Design and implementation of a load scheduling embedded system for off grid solar power systems

Power drives most activities in health centers and homes. However, its availability and high cost make it an expensive commodity. Off grid power systems like PV-battery setups are more sensitive to fluctuations in the generation and load. Power generation in such systems is also intermittent due to dynamic weather changes and other natural factors which require inevitable use of batteries. Batteries are the most expensive part of off-grid solutions and their use has to be optimized. Furthermore, these systems, like any other power source, have maximum capacities beyond which they should not operate. If these limitations are not well observed, usage of the available power cannot be maximized and the power equipment may be damaged. In this regard, this paper proposes an embedded system solution that schedules appliances to run when there is available power from solar panels. The appliances are connected to the smart scheduler through a dedicated smart plug that powers the appliance depending on the conditions set by the smart scheduler. This solution not only ensures that loads are served at the earliest possible availability, but also avoids blackouts in the system. Furthermore, smart utilization of the resources minimizes the battery need and hence, the investment costs.