THE COPPERBELT UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING ELECTRICAL DEPARTMENT

EG 400 INTERIM REPORT

PROJECT TITLE: THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DOMESTIC DISTRIBUTION

LINE POWER OUTAGE DETECTOR, NOTIFIER AND

LOCATOR.

NAME OF STUDENT: COMPUTER NUMBER:

1. AMADOU KAOMA 18120407

2. LIZU LUBAYA ABIGAIL 18131789

3. HECTOR BWALYA 12461033

SUPERVISOR: Dr MUSA NDIAYE

YEAR OF REPORT: 2023

DECLARATION
We hereby declare that we carried out the work reported in this report in the
Department of Electrical Engineering, Copperbelt University, under the supervision
of Dr Musa Ndiaye. We solemnly declare that to the best of our knowledge no part of
this report has been submitted here or elsewhere in a previous application for award
of an Honours Degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering. All the sources of
knowledge used have been duly acknowledged.

Name of Student: Signature:

1. Amadou Kaoma ……………………

2.Lizu Lubaya Abigail .…………………...
3. Hector Bwalya …………………….

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APPROVAL
This is to certify that the project titled “The development of a domestic distribution
line power outage detector, notifier and locator” carried out by Amadou Kaoma, Lizu
Lubaya Abigail and Hector Bwalya has been read and approved for meeting part of
the requirements and regulations governing the EG400 projects course in the
Bachelors of Engineering (Hons) in Electrical and Electronics Degree program at the
Copperbelt University, Kitwe, Zambia.

Name of Supervisor Signature Date

Dr Musa Ndiaye ………………… ………………….

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We would like to acknowledge and give thanks to our project supervisor, Dr Musa
Ndiaye for the guidance he provided in the interim project report. We would also like
to acknowledge our project coordinator Mrs. Chamululu for the support in providing
directions and guidance on the general project work. Finally, we thank the electrical
department and the Copperbelt University at large for giving us the opportunity to put
into practice what we have learnt.

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ABSTRACT
It is essential for an electric utility company to be aware of the real time status of a
power distribution network. Power outages on the distribution lines change the
topology of the distribution network by disconnecting some parts of the network from
the main grid. If undetected it may inconvenience the end user due to late response
from the electric utility company. It can also be a hazard to society in a case a power
line snaps and is left hanging. Outages also make the distribution network more
susceptible to theft and vandalism. Hence, outage detection is an important task. Most
of the common existing power outage detection systems like the Supervisory Control
and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems are centralized, in which sensors
communicate their data taken from the distribution lines to a control center which
performs outage detection using the received data. However, with the rapidly
increasing size of the distribution network it has been a challenge to expand and
implement such a system for power outage detection in the distribution networks
mainly due to high cost and complexity of the system.
To address these issues, we propose a power outage detection device that is able to
detect, notify the electric utility company and locate a power outage in real time on a
domestic distribution network. The device will make use of an Arduino board having
an Atmega32 microcontroller incorporated in it, Global Positioning System (GPS) and
Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) technology. Whenever a power
outage is detected in a power line of a domestic distribution network, a signal is sent
to an Arduino board, which then commands the GSM module to send the coordinates
(latitude, longitudes) mapped by the GPS to the electrical utility company which gives
the location of the device connected to the domestic distribution power line that has
experienced a power outage.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION ......................................................................................................... i
APPROVAL ................................................................................................................ii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .........................................................................................iii
ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................... iv
ABBREVIATIONS ...................................................................................................vii
TABLE OF FIGURES .............................................................................................viii
CHAPTER ONE ......................................................................................................... 1
INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 1
1.0 Chapter Summary .............................................................................................. 1
1.1 Background ........................................................................................................ 1
1.1.1 Causes of Power Outages ............................................................................ 1
1.1.2 Impacts of Power Outages .......................................................................... 2
1.1.3 Methods for Power Outage Detection ......................................................... 2
1.1.4 Benefits of Power Outage Detection ........................................................... 3
1.2 Problem Statement .......................................................................................... 4
1.3 Problem Justification ...................................................................................... 4
1.4 Motivation ......................................................................................................... 5
1.5 Project Aim ...................................................................................................... 6
1.6 Objectives .......................................................................................................... 6
1.7 Project Scope .................................................................................................. 6
1.8 Methodology...................................................................................................... 6
CHAPTER TWO......................................................................................................... 8
LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................ 8
2.0 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 8
2.1 Review on Existing Technologies. .................................................................... 9
2.2 Technical Considerations for the Design and Implementation of the System. 13
CHAPTER THREE ................................................................................................... 17
METHODOLOGY .................................................................................................... 17
3.0 Chapter Summary ............................................................................................ 17
3.1 Requirements ................................................................................................... 18
3.1.1 The Arduino Uno R3 ................................................................................. 18
3.1.2 The Arduino GSM Shield. ........................................................................ 19

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 3.1.3 The GPS Module ....................................................................................... 21
3.1.4 The Electromagnetic Relay ....................................................................... 23
3.1.5 Circuit Breakers ........................................................................................ 25
3.1.6 Pilot Lamps ............................................................................................... 26
3.2 Expected System Overview ............................................................................. 27
3.3 System Build Up .............................................................................................. 29
3.4 Simulation Results ........................................................................................... 31
CHAPTER FOUR ..................................................................................................... 37
ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION ............................................................................. 37
4.0 System Prototyping, Testing and Implementation .......................................... 37
4.1 Prototyping ...................................................................................................... 37
4.2 Testing ............................................................................................................. 40
4.3 Discussion ........................................................................................................ 44
CHAPTER FIVE ....................................................................................................... 46
5.0 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 46
5.1 Challenges ....................................................................................................... 47
5.2 Recommendations ........................................................................................... 48
REFERENCES .......................................................................................................... 49
APPENDICES ........................................................................................................... 51
Specifications of components used........................................................................ 51
Code used for simulation ....................................................................................... 53
Gantt chat ............................................................................................................... 58
Project budget ........................................................................................................ 59

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ABBREVIATIONS

GPS Global Positioning System

GSM Global System for Mobile Communication

SCADA Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition

PMU Pulse Measurement Unit

NB-IoT Narrowband Internet of Things

LPWAN Low Power Wide Area Network

MV Medium Voltage

IWOS Intelligent Wireless Observing System

UPS Uninterruptible Power Supply

AC Alternating Current

MAP Maximum A-Posteriori

ML Maximum Likelihood

CNN Convolutional Neutral Network

SRAM Static Random-Access Memory

EEPROM Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory

USB Universal Serial Bus

TTL Transistor to Transistor Logic

SPI Serial Peripheral Interface

PWM Pulse Width Modulation

AREF Analog Reference

UART Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter

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TABLE OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Distribution Line Monitoring with LEM’s ART Rogowski coil [12]. ....... 10
Figure 2. The Intelligent Wireless Observing System (IWOS) [14]. ........................ 11
Figure 3. Block Diagram of the Power Outage Sensing Device [15]. ....................... 12
Figure 4. Outline of the Methodology ....................................................................... 17
Figure 5. The Arduino Uno R3 [25]. ......................................................................... 19
Figure 6. The GSM Module [26]. .............................................................................. 20
Figure 7. GPS Distance Calculation [2]. ................................................................... 21
Figure 8. GPS Signal Time Difference [2]. ............................................................... 22
Figure 9. GPS Receiver Module [2]. ......................................................................... 22
Figure 10. Structure of an Electromagnetic Relay [27]. ............................................ 23
Figure 11. The Electromagnetic Relay [28]. ............................................................. 24
Figure 12. Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB) [29]. ................................................... 25
Figure 13. Pilot Lamps [30]. ...................................................................................... 26
Figure 14. System Architecture. ................................................................................ 27
Figure 15. System Flowchart. .................................................................................... 28
Figure 16. Circuit Design in Proteus. ........................................................................ 30
Figure 17. Operation under normal conditions. ......................................................... 32
Figure 18. simulation for a Power Outage on line 1. ................................................. 33
Figure 19. Simulation for a Power Outage on line 2. ................................................ 34
Figure 20. Simulation for a fault on line 3. ............................................................... 35
Figure 21. Simulation for a 3-phase fault. ................................................................. 36
Figure 22. Relay Connections.................................................................................... 37
Figure 23. Pilot Lights connections. .......................................................................... 38
Figure 24. Interfacing Arduino with GSM and GPS Modules. ................................. 39
Figure 25. Overall Connections. ................................................................................ 40
Figure 26. Device Powered On .................................................................................. 41
Figure 27. Text Message............................................................................................ 41
Figure 28. Location as shown on Google Maps. ....................................................... 42
Figure 29. Single line outage testing. ........................................................................ 43
Figure 30. Location as shown on google maps. ........................................................ 43

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CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.0 Chapter Summary

Power outages are a common occurrence in domestic distribution lines, causing

inconvenience, and sometimes leading to more serious consequences. The detection
of power outages is crucial for a quick response and the restoration of power.
Advances in technology have led to the development of various methods and
technologies for detecting power outages on domestic distribution lines. This chapter
addresses the causes and impact of power outages. The chapter provides a brief review
on the various methods and technologies used for power outage detection and also
outlines the benefits of power outage detection.

