Project Hub /Healthcare Biomedical & Assistive/Bio-signal Acquisition (ECG/EMG/EEG)/IoT Based Raspberry Pi Smart Energy Monitor

Beginner

RASPBERRY PI

₹1,500 – ₹5,000

3 – 6 Hours

Partial Kit

IoT Based Raspberry Pi Smart Energy Monitor

Build a Raspberry Pi-powered smart energy monitor that measures AC voltage and current using custom sensors and an ADS1115 ADC, streaming data to the cloud via Adafruit IO.

Originally published on CircuitDigest

View original tutorial

Parts You'll Need

This project is sourced from another site, not written by us — this list is our best match of their components against what we stock, not a verified bill of materials. Always check the original blog (linked above) for the actual parts list before buying.

Raspberry Pi 3 - Model B+ 1.4Ghz 64-bit quad-core Processor with 1 GB Ram (Original) Rs. 9,810.00
MB102 Adjustable Breadboard Power Supply Module (3.3V & 5V) for Arduino & Raspberry Pi Rs. 139.00
10pcs - 220 ohm 1/4 W Resistor Set Rs. 39.00
Jumper Wire 10 Pin Male To Male 20cm Rs. 45.00
400 Points Mini Solderless Prototype PCB Breadboard High Quality Rs. 89.00
Jumper Wire 10 Pin Male To Female 20cm Rs. 45.00

Selected: Rs. 0.00

This list includes a generic resistor set as a placeholder — it is not matched to the exact value or part number this circuit needs. The correct one is specified on the original source page linked above; check it before buying.

We don't carry yet: ADC / DAC (ADS1115 / MCP3008 / MCP4725)
Current Sensor ACS712
Diodes (1N4007 / 1N4148 / Schottky / Zener)
Potentiometer / Trimpot
Capacitors

Browse all components

How It Works

The IoT Based Raspberry Pi Smart Energy Monitor operates by measuring alternating current (AC) and calculating power consumption through specialized sensing components and analog-to-digital conversion. The YHDC SCT-013-000 current sensor safely captures the current flowing through a line using electromagnetic induction. Because the Raspberry Pi's native GPIO pins only handle digital signals and lack built-in analog inputs, the external ADS1115 16-bit I2C ADC is utilized to convert the analog voltage signals from the sensors into precise digital values that the Raspberry Pi can process. A conditioning circuit constructed on a breadboard using resistors (including the 33-ohm burden resistor, 10K resistors, and 3.3K resistors), IN4007 diodes, a 3.6V zener diode for voltage clamping, and capacitors (1uF and 10uF) scales, shifts, and protects the input signals so they remain safely within the acceptable voltage range of the ADS1115. A 10k potentiometer allows for manual calibration adjustments. Once the Python 3 script running on the Raspberry Pi reads these converted digital measurements via the I2C protocol, it computes the relevant energy metrics. Finally, utilizing the Adafruit IO Python module and Git-managed software dependencies, the system establishes an internet connection to securely stream the real-time power data to the cloud dashboard.

Why Build This

Design and implement a complete IoT-enabled power monitoring system suitable for undergraduate engineering capstone or lab demonstrations.

Gain practical experience interfacing analog measurement hardware with a single-board computer via an external I2C analog-to-digital converter.

Bridge embedded Python programming with cloud-based telemetry platforms for remote data logging and visualization.

Real-World Application

Home energy auditing, smart grid monitoring, appliance-level power tracking, and remote tracking of electricity consumption to reduce energy waste.

Skills You'll Learn

I2C communication protocol

analog-to-digital conversion

AC current sensing

signal conditioning circuit design

Python 3 programming

cloud telemetry with Adafruit IO

Safety Precautions

This project involves direct connection to dangerous AC mains supply which can be fatal if not handled safely. Ensure you have proper experience working with high voltages or leave the circuit unpowered on a breadboard.

Technology Tags

PYTHON

RASPBERRY PI

ADAFRUIT IO

IOT

ADC

ADS1115

CURRENT SENSOR

VOLTAGE SENSOR

I2C

ENERGY METER

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is an ADS1115 ADC required when the Raspberry Pi already has GPIO pins?

The Raspberry Pi digital pins cannot measure varying analog voltages. The ADS1115 16-bit ADC bridges this gap by translating the continuous analog output of the current sensor into digital data readable via I2C.

What is the purpose of the 33-ohm resistor and zener diode in the circuit?

The 33-ohm resistor acts as a burden resistor to convert the current output of the SCT-013 sensor into a measurable voltage, while the zener diode and associated diodes protect the ADC inputs from voltage spikes.

How does the data get from the Raspberry Pi to the cloud?

The Python script uses the Adafruit IO Python module to transmit the processed sensor readings over your network to an online dashboard, allowing you to monitor energy consumption remotely.

Gallery

This page is part of Kitkraft's Project Hub — a curated collection of electronics & robotics projects gathered from the maker community to help students and hobbyists discover and learn to build. Kitkraft does not claim authorship of the original project, and makes no representation as to the accuracy, completeness or safety of third-party source material. The summary and "How It Works" explanation above are AI-generated, rewritten with reference to the original tutorial — not a reproduction of it. Full credit and a direct link to the original source are provided above. If you're the original creator and have a concern about how your work is represented here, please contact us and we'll address it promptly.

Kitkraft Project Hub — curated from the maker community, credited at the source.

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