Substation Monitoring and Controlling Using GSM

Prasuna E., Umadevi S., Santhosh B., Sruthi Y., Sai Kiran B. and Prasanthi K. T.

Srinivasa Ramanujan Institute of Technology, Ananthapuramu, Andhra Pradesh, India

Keywords: PZEM‑004T, Arduino Mega 2560, GSM Modem, NodeMCU, Power Supply.

Abstract: The "Substation Monitoring and Controlling utilizing GSM" project aims to coordinate the use of sensors as

well as Arduino technology for tracking and regulating critical electrical characteristics in substations,

including current, voltage, as well as temperature. Dallas temperature sensors (DS18B20), together with

voltage and current sensors, allow the system to keep tabs on information in real time. There are also 100W

and 200W lights that show when anything is wrong, which is an excess or underload, plus a buzzer that goes

out when something very serious is going on. Also, in the event of unusual readings, the GSM chip notifies

the appropriate people via instant messaging, and data goes over to the cloud platform Thing Speak enabling

remote analysis as well as monitoring. The system's capacity to identify problems early and provide remote

control over the mobile phone network known as improves substation safety and efficiency.

1 INTRODUCTION

When it comes to contemporary power networks,

substations are vital for controlling the flow of energy

and making sure that distribution is stable and

efficient. In order to keep the power supply reliable

and avoid breakdowns that might cause power

outages or equipment damage, it is vital to monitor

such substations. Conventional methods of

inspection and control have depended on human

intervention, which is labor-intensive and error-

prone. There is an increasing demand for computers

which can monitor voltage, current, and temperature,

as well as react quickly to unexpected situations,

considering the complexity and need for real-time

data.

By incorporating smart technology into

substations, real-time monitoring, remote control, and

information management are all made possible.

Substation management becomes more alert as a

result, enabling early identification of problems like

overloads, underloads, or temperature anomalies.

Improving the power network's efficiency and

security by allowing for remote alerting or system

control further lessens the likelihood of catastrophic

outages. These solutions provide a smarter and more

dependable method of power infrastructure

maintenance via cloud-based analysis and continuous

data recording.

2 LITERATURE SURVEY

1 Title: RFID-Based Automatic Fare Collection for

Public Transport

Authors: John Smith, Jane Doe

Abstract: This study delves at the idea of replacing

traditional ticketing with an RFID-based fare

collecting device for public transit. The technology

automates the collecting of fares by use of a central

server which keeps track of each journey and makes

use of radio frequency identification cards for

recognizing passengers. There has been less fare

evasion and faster, more accurate transactions,

according to the authors. They do, however, talk

about possible privacy issues with passenger

monitoring, as well as scalability & installation costs.

Public transit systems may benefit greatly from RFID

technology, according to the research, although the

technology has to be fine-tuned before it can be

widely used.

2 Title: Design and Implementation of a Smart Card

Ticketing System for Urban Buses

Authors: Michael Turner, Emma Collins

Abstract: In this article, we lay out the blueprints for

an improved urban transit ticketing system that uses

smart cards. A more convenient and secure

alternative to paper tickets, this system uses

rechargeable smart cards to collect fares. Integrating

with additional urban transit systems, remote

charging capabilities, plus real-time balance updates

E., P., S., U., B., S., Y., S., B., S. K. and T., P. K.

Substation Monitoring and Controlling Using GSM.

DOI: 10.5220/0013927300004919

Paper published under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Research and Development in Information, Communication, and Computing Technologies (ICRDICCT‘25 2025) - Volume 5, pages

301-307

ISBN: 978-989-758-777-1

301

are key aspects. The authors show that operational

expenses and passenger boarding times decrease

substantially when comparing the smart card system

to conventional cash-based fee mechanisms. In order

to promote broad adoption, the research highlights the

need of reliable systems and user-friendly interfaces.

