PREPAID ENERGY METER WITH

LCD DISPLAY
A

PROJECT REPORT

Submitted in partial Fulfillment of Requirements for Award of the Degree of

BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY

IN

ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING

Submitted to

DEENBANDHU CHHOTU RAM UNIVERSITY OF

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, MURTHAL, SONEPAT
BY

Kanika (20001003057)
Khushbu (20001003059)
Kirti (20001003060)
Kirti Dutt (20001003061)

UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF

Dr. Rajeshwar Dass

(Associate Professor, ECED, DCRUST, Murthal)

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING

DEENBANDU CHHOTU RAM UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY, MURTHAL, SONEPAT-131039
 DEENBANDU CHHOTU RAM UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY, MURTHAL, SONEPAT-131039
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING

This is to certify that the project entitled” PREPAID ENERGY METER WITH LCD DISPLAY” Submitted by
Kanika (20001003057), Khushbu (20001003059), Kirti (2001003060) and Kirti Dutt (2001003061) in partial
fulfillment of the requirements for the award of degree of Bachelor of Technology in Electronics and
communication Engineering at the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering of
Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology, Murthal, is an authentic work carried out by
them under my supervision and guidance .The matter embodied in this project report submitted by them is
authenticated and has not been submitted to any other university/institute for the award of any degree as per my
knowledge.

Supervisor

Dr. Rajeshwar Dass

This is certified that the B. Tech Project Stage-1 viva-voice Examination of Kanika (20001003057), Khushbu
(20001003059), Kirti (2001003060) and Kirti Dutt (2001003061) has been held on dated ……/….../2023 and
accepted the project for the award of the degree.

Project Supervisor Project Coordinator

(Dr. Rajeshwar Dass) (Dr. Rajeshwar Dass)

External Examiner Chairperson (ECED)

(Dr. Priyanka)
 DECLARATION

We hereby declare that the work which is being presented in the project report entitled “ PREPAID ENERGY METER
WITH LCD DISPLAY” in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the award of the degree of “ Bachelor of Electronics and
Communication Engineering at the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering of Deenbandhu
Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology, Murthal is an authentic report of our own work carried out under the
supervision of Dr. Rajeshwar Dass, Associate Professor, ECED, DCRUST, Murthal. The matter embodied in this project
report is neither copied nor submitted to any other university/institute for the award of any degree. This is to certify thar the
above statement made by us is correct to the best of our knowledge and belief. If anything is found incorrect in future, We will
be responsible for the same.

Date:/…./2023

Kanika (20001003057) ..…………..

Khushbu (20001003059) ……………

Kirti(20001003060) ……………….

Kirti Dutt (20001003061)………………

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

It fills our heart with immense pleasure to mention the name of our project supervisor and coordinator Dr.
Rajeshwar Dass (Associate Professor, ECED, DCRUST, Murthal) for his supervision, advice and regular
support right through our project work. We would like to thank him for being our project supervisor.

Secondly, We want to express our greetings to Dr. Priyanka (Professor & Chairperson, ECED, DCRUST,
Murthal) for teaching us and helping us to discover how to learn. She has been a source of enormous inspiration
for us and we are thankful to her from the bottom of our heart.

We also want to express our thankfulness to other faculty and staff members of Department of Electronics and
Communication Engineering, DCRUST, Murthal Sonipat for their intellectual support during this work.

We would like to show gratitude to all classmates and friends for all the detailed and motivating discussions we
had, which encouraged us to think beyond the obvious. We have enjoyed their companionship so much during our
stay at Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology, Murthal, Sonipat..

Lastly we would like to thank our parents and almighty for always believing in us and appreciating our efforts
which had always motivated us to better version of ourselves.

Date____/_____/_2023

Kanika (20001003057) …………..

Khushbu (20001003059) ……………

Kirti (20001003060) ……………….

Kirti Dutt (20001003061)……………

 ABSTRACT

The era of wireless automation has arrived in power generation, transmission and distribution and billing.
Traditional metering methods are not convenient for retrieving consumers' energy data. The current system of
energy billing is error prone, time, resource and labor consuming. The problem becomes more serious when
consumers try to bypass meter units, thereby pay less than what is actually consumed or the case of overbilling by
the utility providers as the case in many areas across the world. This paper presents the design and implementation
of a GSM based remote operation of an energy meter which brings a the solution to power consumption control,
auto billing and payment, automatic in billing and recharging in power distribution and management .The
objective of this project is to facilitate energy consumption measurement and its corresponding billing scheme.
The materials and method deployed herein is the use of a Arduino unit that continually monitors the meter
interfaced with a GSM MODEM with a dedicated SIM for remote operations. The method used to carry out this
project is the principle of serial communication in collaboration with embedded systems. The meter provides
corresponding billing Information on a LCD screen and we have used C programming language for coding
arduino.
 CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE NUMBER

Certificate ii
Declaration iii
Acknowledgement iv
Abstract v
List of Figures vi
List of Abbreviations vii
Chapter 1: Introduction 1-4
1.1 Introduction about Energy Meter 2
1.2 Problems with Conventional Energy Meter 2
1.3 Proposed solutions 2
1.4 Problem Statement 3
1.5 Objective 3
1.6 Significance 3
1.7 Scope 4
Chapter 2: Literature Survey 5-9
2.1 Introduction 6
2.2 Key Concept 6
2.2.1 Types of Energy Meter 6
2.2.2 GSM Module 7
2.2.3 Tampering and Security in Prepaid Energy Meter 8
2.3 Previous research studies 8
2.4 Conclusion 9
Chapter 3: Methodology and System Design 10-17
3.1 Introduction 11
3.2 Basic Block Diagram 11
3.3 Flowchart and Algorithm 12
3.3.1 Algorithm 12
3.3.2 Flowchart 13
3.4 Hardware Components 14
Chapter 4: Project Design and Working 18-21
4.1 Circuit Diagram 19
4.2 PCB Designing 20
4.2.1 Introduction 20
 4.2.2 PCB Designing Process 20
4.3 Working 21
Chapter 5: Simulation and Results 23-28
5.1 Project Working Prototype 24
5.2 Simulation Result 25
Chapter 6: Conclusion and Future Scope 29-31
6.1 Conclusion 30
6.2 Future Scope 30
References 32
Appendix-1 33
 List of Figures

Figure No. Figure Title Page no.

