Design of a Sag and Surge Detector For Residential Voltage

TL;DR

This paper presents an inexpensive Arduino-based device designed to detect voltage sags and surges in residential systems, automatically disconnecting loads to protect appliances and transmitting data for further analysis.

Contribution

It introduces a low-cost, effective protection device tailored for residential voltage fluctuations, utilizing RMS sampling and real-time detection based on national electrical standards.

Findings

Successfully detects voltage sags and surges within three semi-cycles.

Capable of transmitting sampled voltage data for analysis.

Designed specifically for Venezuela's electrical system standards.

Abstract

An inexpensive protection device capable of disconnecting a load upon detecting a voltage sag or surge is presented. Said device is aimed towards the residential voltage of Venezuela's electrical system. The device is based on the Arduino platform, and uses an ATmega 328P. It detects the presence of a voltage sag or surge by sampling the residential voltage used to feed the load, and continuously measuring the RMS $\frac{1}{2}$ voltage. It disconnects the load after 3 semi-cycles where the residential voltage is outside the boundaries established by Venezuela's national electrical code, and therefore there is the presence of a voltage sag or surge. The device is capable of transmitting the data of the sampled signal, for making further analysis.