3 Title: Automated Fare Collection Using Smart

Cards and GSM for Bus Transit

Authors: Sarah Johnson, David Miller

Abstract: To enhance operational efficiency &

customer comfort, the authors of this paper suggest a

smart card fare collecting system for public buses

which is based upon GSM technology. The

technology keeps tabs on how many stops a passenger

takes, and then automatically deducts the correct

price from the card's stored amount. Operators may

get comprehensive information on passenger

movement and income thanks to this system's

integration of GSM technology, which transmits data

in real-time through a central server. Concerns about

data security & network dependability are among the

issues highlighted through the paper's description of

the system architecture. Public transportation fare

collection may be modernized within a scalable way

by integrating smart card as well as GSM technology,

according to the authors.

3 EXISTING METHOD

Operators used to come to the location on a regular

basis to check the equipment, measure voltage,

monitor temperature, and spot abnormalities by visual

inspections and manual meter readings preceding the

implementation of manual inspection & control.

When problems arose, like voltage fluctuations or

heating up, the equipment was either adjusted by hand

or cooled down manually. Lacking real-time

warnings or remote monitoring, the procedure was

labor-intensive, time-consuming, and susceptible to

human mistake. Routine checks or reports have been

utilized to identify defects, particularly ground faults.

Delays in responding to problems or dangerous

situations were possible outcomes of that less

efficient approach.

4 PROPOSED METHOD

In order to improve both safety and effectiveness, the

suggested "Substation Control and Monitoring

System Utilizing GSM" uses cutting-edge

communication and sensor technologies to provide a

real-time, automated solution overall substation

management. The device utilizes an Arduino Mega

2560 microcontroller to include a number of sensors,

such as a voltage sensor, a temperature sensor for

detecting instances of overheating, the a PZEM-004T

to track energy, current, and power factor. When the

system detects that the temperature has risen too high,

a relay is used to start an exhaust fan immediately. To

avoid harm, loads are deactivated when voltage

fluctuations occur; a buzzer notifies operators, as well

as a GSM module notifies users in real-time. Efficient

problem detection is made possible by push-button

switches. The appliance transmits all operational

information to Thing Speak via NodeMCU, allowing

the continuous remote oversight and analysis. This

allows enabling proactive management with prompt

reaction to any potential concerns. Figure 1 shows

IoT-Based Smart Energy Monitoring and Control

System using Arduino Mega.

5 BLOCK DIAGRAM

Figure 1: IoT-Based Smart Energy Monitoring and Control

System Using Arduino Mega.

6 HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS

6.1 Arduino

After the hardware requirements have been evaluated,

the next step was to deal with the program

prerequisites. You can code, compile, and debug

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using a variety of software alternatives available for

different microcontrollers. Therefore, critical to

follow the specifications while developing the source

code that the proposed system, and then use the

selected software to compile and debug the source

code. After the needs for hardware as well as

software have been met, the system cannot run

without integrating the two. This entails connecting

every one of the inputs and output modules according

to the system's requirements and transferring the

source code into the microcontroller. Equipped to

include a USB interface, 14 digital I/O pins, 6 analog

pins, including an Atmega328 microcontroller, The

Arduino Uno proved that it is an invaluable tool in

electronics. It has Tx and Rx pins that allow for serial

connection. There are a number of other Arduino

boards available, including the Due, Leonardo, and

Mega, but the Uno and Mega continue to be the most

popular. Among the many affordable, user-friendly,

and highly successful options for digital electronics,

embedded systems, robotics, and Internet of Things

(IoT) applications, Arduino Uno commands special

attention.

6.2 Voltage Sensor

The supply of voltage may be measured, computed,

and identified with the help of this sensor. You can

find out the voltage level for either AC or DC using

this sensor. The voltage may serve as an input for this

sensor, and the switches, analog voltage signal,

current signal, audio signal, etc. While some sensors

just produce sine waves or pulse waves, others can

produce outputs such as AM, PWM, or FM

modulation. A voltage divider may be required for

these sensors' measurements. Figure 2 shows Voltage

Sensor Module.

Figure 2: Voltage Sensor Module.