2.1 Structure of GSM 08
3.1 Basic Block Diagram 11
3.2 Flowchart 12
3.4 LCD Display 14
3.5 Energy Meter 15
3.6 GSM Module 16
3.7 Arduino Nano 16
3.8 Pin Specification of Arduino Nano 17
3.9 Adapter 17
4.1 Circuit Diagram 19
4.2 PCB Layout 20
4.3 PCB with Mounted Components 20
5.1 Project Working Prototype 23
5.2 LCD Display Finding Network 24
5.3 LCD Display Finding Module 24
5.4 LCD Display Module Found 24
5.5 LCD Display Low Balance Alert 25
5.6 LCD Display Power cut due to Low Balance 25
5.7 LCD Display Recharge Successful 26
5.8 LCD Display Confirmation of Message Sent 26
5.9 LCD Display Units Consumed Message 27
5.10 Project Working Prototype 27
 List of Abbreviation

GSM Global System for Mobile

LCD Liquid Crystal Display

IoT Internet of Things

AC Alternating Current

SMS Short Messaging Service

PCB Printed Circuit Board

I/O Input/ Output

SRAM Static Random Access Memory

EEPROM Electrical Erasable Programable Memory

GND Ground

AMR Automatic Meter Reading

SIM Subscriber Identification Module

 Chapter 1
Introduction
 Chapter 1

Introduction

1.1 Introduction about Energy Meter

An Energy meter or watt-hour meter is a device that measures the power consumption. It
understands, monitor and manage the energy usage of any electrical circuit. The measurement is
majorly done in kilowatt-hours (kWh) which means the energy consumed in kilowatt in each hour. It
provides both the consumer as well as the utility provider the consumption of energy. Basically,
stepdown current and voltage transformers are used to bring down the level that can be safely
measured. The measured units are then displayed on the meter that can be seen by the consumers as
well as the utility provider.

1.2 Problem with conventional energy meter

Conventional meters that are used in mostly households provide the data about the energy consumed
and on periodic basis a person from utility provider checks and make a bill. In this conventional
usage billing method, there are a lot of drawbacks that have been seen which are as follow:
1. There have been a lot of issues with the accuracy as sometimes the costumer or the utility
provider did wrong practices and by the time it come into notice the bill needs to be paid
according to the reading.
2. Consumers find it difficult to monitor the real time power consumption. Majorly the
customers are unaware of their current power usage pattern making it difficult for them to
acknowledge their consumption according to their financial situations.
3. It is very costly for the utility provider to send educated and trained labor to each costumer’s
house for the energy consumption reading. Also, the reading can include some human errors
which makes the process a time-consuming costly process.

1.3 Proposed solutions

With emerging disputes between utility providers and service consumers along with unfair means
detected there was a high need to find an appropriate solution. At consumer end to escape paying for
service, an automation was awaited in this field and the project PRE-PAID ENERGY METER has
solved this problem. Pre-paid energy meter provides a solution to all above stated problems and
presents a revolutionized solution of prepaid system like prepaid mobile recharges.
 These systems are expensive and need a lot of efforts at initial stage of being implementation due to
lack of awareness and high inventory cost but once the initial step is surpassed rest of implementation
of this system do not require any additional charges.

Also, maintenance cost of this system is low and it is more reliable for service providers and
consumers. It can be remotely managed and recharged beforehand. Regular visits to consumer
metering installations are a possible action, but they are expensive for the entire consumer base.

In this system users mobile number is registered via GSM module and can recharge their account
using mobile phone. And during whole operation the details are shown to users on LCD screen.

1.4 Problem Statement

The post-paid energy meter which are used in majorly households involve manual meter reading
which is very slow and costly. It is also prone to human errors which might happen while noting down
the readings from the meter.
Real time monitoring was a major issue as people can’t get any idea about their power consumption
frequently, but need to manually note down the meter readings which are slow, time consuming and
include human errors.
The aim of Prepaid energy meter is to provide solutions to all the problems that are related to the
conventional metering system by having a total control over the real time monitory of energy
consumption without any errors and reduce costs that are related to labor work.

1.5 Objectives
 Reduce revenue losses for utility providers.
 Empower consumers with real-time energy monitoring.
 Promote responsible and efficient energy consumption.
 Enhance security and efficiency of energy distribution system.

1.6 Significance

Prepaid energy meter benefits both Consumers and utility provider as it provides up to the point
information regarding energy consumption that are clear and helps in accurate billing. It provides
real time monitoring support and is highly reliable. It provides 24 x 7 customer service faster
recovery.
It does not require labor work and is smart and automated which makes it reliable and accurate.
It provides a better company eminence, automatic meter reading which
remove the cost spend on labor work for manual reading, observation, and control of energy
consumption and production. It is useful for planned power consumption as people have to paid
earlier.
 The project provides learning on the following in terms that are:
1. GSM modem interfacing to Microcontroller that is Arduino Nano
2. Mobile interfacing with GSM modem
3. Energy meter interfacing to Microcontroller
4. Embedded C programming
5. PCB (printed circuit board) design
6. LCD interfacing to Micro controller.
7. Mobile recharge using GSM.
8. Relay working as switch for power cut.
9. Real time monitoring of units used.