Furthermore, this chapter highlights the problem statement, i.e., the main issue that is
in need of study, and also gives a justification as well as the motivation behind the
undertaking of the research. The project approach, that is, the aim, objectives, scope
and the methodology is also encompassed in this chapter.

1.1 Background

Power outages pose significant economic and social impacts on communities around
the world. The increasing reliance of the society on electricity reduces the tolerance
for power outages, and consequently highlights the need for enhancing the power grid
resilience against outages.

1.1.1 Causes of Power Outages

Power outages in domestic distribution systems can be caused by a variety of factors,

including natural disasters, equipment failure, human error, and cyberattacks [1, 2].
One of the most common causes of power outages is severe weather events, such as
thunderstorms, hurricanes, and snowstorms. These events can damage power lines,
transformers, and other equipment, leading to power outages that can last for days or
even weeks.

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1.1.2 Impacts of Power Outages

Power outages can have significant economic and social impacts, affecting businesses,
households, and public safety. For businesses, power outages can result in lost
productivity, lost revenue, and damage to equipment. In some cases, businesses may
be forced to shut down entirely until power is restored, leading to further economic
losses. For households, power outages can be particularly challenging, especially in
extreme weather conditions. Power outages can disrupt heating and cooling systems,
lighting, and access to essential appliances such as refrigerators and medical
equipment. In addition, power outages can affect public safety, as streetlights and
traffic signals may not be operational, leading to increased risk of accidents.

1.1.3 Methods for Power Outage Detection

There are various methods for detecting power outages on domestic distribution lines,
including direct and indirect methods. Direct methods involve measuring the current
and voltage on the distribution lines. Indirect methods involve analyzing data from
various sources to identify power outages. The following are some of the commonly
used methods for detecting power outages on domestic distribution lines:

• Current Transformers (CTs): CTs are used to measure the current on the
distribution lines. CTs are placed around the line, and the current is measured
using the magnetic field generated by the current in the line. Any change in
the current is an indication of a power outage [3].
• Voltage Transformers (VTs): VTs are used to measure the voltage on the
distribution lines. VTs are placed around the line, and the voltage is measured
using the magnetic field generated by the voltage in the line. Any change in
the voltage is an indication of a power outage [3].
• Synchrophasors: Synchrophasors are devices that measure the phase angle
and magnitude of the voltage and current on the distribution lines. The data
from synchrophasors can be used to detect power outages and locate the fault
in the distribution system [4].

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 • Meter Data Analysis: Meter data analysis involves analyzing the data from
smart meters installed on the distribution lines. Any change in the data is an
indication of a power outage.
• Outage Reports: Outage reports are generated by customers reporting power
outages to their utility companies [5]. The reports are analyzed to identify the
location and extent of the outage.
• Phase Measurement Units: A phase measurement unit (PMU) is a device
used in the field of power systems to measure the voltage and current
waveforms of a power grid at a specific location. It provides high-precision,
time-synchronized data on the electrical power system's conditions, including
phase angle, frequency, and voltage magnitude. This data can be used by
power system operators to monitor the system's stability, identify power grid
disturbances, and take corrective action to prevent power outages or
blackouts [6].
• SCADA Data Analysis: SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data

Acquisition) systems are used to monitor and control the distribution

system. The data from SCADA systems can be analyzed to detect power
outages and locate the fault in the distribution system.

1.1.4 Benefits of Power Outage Detection

The benefits of detecting power outages quickly and accurately include improved
customer service, reduced downtime, and reduced economic impacts [7]. The
following are some of the benefits of power outage detection:

• Improved Customer Service: Quick detection of power outages and

restoration of power helps to improve customer service. This helps to reduce
customer complaints and increase customer satisfaction.
• Reduced Downtime: Quick detection of power outages and restoration of
power helps to reduce downtime. This helps to minimize the impact of power
outages on businesses and households.
• Reduced Economic Impacts: Power outages can lead to significant economic
impacts, including lost revenue for businesses and increased costs for

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 households. Quick detection of power outages and restoration of power helps
to reduce these economic impacts.
• Increased safety: Early detection of power outages allows utilities to quickly
identity and repair any potential hazards or risks keeping people and property
safe.
• Reduces theft of electrical conductors or equipment due to quick detection of
power outages and quick response of the utility company.

In this project a domestic distribution line power outage detector is proposed, which
utilizes the microcontroller, GSM and GPS technology to detect, notify and give the
location of the domestic distribution line that has a power outage. Some of the
advantages of this system include detection of power cuts in real time, it’s deployable,
does not require the running of network cables, less expensive as compared to SCADA
systems, provides the exact location of domestic distribution line that has a power cut,
power outage can be detect in any part of the country as long as cellular network is
available and does not require rerouting of communication lines.

1.2 Problem Statement

Power outages are a frequent and critical problem for power system operators and
have significant impacts on homes, businesses and critical infrastructure causing
disruptions to daily operations, economic losses and potential safety hazards. Timely
detection of power outages can help mitigate these impacts allowing for quick
response and restoration of power services as well as for monitoring and optimizing
the overall performance of the power system. However, with common traditional
methods of power detection such as manual reporting of power outages by the end
users are often slow and unreliable leading to inefficient and costly operations [8].

1.3 Problem Justification

Traditional methods of power outage detection are the most common methods used
for power outage detection in a domestic distribution system because it is less costly
and not complex as compared to the supervisory control and data acquisition systems
(SCADA) [8]. Traditional methods involve the use of manual inspections, mobile

4
applications as well as basic sensor technologies. These methods have several
limitations that make them less effective in detecting and responding to power
outages, some of the limitations are as follows:

Manual inspections are time consuming and can be costly, especially when carried
out over a large geographical area. Also, the exact location of the fault is entirely
dependent on the directions given by the reporter which is prone to error due to
communication barrier. This means that faults may not be detected promptly, resulting
in prolonged power outages.

Mobile applications may seem to be a good solution to manual inspections; however,

they possess limitations of their own. Firstly, mobile applications can only run on
advanced mobile phones and not everyone has access to such phone. Most mobile
applications require a strong internet connection and this is a challenge to people in
remote places. Finally, most people find it difficult using mobile applications, hence
they still resort to the manual reporting of power outages.

Basic sensor technologies used in traditional methods for power outage detection are
often limited in their ability to accurately identify the location and extent of the outage.
For example, a simple current transformer only detects power loss but does not
provide any indication of the exact location of the fault. This can make it difficult for
maintenance crews to quickly locate and repair the problem.

1.4 Motivation

With the rapid expansion of electrical distribution networks, it has been a challenge
for electrical utility companies to know the status of the domestic distribution power
lines in various locations [9]. The motivation behind the development of the domestic
distribution line power outage detector is to provide a reliable, less expensive,
deployable and efficient system that can detect, notify and give the location of power
outages in real time. The detector alerts the utility companies with a location and helps
the utility companies to improve on their response time hence minimizing the duration
of power outages, resulting in improved reliability and quality of power supply to
households.

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1.5 Project Aim

The aim of the project is to design and implement a domestic distribution line power
outage detector, notifier and locator.

