is a binding time.

The ENABLE pin is used to link existing information to information pins. A low-level
signal is needed to connect the data. LCD deciphers also make our order right now
the EN line is dropped down. If you do not lower EN, your lead will never be
implemented.

Fig 4.10: Basic LCD screen

4.3.6.1 Description

This is the 16th feature in the 2-line display. Dark content on Green foundation. It
uses the same HD44780 optical chipset. Interface code is clearly accessible. We will
need 11 standard I / O pins to connect to this LCD screen. Includes LED backlight.

4.3.6.2 Pin
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 Most LCDs with 1 controller have 14 pins and LCDs with 2 regulators with 16 pins
(two pins are added to both LED backlights). The display of the pin appears in the
table below.

Fig 4.11: LCD screen

Fig 4.12: LCD Background

4.3.6.3 LCD Background

Fortunately, there is a popular standard that allows us to talk to many LCDs that do
not pay much attention to their manufacturer. The standard is referred to as the

44
HD44780U, which refers to the controller chip that receives data from an external
source (8051) and communicates directly with the LCD.

Fig 4.13: Character LCD pins with 1 Controller

4.3.6.4 Circuit Description

Above is a very straightforward program. Control Port is an open source / open

channel producer. While many of the same ports have internal pull-out pins, not much
45
is missing. So by mixing two 10K external pull-outs, the circuit is more integrated with
a wider range of PCs, some of which may not have internal drawing addresses.

Fig 4.14: Character LCD pins with 2 Controller

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 We made no effort to include data transfer in exchange. So we tightened the cords
to the R / W line of the LCD board, into writing mode. This will not cause a conflict of
interest in the transportation of information lines. We are therefore unable to reverse
the interior of the LCD Busy Flag advising us if the LCD consents and threatened to
prepare for the final lead. This issue is being addressed by the known embedding
of our system.

4.3.7 Buzzer

A buzzer is a small yet efficient component to add sound features to our

project/system. It is very small and compact 2-pin structure hence can be easily used
on breadboard, Perf Board and even on PCBs which makes this a widely used
component in most electronic applications.

Fig 4.15: Buzzer

There are two types are buzzers that are commonly available. The one shown
here is a simple buzzer which when powered will make a Continuous Beeeeeeppp....
sound, the other type is called a readymade buzzer which will look bulkier than this
and will produce a Beep. Beep. Beep. Sound due to the internal oscillating circuit
present inside it. But the one shown here is most widely used because it can be
customized with help of other circuits to fit easily in our application.

This buzzer can be used by simply powering it using a DC power supply ranging
from 4V to 9V. A simple 9V battery can also be used, but it is recommended to use a

47
regulated +5V or +6V DC supply. The buzzer is normally associated with a switching
circuit to turn ON or turn OFF the buzzer at required time and require interval.

Table 4.2: Buzzer Pin Configuration

Pin Number Pin Name Description

1 Positive Identified by (+) symbol or longer terminal lead.

Can be powered by 6V DC

2 Negative Identified by short terminal lead. Typically

connected to the ground of the circuit

4.3.7.1 Applications of Buzzer

• Alarming Circuits, where the user has to be alarmed about something.

• Communication equipments.

• Automobile electronics.

• Portable equipments, due to its compact size.

4.3.8 Relay

A relay is an electromechanical device used to control the flow of electrical current

in a circuit. It is commonly used in various applications, including industrial automation,
telecommunications, automotive systems, home appliances, and electronic devices.
Relays are widely used for their ability to switch high currents or voltages with a low-

48
power control signal, making them essential components in many electrical and
electronic systems.

Fig 4.16: Relay

A typical relay consists of several key components, including a coil, an armature,

and contacts. The coil is an electromagnetic winding that is energized when a control
signal, typically a low-voltage electrical current, is applied to it. The energized coil
creates a magnetic field that attracts the armature, which is a movable component
connected to the contacts. The armature moves in response to the magnetic field,
causing the contacts to open or close, depending on the relay type and configuration.

The contacts in a relay are the switching elements that control the flow of electrical
current. There are typically two sets of contacts in a relay, known as normally open
(NO) and normally closed (NC) contacts. In the resting state, the NO contacts are
open, and the NC contacts are closed. When the coil is energized, the armature
moves, and the contacts change their state. In a NO relay, the contacts close, allowing
current to flow through the relay, while in an NC relay, the contacts open, interrupting
the current flow.

Relays come in various types and configurations, including electromechanical

relays, solid-state relays (SSRs), latching relays, and reed relays, among others.
Electromechanical relays use physical contacts and mechanical movement to switch
49
the current, while SSRs use semiconductor devices to achieve the same function
without mechanical parts. Latching relays have two stable states and do not require
continuous power to maintain their state, while reed relays use a small hermetically
sealed glass tube with contacts that open and close based on the position of a magnet.

In conclusion, a relay is an essential electromechanical device used to control

the flow of electrical current in a circuit. It consists of a coil, an armature, and contacts
that open or close in response to an energized coil. Relays are widely used in various
applications for their ability to switch high currents or voltages with a low-power control
signal. Proper selection, installation, and use of relays are crucial for ensuring their
reliable operation in different systems and applications.

4.3.9 Node MCU

Fig 4.17: Node MCU

The ESP8266 NodeMCU CP2102 board has ESP8266 which is a highly integrated
chip designed for the needs of a new connected world. It offers a complete and self-
contained WiFi networking solution, allowing it to either host the application or to
offload all Wi-Fi networking functions from another application processor.

ESP8266 has powerful on-board processing and storage capabilities that allow it
to be integrated with the sensors and other application-specific devices through its
50
GPIOs with minimal development up-front and minimal loading during runtime. Its high
degree of on-chip integration allows for minimal external circuitry, and the entire
solution, including the frontend module, is designed to occupy minimal PCB area.

The ESP8266 NodeMCU development board – a true plug-and-play solution for

inexpensive projects using WiFi. The module arrives pre-flashed with NodeMCU
firmware so they’re ready to go – just install your USB driver (below). ESP-12 Lua
Nodemcu WIFI Dev Board Internet Of Things board contains a full ESP8266 WiFi
module with all the GPIO broken out, a full USB-serial interface, and a power supply
all on the one breadboard-friendly package.

This board is pre-flashed with NodeMCU – a Lua-based firmware for the ESP8266
which allows easy control via a neat scripting language – Lua – so you’re ready to go
in just a few minutes.

The ESP-12 Lua NodeMCU WIFI Dev Board Internet Of Things with ESP8266 is
an all-inone microcontroller + WiFi platform that is very easy to use to create projects
with WiFi and IoT (Internet of Things) applications.

The board is based on the highly popular ESP8266 WiFi Module chip with the
ESP-12 SMD footprint. This WiFi development board already embeds in its board all
the necessary components for the ESP8266 (ESP-12E) to program and upload code.
It has a builtin USB to serial chip upload codes, 3.3V regulator, and logic level
converter circuit so you can immediately upload codes and connect your circuits.

4.3.9.1 Features

• Open-source, Interactive, Programmable, Low cost, Simple, Smart, WI-FI

enabled

• Arduino-like hardware IO

• Integrated TR switch, balun, LNA, power amplifier and matching network

• Integrated PLL, regulators, DCXO and power management units

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 • Onboard USB to serial chip to easily program and upload codes from the
Arduino IDE

• Embeds logic level converter circuits

• Has onboard 3.3V regulator to ensure enough power to function as your go-to
WiFi chip.

• Easy access to the GPIO pins for easy prototyping

• ESP-12E Processor

• Easy to use breadboard friendly form factor

4.4 SOFTWARE REQUIRED

• Arduino IDE

• Embedded C

• Thingspeak

4.4.1 Arduino IDE

Arduino is an open-source electronics platform based on easy-to-use hardware

and software. Arduino boards are able to read inputs - light on a sensor, a finger on a
button, or a Twitter message - and turn it into an output - activating a motor, turning
on an LED, publishing something online. You can tell your board what to do by sending
a set of instructions to the microcontroller on the board. To do so you use the Arduino
programming language (based on Wiring), and the Arduino Software (IDE), based on
Processing.

Over the years Arduino has been the brain of thousands of projects, from everyday
objects to complex scientific instruments. A worldwide community of makers -
52
students, hobbyists, artists, programmers, and professionals - has gathered around
this open-source platform, their contributions have added up to an incredible amount
of accessible knowledge that can be of great help to novices and experts alike.