1.7 SCOPE

The scope of prepaid energy meter is to create and construct a GSM based energy meter
which can be connected to the customer’s mobile phone. It works at the voltage rating of
220V, current of 25 -100A and operating at 50Hz and GSM module with a 16 x 2 LCD
with the wireless communication features over SMS. Within the scope of this project.
The prototype model is equipped with a dedicated SIM (Subscriber Identification
Module). It can bring a new way of utilizing energy that can provide user a warning
before their recharge is over.
 Chapter 2
Literature Survey
 Chapter 2
Literature Survey
2.1 Introduction
Pre-paid energy meter is a rising technology which is designed to revolutionized the energy sector.
An electricity meter or energy meter is a device that measures the amount of electric energy
consumed by a residence, business, or an electrically powered device. Electricity meters are
typically calibrated in billing units, the most common one being the kilowatt hour (kWh). The
electric power company which supplies the electricity installs the electric meters to measure the
amount of electricity consumed by each of its customers. Researchers have proposed different
implementation techniques for Automatic Meter Reading (AMR). One as discussed in this report
is the GSM based Automatic Meter Reading System which uses the GSM network for
communicating with the meter.

2.2 Key concepts

2.2.1 Types of energy meter
An electricity meter or energy meter is a device that measures the amount of electric energy
consumed by a residence, business, or an electrically powered device. Electricity meters are
typically calibrated in billing units, the most common one being the kilowatt hour (kWh). The
electric power company which supplies the electricity installs the electric meters to measure the
amount of electricity consumed by each of its customers. Researchers have proposed different
implementation techniques for Automatic Meter Reading (AMR). One as discussed in this report
is the GSM based Automatic Meter Reading System which uses the GSM network for
communicating with the meter.
There are major 2 types of energy meter that are discussed here:
 Electromechanical meters
The electromechanical induction meter operates by counting the revolutions of a non-
magnetic, metal disc which rotates at a speed proportional to the power passing through the
meter. The number of revolutions is thus proportional to the energy usage. The voltage coil
consumes a small and relatively constant amount of power, typically around 2 watts which
is not registered on the meter. The current coil similarly consumes a small amount of
power in proportion to the square of the current flowing through it, typically up to a couple
of watts at full load, which is registered on the meter.
 Electronic meters
Electronic meters display the energy used on an LCD or LED display, and some can also
transmit readings to remote places. In addition to measuring energy used, electronic meters
can also record other parameters of the load and supply such as instantaneous and maximum
rate of usage demands, voltages, power factor and reactive power used etc. They can also
 support time-of-day billing, for example, recording the amount of energy used during on-
peak and off- peak hours.

2.2.2 GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication)

GSM has been the backbone of the phenomenal success of mobile communication in the previous
decade. Now at the dawn of true broadband services, GSM continues to evolve to meet new
demands. GSM is an open, non-proprietary system with international roaming capability.

GSM was originally known as Group Special Mobile but nowadays it is commonly referred as
Global System for Mobile Communication. It is a set of standards developed by the European
Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) to describe technologies used for second generation
digital communications, commonly referred as 2G technologies. It was developed as a replacement
to the first generation analog communications. It originally described a digital circuit switched
network optimized for full duplex voice communications.

Fig. 2.1 Structure of GSM

2.2.3 Tampering and security in pre-paid energy meter

Tampering in electric meter and energy theft has become quite common. Electric meters can be
manipulated, thus causing them to stop, under-register or even bypassing the meter. Consumers,
who tamper with electric meter, effectively use power without paying for it. Electric meter security
is looked upon as major issue in many countries today. A large portion of a country’s revenue is lost
due to the high density of tampering and security in electric meters. Hence it becomes very
important to detect tampering in electric meters to ensure proper billing. One of the methods
adopted to ensure the efficient supply is to reduce tampering with the electric meters as also
proposed in this report.

Modern detection tools that help in power theft identification include the following;

 Tamper proof seals and labels

 Tamper resistant screws and locks
 Tamper alarms and sensors

2.3 Previous research studies

 In 2017 Nazmat Toyinet told that energy fuels the growth and development of any country, and
as such effective monitoring, measurement, billing and access control is imperative. They
presented a device that uses the evolving Internet of Things (IoT) technology in the design and
implementation of an Internet based prepaid energy meter often referred to as smart meters. The
energy measurement and billing system is automated. The system employs the ATMega328p and
ESP8266 to operate a dual core microprocessor unit with one core dedicated to energy sensing and
measurements, while the other handles the network connectivity, storage, computations and
overall system performance.

 In 2016, W.D.A.S. Rodrigo invested that most of the developing countries are moving in to smart
meters equipped with prepayment facility to measure electricity in order to reduce the financial
losses faced by utilities due to consumer reluctance to make bill payments on time. Prepaid smart
meters enable consumers to effectively manage their electricity usage. But the main drawback of
the currently available prepaid meters is their high cost which makes them infeasible for
developing countries. Their research work is based on a final year university project on designing
and implementing a digital prepaid energy meter which is affordable for domestic consumers in a
developing country like Sri Lanka.

 In 2017 Kumarsagar M.Dangeet. aimed at a project to minimize the queue at the energy meter
billing counters and to restrict the usage of energy meter automatically, if the bill is not paid. The
 project also aims at proposing a system that will reduce the loss of power and revenue due to
power thefts and other illegal activities. The work system adopts a totally new concept of “Prepaid
Energy Meter”. The GSM technology is used so that the consumer would receive messages about
the consumption of power (in watts) and if it reaches the minimum amount, it would automatically
alert the consumer to recharge. This technology holds good for all electricity distribution
companies, private communities, IT parks and self-containing housing projects.

