Design and Development of an Internet of Things (IoT) Based Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) Monitoring System Using an Expert System Approach For Electrical Energy Backup
TL;DR
An Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) monitoring system based on an expert system approach for electrical energy backup to enable adaptive, rule-based decision-making that overcomes the rigidity of conventional fixed-threshold ATS systems.
Abstract
Reliable electrical power availability is essential for various applications, especially in facilities that rely on continuous power supply. To address power interruptions, this study developed an Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) monitoring system based on an expert system approach for electrical energy backup. The proposed system integrates an ESP32 microcontroller with a ZMPT101B voltage sensor, PZEM-004T power meter, DC voltage sensor, relay module, SIM900A GSM module, inverter, LCD, and a 12 V 35 Ah battery. The system automatically changes the power source from the utility supply (PLN) to the backup battery when a power failure occurs and restores the utility source after normal supply conditions are detected. System conditions and electrical parameters are monitored remotely in real time using the Blynk platform, which also provides system notifications. For decision-making, expert system principles are implemented through a Mamdani Fuzzy Inference System (FIS) developed in MATLAB R2018b, evaluating utility voltage, battery voltage, and load condition to determine the appropriate ATS power-source status. Experimental evaluation at the Instrumentation and Control Laboratory, Universitas Negeri Jakarta, confirmed the system functionality, with average measurement errors of 0.45% for the ZMPT101B sensor and 0.24% for the DC voltage sensor, while the PZEM-004T produced errors of 0.45% for voltage, 3.7% for current, and 0.91% for power measurements. The ATS completed the source transfer within 3 seconds, with the inverter maintaining an output voltage between 217 and 232 VAC. Under a 50 W load, the 12 V 35 Ah battery provided backup power for 3 hours and 30 minutes, and the MATLAB simulation generated a crisp output of 1.86, corresponding to the battery-supplied load condition. Beyond these technical validations, the scientific contribution of this research lies in the successful integration of a Mamdani FIS with IoT-based monitoring to enable adaptive, rule-based decision-making that overcomes the rigidity of conventional fixed-threshold ATS systems. Practically, this intelligent backup solution offers an affordable and reliable alternative for critical infrastructures, such as small-scale healthcare facilities and data centers, particularly in regions with unstable grid conditions. The modular system architecture also provides a scalable foundation for future integration with renewable energy sources and expansion to higher-capacity industrial applications.