Arduino was born at the Ivrea Interaction Design Institute as an easy tool for fast
prototyping, aimed at students without a background in electronics and programming.
As soon as it reached a wider community, the Arduino board started changing to adapt
to new needs and challenges, differentiating its offer from simple 8-bit boards to
products for IoT applications, wearable, 3D printing, and embedded environments. All
Arduino boards are completely open-source, empowering users to build them
independently and eventually adapt them to their particular needs. The software, too,
is open-source, and it is growing through the contributions of users worldwide.

4.4.1.1 Why Arduino?

The Arduino software is easy-to-use for beginners, yet flexible enough for advanced
users. It runs on Mac, Windows, and Linux. Teachers and students use it to build low-
cost scientific instruments, to prove chemistry and physics principles, or to get started
with programming and robotics. Designers and architects build interactive prototypes,
musicians and artists use it for installations and to experiment with new musical
instruments. Makers, of course, use it to build many of the projects exhibited at the
Maker Faire, for example. Arduino is a key tool to learn new things. Anyone - children,
hobbyists, artists, programmers - can start tinkering just following the step-by-step
instructions of a kit, or sharing ideas online with other members of the Arduino
community.

There are many other microcontrollers and microcontroller platforms available for
physical computing. Parallax Basic Stamp, Netmedia's BX-24, Phidgets, MIT's
Handyboard, and many others offer similar functionality. All of these tools take the
messy details of microcontroller programming and wrap it up in an easy-to-use
package. Arduino also simplifies the process of working with microcontrollers, but it
offers some advantage for teachers, students, and interested amateurs over other
systems:

53
 • Inexpensive - Arduino boards are relatively inexpensive compared to other
microcontroller platforms. The least expensive version of the Arduino module can be
assembled by hand, and even the pre-assembled Arduino modules cost less than
$50
• Cross-platform - The Arduino Software (IDE) runs on Windows, Macintosh
OSX, and Linux operating systems. Most microcontroller systems are limited to
Windows.
• Simple, clear programming environment - The Arduino Software (IDE) is
easy to-use for beginners, yet flexible enough for advanced users to take advantage
of as well. For teachers, it's conveniently based on the Processing programming
environment, so students learning to program in that environment will be familiar with
how the Arduino IDE works.
• Open source and extensible software - The Arduino software is published as
open-source tools, available for extension by experienced programmers. The
language can be expanded through C++ libraries, and people wanting to understand
the technical details can make the leap from Arduino to the AVR C programming
language on which it's based. Similarly, you can add AVR-C code directly into your
Arduino programs if you want to.
• Open source and extensible hardware - The plans of the Arduino boards are
published under a Creative Commons license, so experienced circuit designers can
make their own version of the module, extending it and improving it. Even relatively
inexperienced users can build the breadboard version of the module in order to
understand how it works and save money.

4.4.2 Embedded C:

Embedded c is a set of language extension for the C Programming language by

the C Standards committee to address commonality issues that exist between C
extensions for different embedded systems. Historically embedded C programming
requires nonstandard extensions to the C language in order to support exotic features
such as fixedpoint arithmetic, multiple distinct memory banks, and basic I/O
operations. Embedded C uses most of the syntax and semantics of standard C, e.g.,
main() function, variable definition, data type declaration, conditional statements(if,
54
switch, case),loops(while, for),functions, arrays and strings, structures and union, bit
operations, macros, etc. During infancy years of microprocessor-based systems,
programs were developed using assemblers and fused into the EPROMs. There used
to be no mechanism to find what the program was doing. LEDs, switches, etc. were
used to check for correct execution of the program. But they were too costly and were
not quite reliable as well. As time progressed, use of microprocessor-specific
assembly-only as the programming language reduced and embedded systems moved
onto C as the embedded programming language of choice. C is the most widely used
programming language for embedded processors/controllers.

4.4.3 Thingspeak

ThingSpeak is an open-source Internet of Things (IoT) platform that allows users

to collect, analyze, and visualize data from IoT devices. It provides a cloud-based
infrastructure that enables developers and researchers to build IoT applications
quickly and easily.

