development of a remote timing and monitoring system for

International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research Volume 11, Issue 8, August-2020 1031 ISSN 2229-5518

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Development of a Remote Timing and Monitoring System for GSM Base Station Generators

Dauda A. Shaibu, Joseph M. Mom, David O. Agbo

Abstract--Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) base stations encounters several challenges when trying to provide power to run their

equipment. Generators are used as backup power supply in some stations while other stations rely completely on these generators to run the station.

The system in the base station requires proper generators synchronization. GSM operators usually find it difficult to time and monitor the state of power

supply at the base stations in remote locations, leading to poor quality of services for subscribers if there are any power related issues. In this paper, an

application for timing the operation of generators and monitoring the basic parameters of the generator (Temperature, Starter status, battery voltage

level and Fuel level) was developed. The design has two units; the remote controller unit and the generator controller unit. The remote controller unit

consists of a GSM module, a keypad, a microcontroller, and a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) while the Generator controller unit consists of sensors

(Temperature, Battery voltage and fuel), a relay, a microcontroller, and a GSM module. The information from the generator (temperature, Battery

voltage and fuel level) is obtained from the sensors and transmitted to the remote controller unit using GSM module. The remote controller unit receives

information from its own GSM module. The LCD displays the status of all the parameters obtained from the sensors connected to the operational

generator. If the conditions of generator is not according to the minimum set conditions (based on feedback via SMS), another generator will come on

while notice will be sent to the operator. The device was tested and the LCD displayed the temperature, battery level and fuel level of the specified

generator. A Short Messaging Service (SMS) Message was sent to the programmed number. From the test results, it shows that the design shows can be

used in GSM base stations in Nigeria.

Keyword: Battery voltage level, Fuel level, GSM, LCD, Monitoring, Remote controlled and Temperature status

—————————— ——————————

1 INTRODUCTION

There are several challenges encountered by Global System

for Mobile Communication (GSM) companies to provide

power to their Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) that are in

Nigeria, especially in areas where there are frequent public

power outages. While several companies are exploiting

renewable power sources to power their BTS, majority are

powered their Base stations with generators. This has

increased the cost of GSM firms in provide quality

communication services to the ever-growing

telecommunication subscribers in the country. In many

instances where generators are used, most of the GSM

companies do not have accurate information on how many

hours each generator runs at a Base station or theses

generators break down. Hence, they rely on the information

provided by those who operate these generators. This

research focuses on the development of a remote system,

which can provide information on the generator(s) status at

the Base stations. The system will also help communication

companies to choose how long one generator can run

before the next generator, when there is public power

outage.

This application will provide feedback on the state of

power at a Base station at any location where there is GSM

communication network. It will also help base station

passive maintenance vendors to respond to early warning

signs of the generators, thereby avert total breakdown.

Several studies have been carried out on the control of

generators. The review of some related past works are as

follow:

Baraneetharan and Selvakumar (2015) [1] implemented a

GSM based change over system for generators. The power

failure detection system is connected to the microcontroller

which finds out the power failure through the output of

that system. The generator output control is connected to

the microcontroller through relay and driver circuit. The

system turns ON the relay when it receives a message.

Boopathi et al. (2015) [2] presented a smart generator

monitoring system that detects power failure. The power

failure is detected by relay and communicates to the

microcontroller to alert the authorized person through

GSM module. The system also monitors fuel level, oil level,

temperature and battery status of the generator that are

communicated to an authorized person. These generator

parameters are processed and recorded in the system

memory.

Cotta and Naik (2016) [3] proposed a wireless

communication system which involves the transfer of

information between two or more points that are not

connected by an electrical conductor. The work uses the

HC-05 Bluetooth module and interfaces it with Arduino

microcontroller.

Patil et al. (2013) [4] discussed the design of BTS safety and

fault management system and the measures to be taken to

rectify these problems. The method makes use of GSM

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modem which gives the instant message about each activity

(temperature) happening in the site.