 In 2015, Shraddha Yadav presented in their survey that the electricity energy saving scheme is
used in business, agriculture, domestic and general purpose. The problem occurs in post paid
scheme is, there is no control of use of electricity from the consumer side and the problem of
collection of meter reading and also in generating the bill. In their work technique used for prepaid
scheme using smart meter included the embedded system and GSM for sending and receiving the
SMS through GSM network. Smart meter is a meter which is attached with the existing meter in
embedded system which helps the consumer to send a SMS for their day to day power
consumption. The aim of their work is to control the consumption of electricity in consumer side.
Establish a communication network between the consumer and service provider using GSM.
Service provider verify the meter id and card number and accept the request and recharge the
meter. Apart from it their work minimized the queue at the electricity billing countersand to
retrieve the electricity automatically.

2.4 Conclusion

After reviewing the above research papers it can be concluded that prepayment systems have been
proposed as an innovative solution to the problem of affordability in utilities services. In spite of being a
popular system in European and African countries, the use of such mechanisms remains controversial.
Among the main arguments in favor of its dissemination are the advantages concerning lower costs of
arrears, running costs and finance charges for the service provider and the better allocation of resources it
implies for users. The arguments against prepaid meters are based on the higher cost of the technology
and the possibility of self-disconnection of low-income users. The monopolistic power distribution
market in Asia is gradually transforming into a competitive marketplace. Differentiation in service is
going to be the key competitive factor to improve market share in the deregulated power markets. Prepaid
meters with their advantages over conventional ones are likely to help power distributors to differentiate
and offer valueadded services to consumers. Encouraging consumers to opt for prepaid meters on a
voluntary basis and offering tariff or non-tariff incentives to those consumers who prepay their power
charges, would help the utilities to implement this system. It would be a better option for the areas where
more amount of consumers with unpaid bills are found. The topmost and the perfect solution for the
consumers who don’t pay there bills on time. Apart from this the information flow among the consumers
surely will lead to better utilization of the energy.
 Chapter 3
Methodology and System
Design
 Chapter 3
System Design

3.1 Introduction

System design is a thorough approach/ step by step guide for creating an efficient system for
managing prepaid recharges and efficiently integrating GSM and LCD interfacing to develop a
prepaid energy meter. This section involves designing a smart system for managing prepaid recharges,
interaction with user and creating a secure payment gateway. By combining the hardware components
used and software involved we aim on providing an robust system to automate energy distribution
among users.
This innovative approach aims to provide a solution to settle disputes between utility providers and
service consumers. It creates a transparent billing system where users knows beforehand how much
he/she has recharged for and uses electricity accordingly to minimize frauds and monopoly of utility
providers in setting unfair prices is eliminated. With our idea of prepaid energy meter we provide a
much awaited solution which is not just advancement to current system but the need of the hour.

3.2 Basic Block Diagram

Basic system representation of our project is give as below:

Fig 3.1: Basic Block Diagram

Block diagram above represents all the major blocks used in project Prepaid energy meter and how
are they all connected with each other to provide a robust and reliable system.
Major blocks of our system are:
 1. Arduino NANO : It is a ATmega328-based micro-controller is a compact and versatile
microcontroller board, ideal for a wide range of electronic projects. It is 30 pin microprocessor in
which there are 14 digital I/O pins, 8 analog I/O pins and other required pins are for application
specific functions.

2. LCD : A 16X2 character LCD is used to display real-time information regarding recharges, units
of electricity used etc. We use a monochrome LCD.

3. Relay: It is an electromagnetic switch which is used to control flow of energy in circuit. If user
has required amount or more then only the relay will allow the flow of energy in circuit else it will
cut off supply.

4. Energy Meter : It is used to calculate the amount of units consumed by user.

5. GSM: It stands for global system for mobile and is It employs a combination of time division
multiple access (TDMA) and frequency division multiple access (FDMA) technologies, enabling
multiple users to share the same frequency bands. GSM has played a pivotal role in the evolution
of mobile networks and is a foundation for more advanced technologies like 3G and 4G/LTE. It
facilitates voice calls, short message service (SMS), and data transmission.

6. RS-232 Interface: This interfacing is used for interfacing GSM with Arduino.

3.3 Flowchart & Algorithm

3.3.1 Algorithm
 Step1:Switch ON the power supply.
 Step2:Initialize the LCD and GSM (SIM-900) and display System Ready message.
 Step3: Clear LCD and display units and balance.
 Step4:Recharge through mobile so that Relay is turned ON.
 Step5: Display the new units and balance available.
 Step6:If switch is ON, go to step 11 else go to step7.
 Step7: If rupees<15, go to step 8 else go to step 5.
 Step8:Send the SMS alert and display the same in LCD.
 Step 9:If rupees<5, go to step 10 else go to step 7.
 Step10:Turn OFF the Relay, send alert message and go to step 13.
 Step11:Turn OFF the load.
 Step12:Send the SMS alert to the authorities and go to step13.
 Step 13: Turn OFF the power.

