Design and Implementation of a GSM-Based Remote Control for a Smart Home Energy Management System with Surge Protection

The increasing demand for energy-efficient and remotely controllable home automation systems has led to the development of smart home energy management systems. This paper presents the design and construction of a GSM-based remote control system for a smart home energy management system, which incorporates surge protection mechanisms. The proposed system aims to provide homeowners with convenient and efficient control over their energy consumption while ensuring the safety of electrical devices against voltage surges. In this system, users can control a variety of loads in their homes, including lights, ceiling fans, heaters, and air conditioners. Using GSM technology, the user can send commands through text messages from their phone to the house to switch ON or OFF the electrical appliances at home. The system also has a surge protection mechanism, a built-in program that guards the system against voltage spikes and transient surges, increasing its lifespan and reliability. The software design uses graphical programming tools such as Flowcode and Proteus to simulate the electronic circuit designs while the hardware design includes the use of a GSM module, a PIC16F877A microcontroller, an ATMEGA328 microcontroller, a phone, electrical loads, an LCD and other materials. It was put through a lot of testing to gauge the system's effectiveness. The system’s responsiveness to remote commands and surge protection efficiency are both evaluated during the test.