1.6 Objectives

The objectives of the project are as follows:

• To design and simulate the circuit of the power outage detection

device in proteus.
• To assemble and deploy a working prototype.

1.7 Project Scope

The domestic distribution line power outage detection system is capable of detecting
power outages and immediately sending alerts to the electrical utility company via
text messages in real time. The system is designed to be easily deployable and less
complicated. The project scope includes the following:

• Designing and developing a prototype of the power outage detection system

using Atmega32 micro controller, GPS and GSM modules.
• Developing a user-friendly interface to give power outage alerts and location
of affected areas.

1.8 Methodology

The methodology of the project includes:

• Installation of the required libraries and software to enable the simulation of

the project in proteus.
• Installation of required libraries for the Arduino ide to enable the programing
of the GPS and GSM modules.
• Research and data collection on how to connect the GPS and GSM modules’
input/output pins to the Arduino board.
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• Programming of the microcontroller to enable the GSM module to send
messages to a mobile device.
• Programming of the microcontroller to enable the GPS module to map out
geographical coordinates (latitudes, longitudes) which can be observed on the
Arduino ide serial monitor environment.
• Programming of the microcontroller in order to integrate the GPS and GSM
modules, enabling the sending of the location coordinates to a mobile device.
• Programming of the microcontroller to enable it detect fault conditions on its
inputs and coordinate the operation of the GSM and GPS modules to give the
desired response.
• Translation of geographical coordinates (latitudes, longitudes) into a link that
will open google maps.
• Assembly of a working prototype and testing.

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CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0 Introduction

Electricity has become a need for daily living, yet even though many companies assert
to provide continuous power supply, a 100% uninterrupted power supply in every
location is still not feasible. This is mostly due to late response from the electric utility
company during faults. Line outages change the topology of a distribution network
and can cause significant economic and social impacts, affecting businesses,
households, and public safety. Hence, the detection of power outages becomes crucial
for a quick response and restoration of power. Real time topology knowledge is
essential for situational awareness of power distribution networks [10].

The High Voltage transmission grid is already highly automated and monitored
through SCADA and Energy Management Systems. The distribution grid for
medium-low voltage, in comparison, has virtually little monitoring and control. Why?
Utilities frequently neglect to monitor their numerous medium voltage substations;
this is owing to the cost of upgrading with current technologies and the length of time
it takes to plan and construct. The implementation of a distribution line monitoring
system requires complicated engineering, this includes the use of remote terminal
units with new conduits, wiring to relays and current transformers. To disconnect the
feeders, engineers must plan outages, which takes time and would only be feasible
during times of low power consumption needs. Once the hardware has been installed,
the utility has to program and integrate all the hardware into a complex SCADA
system, which is a significant and difficult challenge for many utilities [11].

With the exception of customer billing meter locations, where smart meters are more
common to read, monitor, and manage, remote monitoring is not available below the
feeder level. In contrast to real-time feeder monitoring, these smart meters merely
record and transmit voltage, current, and power. The smart meter does not collect a
lot of data outside of its billing focused function.

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Substations and distribution power lines are two of the most valuable assets for
utilities that require crucial power flow data to provide the most reliable service. The
location and causes of faults and non-fault events, high-impedance faults,
consumption peaks, managing distributed renewable energy and EV charging, feeder
outages, and many other things are the most important data in the distribution grid that
are not taken into account by the systems in use today. Utilities depend on traditional
methods of power detection such as manual reporting of power outages by the end
users which are often slow and unreliable leading to inefficient and costly operations.
There must be a better way.

This chapter provides a review on the existing power outage detection and monitoring
systems in distribution networks. The chapter also discusses the technical approach to
the implementation of the distribution line power outage detector, notifier and locator
device proposed in this report.

2.1 Review on Existing Technologies.

Distribution Overhead Line Monitoring with LEM’s ART Rogowski coil

With the help of emerging Internet of Things communication networks like NB-IoT
and LPWAN, monitoring overhead power lines has become quicker, simpler, and less
expensive. The grid operator may view the current flow in real-time in order to
maximize the power line capacity to distribute more electricity, thanks to a line sensor
(1) that is positioned between two MV poles (2) as shown in figure 1.

9
Figure 1. Distribution Line Monitoring with LEM’s ART Rogowski coil [12].

The wireless line sensor transmits data to a secure database in the cloud (4) or on-site
(3) through a telecom relay. The maintenance staff can be alerted, controlled, and
notified by the energy management platform (5) as necessary. The LEM Rogowski
coil ART (A) is now being used by new line sensors to measure the current, prioritize
line capacity, and identify line aging based on the level of current [12].

Fault Detection, AI-enabled Preventive Grid Analytics

The Intelligent Wireless Observing System (IWOS), which consists of an overhead
line sensor, concentrator, and analytics platform, assists utilities in fault detection and
localization, power outage reduction, and the transition from reactive to preventive
maintenance. By installing more than 180,000-line sensors by 2020, the IWOS will
have been field tested. The IWOS has amassed more than 28 million waveform data
of line events and has effectively detected more than 35,000 faults, including ground
faults, short circuit faults, inrush current, lightning, and more, using big data analytics
and artificial intelligence [13].

Distribution utilities can accurately locate faults, cut down on patrol time, shorten
ou[12]tage times, and increase efficiency with the help of the analytics system, which
10
performs a variety of functions including data collecting, overhead line status display
& analysis, fault alarms, and preventive analysis. The system overview is as shown in
figure 2 below. [14].

Figure 2. The Intelligent Wireless Observing System (IWOS) [14].

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Power Outage Sensing Device based on IOT for Service Quality Evaluation in
the PLN Distribution System
The corporation PLN is in charge of the majority of Indonesia's electricity
management. Power outages are frequently caused by disturbances that PLN
encounters while operating the business. Customers, who are also service users,
require assurances regarding the reliability of the electrical power supply and the
speed of system recovery.

The design of power outage sensing device includes the design of hardware and
software. The figure 3 is a block diagram of a power outage sensing device installed
on the secondary side of the 20kV-380V/220V distribution feeder transformer.

Figure 3. Block Diagram of the Power Outage Sensing Device [15].

The sensor circuit consists of optocoupler sensors as transformer secondary voltage

sensors and WEMOS D1 which serves as signal processing equipment and data
transmitter via internet/intranet network. An optocoupler is a device that is used as an
electrical switch which works automatically. Wemos D1 for IOT application is a wifi
board based on ESP266 which can connect microcontroller devices to the internet via
wifi. It captures the voltage presence signal generated by the optocoupler sensor and
send it to the server. Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) circuit in the power outage
sensing device is a power supply circuit for WEMOS D1 which is connected directly

12
from the AC voltage source PLN which then goes through a rectifier and voltage
regulator circuit, which also functions as an automatic charger (auto on/off based on
the capacity stored in the battery). The battery is a backup supply when the PLN
electricity goes out [15].

2.2 Technical Considerations for the Design and Implementation of the System.

The design and implementation of the domestic distribution line power outage
detector, notifier and locator requires careful consideration of the critical aspects of
the system are to i.e., power outage detection, power notification, power outage
location and how to power the system during outages.

Power Outage Detection

Utilizing cutting-edge sensors to continuously monitor electricity grids has gained
popularity in recent years. A power outage detection method was proposed that used
sensors attached to power lines to detect changes in the electromagnetic field during
an outage. The results showed that this method was highly accurate, with a detection
rate of 99.2%. The placement of cutting-edge sensors, including phasor measurement
units (PMUs), in power transmission networks with various goals, like global
observability and outage detection, has been extensively researched in this context
[16]. Outage detection methods for transmission networks were suggested employing
a variety of strategies, including fastest change detection [17], sparse vector
estimation [18], and Bayesian estimation [19]. These algorithms presuppose the
ubiquitous availability of PMUs.

However, because distribution systems are radial in nature, have unidirectional power
flows, and have larger reactance-resistance ratios than transmission networks do, the
various transmission network algorithms that have been proposed may not be the best
ones for distribution systems [20, 21]. As a result, a number of methods have lately
been put out for the installation of advanced sensors in distribution networks, with
goals including global observability and outage detection [21, 22], and [23]. New
outage detection techniques are being developed for distribution networks, assuming
the use of such placement methodologies.