3.3.2 Flowchart
 Fig 3.2: Flowchart

3.4 Hardware Components

3.4.1 LCD Display:
LCD (Liquid crystal display) is one of the most used electronic components in diverse electronic
applications. It is usually integrated in projects to display information/video to users. In our
project it is used for displaying real-time information to users. We have user 16X2 character LCD
in our project.
Here are some key points regarding LCD screens in prepaid meters:
 Display Information:
 - It displays account balance and recharge data to users in real-time.
- It also provides other information as requested by user. All information shown on LCD
real time information freshly obtained latest information.
 User Interface:
- It acts as a user interface to allow user to interact with the system.
 Technology:
- Typically LCD screens user monochrome color LCD technology as required in
application.
- In our project we have used monochrome LCD keeping in mind power consumption
parameter.
- We have also used a variable resistance to maintain the contrast of screen in case of
power supply fluctuations.
 Power efficiency:
- It is crucial for LCD display to be power efficient to enhance overall efficiency of
system. We have used monochrome LCD for this purpose.

Interfacing of LCD screen with Arduino

LCD screen has 16 pins which are connected with arduino and other components in project as
follows:
- GND pin of LCD is connected to GND pin of arduino.
- VSS pin of LCD is connected to VSS of arduino.
- Vo pin of LCD is connected to the variable resistance for maintaining contrast of
screen.
- RW(READ/WRITE) pin of LCD is connected to GND pin of arduino during write
function, since we do not need to read data from LCD hence read function is not
required here.
- EN(ENABLE) pin of LCD is connected to any digital (say D0) pin of arduino.
- D4-D7 (Data) pin of LCD is connected to any digital pins of arduino

Fig 3.3: LCD Display

2) Energy Measurement Unit: An energy meter is a device that measures and records the amount of
electrical energy consumed by a residential, commercial, or industrial facility. It plays a crucial role in
utility management, providing accurate data for billing, monitoring, and optimizing energy usage. Here
we have used AC-1-Phase-2-Wire Static kWh Meter.
Specifications:
- Phase: Single phase
- Frequency: 50Hz
- Current: 5-30Amp
- Output Voltage: 240volt
- Operating temperature: 27 degree Celsius

Fig 3.4: Energy Meter

4) GSM Module: It stands for global system for mobile and is It employs a combination of time division
multiple access (TDMA) and frequency division multiple access (FDMA) technologies, enabling multiple
users to share the same frequency bands. GSM has played a pivotal role in the evolution of mobile
networks and is a foundation for more advanced technologies like 3G and 4G/LTE. It facilitates voice
calls, short message service (SMS), and data transmission.
Interfacing of GSM with Arduino:

- GND pin of GSM is connected to GND pin of arduino.

- VSS pin of GSM is connected to VSS of arduino.
- Vo pin of GSM is connected to the variable resistance for maintaining contrast of
screen.
- TXD (Transmit data) pin of GSM is connected to any digital pin of arduino.
 - RXD (Receive data) pin of GSM is connected to any digital pin of arduino.
- RESET pin of GSM is used to reset GSM..

Fig 3.5: GSM Module

5)Microcontroller (Arduino NANO):. It is a ATmega328-based micro-controller is a compact and

versatile microcontroller board, ideal for a wide range of electronic projects. It is 30 pin microprocessor
in which there are 14 digital I/O pins, 8 analog I/O pins and other required pins are for application
specific functions. Out of 14 digital I/O pins are used for pulse width modulation of signals which are
then sent to GSM via serial communication. A0 – A5 are true analog pins while A6, A7 can be used as
digital pins if required. Arduino nano requires 5V regulated power supply for its operation which is
provided using a step-down adapter. It’s operating temperature is -40 degree Celsius to 85 degree Celsius.
Flash memory provided on Arduino nano is 32Kb, SRAM is 2 Kb and EEPROM is 1kb.

Fig 3.6 Arduino NANO

 Fig 3.7 Pin specification of Arduino Nano

7) Power Supply: To operate effectively, the prepaid meter requires a stable power supply. In some cases,
it may have backup power options like batteries.Here we connect our system to power supply via an step-
down adapter which 220 V to 5 V regulated supply.

Fig 3.8 Adapter

 Chapter 4
Project Design and Working
 Chapter 4

Project Design and Working

4.1 Circuit Diagram

Fig. 4.1 Circuit diagram pre paid energy meter

 +

4.2 PCB Designing

Making of PCB is the one of the main component of our project. PCB stands for Printing Circuit Board.

4.2.1 Introduction
The Printed Circuit Board (PCB) is the uncelebrated backbone of modern electronics, orchestrating the
intricate dance of electrons within devices. The PCB serves as a fundamental canvas where components
interlock precisely, enabling a compact and optimized design. Its adaptability allows customization,
ensuring the fingerprint module, Arduino UNO, and other components perform harmoniously. Beyond
this project, PCBs are omnipresent in everyday electronics, from TVs to medical devices, underscoring
their indispensable role in shaping the landscape of technology.

4.2.2 PCB Designing Process

 Etching
In this process we basically removed the unwanted copper from the plate and give it a shape as per
our requirements.
Process involve in the process of etching:-
- Firstly make a PCB Schematic.
- After that take out print of it on butter paper.
- Remove the resist from the PCB.
- Next design the schematic on the PCB.
- Next process is Masking of PCB.
- After that unwanted copper from plate is removed and PCB is ready.

