Michael Badaracca
Peter Brehm
Tenzin Choephak
David Fiedeldey
Micahl Keltner
POWER BLOCKS
Michael Badaracca
Project Overview
Purpose
Project
• Reduce phantom loads
• Power strip turns off selected
outlets when you are not
home
• Power Strip
Elements
• Base Station
• Home Presence Sensors
• Web/Smart Phone Interface
Michael Badaracca
Phantom Loads

Electronics draw power when “off”

10% of home energy usage*

Average home spends about $200/year*
*According to a study by Cornell
http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/definitions/Phantom-Load
Michael Badaracca
Existing Solutions
House is wired to command center
Current sensing power strips
Manually turn off power strip
Michael Badaracca
Michael Badaracca
High Level Objectives of Power Blocks
Significantly reduce phantom loads
Sense when house is occupied/unoccupied
Turn off selected outlets when unoccupied
Scalability
Convenience (retro fit)
Michael Badaracca
Home Presence Sensing
An Integral part of the system functionality
Michael Badaracca
Home Presence Sensing Overview
Senses when house is occupied/unoccupied
Tells base station when to turn off selected outlets
Collaboration of sensors/scheduling
Doesn’t change how users go about their daily life
Michael Badaracca
Home Presence Sensing Methods
Deadbolt sensor
Timer
Motion Sensing
Audio sensing (like a clapper)
RFID keychain
Image processing
Michael Badaracca
Power Strip
An Integral part of the system functionality
Micahl Keltner
Power Strip Breakdown
Information
Gathering
Focus direction?
 Control
•
•

Power
Efficiency
Information
•
•

Micahl Keltner
Energy Consumption
Efficiencies
Efficiency
•
Control
Physical
Electrical
•
Min. power loss
Critical power supply design
Direction Considerations
Information
Micahl Keltner
Efficiency
Control
Post
Hardware
Power
experience
Physical
design
limitations
Back loaded
work load
Circuit Design
Front loaded
work load
Additional
hardware for
varying data
Time/Design
Constraints
Control
Form and Functionality
On/Off Control
Modularity
Variable Voltage
Micahl Keltner
• Independent Outlet Behavior
• “Power Blocks”, Expandable Strips
• Built in dimmer switches
Information Gathering
Control with Understanding
Data of interest?
• Power consumption, phantom loads, active
outlet reports
Hardware Data
Acquisition
• Power Consumption
Software Data
Acquisition
• Phantom Loads, Outlet Usage
Micahl Keltner
Functional Decomposition
Power
Meter
Outlet
Switching
Variable
Voltage
Power
Supply
Micahl Keltner
Level 1-2 Breakdown
Basic Outline of functionality
Implementation of functionality
Micahl Keltner
Bottom Line Strip Deliverables
Micahl Keltner
Base Station
An Integral part of the system functionality
David Fiedeldey
Base Station Breakdown
Roles played:
 User Interface
Deliver
Info.
•
•

Communication
•
Comm.
•
Hub
•

User
Control
LCD and buttons
Present gathered info. to user
Communicate with strips
Communicate with presence
sensors
Communicate with phone/web
Control
•
•
Configure timers or outlet
profiles
Skynet
Delivery of Information
LCD/Buttons
• Simple interface for basic user input and
output
Data
Presentation
• Charts, plots, or spreadsheets to detail
plug, strip, or house power statistics
Advanced
Interface
• Android app and/or website to preset
user with more appealing interface and
intuitive controls
David Fiedeldey
Communication
Strip Comm.
• RF transmitter/receiver, probably Zigbee
Sensor Comm.
• RF transmitter/receiver, probably Zigbee
Internet/phone
Comm.
• WiFi connection
David Fiedeldey
User Control
Scheduling
Manual
Control
Automatic
Control
David Fiedeldey
• Base Station can store user made
schedules
• User can control Strips manually from
Base Station
• Base Station turns plugs on/off based on
sensor data.
Base Station Implementation

Software focus
◦
◦
◦
◦

Internet interfacing
Process power strip information
Present power usage statistics
Manage/store user profiles
Primarily communication hardware
◦ Multi-purpose RF transceiver
◦ WiFi module

CPU/memory for executing software
David Fiedeldey
Bottom Line Functionality

Interface options:
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦

Product Functionality/Control:
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦

Stand alone base state w/ physical buttons
Website
------------------------------------Android application control
Touch Screen GUI
Visual Basic
On/Off/Comm.
Personal schedule
Door sensor
------------------------------------Clapper/ Noise Recognition
Multiple strip communication
RFID Control
Motion Sensing
Parental Controls
Physical Presentation:
◦ Working base station and strip, external wiring.
◦ ------------------------------------◦ Prototype Enclosure/Package containing all Power Blocks attachments
David Fiedeldey
Functional Decomposition