• Features: ThingSpeak offers several features that make it suitable for IoT
projects, including data collection and storage, data analysis, data visualization,
and support for various IoT protocols such as MQTT and REST API. It also
provides integration with other popular platforms such as MATLAB, which
allows for advanced data analysis and processing.

• Data Channels: ThingSpeak uses data channels to store and manage data
collected from IoT devices. Data channels are created based on specific fields,
and each field can store a single value at a time. Users can define their own
fields and specify data types such as numeric, string, or boolean, depending on
the type of data being collected.

55
• Data Visualization: ThingSpeak offers built-in data visualization tools that
allow users to create customizable charts, gauges, and maps to visualize their
data in real-time. These visualizations can be embedded in websites or shared
with others.

• REST API: ThingSpeak provides a REST API that allows developers to interact
with the platform programmatically. This enables integration with other
applications and systems, making it easy to collect and analyze data from IoT
devices.

• MATLAB Integration: ThingSpeak has native integration with MATLAB, a

popular data analysis and processing tool. This allows users to leverage the
advanced data analysis capabilities of MATLAB for processing data collected
from IoT devices.

• Customizable IoT Applications: ThingSpeak allows users to create their own

customizable IoT applications by combining different features and tools. Users
can define their own data channels, visualizations, and processing rules to build
tailored IoT applications to suit their specific needs.

• Security: ThingSpeak provides security features such as SSL/TLS encryption,

API key authentication, and user access control to ensure data privacy and
security.

• Community and Support: ThingSpeak has an active community of users and

developers who share knowledge, ideas, and resources related to IoT and

56
 ThingSpeak. The platform also provides documentation, tutorials, and technical
support to assist users in building their IoT projects.

• Pricing: ThingSpeak offers a free tier with limited features, as well as paid plans
with additional features and higher usage limits. The pricing model is based on
the number of data channels and the frequency of data updates.

• Deployment Options: ThingSpeak can be deployed on the cloud or on-

premises, depending on the requirements of the project. It supports cloud
hosting on the ThingSpeak.com platform or can be self-hosted on your own
server.

4.5 BLOCK DIAGRAM

Fig 4.18 : Block diagram

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4.6 PROPOSED SYSTEM EXPLANATION

Proposed a method to automate the billing process, better energy management and
power theft on distribution lines. This system enables to collect the billing and theft
detection data without utilizing manpower.
When the energy consumption exceeds the threshold value the heavy loads will be
automatically disconnected.
The paper is concerned with the automation of the electric billing system. The
electricity bill sends to office through GSM module.
An LCD display is connected with microcontroller to show the consumed units and
cost. Bill records are digitized.
When the energy consumption is more than the threshold value the heavy loads in the
home circuit will automatically tripped off using relays.
This method provides an indication system to aware the user about the over energy
consumption than the threshold value and sends a SMS to consumers.

4.7 WORKING MODULES

• MODULE -1
Monitoring the current by using current flow. Current will get vary depending on the
usage of the load.

• MODULE-2
In LCD, the current value and bill amount will display.

• MODULE-3
The values are sent to thingspeak using nodemcu.

58
 • MODULE-4
The Bill amount automatically send to the consumer via SMS

• MODULE-5
If theft is detected automatically relay will get off.

Fig 4.19: Methodology

4.8 ADVANTAGES

Improved detection accuracy: IoT-based solutions can provide real-time monitoring

of electricity consumption, which can detect anomalies in the flow of electricity with

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high accuracy. This can help in the early detection of electricity theft and reduce the
number of false alarms.

Cost-effective: IoT-based solutions are often cost-effective, as they require fewer

hardware components and can be easily integrated with existing electrical
infrastructure.

Remote monitoring: IoT-based solutions can be monitored remotely, which reduces

the need for physical inspections and enables faster response times to electricity theft
incidents.

Easy to deploy: IoT-based solutions are relatively easy to deploy, as they do not
require extensive modifications to the electrical infrastructure. This makes it possible
to deploy them quickly and efficiently.

Scalability: IoT-based solutions are highly scalable, as additional sensors and

devices can be easily added to the system as required. This makes it possible to
monitor large-scale electrical infrastructure with ease.