Some of the works implemented are changeover system for

generators using GSM for communication. The power

failure detection system is connected to the microcontroller

which finds out the power failure through the output of

that system. The generator output control is connected to

the microcontroller through relay and driver circuit.

Similarly, a smart generator monitoring system that detects

power failure and gives feedback using GSM

communication is implemented. The system monitors fuel

level, oil level, temperature and battery status of the

generator, then communicates to authorized person. In all

these systems, they switch from one generator to the other

when there is power failure from a particular generator but

the systems do not have the capability to set the time for the

running of each generator.

Finally, it can be seen that no work from the review has

proposed, designed, simulated or implemented a real time

system that presets the running of generators which will

reduce the over running of one generator at GSM base

station.

2 MATERIALS AND METHODS The block diagram of the system consists of two units: the

remote control unit and the generator controller unit.

Figure 1 and 2 shows the block diagram of the system.

Figure 1: Remote Controller Unit

Figure 2: The Generator Control Unit

Figure 3 shows the keypad circuit diagram which is used in

getting the status of any generator selected. The remote

controller unit has three buttons connected to PIC18F2585

microcontroller [6] that can be used to select any of the

generator and request for the status of the generator

selected. To select a generator after the GSM module [8]

initialization, there is a display of message on the LCD to

press menu button. When the menu button is pressed,

another command pops up on the LCD screen for the user

to scroll either up or down to select any generator. When

the operator reaches the desired generator the menu button

is pressed again to select the generator and the status of

that generator is automatically displayed on the LCD.

Figure 4 shows the generator controller circuit diagram that

is attached to each generator. The controller unit comprises

of input sensors that takes readings of the generator

temperature, fuel source level, generator fuel level and

battery level that are all connected to PIC18F4585

microcontroller [6]. The temperature sensor LM35 [7] takes

the temperature readings and sends it to the

microcontroller, but if the generator temperature exceeds

95°C the buzzer comes on continuously. Ultrasonic sensor

[5] is used to measure the fuel level and two ultrasonic

sensors are used. One ultrasonic sensor is placed at the

generator tank while the other is placed at fuel source

supply tank. The generator fuel tank is measured in three

levels: low, half, and full. When the fuel level is full and

half, the valve for fuel to flow from the source to generator

tank will be closed. However, when the fuel tank is low, the

valve opens for the fuel to flow from source tank to the

generator tank. When the source tank is empty, the buzzer

turned ON and SMS is sent to the operator informing the

operator of the status of the source tank through the GSM

module. All information about the state of the generator is

displayed on the 16 x 4 LCD. The status of the generator

can be sent to the operator holding the remote control on

request, all the status of the generators can be viewed by

GSM

Module

Keypad MCU LCD Antenna

LCD

Antenna

FUEL

TANK

Fuel

Sensor

GEN.

MIC

RO

CO

NT

RO

LL

ER

Battery

Relay

FUEL

SOURC

E TANK Valve

GSM

Module

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the remote controller operator and time can be allocated to

the generator by operator.

Figure 3: The Remote Controller Circuit Diagram

Figure 4: The Generator Controller Circuit Diagram

The Flow Chart of the system is divided into two namely:

Remote Control Flow Chart and Receiver/Control Flow

Chart. Figure 5 shows the Remote Control Flow Chart.

When the device is turned ON, it starts and then proceeds

for initialization and maintains the sleep mode to ensure

proper synchronism. Whenever a button is pressed it

proceeds to identify the key pressed else it will return to

sleep mode if no key is pressed. After identifying the key

that is pressed, it confirms its validation and update it

status with LCD confirming to it, it then proceeds to check

the timer and then validates the data if true. If the data isn’t

valid, the process returns to the decision mode that requires

any key to be pressed. If device is left for a long time, it

returns to sleep mode but still maintains its condition as

last seen.

Figure 6 shows the Receiver/Control Flow Chart. When the

device is turned ON, it starts and then proceeds to the

initialization stage; and maintains the sleep mode to ensure

proper synchronism. When the first synchronization is

achieved, the reset button is pressed to ensure maximum

uniform timing with remote control section else it will

return.

