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Controlling Main Breaker (150 amp ) using arduino

Former Member

Hello there ,

 

i've been digging around on how to control my home main breaker(150 amp )  using arduino ( i asked my local lawyer , and he said it's legal ).

and i asked electrician "how can i do my project" he  told me that i need to get 150 amp Contactor (this : lsIS_GMC_09_12_18_22_32.jpg_220x220.jpg)

But now i'm stuck, how to control this using my arduino uno ? i dig even more and somebody told me i need to use SSR as following  [Arduino>SSR>Contactor>Main Breaker] but i'm confused i need a true expert who can guide me to the right answer ( which i believe he will be from element14 community ) .

  • Hi Hamoud.

     

    This is a serious undertaking (safety wise) for somebody who does not have electrical experience.

    While you can, in theory, connect a 150a contactor to your main breaker, the potential for electrocution/fire is much greater when you are working in front of the circuit MCBs/fuses.

     

    The contactor will have a coil voltage. You do not list a contactor that you wish to use, though something like this would require a 24v coil voltage: http://uk.farnell.com/abb/a75-30-11-24v-50hz/contactor-37kw-75a/dp/8640610

    Get this fitted by an experienced electrician, he can fit this in a suitable enclosure, and supply you with two 'tails' that you can put 24v onto in order to close the contractor. This will negate the need for you to work around the potentially lethal connections.

     

    You can then use your Arduino, together with a relay, to control the contactor. A basic relay circuit for the Arduino is available here: http://playground.arduino.cc/uploads/Learning/relays.pdf

  • Hi Hamoud, Because of the design of most breaker boxes there is going to be a temptation to put your contactor ahead of your main 150 Amp breaker. This is not a good idea as there will be no protection and no way to cut power to your modification. You will have to put in a primary breaker with the contactor so that you will still have a breaker ahead of your system. From the contactor you can then feed your main beaker box. No one will probably tell you exactly how to hook an arduino up to this system as there are serious safety and liability issues. If you are going to do this get the electrician to set it up properly so that you can safely power the contactor with your arduino.

    John