13
Outage detection methods using correlations between bus voltage measurements were
proposed in [23]. However, it was shown in [22] that power flow measurements are
superior to voltage measurements when using only a small number of measurements
for detecting outages in the distribution network. This is due to larger deviations in
power flows compared to voltages, in the presence of line outages.

Considering power flow measurements, the outage detection problem was formulated
as a mixed integer quadratic programming problem, in which the true topology is
detected as the one that minimizes the weighted square of measurement residues.
More related to the work in this paper are the outage detection algorithms of [22].
Utilizing power flow measurements from sensors along with load forecast statistics,
the authors of [22] proposed maximum a-posteriori (MAP) and maximum likelihood
(ML) outage detection algorithms respectively.

In [22], the authors also proposed an optimal sensor placement solution by finding the
sensor placement that minimizes the maximum missed detection error of their ML
outage detection algorithm. However, the algorithms proposed have a few drawbacks.
The sensor placement algorithms proposed in are dependent on load forecast statistics
that are computationally demanding, time-variant. Additionally, all network nodes are
taken into account in the sensor placement and outage detection algorithms as having
non-zero loads. However, since zero-injection nodes are present in the majority of
distribution networks, some outage situations cannot be detected by the proposed
detection algorithms for some of these networks. More significantly, the ML outage
detection system suggested in [22] only takes into account load estimate mistakes and
ignores sensor noise, which is constantly present.

One of the most significant challenges in detecting power outages is the ability to
differentiate between planned and unplanned outages. This is where machine learning
and artificial intelligence algorithms come in, with researchers using these
technologies to analyze power grid data and identify patterns that indicate an outage.
A deep learning model for power outage detection that used convolutional neural
networks (CNNs) to analyze smart meter data. The model achieved an accuracy of
over 95%, demonstrating its potential as a viable solution for power outage detection.

14
Power Outage Notification
Once a power outage has been detected, the next challenge is to notify those affected
as quickly as possible. In the past, this was typically done through phone calls or
manual inspections. However, with the rise of smart home technology and the
internet of things (IoT), there are now more advanced methods available.

One such method is through the use of smart home devices, such as smart speakers
and smart thermostats. In a recent study, they proposed a method for power outage
notification that used smart speakers to broadcast a message to all devices within a
home, notifying residents of the outage. The results showed that this method was
highly effective, with an average notification time of less than 10 seconds.

Another approach to power outage notification is through the use of mobile

applications. A proposal was made for a mobile application that would send push
notifications to residents in the event of a power outage. The results showed that this
method was effective in notifying residents quickly, with an average notification
time of less than 2 minutes.

Power Outage Location

In addition to detecting and notifying of power outages, it is also essential to locate
the source of the outage as quickly as possible. This is where the use of geographic
information systems (GIS) comes in, with researchers using GIS to map out power
grids and identify the location of outages.

In [17], they proposed a GIS-based approach to power outage location that used
smart meter data to pinpoint the location of the outage. The results showed that this
method was highly accurate, with an average error of less than 50 meters.

Another approach to power outage location is through the use of unmanned aerial
vehicles (UAVs) or drones. They proposed a method for power outage location that
used UAVs equipped with cameras and sensors to fly over power lines and identify
the location of the outage. The results showed that this method was highly effective,
with an average location time.

15
Power supply during outages
The device will need to be powered all the time which can be a challenge in cases of
power outages. This problem can be solved by using backup supply. Backup power
is defined as any device that provides instantaneous, uninterruptible power. A
backup power system is used to provide energy when the primary source fails. This
system is very important since an uninterruptible power supply is crucial for any
operation. The current backup systems include batteries and generators, which
operate on diesel, propane, or gasoline. Although these systems are well-established,
the batteries and generators' drawbacks are encouraging the users to seek for
alternative technologies that can provide higher reliability and durability at a rational
cost.

A fuel cell backup power system provides reliable electric power with low
emissions. Moreover, compared with batteries, fuel cells offer longer runtime,
higher durability, and less maintenance. Compared with generators, fuel cells are
noiseless and have zero or lower emissions [24]. Other backup power supplies
include solar panels, Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) and using an
interconnected system. In an interconnected system, all loads have more than one
power supply thus, if one system fails or is in maintenance, then the load is supplied
by another source.

Conclusion.
As alluded to in the previous chapter, the domestic distribution line power outage
detector proposed in this project utilizes the Arduino Microcontroller, GSM and
GPS technology because this system is deployable and less expensive as compared
to other technologies. The input signal to the Arduino is connected via a relay which
act as a sensor for power outage detection. The GPS and GSM technologies will
serve as power outage location and power outage notification devices respectively.
For the backup power supply, the interconnected system approach is to be adopted.

16
CHAPTER THREE

METHODOLOGY

3.0 Chapter Summary

This chapter outlines all the design and technical aspects of the project that will lead
to the successful deployment of a working prototype. The approach taken is as shown
in the figure 4 below.

Figure 4. Outline of the Methodology

17
3.1 Requirements

3.1.1 The Arduino Uno R3

Arduino UNO is a microcontroller board based on the ATmega328P. It has 14 digital

input/output pins (of which 6 can be used as PWM outputs), 6 analog inputs, a 16
MHz ceramic resonator, a USB connection, a power jack, an ICSP header and a reset
button. It contains everything needed to support the microcontroller; simply connect
it to a computer with a USB cable or power it with an AC-to-DC adapter or battery to
get started. In this case, the Arduino used in this project is powered by a 220Vac-9Vdc
power supply. The main advantage about this microcontroller is that, changes can be
made if an error is detected in the program written.

The ATmega328 has 32 kB of flash memory for storing code (of which 0.5kB is used
for the bootloader). It has 2 kB of SRAM and 1kBs of EEPROM (which can be read
and written with the EEPROM library.

The serial pins of an Arduino board are TX (1) and RX (0) pins and these pins can be
used to transfer the TTL serial data. The connection of these pins can be done with
the equivalent pins of the ATmega8 U2 USB to TTL chip. The external interrupt pins
of the board are 2 & 3, and these pins can be arranged to activate an interrupt on a
rising otherwise falling edge, a low-value otherwise a modify in value

The PWM pins of an Arduino are 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, & 11, and gives an output of an 8-bit
PWM with the function analog Write (). The SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) pins are
10, 11, 12, 13 namely SS, MOSI, MISO, SCK, and these will maintain the SPI
communication with the help of the SPI library. An Analog Reference pin (AREF) is
the reference voltage to the inputs of an analog i/ps using the function like Analog
Reference (). This Reset (RST) Pin brings a low line for resetting the microcontroller.

The communication protocols of an Arduino Uno include SPI, I2C, and UART serial
communication. An Arduino Uno has two function pins namely the transmitter digital
pin1 and the receiver digital pin0 which are mainly used in UART TTL serial
communication. For 12C communication with wire library, An Arduino UNO board

18
employs SDA pin otherwise A4 pin & A5 pin otherwise SCL pin is used. In this, both
the SCL and SDA are CLK signal and data signal. The figure 5 shows the Arduino
Uno R3 board.

Figure 5. The Arduino Uno R3 [25].

3.1.2 The Arduino GSM Shield.

The Arduino GSM Shield V1 allows an Arduino board to connect to the internet,
make/receive voice calls and send/receive SMS messages. The shield makes use of a
Quectel M10 radio modem. AT commands can be used to interact with the board.
There are numerous ways to communicate with the shield using the GSM library. The
PWRKEY pin of the modem is attached to Arduino pin 7.

The M10 is a Quad-band GSM/GPRS modem that works at frequencies

GSM850MHz, GSM900MHz, DCS1800MHz and PCS1900MHz. It supports
TCP/UDP and HTTP protocols through a GPRS connection. GPRS data downlink
and uplink transfer speed maximum is 85.6 kbps. To interface with the cellular
network, the board requires a SIM card provided by a network operator. The most
recent revision of the board uses the 1.0 pinout on rev 3 of the Arduino Uno board.