Figure 5: Remote Controller Flow Chart

X1CRYSTALC1

C2R10K

R6 R2 R4

MENU/STOP

UP

DOWN

0

1

2

1

0

2

SIM Card

SIM900D

S2-1041Y-Z097C

CE0980

Power BTN

ON

NEXT

STATUS

TXD

RXD

www.TheEngineeringProjects.com

GSM1

SIM900D-GREEN

D7

14D

613

D5

12D

411

D3

10D

29

D1

8D

07

E6

RW5

RS4

VSS

1

VDD

2

VEE

3

LCD1LM044L

D7D6D5D4

RS E

RA4/T0CLKI/C1OUT6

RA5/AN4/SS/HLVDIN/C2OUT7

RA6/OSC2/CLKO10

RB0/AN12/INT0/FLT021

RB1/AN10/INT122

RB2/AN8/INT223

RB3/AN9/CCP2A24

RB4/AN11/KBI025

RB5/KBI1/PGM26

RC0/T1OSO/T13CKI11

RC1/T1OSI/CCP2B12

RC2/CCP113

RC3/SCK/SCL14

RC4/SDI/SDA15

RC5/SDO16

RC6/TX/CK17

RC7/RX/DT18

RE3/MCLR/VPP1

RB6//KBI2/PGC27

RB7/KBI3/PGD28

RA7/OSC1/CLKI9

RA0/AN0/C1IN-2

RA1/AN1/C2IN-3

RA2/AN2/C2IN+/VREF-/CVREF4

RA3/AN3/C1IN+/VREF+5

U1

PIC18F2620

D7

D6

D5

D4

E

RS

26.0

3

1

VOUT2

TEMPERATURE SENSOR

RV1BA

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VO3

GN

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7805

C1 C2 C3

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R1

DC Power Supply in Proteus

R5 Q1

CONNECTING KICK STARTER

D4RL25V

XTAL

C6

C5

+88.8

Volts

OSC1

OSC2

OSC1

OSC2

R6

RA0/AN0/C1IN-2

RA1/AN1/C2IN-3

RA2/AN2/C2IN+/VREF-/CVREF4

RA3/AN3/C1IN+/VREF+5

RA4/T0CKI/C1OUT6

RA5/AN4/SS/HLVDIN/C2OUT7

RA6/OSC2/CLKO14

RA7/OSC1/CLKI13

RB0/AN12/FLT0/INT033

RB1/AN10/INT134

RB2/AN8/INT235

RB3/AN9/CCP2A36

RB4/KBI0/AN1137

RB5/KBI1/PGM38

RB6/KBI2/PGC39

RB7/KBI3/PGD40

RC0/T1OSO/T13CKI15

RC1/T1OSI/CCP2B16

RC2/CCP1/P1A17

RC3/SCK/SCL18

RC4/SDI/SDA23

RC5/SDO24

RC6/TX/CK25

RC7/RX/DT26

RD0/PSP019

RD1/PSP120

RD2/PSP221

RD3/PSP322

RD4/PSP427

RD5/PSP5/P1B28

RD6/PSP6/P1C29

RD7/PSP7/P1D30

RE0/RD/AN58

RE1/WR/AN69

RE2/CS/AN710

RE3/MCLR/VPP1

U3

PIC18F4525

RS

E

D4

D5

D6

D7

R4 D2

R3

D3

D7

14

D6

13

D5

12

D4

11

D3

10

D2

9D

18

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7

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5R

S4

VS

S1

VD

D2

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LCD1

D7

D6

D5

D4

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RVL

+5V

RC3

RC4

RC4

SIM Card

SIM900D

S2-1041Y-Z097C

CE0980

Power BTN

ON

NEXT

STATUS

TXD

RXD

www.TheEngineeringProjects.com

GSM1

SIM900D-GREEN

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GENERATOR SENSOR

ULTRASONIC SENSOR

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DATA

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microcontrolandos

GND

OUT

VCC

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GND

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RF MODULE

RC3 R7 Q2CONNECTING GENERATOR

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SOURCE SENSOR

ULTRASONIC SENSOR

RD0

RD1

RD2

RD3

RD4

RD0

RD1

RD

2R

D3

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Figure 6: Generator Protector Unit