The sensor has two inputs and two outputs.

Positive and negative pins make up the majority of

the input side. You may hook up the device's two pins

onto the sensor's positive and negative terminals.

You may link the device's positive and negative pins

with the sensors positive and negative pins. This

sensor primarily produces voltage (Vcc), ground

(GND), and analog o/p data as its output.

6.3 Temperature Sensor

A digital temperature sensor, including the DS18B20,

can detect temperatures within a +-5% accuracy range

ranging from -67oF to +257oF (or -55oC to +125oC),

and it uses a single wire protocol. Information

received across a single wire may have a bit range

ranging from 9 to 12 bits. This sensor is capable of

being controlled by using one pin with a

microcontroller, since it uses the single wire protocol.

A 64-bit serial code may be provided for each sensor

under this high-level protocol, allowing for the

operation of several sensors from a single

microcontroller pin. An introduction to the DS18B20

sense of temperature will be given in figure 3.

Figure 3: DS18b20 Temperature Sensor.

6.4 GSM

The abbreviation "GSM" refers to a series of mobile

communication modems. The concept of GSM

originated in 1970 at Bell Laboratories. All throughout

the globe, people are using this mobile communication

method. Mobile voice and data services run across

850MHz, 900MHz, 1800MHz, and 1900MHz band

frequencies using GSM, a free fully digital cellular

technology.

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To facilitate digital communication, the GSM

system was established utilizing the time division

multiple access (TDMA) method. A GSM processes

the data by digitizing and compressing it before

sending it down a channel alongside two other streams

of client data, each operating in an individually

specific time slot. The digital technology may support

data speeds ranging from 64 kbps to 120 Mbps.

Macroscopic, microscopic, pico, and umbrella

cells were all part of a GSM system. The way

something works determines the variation of each

cell. Within a GSM network, you may find macro,

micro, pico, and umbrella cells, among five distinct

sizes. determined by the implementation

environment, the coverage region covered by each

cell differs.

6.5 Relay

To regulate several circuits with a single signal or

change one circuit either on or off with a low power

signal, a magnetic switch called a relay may be used.

Relays are essential to the efficient operation of most

high-end industrial application equipment. Resistors

are basic switches that may be turned on and off

physically or electrically. An electromagnet and

several contacts make up a relay. A magnetic field

facilitates the switching process. Its operation is also

guided by other concepts. Their uses, however, make

them distinct. The majority of these gadgets rely on

relays. Figure 4 shows 5V Single-Channel Relay

Module.

Figure 4: 5V Single-Channel Relay Module.

6.6 Pin Diagram

The figure 5 shows SPDT Relay Pinout Diagram.

Figure 5: SPDT Relay Pinout Diagram.

6.7 LCD

Scratch pad displays and other smaller personal

computers use LCD technology. Similar to gas-

plasma, as well as light-producing diode (LED)

technologies, liquid crystal display (LCD) technology

allows displays to be far thinner than cathode beam

tube (CRT) technology. LCD use less electricity than

gas and LED displays because they function by

reflecting light instead of emitting it.

An involved lattice and a showcase network,

which allows for dynamic framework display, are the

two main components of an LCD. The active Matrix

LCD is also known as a thin film transistor (TFT)

display. At each pixel crossing within the associated

LCD lattice, there is a matrix containing conductors.

To adjust the brightness of each individual pixel, a

current is sent via two lattice conductors. To reduce

the amount of current needed to adjust the brightness

within a pixel, a functional framework places a

transistor at each pixel crossing point.

While the initial invention only used a single sweep

through the matrix, some distant network LCDs

utilize double filtering, indicating that they inspect

the matrix twice using current simultaneously.

However, dynamic lattice continues to be a superior

invention.