Fig. 4.2 PCB Layout

 Fig. 4.3 PCB with mounted components

4.2 Working
The prepaid energy meter operates within a well-defined sequence to ensure efficient control and
monitoring of electricity usage. Beginning with the provision of a 230V AC power supply and a 20V
adapter for the Arduino board, the system interfaces with crucial components like the relay, GSM, and
LCD. Connections are established between the Arduino board and the GSM module, opto coupler,
relay, and LCD. The LCD is set to display vital information such as units and balance. Recharging is
facilitated through a mobile device, activating the relay and updating the balance. The system
constantly checks the status of an external switch, representing a potential power theft scenario. If the
switch is ON, the system proceeds to take appropriate actions based on the balance, sending SMS
alerts and initiating load control. Low balance triggers warnings, and critical levels prompt load
shutdown and alerts to authorities. Ultimately, the power supply is turned off, ensuring the system's
readiness for the next cycle. This prepaid energy meter design effectively integrates Arduino
technology, GSM communication, and relay control to provide a secure and efficient solution for
electricity management.
 Prepayment Token Generation:
Users purchase a predefined amount of electricity in the form of tokens from authorized
vendors or online platforms.
 Token Input:
The user inputs the purchased token into the prepaid energy meter using a keypad or a digital
interface.
 Validation and Credit Update:
The meter validates the token to ensure its authenticity.
Upon successful validation, the meter credits the corresponding amount of electricity units to
the user's account.
 Energy Consumption:
As the electrical appliances consume energy, the meter deducts the consumed units from the
prepaid balance.
 Low Balance Warning:
The meter may provide a warning when the prepaid balance is running low, alerting the user to
recharge in advance
  Automatic Disconnection on Zero Balance:
When the prepaid balance reaches zero, the meter automatically disconnects the electrical
supply to prevent further usage until the user recharges.
 Recharge Options:
Users can recharge their prepaid balance at any time by purchasing additional tokens, either
physically or through online platforms.
 Remote Monitoring and Management:
In some systems, utility providers can remotely monitor the prepaid meters, track usage
patterns, and manage the recharging process.
 Enhanced Energy Efficiency:

Prepaid energy meters encourage energy efficiency as users become more conscious of their consumption
patterns and can manage usage based on the available prepaid balance.
 Chapter 5
Simulation and Result
 Chapter 5

Simulation and Results

5.1 Project working prototype

Fig. 5.1 Project working prototype

5.2 Simulation and Results

The results of a prepaid energy meter with an LCD display are typically observed through the displayed
information on the LCD and the corresponding actions based on the programmed logic.
LCD Display:

The LCD will show real-time information, including:

Current remaining credits.
Energy consumption data.
Messages indicating credit deductions or low credit alerts. Credit Deduction:
As energy is consumed, credits are deducted based on the predefined cost per unit.
The LCD display updates dynamically to reflect the remaining credits.

Fig. 5.2 LCD display finding network Fig. 5.3 LCD display Finding module

Fig. 5.4 LCD display Module found

Low Credit Alert:

When credits fall below a certain threshold, a low credit alert may be triggered.

This alert can be displayed on the LCD, signaling the user to take action.

Fig. 5.5 LCD display Low Balance alert

Power Cutoff:
 In scenarios where credits are exhausted, the system may trigger a power cutoff using a relay.

The LCD can display a message indicating that the power has been disconnected due to insufficient
credits.

Fig. 5.6 LCD display power cut due to low balance

User Interaction:

Users may interact with the prepaid energy meter to: Load credits onto the meter, updating the available
balance.

Receive feedback on successful credit loading through the LCD. Simulation Validation:

In a simulation environment (e.g., Proteus), you would observe and validate the simulated behavior:

Energy consumption affecting credit balance. LCD updates in response to changes in credits and energy
usage. Proper functioning of low credit alerts and power cutoff

ccessful Fig. 5.8 LCD display Confirmation of message sent

Scalability and Flexibility:

The design allows for adjustments to parameters such as pricing, initial credits, and alert thresholds to suit
specific requirements.

Testing Variations:

Testing various scenarios, including high and low energy consumption, different credit loading patterns,
and responses to alerts, ensures the reliability and robustness of the prepaid energy meter system.

The results essentially involve the effective management of energy consumption, credits, and user
interactions, all of which are reflected in real-time on the LCD display and through the system’s actions.
Adjustments and improvements can be made based on the observed results and any feedback from
simulated scenarios.
Fig.5.9 LCD display units consumed message

Fig 5.10 Project working prototype

 Chapter 6
Conclusion and
Future Work
 Chapter 5

Conclusion and Future Scope

6.1 Conclusion:

The simulated prepaid energy meter with an LCD display, implemented using Arduino and GSM, offers a
reliable and efficient solution for managing energy consumption. Key conclusions include:

Real-Time Monitoring: The system provides real-time monitoring of energy consumption and remaining
credits through the LCD display.

Credit Deduction Logic: Credits are accurately deducted based on energy usage, ensuring transparent
and fair billing for users. Alert Mechanism: The system includes an alert mechanism, notifying users
when credits are running low and potentially cutting off power when credits are exhausted.

User Interaction: Users can interact with the meter by loading credits, enhancing the flexibility and
usability of the system.

Simulation Validation: The simulation in Proteus allows for thorough testing of various scenarios,
ensuring the reliability and effectiveness of the prepaid energy meter.

6.2 Future Scope:

Smart Metering: Integrate IoT capabilities for remote monitoring and control, allowing users to access
information and load credits through a mobile app or web interface.

Energy Analytics: Implement advanced analytics to provide users with insights into their energy consumption
patterns, helping them make informed decisions about usage efficiency.

Payment Integration: Integrate secure payment gateways to facilitate seamless online credit loading, improving
user convenience.

Renewable Energy Integration: Explore options to incorporate renewable energy sources and reward users for
using eco-friendly energy.

Security Features: Strengthen the security of the system to prevent unauthorized access, ensuring the integrity of
user data and the metering process.

Demand Response: Implement demand response mechanisms to encourage users to shift energy usage to off-peak
hours, optimizing overall energy distribution.

Data Logging: Enable data logging for historical analysis, allowing users and utility providers to track energy
usage trends over time.

Compatibility: Ensure compatibility with emerging technologies and standards to future-proof the prepaid energy
meter system.
By incorporating these enhancements, the prepaid energy meter can evolve into a more sophisticated and user-
friendly solution, aligning with advancements in technology and meeting the evolving needs of users and energy
providers.

