Remote Low-Cost Differential Isolated Probe for Voltage Measurements

Abstract

The growing development of communication technologies has given rise to the Internet of Things, which has led to the emergence of new cities, smart grids, and smart buildings, and the development of energy generation using renewable sources, as well as the emergence of new electrical loads such as the electric car. These advances give rise to the need for new media devices with remote communication, and require a greater control and monitoring of the state of the electrical grid in order to verify its correct state, as well as the detection of faults or alterations that are occurring in it due to these new generation systems or new loads. These remote, unsupervised measurement devices require galvanic isolation to protect the measurement and communication system, so that even if there is a break in the isolation, the integrity of the measurement and communication system is maintained. In addition, as it is a device prepared for multipoint measurement, the cost of the probe must be contained. This article details the design, implementation, and validation of a low-cost remote isolated differential voltage probe. This probe is intended for monitoring at network supply points, as well as for the verification of the European standard EN 50160 as a means of detecting disturbances in network behaviour. Its characteristics as a differential and isolated probe provide it with the possibility of floating voltage averaging, guaranteeing the integrity of the electronics of the low-voltage probe, i.e., the digitalisation and communication system. The measurements collected are sent via an MQTT protocol, which makes the remote probe a device compatible with the Internet of Energy. For the validation of the probe, a full functional test is performed, including FFT spectral analysis to verify the compliance of the mains voltage with the aforementioned European standard EN 50160.