Prototype design for general-purpose smart socket

Abstract

Due to the constant growth of global environmental pollution, the sectors related to the electrical industry have focused on finding solutions to achieve efficient energy consumption. Among the devices that have been incorporated to carry out improvements in electricity consumption are smart sockets. This paper presents a prototype for a general-purpose smart socket. The design considers the main components of a smart plug: measurement unit, control unit, processing unit, and communication interface. The prototype is based on free hardware, with easy access, low cost, and consumption. This work successfully developed a device capable of measuring, controlling, and monitoring the electrical behavior of equipment connected to the power grid. The prototype presented offers the possibility of developing many functionalities and services aimed at energy efficiency within the topic of the Internet of Things (IoT).