19
The board is powered by an external 220Vac-12Vdc power supply. Powering an
Arduino and the GSM shield from a USB connection is not recommended, as USB
cannot provide the required current for when the modem is in heavy use. The shield
contains a number of status LEDs:
 On: shows the Shield gets power.
 Status: turns on to when the modem is powered and data is being transferred
to/from the GSM/GPRS network.
 Net: blinks when the modem is communicating with the radio network.

The shield supports AIN1 and AOUT1 as audio interfaces; an analog input channel
and an analog output channel. The input, exposed on pins MIC1P/MIC1N, can be
used for both microphone and line inputs. An electret microphone can be used for this
interface. The output, exposed as lines SPK1P/SPK1N, can be used with either a
receiver or speaker. Through the modem, it is possible to make voice calls. In order
to speak to and hear the other party, you will need to add a speaker and microphone.

There are two small buttons on the shield. The button labeled "Reset" is tied to the
Arduino reset pin. When pressed, it will restart the sketch. The button labeled "Power"
is connected to the modem and will power the modem on and off. For early versions
of the shield, it was necessary to press the power button to turn on the modem. Newer
versions of the board will turn the modem on automatically. The GSM Module is
shown in figure 6.

Figure 6. The GSM Module [26].

20
3.1.3 The GPS Module

Global Positioning System (GPS) makes use of signals sent by satellites in space and
ground stations on Earth to accurately determine its position on Earth. The NEO-6M
GPS receiver module uses USART communication to communicate with
microcontroller or PC terminal. It receives information like latitude, longitude,
altitude, UTC time, etc. from the satellites in the form of NMEA string. This string
needs to be parsed to extract the information that we want to use.

As shown in figure 7, GPS receiver uses a constellation of satellites and ground

stations to calculate accurate location wherever it is located. These GPS satellites
transmit information signal over radio frequency (1.1 to 1.5 GHz) to the receiver. With
the help of this received information, a ground station or GPS module can compute
its position and time.

GPS receiver receives information signals from GPS satellites and calculates its
distance from satellites. This is done by measuring the time required for the signal to
travel from satellite to the receiver.

Figure 7. GPS Distance Calculation [2].

21
Where;
Speed = Speed of Radio signal which is approximately equal to the speed of light
Time = Time required for a signal to travel from the satellite to the receiver.
By subtracting the sent time from the received time, we can determine the travel
time. To determine distance, both the satellite and GPS receiver generate the same
pseudocode signal at the same time as shown in figure 8. The satellite transmits the
pseudocode; which is received by the GPS receiver.

Figure 8. GPS Signal Time Difference [2].

These two signals are compared and the difference between the signals is the travel
time. Now, if the receiver knows the distance from 3 or more satellites and their
location (which is sent by the satellites), then it can calculate its location by
using Trilateration method. Figure 9 shows the GPS receiver module.

Figure 9. GPS Receiver Module [2].

22
VCC: Power Supply 5V from the Arduino.
GND: Ground
TX: Transmit data serially which gives information about location, time etc.
RX: Receive Data serially. It is required when we want to configure GPS module.

3.1.4 The Electromagnetic Relay

An electromagnetic relay is a switching device that uses a magnet to turn the switch
on or off. They belong to the category of electromechanical devices. Relays generally
have an induction mechanism (input part) that can reflect certain input variables (such
as current, voltage, power, impedance, frequency, temperature, pressure, speed, light,
etc.). It has an actuator (output part) that can realize the "on" and "off" control of the
controlled circuit. Between the input part and output part of the relay, there is also an
intermediate mechanism (drive part) for coupling and isolating the input, functional
processing, and driving the output part. The structure of an electromagnetic relay is
shown in figure 10.

Figure 10. Structure of an Electromagnetic Relay [27].

The main components of the electromagnetic relay are electromagnet A, armature B,

spring C, moving contact D, static contact E (as shown in the figure). The working
circuit can be divided into two parts: the control circuit and the working circuit. The
control circuit includes electromagnetic relay coil (electromagnet A), the power
supply E1, switch S; the working circuit includes power supply E2, the contact D and
E parts of the relay.

23
When the switch S in the control circuit is closed that is the relay is energized, current
passes through the coil of the electromagnet A to generate a magnetic field, thereby
generating a gravitational force on the armature B, making the moving and static
contacts D and E contact, the working circuit is closed, and the circuit is complete.
When the control switch S is turned off, the current in the coil disappears, the armature
B under the action of the spring C disconnects the moving and static contacts D and
E, the working circuit is disconnected.

As long as a certain voltage is applied to both ends of the coil, a certain current will
flow in the coil, which will produce electromagnetic effects. Under the action of the
electromagnetic force, the armature will overcome the pull force of the return spring
and attract to the core, thereby driving the armature. Then the moving contact and the
static contact (normally open contact) are pulled together. When the coil is powered
off, the electromagnetic attraction will also disappear, and the armature will return to
its original position under the reaction force of the spring, releasing the moving
contact and the original static contact (normally closed contact) so as to achieve the
purpose of conducting and cutting off in the circuit. The "normally open and normally
closed" contacts of the relay can be distinguished as follows: the static contact that is
in the off state when the relay coil is not energized is called "Normally Open (NO)
contact"; the static contact that is in the on-state is called "Normally Closed (NC)
contact". Figure 11 shows one kind of such a relay.

Figure 11. The Electromagnetic Relay [28].

24
3.1.5 Circuit Breakers

Circuit breakers are electrical devices that are designed to protect electrical circuits
and equipment from damage caused by excessive current flow. They are an essential
component of electrical systems, whether in residential, commercial, or industrial
settings.

The primary function of a circuit breaker is to automatically interrupt the flow of

electricity when a fault or overload occurs. This helps prevent damage to the wiring,
appliances, and other electrical components connected to the circuit. When a fault or
overload is detected, the circuit breaker trips and opens the circuit, cutting off the flow
of electricity.

Circuit breakers come in various sizes and ratings, depending on the specific
application and the amount of current they can handle. They are typically installed in
electrical distribution panels or breaker boxes and are connected to individual circuits
within a building. In the event of a fault or overload, the circuit breaker interrupts the
circuit, protecting the connected devices and wiring. Figure 12 shows the Miniature
Circuit Breaker (MCB) type which was used in this project.

Figure 12. Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB) [29].

25
3.1.6 Pilot Lamps

Pilot lamps, also known as indicator lamps or signal lamps, are small light fixtures
that are used to indicate the status or condition of a device or system. They are
commonly found in various applications, including electrical panels, control panels,
machinery, appliances, and automotive instruments.

The primary purpose of a pilot lamp is to provide a visual indication to the user or
operator. They use small incandescent bulbs or light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as the
light source. When the lamp is energized, it emits light, which can be of a specific
color (e.g., red, green, yellow, blue) depending on the application and the meaning
associated with that color.

Pilot lamps are often used to indicate various states, such as power on/off, device
status i.e., pilot lamps may be used to indicate whether the equipment is running, in
standby mode. Pilot lamps can also be used to indicate the occurrence of alarms or
warnings. In certain applications, such as fire alarm panels or security systems, pilot
lamps may illuminate when a specific event or condition is detected.

Pilot lamps are typically designed to be low-power devices and are often connected
in parallel to the main circuit. They can be directly powered by the same voltage
source as the device they are indicating or through a separate control circuit.

Figure 13. Pilot Lamps [30].

26
3.2 Expected System Overview

The proposed system consists of three (3) 220v electromagnetic relays, Global
Positioning System (GPS) Module, Global System for Mobile communication (GSM
Module), Arduino board and three (3) 220V, 5A single pole circuit breakers. The
system overview is shown in figure 12 below.

Figure 14. System Architecture.

As shown in figure 13, each relay is energized by a different phase. The input signals
to the Arduino are connected via the static Normally Closed (NC) contacts of the relay
in such a way that when the relay is energized i.e., during normal conditions, The
Normally Closed contacts open and a “High” signal is sent to the Arduino. However,
when power cuts, the relay connected to the line which experiences outage is de-
energized leading to the reclosure of the Normally closed contacts. Subsequently a
“Low” signal to the Arduino. The Arduino then communicates with the GPS module
to locate faulty line and the coordinates are sent to the utility company via the GSM
module. Figure 13 below illustrates of how the system works.

