PC Based Electrical Load Control System

PC Based Electrical Load Control System Project Kit

Automation system is mostly depending upon the power systems in industrial, residential or commercial, which needs remote controlling and monitoring. By employing wireless technologies, it is more competent to execute a suitable technology depending upon the requirements of the proposed system like speed, cost, and distance.

For distant controlling and monitoring of different loads and by means of efficient power usage through real time power spending with the help of a PC based graphical user interface application. The progress of technology equipments is becoming simpler and easier for us. Automated systems have more benefits over manual system. PC based electrical load controlled systems are highly reliable, precise and time conserving systems. They give number of features like rapid data storage, transfer data and data securities.

PC Based Electrical Load Control System

The PC based electrical load control system can be built with 8051 series Microcontroller, Level Shifter IC, DB Connector, Relays, Relay Driver, Transformer, Diodes, Capacitors, Resistors, LED, Crystal, Lamps, Keil compiler and Language: Embedded C or Assembly.

PC Based Electrical Load Control System Block Diagram

Keil an ARM Company makes C compilers, macro assemblers, real-time kernels, debuggers, simulators, integrated environments, evaluation boards, and emulators for ARM7/ARM9/Cortex-M3, XC16x/C16x/ST10, 251, and 8051 MCU families.

Compilers are programs used to convert a High Level Language to object code. Desktop compilers produce an output object code for the underlying microprocessor, but not for other microprocessors.

i.e the programs written in one of the HLL like ‘C’ will compile the code to run on the system for a particular processor like x86 (underlying microprocessor in the computer).

For example compilers for Dos platform is different from the Compilers for Unix platform So if one wants to define a compiler then compiler is a program that translates source code into object code.

Power Supply

• The 230V AC supply is first stepped down to 12V AC using a step down transformer.
• This is then converted to DC using bridge rectifier.
• The AC ripples is filtered out by using a capacitor and given to the input pin of voltage regulator 7805.
• At output pin of this regulator we get a constant 5V DC which is used for MC and other ICs in this project.

Power Supply

Microcontroller

It is a smaller computer; it has on-chip RAM, ROM, I/O ports. The features of this microcontroller include the following.

• 8K Bytes of In-System Programmable (ISP) Flash Memory
• 4.0V to 5.5V Operating Range
• Fully Static Operation: 0 Hz to 33 MHz
• 256 x 8-bit Internal RAM
• 32 Programmable I/O Lines
• Three 16-bit Timer/Counters
• Eight Interrupt Sources
• Full Duplex UART Serial Channel

Microcontroller

MAX232

• The MAX232 is an integrated circuit that converts signals from an RS-232serial port to signals suitable for use in TTL compatible digital logic circuits.
• he MAX232 is a dual driver/receiver and typically converts the RX, TX, CTS and RTS signals.
• When a MAX232 IC receives a TTL level to convert, it changes a TTL Logic 0 to between +3 and +15V, and changes TTL Logic 1 to between -3 to -15V, and vice versa for converting from RS232 to TTL

MAX232

Db9 Connector

The DB9 (originally DE-9) connector is an analog 9-pin plug of the D-Sub miniature connector family.

DB Connector

Relay

• A relay is an electrically operated switch.
• Current flowing through the coil of the relay creates a magnetic field which attracts a lever and changes the switch contacts.
• The coil current can be on or off so relays have two switch positions and have double throw (changeover) switch contacts as shown in the diagram.
• Relays allow one circuit to switch a second circuit which can be completely separate from the first.
• For example a low voltage battery circuit can use a relay to switch a 230V AC mains circuit.
• There is no electrical connection inside the relay between the two circuits, the link is magnetic and mechanical.
• To drive relay through MC ULN2003 relay driver IC is used.
• Relay Driver ULN2003

Relay

ULN is Relay Driver Application

• The ULN2003 is a monolithic high voltage and high current Darlington transistor arrays.
• It consists of seven NPN Darlington pairs that feature high-voltage outputs with common-cathode clamp diode for switching inductive loads.
• The collector-current rating of a single Darlington pair is 500mA.
• The Darlington pairs may be paralleled for higher current capability.
• The ULN functions as an inverter.
• If the logic at input 1B is high then the output at its corresponding pin 1C will be low.

Relay Driver ULN2003

Project Working

The main goal of this project is to control the electrical load through a PC (personal computer). For example, lighting in the theatre can be controlled form the PC for superior stage management.

At present, they are physically controlled which makes it complex to organize the lighting with the particular scene. By employing this system, one can manage the electrical load ON/OFF by just being seated at one place using a PC.

PC Based Electrical Load Control System Project Kit

This system is incorporated with the electrical loads and also associated to the PC where centralized control takes place. It uses an MAX 232 protocol from the microcontroller to communicate with the PC.

To switch the appliances, we employ Hyper Terminal on personal computer. Once the connection is established with the PC, then the system begins working. The 8051 family microcontroller is used in this project.

Further, this project can be improved by implementing a GUI based control board on the PC with suitable embedded system software. The power control can also be integrated using power electronics devices.

Thus, this is all about PC based electrical load control. We hope that you have got a better understanding of this concept or to implement any electrical projects please give your feedback by commenting in the comment section below. Here is a question for you, what is the purpose of this project?