References

[1]. Dineshkumar.K, “Development of ARM Processor based Electricity Theft Control System using
GSM Network”, 2015 International Conference on Circuit, Power and Computing Technologies [ICCPCT
[2]. Md. Masudur Rahman; Noor-E-Jannat; Mohd. Ohidul Islam; Md. Serazus Salakin, “Arduino and
GSM Based Smart Energy Meter for Advanced Metering and Billing System” 2nd Int'l Conf. on
Electrical Engineering and Information & Communication Technology (ICEEICT) 2015 Jahangimagar
University, Dhaka-I 342, Bangladesh, 21-23 May 2015
[3]. Nabil Mohammad, Anomadarshi Barua, and Muhammad Abdullah Arafat, “A smart prepaid energy
metering system to control electricity theft”, in proceedings of International Conference on Power, Energy
and Control (ICPEC), vol.562, no.565, pp.6-8, Feb.2013.
[4]. https://www.google.co.in/search?client=opera&q=arduino+un0&sourceid=opera&ie=UTF-
8&oe=UTF-
[5] Nazmat Toyin,Olufenka AYODELETimilehin,David OLORUNTOBAAbdulrahaman Okino OTUOZENasir
FARUK, “ Development of an Internet Based Prepaid Energy Meter” IEEE 3rd International Conference on
ElectroTechnology for National Development (NIGERCON) 2017
[6] W.D.A.S. Rodrigo, H.K.I.S. Lakmal, N.S. Roshani, S.W.M.G.S. Samarakoon, and S.S. Samararatne “A Prepaid
Energy Meter Using GPRS/GSM TechnologyFor Improved Metering And Billing” International Journal of
Computer Science and Electronics Engineering (IJCSEE) Volume 4, Issue 2 ISSN 2320–4028 2016
[7] Kumarsagar M.Dange,Sachin S. Patil,Sanjay P. Patil “Prepaid Energy Meter using GSM Module” International
Journal of Engineering Science InventionISSN (Online): 2319 – 6734, ISSN (Print): 2319 – 6726Volume 6, Issue
2, February 2017, PP. 80-85.
[8] Shraddha Yadav, Prateekshapandey “ A Survey Paper on Prepaid ElectricityDistribution System” International
Journal of Application or Innovation in Engineering & Management (IJAIEM)Volume 4, Issue 12, ISSN 2319 –
4847December 2015
Appendix-1
Software Coding

#include “S@configs.h"
#include "S@types.h"
#include "S@EEPROM.h"
#include "S@LCD.h"
#include "S@Modem.h"
#include "S@Port.h"
#include "S@PIC16EEPROM.h"
#include "S@Queue.h"
#include "S@mTime.h"
#include "S@AC.h"
#include "System.h" LCD lcd;

//uint8_t ModemTxBuf[1]; uint8_t ModemRxBuf[100];