27
Figure 15. System Flowchart.

28
3.3 System Build Up
Each electromechanical relay is connected to a phase of a domestic distribution line
via 220V circuit breakers i.e., relay 1 is energized by line1, relay 2 is energized by
line 2 and relay 3 is energized by line 3. These relays are in the on state during normal
line conditions. (Note: A relay can be left in its on state for a long period of time
provided it operates within its rated capacity).

The input signal conductors connected to the Arduino board are connected via the
Normally Closed contacts of the relays. Pins 9, 10, 11 are digital inputs to the Arduino
board which receive the input signals. The 220V pilot lights (red, yellow and blue)
are each connected to the Normally Open contacts of each relay in the respective
phase of a domestic distribution line. They are used for power indication purposes
which make it easy to spot the affected line.

Pins 3(TX) and 2(RX) on the Arduino board are used for communication between the
GPS and the micro-controller. Pins 7(RX) and 8(TX) on the Arduino board are used
for communication between the GSM and the micro-controller. For the device to be
powered and not be affected by these power outages, an uninterrupted power supply
(back-up power supply) is included in the circuit. The overall circuit build up as
designed in proteus is shown below.

29
Figure 16. Circuit Design in Proteus.

30
3.4 Simulation Results

As mentioned earlier, the circuit was designed and simulated in proteus. The results
are discussed as follows. Under normal conditions, the system behavior was as
depicted in figure 15. All the three LEDs were on, indicating the presence of power
in all the lines. Figure 16 shows the simulation for a power outage experienced on
line 1. The outage was created by opening the breaker for line 1. As expected, the led
for the affected line went off indicating that power supply had cut. A signal was then
sent to the Arduino board from the relay and the microcontroller carried out the
necessary processing. A message was displayed on the virtual terminal, showing the
statuses of the lines. The message showed that line 1 was faulty while line 2 and line
3 were in a healthy condition as anticipated. Likewise, the simulations for power
outages on line 2, line 3 and all the three lines are shown in figures 17, 18 and 19
respectively. Suffice to say all the simulation results were as expected.

31
Figure 17. Operation under normal conditions.

32
Figure 18. simulation for a Power Outage on line 1.

33
Figure 19. Simulation for a Power Outage on line 2.

34
 2.

Figure 20. Simulation for a fault on line 3.

35
Figure 21. Simulation for a 3-phase fault.

36
CHAPTER FOUR

ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION

4.0 System Prototyping, Testing and Implementation

This section outlines how the system was built, that is starting with the assembly of
individual components into sub-systems and finally integrating the sub-systems to
come up with a working model. The model was then tested and adjustments made
where necessary depending on the performance compared against the desired output.

4.1 Prototyping

Connecting Relays and Pilot Lights.

The main components of the prototype include the Arduino board, the relays, the GPS
and GSM modules. Each electromechanical relay was connected to a phase of a
domestic distribution line via 220V circuit breakers as shown in figure 22.

Figure 22. Relay Connections.

37
The pilot lights (red, yellow and blue) were connected via the normally open contacts
of the relays, each connected to its respective phase of a domestic distribution line as
shown in figure 23. The rationale behind this connection is that when the relay is
energized (supplied with power), the normally open contacts of the relay close thereby
completing the circuit which illuminates the lights. On the other hand, when a line
experiences power outage, the relay is de-energized. The normally open contacts go
back to their normally open state. As a result, the pilot light for the affected line turns
off. This makes it easier to spot the affected line.

Figure 23. Pilot Lights connections.

Interfacing the Arduino with the GSM and GPS Modules.

To interface an Arduino with the GSM Module, there was need for an active sim
card, jumper wires and a power source. To connect the Arduino and the GSM
module, the following connections were made. The Arduino digital pin 7 was
connected to the GSM module TX (receive) terminal, and the Arduino digital pin 8
was connected to the GSM module RX (transmit) terminal. Also, the Arduino GND
(ground) terminal was connected to the GSM module GND terminal, and GSM
module was supplied by a 12V power supply.

38
To interface the Arduino with the GPS module, the following connections were made.
The GPS module TX (transmit) terminal was connected to the Arduino digital pin 2,
and the GPS module RX (receiver) terminal was connected to the Arduino digital pin
3. The Arduino GND (ground) terminal was connected to the GPS module GND
terminal, and the Arduino VCC or 5V terminal was connected to the GPS module
VCC or 5V terminal. The connections for both the GSM and GPS modules to the
Arduino are as shown in figure 24.

Figure 24. Interfacing Arduino with GSM and GPS Modules.

Overall connections
Figure 26 shows the integration of all the components into one system. Having
interfaced the Arduino with the GPS and GSM modules, the next step was to integrate
the Arduino with the rest of the system. The input signals to the Arduino were
connected through the normally closed contacts of the relays. Arduino pins 9, 10 and
11 were set as input pins, each pin for a separate relay. The input pins were initially
set to high (given logic 1). One terminal of the normally closed contact of the relay
was connected to an input pin of the Arduino while the other terminal was connected
to the Arduino ground (logic 0). As such, when the relay is energized i.e., during
normal operations, the normally closed contacts open hence the Arduino reads the
initialized high status. When there is power outage, the relay is de-energized. The
39
normally closed contacts return to their normally closed state. As a result, the input
pin is now connected to the Arduino ground via the relay contacts hence the Arduino
reads logic 0 (LOW). This signal triggers the Arduino to carry out the necessary
processing for power outage location and notification. It is worth noting that the
system is to be powered by a separate power supply, in this case represented by the
two socket outlets as shown in figure 25. This is to keep the system on even when
there is a power outage.

Figure 25. Overall Connections.

4.2 Testing

Having finished with all the connections, the Arduino code was loaded up from the
Arduino IDE and the device was powered on as shown in figure 26. With all the lines
supplied with power, all the relays were energized and the pilot lights turned on, an
indication that all the lines were in a healthy condition. Simultaneously, a text
message was sent that gave an update on the lines’ statuses and also provided a google
map link for the location as shown in figure 27 and figure 28.

40
Figure 26. Device Powered On

Figure 27. Text Message

41
 Figure 28. Location as shown on Google Maps.

Next, the device was taken to a different location and line 2 had its power intentionally
cut off to simulate a power outage. The device’s response was as shown in the images
below.

42
 Figure 29. Single line outage testing.

Figure 30. Location as shown on google maps.

43
As seen in figure 29, the pilot light for the affected line turned off, an indication that
line 2 had experienced a power outage. At the same time, a text message was sent
confirming the status of the line as well as providing the location of the affected line
shown in figure 30.

4.3 Discussion

From the various tests that were conducted, the device responded in the way it was
designed to. The only challenges faced thus far were the source for backup power as
well as the slow response of the GPS module as highlighted in the following chapter.
It’s also worth mentioning that the device was programmed to automatically send
updates every two hours even when there is no power outage. This is to keep track of
the device status and monitor its performance just in case of any malfunction. The
power consumption of the device during testing was calculated as follows:

Measured values during testing

I1 = 8mA
I2 = 13mA
I3 = 8mA
IControl = 8mA
IDevice = 40mA
V = 197.8V
Where; I1, I2 and I3 are line currents.
IControl is the total current drawn by the control circuit.
IDevice is the total current drawn by the device.
V is the measured voltage.
Apparent power (S) drawn by the device is given by:
S = V × IDevice
= 197.8 × 40 × 10-3
= 7.912VA ⁓ 8VA

44
In conclusion, the device can be placed in locations that are prone to power outages
in the distribution networks. Such locations include supply points after the fuses on
pole mounted distribution transformer due to the high frequency at which the fuses
blow as well as transformer failures. Also, in regions with high population density and
in regions which are susceptible to severe weather conditions such as strong winds
and storms. Such regions are more prone to incidents that may lead to power loss.
Another location would be after joints (having jumper conductors) on a distribution
line which are more vulnerable to open circuits leading to power outages. References
can also be made from past experiences which may help give information on locations
that are prone to blackouts in the distribution system.