3 RESULTS Figure 7 to 15 show the results of some stage of the system.

After initialization of the remote controller hardware Figure

7 shows the accessing of generator by displaying a message

for the user to press the MENU key and when the MENU

key is pressed, “select command” is display as presented in

Figure 8. Figure 9 to 13 shows the types of command to be

selected. The command “ON generator” represented in

Figure 9, remotely ON the selected generator, the command

“OFF generator” represented in Figure 10, remotely OFF

the selected generator, the command “Return” represented

in Figure 11, takes the user of the keypad controller back to

the last select command, while the command “Get status”

represented in Figure 12, remotely get status of the selected

generator (temperature level, fuel level and battery level).

This get status command serves as feedback to know if the

generator is working, Figure 13 presents the display of the

generator status when temperature is 25.3 °C; battery level

8.4 V and fuel level is low. Figure 14 presents the display of

the generator status when temperature is 25.3 °C, battery

level 8.4 V and fuel level is middle and Figure 15 present

the display of the generator status when temperature is 25.3

°C, battery level 8.4 V and fuel level is High.

Figure 7: After Initializing the System, this Menu Appear

Figure 8: Menu displayed when “Menu” Button is Pressed

Figure 9: Menu to Switch ON the Generator

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Figure 10: Menu to Return to the Beginning of the Menu

Figure 11: Menu to Switch OFF the Generator

Figure 12: Menu to Get Status of the Generated

Figure 13: Status of Generator of when Temperature below

Rated Maximum Value and Fuel Level is Low

Figure 14: Status of Generator of When Temperature below

Rated Maximum Value and Fuel Level is Middle

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Figure 15: Status of Generator of When Temperature above

Rated Maximum Value and Fuel Level is Full

4 CONCLUSIONS The aim of this research which is to develop and construct a

keypad mobile application timing system for monitoring

the operation of generators at the Base stations was met.

This is a result of the achievement of objectives of this

research earlier stated. A keypad application that timed the

operation of generators and monitored the basic parameters

of the generator (Temperature, battery voltage level and

Fuel level) was simulated and constructed along with a PIC

based controller that sent feedback to the application. The

results obtained showed the design can be used in any base

stations in the country.

REFERENCES [1] E. Baraneetharan and G. Selvakumar,

“Implementation of GSM Based Automatic Change

over System for Electric Generators,” International

Journal of Innovative Research in Science,

Engineering and Technology, vol. 4, no. 6, pp. 1399-

1403, 2015.

[2] S. Boopathi, M. Jagadeeshraja and L.D. Manivannan,

“Smart Generator Monitoring System in Industry

Using Microcontroller,” American Journal of

Electrical Power and Energy Systems, vol. 4, no. 4, pp.

45-50, 2015.

[3] A. Cotta and T.D. Naik, “Wireless Communication

Using Hc-05 Bluetooth Module Interfaced With

Arduino,” International Journal of Science,

Engineering and Technology Research, vol. 5, no. 4,

pp. 869-872, 2016.

[4] C. Patil, and C. Baligar, “Base Transceiver Station

(BTS) Safety and Fault Management”, International

Journal of Innovative Technology and Exploring

Engineering, vol. 3, no. 7, pp. 23-28, 2013.

[5] “Ultrasonic Ranging Module HC - SR04 Datasheet”,

[Online]. Available from:

[email protected], 2009

[6] “PIC18F2455/2550/4455/4550 Data Sheet,” Microchip

Technology Inc. Corporate. Available from:

http://support.microchip.com, 2006.

[7]. “Temperature sensor LM35 datasheet”, Texas

Instruments Inc. Available: www.ti.com/sensors/lm35,

1995-2020.

[8]. “Sim900a GSM module datasheet-Components 101”.

Available: https://components 101.com>files

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