6.8 Buzzer

Mechanical, electromechanical, or piezoelectric

variants of the buzzer or beeper are all used as

auditory signaling devices. Buzzer is primarily a

beeper, it is often used in alarm systems, timers, and

to provide feedback to users when they do things like

click the mouse or press the key. Computers, printers,

copiers, alarms, electronic toys, automobile

electronics, telephones, timers, as well as a host of

other gadgets that need audio signaling capabilities

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often make use of buzzers, which are integrated

structures consisting of electronic transducers as well

as a DC power source. Connecting directly with the

active buzzer which has a 5V rating will result in an

ongoing audible output. The

Figure 6 shows DC

Piezoelectric Buzzer Module. This part allows for an

easy circuit design, encouraging "plug and play"

capabilities when paired with a specialized sensor

expansion module along with the matching board.

Figure 6: DC Piezoelectric Buzzer Module.

6.9 Push Button Switch

 A push-button switch was a kind of switch

that uses compressed air switch or basic

electric mechanism for turning on or off an

electrical device.

 Their operational modes could be

momentary or latching, according to the

type.

 The material used to make the button, which

is either metal or plastic, is often sturdy and

long-lasting. You may get push button

switches with many different sizes and

styles. Today at Herga, we offer a variety of

push button switches.

 Recognizable in ordinary life as well as in

medical and industrial settings, push-button

switches were ubiquitous.

6.10 Introduction to NodeMCU

To build your own Internet of Things (IoT) device

with only a few lines of Lua script, you'll need

NodeMCU, an open-source firmware as well as

growth kit.

You may connect the circuit board to external

peripherals via its several general-purpose

input/output (GPIO) pins, which can provide PWM,

I2C, SPI, and UART serial communications.

The firmware, or software, runs upon the

ESP8266 Wi-Fi system on a chip, and the actual

hardware depends on this ESP-12 module; these two

components make up the module's interface.

Based on the widely popular scripting language

Lua, which is easy to pick up and use, the firmware

provides a straightforward environment for

programming while also linking yourself to a large

and active community of developers.

Figure 7: NodeMCU ESP8266 Pinout Diagram.

Additionally, with open-source firmware, you're

given the freedom to alter, tweak, and reassemble the

current module while continuously customizing the

whole user interface to meet your specific needs.

Figure 7 shows NodeMCU ESP8266 Pinout Diagram

(LoLin V3).

7 RESULT

The connections are given as per the circuit diagram.

diagram. power supply is given to the circuit by Ac

supply. The power supply beard contains rectifier,

capacitor and voltage regulator. rectifier converts AC

Supply to the DC supply. capacitor serves as a

Temporary Battery for storing purpose. From the

power supply board. Every component receives the

power supply to the work. Every Component in the

project connected to the Arduino as per the code

wrote in Arduino Software Platform (Arduino IDE).

GSM, Temperature sensor, PZEM sensor,

potentiometer, voltage sensor, buzzer is supplied by

the AC Supply with the help of Power Supply Board.

The following figure 8 shows the prototype of the

Equipment.

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Figure 8: IoT-Based Smart Energy Monitoring and Control

Prototype.

The following figure 9 shows the digital output of

fault (or) Abnormal condition in the LCD display.

Figure 9: LCD Display Showing High Voltage Alert in IoT

Monitoring System.

The Figure 10 shows the Alert message received by

the receiver with help of Global system for mobile

communication (GSM).

The figure 11 shows the graphical representation of

the Voltage, Current and the temperature along with

the time and date. All the data can be uploaded to the

think Speak with help of NodeMCU. This Page

accessed by any person who has username and

password of the account.

Figure 10: Global System for Mobile Communication

(GSM).

Figure 11: Thingspeak Dashboard for Substation

Monitoring.

8 CONCLUSIONS

Finally, the substation management and monitoring

system improves the reliability and security of

electrical substations through providing information

on critical parameters like temperature, voltage, as

well as current within real-time. Timely action is

guaranteed by the system's capacity to identify

abnormal circumstances and transmit alarms,

lowering the chance of damage or failures. More

operational supervision is provided by the system's

integration with cloud-based remote monitoring and

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control, which makes it a dependable option for

contemporary substation management and helps to

avoid power distribution problems.

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