45
CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 Conclusion

The aim of the project was to develop a domestic distribution line power outage
detector. This device was to monitor distribution lines, detect power outages, locate
the lines experiencing outages and finally update the utility company on the status of
the lines. The skeleton of the project was based on three aspects which are power
outage detection, power outage location and finally, the notification aspect. The
detection of power outage was accomplished by the use of electromagnetic relays,
each strategically connected to a specific line to act a power outage sensor for that
line. Once power outage had been detected, the next challenge was to locate the
affected line and notify the utility company about these developments. This is where
the GPS and GSM Modules came in. The GPS Module completed the task of power
outage location while the GSM Module was the mode of communication between the
device and the utility company thereby completing the notification aspect of the
system. At the heart of all these operations was the Arduino processor which was
coordinating all these tasks. With all the project objectives accomplished and a
working prototype deployed, suffice to say the project was a success.

In conclusion, power outage detection offers several advantages that benefit both
electricity providers and consumers. Some of these advantages include:
1. Improved customer service: Detecting power outages quickly allows utilities
to respond faster to customer complaints and inquiries, leading to improved
customer satisfaction and trust in the service provider.
2. Reduced downtime: With real-time outage detection, utilities can pinpoint the
location and cause of power outages faster. This enables them to dispatch
repair crews more efficiently, reducing the downtime for affected customers.
3. Minimized revenue loss: Outage detection helps utilities identify the extent of
the outage and its impact on revenue-generating services. By addressing the
issue promptly, they can mitigate revenue losses and maintain business
continuity.
4. Predictive maintenance: Continuous monitoring and detection of power
outages provide valuable data that can be analyzed to identify potential
weaknesses in the power grid. This data-driven approach helps utilities
46
 perform predictive maintenance, preventing future outages and improving
overall grid reliability.
5. Enhanced grid reliability: Timely detection and resolution of power outages
contribute to a more reliable power grid. This is crucial for critical
infrastructure, industries, and areas with vulnerable populations, ensuring
uninterrupted access to electricity.
6. Predictive maintenance: Continuous monitoring and detection of power
outages provide valuable data that can be analyzed to identify potential
weaknesses in the power grid. This data-driven approach helps utilities
perform predictive maintenance, preventing future outages and improving
overall grid reliability.
7. Enhanced grid reliability: Timely detection and resolution of power outages
contribute to a more reliable power grid. This is crucial for critical
infrastructure, industries, and areas with vulnerable populations, ensuring
uninterrupted access to electricity.
Overall, power outage detection plays a critical role in maintaining a reliable and
efficient electrical grid, benefiting both service providers and end-users by improving
response times, reducing downtime, and enhancing overall customer experience.

5.1 Challenges

Despite the project being successful, numerous challenges were encountered during
the course of project which if not mitigated would have serious repercussions. The
first challenge that was faced was programming complexity. Integrating the three
modules to work together requires complex code. This demanded an extensive
learning of the programming language which was time consuming and tricky.
However, all the Modules were integrated using a less complex and well documented
single program to make debugging easier.

Another challenge was the connectivity issue presented by the GSM and GPS modules
depending on the location of the device. This challenge was averted by using reliable
hardware and antennas. As alluded to earlier in this report, the question regarding to
how the device was going to be powered was another important aspect. This is because
the device is supposed to be on at all times which could be a challenge during power

47
outages. The solution to this problem came in form of a backup power supply which
includes solar, battery, uninterruptible power supply and interconnectors.

Therefore, designing a power outage detector, notifier and locator using an Arduino,
GPS, and GSM required careful consideration of these challenges and taking
proactive steps to mitigate them.

5.2 Recommendations

Technical recommendation which could make the system even more effective and
efficient include the need for a CPU with more processing power such as a raspberry
pi which will enable the system to respond faster. A more accurate and quick response
GPS module can be incorporated in order to pinpoint the exact location of the affected
lines as early as possible. Additional protection can be added such as over voltage
relays and surge arrestors. A permanent backup power supply such as a UPS or solar
can be incorporated unlike the socket outlets used which can be quite challenging to
implement.

48
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2021, 2023).
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50
APPENDICES
Specifications of components used
1) Specifications for relays
 Brand: RELE
 Contact Configuration: 4PDT
 Coil Voltage: 230VAC
 Contact Current: 10A
 Product Range: C4 series
 Relay Mounting: Socket
 Contact Voltage VAC: 250VAC
 Frequency: 50/60Hz
 Relay Terminals: Quick Connect
 Contact Material: Silver Nickel
 Coil Resistance: 6.6 kΩ

2) Specifications for circuit breaker

 Brand: Havells
 Breaker Type: Miniature Circuit Breaker
 Voltage: 240VAC
 Current Rating: 6A
 Frequency: 50Hz
 Number of poles. 1
 Material: PVC plastic

3) Specifications for pilot lamps

 Model: AD22-DS22
 Voltage: 220VAC
 Current: 20mA

4) Specifications for Arduino Uno R3

 Microcontroller: ATmega328P
 Operating Voltage: 5V
 Input Voltage (recommended): 7-12V
 Input Voltage (limit): 6-20V

51
  Digital I/O Pins: 14
 PWM Digital I/O Pins: 6
 Analog Input Pins: 6
 DC Current per I/O Pin: 20mA
 DC Current for 3.3V Pin: 50mA
 Flash Memory: 32KB, 0.5KB used by bootloader
 SRAM: 2KB
 EEPROM: 1KB
 Clock Speed: 16MHz
 LED BUILTIN: 13

5) Specifications for GPS Module

 GPS Chipset: u-blox NEO-6M, 50 Channels
 Frequency: L1, 1575.42MHz; C/A Code
 Sensitivity: Acquisition: -148dBM (cold state), Tracking: -162dBM,
Reacquisition: -156dBm
 Position Accuracy: <3CEP (50%) without SA (horizontal)
 TTFF (Time TO First Fix): Cold Start: < 10 Minutes (typical)
Warm Start: < 5 Minutes (typical)
Hot Start: < 1 Minute (typical)
 Protocol: NMEA 0183v3.01, MTK NMEA Command
 DGPS: RTCM Protocol WAAS, EGNOS, MSAS
 AGPS: Supported (offline)
 Interface UART
 Baud Rate: 9600bps (default)
 Update Rate: 1⁓5Hz
 Working Temperature: -40 ̊c to +85 ̊c

6) Specifications for GSM Module

 Quad-Band 850/ 900/ 1800/ 1900 MHz
 Control via AT commands – Standard Commands: GSM 07,07 &
07.05, Enhanced Commands: SIMCOM AT Commands.
 Short Message Service (SMS): ASCII or raw hexadecimal.
 Embedded TCP/UDP stack.

52
  Temperature range: -40 ̊c to +85 ̊c

Code used for simulation

#include <SoftwareSerial.h>
#include <TinyGPS++.h>

// Define the pins for the GPS module and the button
#define GPS_TX 3
#define GPS_RX 2
#define LINE_1 9
#define LINE_2 10
#define LINE_3 11
int delay_one = 2000;
float delay_two=600000;//number of milli seconds in 10 mini
int delay_three=300000; // number of milli seconds in 5 minutes

// Define the phone number to send the SMS message to

#define PHONE_NUMBER "+260976877436"

// Create instances of the software serial and GPS libraries

SoftwareSerial gsmSerial(7, 8);
SoftwareSerial gpsSerial(GPS_RX, GPS_TX);
TinyGPSPlus gps;

void setup() {
// Start serial communication with the computer
Serial.begin(9600);

// Start serial communication with the GSM module

gsmSerial.begin(9600);

// Start serial communication with the GPS module

gpsSerial.begin(9600);
gsmSerial.println("AT+CMGF=1");
gsmSerial.println("AT+CNMI=2,2,0,0,0");
pinMode(LINE_1,INPUT);
digitalWrite(LINE_1,HIGH);
pinMode(LINE_2,INPUT);
digitalWrite(LINE_2,HIGH);
pinMode(LINE_3,INPUT);
digitalWrite(LINE_3,HIGH);

void loop() {

int LINE_1_VALUE=digitalRead(LINE_1);
int LINE_2_VALUE=digitalRead(LINE_2);
int LINE_3_VALUE=digitalRead(LINE_3);

float latitude, longitude;

while (gpsSerial.available() > 0)
if (gps.encode(gpsSerial.read()))