Data analytics: IoT-based solutions can use data analytics and machine learning
algorithms to analyze the data collected by the sensors. This can help to identify
patterns and anomalies in the flow of electricity, which can improve the accuracy of
electricity theft detection.

4.9 APPLICATIONS

• Automotive industry.

• Household application.
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 • Industrial application.

CHAPTER 5
RESULTS

5.1 HARDWARE OUTPUT

Fig 5.1: Hardware output

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5.2 SIMULATION OUTPUT

Fig 5.2: Simulation output

5.3 IOT DATA

The NodeMCU plays a vital role in this system, which senses the data from
sensors and process the data. The Wi-Fi unit in the NodeMCU is used to send the
data to the cloud, this data can be monitored continuously from anywhere in the world
(where there is an active internet connection) and also whenever an excess current is
detected at the supply the buzzer is activated to alert the administrator.

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Fig 5.3: Photocopy of current graph using IOT

Fig 5.4: Photocopy of voltage graph using IOT

Fig 5.5: Photocopy of power graph using IOT

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 CHAPTER 6
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

6.1 SUMMARY

The use of IoT technology for the reduction of electricity theft is a promising solution
that involves the deployment of sensors and devices that monitor the flow of electricity
in real-time. The system can detect anomalies in the flow of electricity and send alerts
to authorities, enabling them to take action and prevent electricity theft. The system
can be powered by different power sources such as batteries, solar power, AC power,
or energy harvesting. The methodology has several advantages, including improved
detection accuracy, cost-effectiveness, remote monitoring, easy deployment,
scalability, and the ability to use data analytics to improve detection accuracy.
However, there are also constraints and tradeoffs that need to be considered, such as
the cost of implementation and maintenance, and the need for a reliable and stable
internet connection. Overall, the use of IoT technology for the reduction of electricity
theft is a promising solution that can help to reduce energy losses and improve the
efficiency of the power grid.

6.2 FUTURE SCOPE

Integration with smart grids: The integration of IoT-based electricity theft reduction
systems with smart grids can help to improve the efficiency of the power grid and
reduce energy losses. This can be achieved by using real-time data from IoT devices
to optimize the distribution of electricity and reduce wastage.

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Use of blockchain technology: The use of blockchain technology can help to
enhance the security and transparency of the data collected by IoT devices, making it
more difficult for hackers to tamper with the data.

Integration with AI and machine learning: The integration of AI and machine

learning algorithms can help to improve the accuracy of electricity theft detection by
analyzing patterns in the data collected by IoT devices.

Expansion to other industries: The use of IoT-based systems for the reduction of
theft can be expanded to other industries such as oil and gas, where theft is also a
major concern.

Adoption by governments: Governments can adopt IoT-based systems to reduce

electricity theft, which can help to improve the efficiency of the power grid and reduce
energy losses. This can also help to increase revenue for energy providers and reduce
the burden on taxpayers.

6.3 CONCLUSION

A Wireless Electricity Theft Detection and monitoring system has been designed and
developed with proper integration of both the hardware and the software. Without any
human interface this system provides an effective and easy way to detect electrical
theft. The use of IoT helps in achieving the numerous advantages of wireless network
communications. Power theft is actually bypassing the energy meter but in our project
we have indicated the theft by increasing the load also and this method is cost efficient.
The design, simulation and construction of a IOT-based power theft have been
achieved. It has covered various forms of electricity theft which include
unaccountability of servicemen, irregularities of billing leading to a reduction of funds
by the utility companies has also been achieved as this work prevents one on one
contact between the end user and the workers. With remote monitoring of the meter
reading and sending SMS, whenever there are abnormal readings, in the customer
electricity meter, the developed system may able to help Utilities to reduce the
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incidences of household electricity theft. An automatic circuit breaker can be integrated
into the unit so as to remotely cut off the power supply to the house or consumer who
tries to indulge in power theft. This system design mainly concentrates on single phase
electrical distribution system. Automation of the customer billing system has been
achieved as the meter keeps track of the consumer's load on a timely basis. This
design, therefore, removes the manual reading of meters with its attached
consequences of time-consuming system and bill manipulation which affects the
company while adding higher bills to the consumer.

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