//QUEUE ModemTxQueue; QUEUE ModemRxQueue; PORT mdPort;
MODEM modem;
TIME ConnTime, SMSTime, buzzTime; TIME SenseTime;
uint8_t dSTime; uint8_t txt[150]; uint8_t txtMatch[10]; uint8_t contact[17]; sBinType VBin[40]; sBinType IBin[40];
float V, I, W, J, M, IOffset; bool connected;
bool memSet, smsSet;
uint8_t newLine[3] = "\r\n\0";
void putch(uint8_t c)
{
LCDPutC(&lcd, c);
}
void Acquire(void)
{
uint8_t i;
for (i = 0; i<sizeof(VBin)/sizeof(sBinType); i++)
{
VBin[i] = (int16_t)SystemReadADC(1) - 511; SystemDelayUs(1000/2);
IBin[i] = (int16_t)SystemReadADC(0) - 511; SystemDelayUs(1000/2);
}}
bool SendReport(void)
{
uint8_t i = 0;
SystemDelayMs(2000);
LCDLine(&lcd, 4, TRUE);
printf("Sending report...");
sprintf(txt, "Energy Report for SAKE Company, Apr 2014.\r\nGrid: %s.\r\nCurrent Voltage: %uV.\r\nCurrent Load:
%uW.\r\nEnergy Consumed: %uKWh.\r\nBalance: N%u.%2.2uk", connected ? "Connected" : "Disconnected",
(uint16_t)V, (uint16_t)W, (uint16_t)(J/1000.0), (uint16_t)M, (uint16_t)(M*100)%100);
while(i++ < 5)
{
if (ModemSendSMSTextMode(&modem, txt, contact))
{
return TRUE;
}}
return FALSE;
}
uint8_t jValid; float j;
static boololdConnected, buzzing; uint8_t unt;
void main(void)
{
SystemBeginInit(); BUSInit(); LCDInit(&lcd);
ModemCreate(&modem, &mdPort, NULL, NULL, 0, &ModemRxQueue, ModemRxBuf, sizeof(ModemRxBuf),
SystemPutC, SystemGetC);
mdPort.NewLine =newLine; ReadEEPROM(0, &jValid);
ReadEEPROMS(sizeof(jValid), (uint8_t*)&J, sizeof(J)); ReadEEPROMS(sizeof(jValid) + sizeof(J), (uint8_t*)&M,
sizeof(M)); ReadEEPROM(sizeof(jValid) + sizeof(J)+ sizeof(M), &connected); oldConnected = connected;
if (jValid != 0)
{J = 0;
M = 0;
}
SystemFinishInit();
while(1)
{if (TimeSpan(ConnTime) >TimeToTick(2) || ConnTime == 0)
{
ConnTime =GetTime(); SystemSetWhiteLED(TRUE); SystemSetGreenLED(ModemConnect(&modem));
SystemSetWhiteLED(FALSE); SystemPower(connected);
if (!modem.ModemConnected){ memSet = FALSE; smsSet = FALSE;
}
if (!memSet)
memSet = ModemSetSMSMemory(&modem, SIM); if (!smsSet)
smsSet =ModemSetSMSMode(&modem, TextMode);
Acquire();
V = 2.3414 * ACGetRms(VBin, sizeof(VBin)/sizeof(sBinType));
//I = (60.0/1000.0) * (5.0/1023.0) * (3.142/(2.0*1.414)) *
ACGetAverage(IBin, sizeof(IBin)/sizeof(sBinType));
I = (1000.0/60.0) * (5.0/1023.0) * ACGetRms(IBin,
sizeof(IBin)/sizeof(sBinType));
//I = 0.0346 * ACGetRms(IBin, sizeof(IBin)/sizeof(sBinType));
W = V * I;
//integrate this power over time
J = J + W * (2.0 / (60.0 * 60.0)); //2s to hour if (M > 0.009)
M -= W * (2.0 / (60.0 * 60.0)) * 12.48;
//12.488 = Charge per Watt hour
else{
}
connected = FALSE;
sizeof(M));
WriteEEPROMS(sizeof(jValid), (uint8_t*)&J, sizeof(J)); WriteEEPROMS(sizeof(jValid) + sizeof(J), (uint8_t*)&M,
WriteEEPROM(0, 0); //set valid flag if (I > 10.0){
connected = FALSE;
//unt=0;
//sprintf(txt, "Current %.2fA Surge detected in SAKE. SAKE
has been disconnected", W);
}
//strcpy(contact, "08064311877");
//while(unt< 5){
// if (ModemSendSMSPduMode(&modem, txt, contact))
// break;
//}
LCDLine(&lcd, 1, TRUE); printf(" Energy meter"); LCDLine(&lcd, 2, TRUE);
printf("%3uV %2u.%2.2uA %3uW", (uint16_t)V, (uint16_t)I, (uint16_t)(I*1000)%1000, (uint16_t)W);
//printf("%5.2fV %4.2fA", V, I); LCDLine(&lcd, 3, TRUE);
if (J > 999.999){
j = J / 1000;
unt = 'K';
}
else {
}
j = J;
unt = '0';
// printf("%6.2fW %6.2f%cWh", W, j, unt); printf("%3u.%1.1u%cWh N%u.%2.2uk",
(uint16_t)j,(uint16_t)(j*10)%10 , unt, (uint16_t)M, (uint16_t)(M*100)%100); LCDLine(&lcd, 4, TRUE);
if (modem.ModemConnected){ if (memSet&&smsSet)
printf(" Net Connected");
else
printf(" Modem Connected");
}
else
printf(" No Connection");
connected);
if (connected != oldConnected){ WriteEEPROM(sizeof(jValid) + sizeof(J) + sizeof(M),
}
oldConnected = connected;
}
if (connected && M < 100){
if (!buzzing &&TimeSpan(buzzTime) >TimeToTick(M/3)){ SystemBuzzer(TRUE);
buzzing = TRUE; buzzTime = GetTime();
}
else if (buzzing &&TimeSpan(buzzTime) >TimeToTick(1)){ SystemBuzzer(FALSE);
buzzing = FALSE; buzzTime = GetTime();
}
else
}
SystemBuzzer(FALSE);
&&smsSet)
if (TimeSpan(SMSTime) >TimeToTick(15) &&modem.ModemConnected&&memSet
uint8_t in;
bool found = FALSE; SystemSetRedLED(TRUE); LCDLine(&lcd, 4, TRUE); printf("Checking for SMS..."); for (in = 1;
in < 5; in++){
if (ModemReadSMSTextMode(&modem, in, txt, sizeof(txt),
NULL, contact) > 0){
txtMatch) == 0){
txtMatch, 5) == 0){(uint8_t*)&M, sizeof(M));
strcmp(txt, txtMatch) == 0){
txtMatch) == 0){
txtMatch) == 0){
bool sent = FALSE; found = TRUE; uint8_t i = 0;
LCDLine(&lcd, 4, TRUE); printf(">%15.0s", txt); SystemDelayMs(2000);
if (strcpy(txtMatch, "Report"), strcmp(txt,
sent =SendReport();
}
else if (strcpy(txtMatch, "Load "), strncmp(txt,
LCDLine(&lcd, 4, TRUE); printf("Adding Card..."); M += atof(&txt[5]);
if (M < 0)
M = 0;
connected = TRUE; WriteEEPROMS(sizeof(jValid) + sizeof(J),
sent =SendReport();
}
else if (strcpy(txtMatch, "Disconnect"),
connected = FALSE; sent = SendReport();
}
else if (strcpy(txtMatch, "Connect"), strcmp(txt,
connected = TRUE; sent = SendReport();
}
else if (strcpy(txtMatch, "Reset"), strcmp(txt,
J = 0;
sent =SendReport();
}
else{
}
LCDLine(&lcd, 4, TRUE); printf("Unknown request!!!"); SystemDelayMs(2000);
sent = TRUE;
if (!sent){
LCDLine(&lcd, 4, TRUE); printf("Error sending SMS!!!"); SystemDelayMs(2000);
}
LCDLine(&lcd, 4, TRUE); printf("Deleting SMS..."); ModemDeleteSMS(&modem, in); SystemDelayMs(2000);
}
}
if (!found){
LCDLine(&lcd, 4, TRUE); printf("No request found..."); SystemDelayMs(2000);
}
SMSTime =GetTime(); SystemSetRedLED(FALSE);
}
}
SystemPutC(0); SystemGetC(&jValid);