53
 displayInfo();

if (millis() > 5000 && gps.charsProcessed() < 10)

{
Serial.println(F("No GPS detected: check wiring."));
while(true);
}

if (LINE_1_VALUE==0 && LINE_2_VALUE==1 && LINE_3_VALUE==1) {

// Read GPS coordinates
float latitude, longitude;
while (gpsSerial.available() > 0)
if (gps.encode(gpsSerial.read()))

// Send SMS message with GPS coordinates

gsmSerial.println("AT+CMGF=1"); // Set SMS text mode
delay(1000);
gsmSerial.print("AT+CMGS=\"");
gsmSerial.print(PHONE_NUMBER);

delay(1000);
gsmSerial.print("www.google.com/place/");
gsmSerial.print(gps.location.lat(), 6);
gsmSerial.print(gps.location.lng(), 6);
gsmSerial.print(gps.location.lat(), 6);
gsmSerial.print(gps.location.lng(), 6);
gsmSerial.print(",17z");
gsmSerial.println("LINE_1=FAULT, LINE_2=OK, LINE_3=OK,
NEUTRAL=OK ");

gsmSerial.write(0x1A); // Send SMS message

delay(delay_one);
}

if (LINE_1_VALUE==1 && LINE_2_VALUE==0 && LINE_3_VALUE==1) {

float latitude, longitude;
while (gpsSerial.available() > 0)
if (gps.encode(gpsSerial.read()))

// Send SMS message with GPS coordinates

gsmSerial.println("AT+CMGF=1"); // Set SMS text mode
delay(1000);
gsmSerial.print("AT+CMGS=\"");
gsmSerial.print(PHONE_NUMBER);

delay(1000);
gsmSerial.print("www.google.com/place/");
gsmSerial.print(gps.location.lat(), 6);
gsmSerial.print(gps.location.lng(), 6);
gsmSerial.print(gps.location.lat(), 6);
gsmSerial.print(gps.location.lng(), 6);
gsmSerial.print(",17z");
gsmSerial.println("LINE_1=OK, LINE_2=FAULT, LINE_3=OK,
NEUTRAL=OK ");

54
 gsmSerial.write(0x1A); // Send SMS message
delay(delay_one);
}
if (LINE_1_VALUE>=1 && LINE_2_VALUE>=1 && LINE_3_VALUE==0) {
float latitude, longitude;
while (gpsSerial.available() > 0)
if (gps.encode(gpsSerial.read()))

// Send SMS message with GPS coordinates

gsmSerial.println("AT+CMGF=1"); // Set SMS text mode
delay(1000);
gsmSerial.print("AT+CMGS=\"");
gsmSerial.print(PHONE_NUMBER);
gsmSerial.println("\"");
delay(1000);
gsmSerial.print("www.google.com/place/");
gsmSerial.print(gps.location.lat(), 6);
gsmSerial.print(gps.location.lng(), 6);
gsmSerial.print(gps.location.lat(), 6);
gsmSerial.print(gps.location.lng(), 6);
gsmSerial.print(",17z");
gsmSerial.println("LINE_1=OK, LINE_2=OK, LINE_3=FAULT,
NEUTRAL=OK ");

gsmSerial.write(0x1A); // Send SMS message

delay(delay_one);
}
if (LINE_1_VALUE==0 && LINE_2_VALUE==0 && LINE_3_VALUE==1) {
float latitude, longitude;
while (gpsSerial.available() > 0)
if (gps.encode(gpsSerial.read()))

// Send SMS message with GPS coordinates

gsmSerial.println("AT+CMGF=1"); // Set SMS text mode
delay(1000);
gsmSerial.print("AT+CMGS=\"");
gsmSerial.print(PHONE_NUMBER);
gsmSerial.println("\"");
delay(1000);
gsmSerial.print("www.google.com/place/");
gsmSerial.print(gps.location.lat(), 6);
gsmSerial.print(gps.location.lng(), 6);
gsmSerial.print(gps.location.lat(), 6);
gsmSerial.print(gps.location.lng(), 6);
gsmSerial.print(",17z");
gsmSerial.println("LINE_1=FAULT, LINE_2=FAULT, LINE_3=OK,
NEUTRAL=OK ");
gsmSerial.write(0x1A); // Send SMS message
delay(delay_one);
}
if (LINE_1_VALUE==1 && LINE_2_VALUE==0 && LINE_3_VALUE==0) {
float latitude, longitude;
while (gpsSerial.available() > 0)
if (gps.encode(gpsSerial.read()))

55
 // Send SMS message with GPS coordinates
gsmSerial.println("AT+CMGF=1"); // Set SMS text mode
delay(1000);
gsmSerial.print("AT+CMGS=\"");
gsmSerial.print(PHONE_NUMBER);
delay(1000);
gsmSerial.print("www.google.com/place/");
gsmSerial.print(gps.location.lat(), 6);
gsmSerial.print(gps.location.lng(), 6);
gsmSerial.print(gps.location.lat(), 6);
gsmSerial.print(gps.location.lng(), 6);
gsmSerial.print(",17z");
gsmSerial.println("LINE_1=OK, LINE_2=FAULT, LINE_3=FAULT,
NEUTRAL=OK ");

gsmSerial.write(0x1A); // Send SMS message

delay(delay_one);
}
if (LINE_1_VALUE==0 && LINE_2_VALUE==1 && LINE_3_VALUE==0) {
float latitude, longitude;
while (gpsSerial.available() > 0)
if (gps.encode(gpsSerial.read()))

// Send SMS message with GPS coordinates

gsmSerial.println("AT+CMGF=1"); // Set SMS text mode
delay(1000);
gsmSerial.print("AT+CMGS=\"");
gsmSerial.print(PHONE_NUMBER);
delay(1000);
gsmSerial.print("www.google.com/place/");
gsmSerial.print(gps.location.lat(), 6);
gsmSerial.print(gps.location.lng(), 6);
gsmSerial.print(gps.location.lat(), 6);
gsmSerial.print(gps.location.lng(), 6);
gsmSerial.print(",17z");

gsmSerial.println("LINE_1=FAULT, LINE_2=OK, LINE_3=FAULT,

NEUTRAL=OK ");
gsmSerial.write(0x1A); // Send SMS message
delay(delay_one);
}
if (LINE_1_VALUE==0 && LINE_2_VALUE==0 && LINE_3_VALUE==0) {
float latitude, longitude;
while (gpsSerial.available() > 0)
if (gps.encode(gpsSerial.read()))

// Send SMS message with GPS coordinates

gsmSerial.println("AT+CMGF=1"); // Set SMS text mode
delay(1000);
gsmSerial.print("AT+CMGS=\"");
gsmSerial.print(PHONE_NUMBER);
delay(1000);
gsmSerial.print("www.google.com/place/");

56
 gsmSerial.print(gps.location.lat(), 6);
gsmSerial.print(gps.location.lng(), 6);
gsmSerial.print(gps.location.lat(), 6);
gsmSerial.print(gps.location.lng(), 6);
gsmSerial.print(",17z");
gsmSerial.println(" ");

gsmSerial.println("3 PHASE SYMMETRICAL FAULT OR NEUTRAL=FAULT

");

gsmSerial.write(0x1A); // Send SMS message

delay(delay_one);
}
}

void displayInfo()
{
Serial.print(F("www.google.com/place/"));
if (gps.location.isValid())
{
Serial.print(gps.location.lat(), 6);
Serial.print(gps.location.lng(), 6);
Serial.print(gps.location.lat(), 6);
Serial.print(gps.location.lng(), 6);

}
else
{
Serial.print(F("INVALID"));
}

Serial.print(F(" Date "));

if (gps.date.isValid())
{
Serial.print(gps.date.month());
Serial.print(("/"));
Serial.print(gps.date.day());
Serial.print(("/"));
Serial.print(gps.date.year());
}
else
{
Serial.print(F("INVALID"));
}

Serial.println();
}
// Check if the button is pressed

57
Gantt chat

58
Project budget

59