The main objective of this project is to provide uninterrupted power supply to a load by automatically selecting optimum power from any of the 4 different sources, such as solar, mains, generator and inverter (Battery) to ensure continuity in the power supply. In this project, four switches are used in place of four different sources of power supply. When any of the switches is pressed it shows the absence of that particular source. These switches are connected as input signals to the microcontroller. The output of the microcontroller is given to a relay-driver IC that switches appropriate relay to maintain an uninterrupted supply to the load. The output is observed by using a lamp drawing power supply from the mains, initially for all the four sources. On the failure of the mains supply (which is actuated by pressing the appropriate switch), the load gets supply from the next available source, for instance, an inverter. If the inverter also fails, it switches over to the next available source, and so on. The current status, as to which source supplies to the load is also displayed on the LCD. As it is not feasible to provide all 4 different sources of supply, one source with alternate switches are provided to get the same function. However if 4 sources are available it can be modified to take power from them. This project can be further enhanced by using other sources like wind power, and then takes into consideration the best possible power source whose tariff remains lowest at that moment.            

Objectives:

• To design and develop an automatic power source selection system using a microcontroller.
• To provide uninterrupted power supply to the load by automatically switching between available power sources.
• To monitor the availability of four power sources (solar, mains, generator, and inverter/battery).
• To give priority-based switching so that the load receives power from the next available source when the current source fails.
• To control relay operations through a relay driver circuit for safe and reliable source switching.
• To display the current power source status on an LCD display in real time.
• To reduce manual intervention and improve the reliability of power supply management.
• To provide a flexible system that can be extended to include additional renewable energy sources such as wind power and future tariff-based power optimization.

     

Main blocks used in the project:

1. Regulated power supply.
2. Selection keys.
3. PIC Microcontroller.
4. Relays.
5. LCD display.
6. AC Bulb.
7. FOUR Different types of power supply.

 

Software’s used in the project:

1. PIC-C compiler for Embedded C programming.
2. PIC kit 2 programmer for dumping code into Micro controller.
3. Express SCH for Circuit design.

         

Block Diagram:

         

video: