Design And Construction Of A Power Booster

1.0 Introduction

Initially communication was done by travelling from kilometre to kilometre to deliver messages but now the trend involves talking to people even when they are far away around the globe even to the extent of seeing them using the present day 3G technologies. Now mobile phones can be used to trigger their greatest revolution: by allowing us to run our homes remotely. If you are heading home early on a sunny day to your house driving through traffic in Lagos, your mobile phone can be used to switch on your central air conditioner at the touch of a keypad or even turn on your water heater system on a cold night preparing yourself for a warm shower. Fitted to a kitchen wall, the unit will communicate with tiny transponders attached to air conditioners, fridges, washing machines, microwave ovens and household appliances.

This paper presents design and construction of a microcontroller based electrical appliances controlling system using cell phone. A cell (mobile) phone acts as a modem for the control of electrical home appliances. This is achieved when the mobile phone number is dialed and an appropriate command button is pressed. The paper demonstrates how to develop a system that aids the control of remote devices using mobile phones to enable devices without infrared though connected to power sources to be controlled and considering the possibility of users to monitor the status and usage of these devices. It makes use of a programmable interface controller (PIC) to control the switching of the output. This design is customized as a central device for four pieces of home appliances using relay to activate each of the respective electronic gadgets.

1.2 Objective of the Project

The objective of this project is to enable users to remotely control their home appliances and systems using a cell phone-based interface. To access the control unit, the user should send an authentication code along with the required/desired function/action to his/her home control system via GSM. Upon being properly authenticated, the cell phone-based interface at home (control unit) would relay the commands to a microcontroller that would perform the required function/action, and return a function completion code that would be sent to the source of the original command (user’s cell phone).

1.3 Scope of the Project

This device allows for a user to remotely control and monitor multiple home appliances using a cellular phone. This system will be a powerful and flexible tool that will offer this service at any time, and from anywhere with the constraints of the technologies being applied. Possible target appliances include (but are not limited to) climate control systems, security systems, and lights; anything with an electrical interface.

The proposed approach for designing this system is to implement a microcontroller-based control module that receives its instructions and commands from a cellular phone over the GSM network. The microcontroller then will carry out the issued commands and then communicate the status of a given appliance or device back to the cellular phone. For security purposes, a means of identification and user authentication will be implemented, and will combine caller identification with a password authorization.

The control system will include two separate units: the cellular phone, and the control unit. There will therefore be two operating environments. The cellular phone will operate indoors and outdoors whereas the control unit will operate indoors within the temperature and humidity limits for proper operation of the hardware.

1.5 Limitations of the Project

The following is a list of limitations for the project. The receiver must reside in a location where a signal with sufficient strength can be received from a cellular phone network. The only person who can communicate with the control module is the person who will be successfully authenticated. Only devices with electrical controlling input ports will be possible targets for control. The controlled devices will have I/O ports that will make communication with the receiver possible. The receiver must have a power source (120vac or 220vac) attached at all times.

Operation of the controlling unit is only possible through a cell phone with SMS messaging capabilities. The controlling unit must be able to receive and decode SMS messages. 1.6 PROBLEMS AND ASSUMPTIONS OF THE PROJECT The following is a list of problems and assumptions for the project; The user and control unit will establish communication via GSM. The cell phone and service provider chosen will support text messaging service. The user is familiar with the text messaging program on their cell phone. All service charges from service provider apply. The controlled appliances will have to have an electrical interface in order to be controlled by microcontroller.

1.6 Problems and Assumptions of the Project

The following is a list of problems and assumptions for the project;

The user and control unit will establish communication via GSM.

The cell phone and service provider chosen will support text messaging service.

The user is familiar with the text messaging program on their cell phone.

All service charges from service provider apply.

The controlled appliances will have to have an electrical interface in order to be controlled by arduino.

1.7 Applications of the Project

This project can be used in Industries, This system can be employed in houses, where people often forget to switch off electrical appliances. This system can be used to control AC’s to set the room temperature when we are outside. We can extend this circuit to control many electrical devices with some modifications using 4 x16 decoder IC. This work is aimed toward average consumers who wish to control household appliances remotely from their cell phones provided that the appliances are electrically controllable. Example of feasible appliances and applications under consideration include; enable/disable security systems, fans, lights, kitchen appliances, and adjusting the temperatures settings of a heating/ventilation/air conditioning system.

This system can be used in industrial applications. This system can be employed in houses, where people often forget to switch off electrical appliances. This system can be used to control AC’s to set the room temperature when we are outside. We can extend this circuit to control many electrical devices with some modifications using 4 x16 decoder IC.

1.8 Significance of the Project

Home Appliance Control using Mobile Phone can be used to turn on / off the devices and various appliances in our home. It can prove very useful for disabled people. This project can also be used in shop, offices, industry. User has to dial a call to the mobile which is connected to the project. Then user has to press various keys to control the devices. In this work:

Quick response is achieved.

Construction is easy.

Easy to maintain and repair.

Comparatively the operation cost is less.

Design is efficient and low cost.

Power consumption is low.

Controlling electrical devices wirelessly

Saves electricity (when we forget to switch off and go out).

We can control appliances from any place round the globe.

No coding is required.

1.9 Project Work Organisation

The various stages involved in the development of this project have been properly put into five chapters to enhance comprehensive and concise reading. In this project thesis, the project is organized sequentially as follows:

Chapter one of this work is on the introduction to this study. In this chapter, the background, significance, objective limitation and problem of this study were discussed.

Chapter two is on literature review of this study. In this chapter, all the literature pertaining to this work was reviewed.

Chapter three is on design methodology. In this chapter all the method involved during the design and construction were discussed.

Chapter four is on testing analysis. All testing that result accurate functionality was analyzed.

Chapter five is on conclusion, recommendation and references.

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