Inputs
•
•
•

Outputs
•
•
•
David Fiedeldey
Buttons
Sensors
Wall power
LCD
Power Strip
comm.
Internet
comm.
Communications
A part of the system functionality
Tenzin Choephak
Functionality
Link Functionality
Strip
•Control outlets
2-way com between
base station and strip.
Sensors
1 or 2 way com
between sensors and
base station.
Internet
Communication link
diagram
Tenzin Choephak
2 way com between
the internet/app and
the base station
•Send data power reading
display.
•Signal occupancy or
vacancy of house.
•User control settings as well as
feed back of power readings to
the site/app
Methods
RF (Xbee, Zigbee)
WiFi
Hardwire
Bluetooth
PLN
Tenzin Choephak
RF Communication
•XbeePro/Zigbee
•nRF2401A module
•Nordicsemiconductors
•nRF24L01+Module
128-bit AES
encryption.
1 mi range.
low data rate, long
battery life, and
secure networking.
Tenzin Choephak
Miniscule footprint
size: 0.5x0.675"
(13x17mm)
Long range:60ft.
Very low cost
100m Range at
250kbps.
5V tolerant input
pins
WiFi
Tentative WiFi Selection
Specifications
WiFly GSX
802.11 b/g
Small form
factor
RN-XV WiFly
Module
low power: 4uA
sleep mode,
38mA active
802.15.4
Good range;
upto 100m
Tenzin Choephak
WiFi
For our purposes we don’t require fast
transfer rates
Medium to good range coverage
Low power usage preferable
Security and installation issues
Tenzin Choephak
Physical Hard Wiring
RS232 – Serial data
cable
Tenzin Choephak
Initial prototype of the
communication link in
order to get the base
station, strip and
peripherals working
together.
Power Line Networking
Networking to
any power outlet
Tenzin Choephak
Cost efficient
alternative
Encryption
offered for
better security
Difficult to set
up for our
intended use
and signal
integrity issues
Bluetooth
Specifications
Lower power
consumption
then WiFi
UART
Interface
Tenzin Choephak
Tentative Selection
Bluetooth SMD
module rn-42
Sensor Communication
•Wireless communication (RF,
Zigbee, Xbee)
Requirements
•Low Power Consumption
(Battery life)
•Small package
Tenzin Choephak
Sensor Communication (Continued)
One Way (a)
One Way (b)
Two Way
• Sends state
when state
changes
• Send state at
a periodic
interval
• Base station
polls sensors
• Saves power
• Takes more
power
• simple
• Prone to
errors
Tenzin Choephak
• simple
• Takes more
power
• More reliable
• complex
Bottom Line Commmunications
Deliverables
Tenzin Choephak
Final Details
An Integral part of the system functionality
Peter Brehm
3 is Primary, 2 is Secondary, 1 is Support
Peter
Brehm
Micahl
Keltner
Michael
Badaracca
David
Fiedeldey
Tenzin
Choephak
Microcontrollers
3
1
2
1
2
Outlet Power
(120 AC)
1
2
1
3
1
Power Supply
3
2
1
1
1
Sensors
1
1
3
2
2
Software/UI
2
1
2
2
3
PCB Layout
2
3
1
1
1
Physical Enclosure
1
3
2
1
1
Communication
1
1
1
2
3
Documentation
1
1
3
2
1
Totals
15
15
16
15
15
Peter Brehm
Estimated Costs and Funding
Base Station
Items
Quantity Price
Power Strip
Quantity
Price
MSP430
1
15
MSP430
2
30
LCD/ Buttons
(UI)
1
50
Relays
6
25
External
Memory
1
10
Power Meters
5
40
Sensors
2
50
Opto-Isolators
2
10
Power Supply
1
25
Power Supply
1
15
Communication
1
50
Communication
1
50
Totals
Peter Brehm
$ 210
Totals
$ 175
Estimated Costs and Funding Cont.
• Total Costs ≤ Total Funding *(Key Essential)*
• Funding will be provided by U.R.O.P. and by team
members.
Items
$ Price
Base Station
210
Power Strip
175
Generic Supplies (Caps, wire)
50
Revisions
125
TENTATIVE TOTAL
560
Screw Ups and Repairs -> X2
560*2=1120
REALISTIC TOTAL
$ 1120
Peter Brehm
Gantt Schedule/Desired Timeline
Risks and Backup plans
Risks
PLN/ZigBee
Hard Line
Presence Sensing
Functionality
Provide Less Sensing
Functionality
Surges in the power line
may damage processor
Invest in surge protection (Optoisolation, diodes, fuses, etc…)
Rock gets stuck in the
outlet
Peter Brehm
Backup Plan
Cry
Conclusion: Overview
Purpose
Project
Elements
Peter Brehm
• To eliminate phantom loads in the home
setting
• A smart power strip that any home
owner could remotely control to save
energy and save money.
• Power Strip
• Base Station
• Internet Connectivity
Summary/Overview
Smart Power
Base Station
• Outlet Control/Monitoring
• Convenient Control of Home
Power Consumption
• Focus on Data Gathering
• Send Data to the Base Station
• Providing/Storing information
for the User
• Power Consumption Feedback
Peter Brehm
Questions?
Audience/Tom Brown