Electricity meter reading and bill estimation

The problem

Homeowners only learn how much they've used when the bill arrives, when there's nothing they can do. To keep track, they'd have to go down to the meter room, write the reading on paper, and subtract by hand. As a result, consumption becomes a monthly surprise instead of something you can control. Automatic meter reading turns the bill from a surprise into a number you follow live while the AC is running.

How it works

1. CaptureA light sensor is fixed over the meter's blinking indicator and catches every pulse.
2. CountingThe controller counts the pulses and converts them into units using the meter constant printed on it.
3. AccountThe number of units is multiplied by the tariff tier to calculate the estimated bill.
4. DisplayThe screen shows live and cumulative consumption and the cost.
5. UploadReadings are uploaded to an online dashboard with daily and monthly charts.
6. AlertsAn instant alert is sent when a monthly limit set by the user is exceeded.

Project features

• A completely contactless installation, with no touching the electrical wires.
• The simplest of the energy projects to build, with a result measured in dinars.
• It can be verified by comparing the system's reading with the meter's in front of the committee.
• It's cheap, which suits a student with a limited budget.
• The consumption chart shows the home's peak times.

Expected challenges

These are the main obstacles to expect during the build, laid out clearly so you know them before you start.

• Mounting the sensor at the right angle over the blinking indicator, as any misalignment misses pulses.
• Ambient light confuses the sensor, so it must be shielded from outside light.
• The meter constant differs from one meter to another and must be read from the meter's own plate.
• The pulse counter must not reset during power cuts, which requires permanent storage.
• Tariff tiers are progressive, so the bill isn't a simple multiplication.

The consultation gives you a solution for each one.

Expected committee questions

Prepare your answers in advance: these questions come up often in defenses of similar projects.

1. How is the number of pulses converted into kilowatt-hours, and what is the meter constant?
2. How was the bill calculated according to the tiers?
3. How was room lighting kept from affecting the reading sensor?
4. How is the count preserved during a power cut?

Practice the defense, question by question