ENERGY CONSERVING SMART CONTROL SYSTEM FOR STREET LIGHTING IN SRI LANKA

Abstract

Currently, enormous electrical energy is wasted by the street lighting systems. In Sri Lanka, there exist several types of street lighting systems. There are switches fixed to the street light poles that are situated along the roads, usually people neglect to switch off and wasting energy during the day. A set of street lights with a single switch to turn on and off is another type and this systems requires additional wiring for controlling. The street lights that connected to a photodiode which operates according to the sun light level another type of street lighting and that cannot be operated remotely as it automatically turn the lights on and off. Thus, a massive amount of energy is wasted. The street light system of wireless operated also not suitable for street lights in countries such as ours, because the wireless automation unit cost is high. This problem leads to the necessity of a smart control system for street lighting in Sri Lanka. In this research, a low cost automated control system for the street lights is proposed and that will reduce the power wastage and increase the efficiency. By using the planned system, each and every light can be controlled whenever needed, without additional cost for wiring to control the lights and switches for each and every pole. For the experiment, the X-10 protocol has been selected as the power line communication protocol which had been using for the automation of home electrical systems. With the proposed system, control signal can be sent over the power lines instead of the requirement of wiring another line for controlling is advantageous than wired and wireless systems. Fixing the implemented receiver unit for each and every light is sufficient. The cost of receiver unit also will be less comparing to the existing systems and cost of energy wastage.