Smart Breakage Detection with Auto-Powercut system for local Transmission lines

Published Nov 20, 2025
 144 hours to build
 Intermediate

Electric poles and transmission lines in rural/urban areas often get damaged due to wind, accidents, or natural disasters. When a wire breaks or a pole tilts, the electricity keeps flowing, which can cause electric shocks, fires, and power losses. Manual checking takes time, and EB cannot respond immediately. My project solves this safety and delay problem.

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Components Used

ESP 32 MICROCONTROLLER
ESP32 is a compact, low-cost microcontroller with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. It is used in IoT projects to read sensors, process data, and send updates wirelessly.
2
LoRa SI4463
The LoRa SI4463 is a long-range wireless communication module that uses low power to send and receive data over several kilometers. It provides stable, secure, and long-distance communication between devices, making it perfect for IoT and remote monitoring applications.
2
Voltage Sensor
A sensor used to measure the line voltage and detect faults, drops, or abnormal conditions in the power line.
2
Current Sensor ACS712
A sensor used to measure the current flow in the line, helping identify overloads, faults, or sudden breaks in the power line.
2
Tilt Sensor
Detects pole tilt or fall during accidents/disasters and triggers an immediate safety alert.
2
GSM 900A
A GSM module used to send SMS alerts to the electricity board when faults or breakages are detected.
1
Buzzer
A small audio device that produces sound alerts. In the project, it gives an immediate alarm when a line break or fault is detected.
1
Lithium Ion Battery 2500 mah
A rechargeable high-capacity battery that powers the entire system, ensuring long backup time and stable operation even during power outages.
1
Battery holder
A battery holder securely holds the lithium battery in place and provides safe electrical contact, ensuring stable power delivery to the entire system.
1
Servo motor 90
A compact 90-degree servo motor used for precise angular movement. It quickly rotates to a fixed position based on control signals, making it ideal for switching, locking, and small mechanical actuations in your project.
1
Button switch
A small push-button used to reset the system instantly, helping restart the microcontroller or circuit during faults or during testing.
1
Lithium battery module
It regulates, protects, and safely charges the lithium battery while providing a stable output supply for your circuit.
1
wires
Used to connect all electronic components, ensuring stable signal flow and power transmission throughout the circuit.
1
16x2 LCD Display
A small alphanumeric display that can show 16 characters per line across 2 lines, used to visually present system status, sensor readings, and alerts in real time.
1
Bread Board
reusable prototyping board used to build and test electronic circuits without soldering. It allows easy insertion of components and quick wiring changes during development.
4
Description

Components short description 

ESP32 microcontroller — the project brain: runs control code, reads sensors, runs lightweight Edge-AI models and handles Wi-Fi/Bluetooth; LoRa Si4463 — long-range radio module to send low-bandwidth alerts between poles or to a local gateway when GSM/Internet is unavailable; Voltage sensor — measures line voltage to detect abnormal drops or spikes; Current sensor — measures line current to detect open circuits/breaks or sudden surges; Tilt sensor — detects pole tilt/fall so the system knows a pole has collapsed; GSM 900L — cellular modem to send SMS alerts to the electricity board when needed; Buzzer — local audible alarm for on-site warning; Lithium battery 3700 mAh & battery holder & lithium battery module — mobile power source and protection/charging circuit so the unit keeps running during outages; Servomotor 90° — used for small relay/lock actuation or mechanical switching where precise motion is needed; Breadboard & wires — prototyping platform and wiring connections; Button (reset) — manual reset or test trigger; 16×2 LCD display — local status display for voltage/current/alerts; Wires — interconnections; Battery holder — secure mounting for the battery.

 

TX SIDE – Step-by-Step (Transmitter Unit)

(Mounted on the transmission pole)

1. ESP32 Setup

We first placed the ESP32 on the TX board. This microcontroller reads all sensor data and sends it wirelessly to the RX side using LoRa.

 

2. Sensor Connections

Tilt Sensor: Fixed on the pole to detect pole leaning/fall.

Voltage Sensor: Connected to measure the line voltage level.

Current Sensor: Added to monitor the flow of current in the line.

 

3. LoRa (SI4463) Communication

We connected the LoRa module to ESP32 through SPI pins.

This sends real-time fault data (tilt/voltage/current) to the RX side over long distance.

 

4. GSM Module (SIM900A)

The GSM module is added for emergency SMS alerts to EB office when a break or fall is detected.

 

5. Buzzer Alert

A buzzer is attached for local alarm on the pole, giving continuous high/low tones during fault.

 

6. Power System

3700mAh Lithium battery + protection module

Battery holder + wiring

Provides stable power to ESP32, sensors, GSM, and LoRa.

 

7. Final Assembly

All components are arranged on breadboard / PCB, wires connected, and the unit is mounted on the test pole. Sensors Fully covered with ip65 mounted box

 

 

 

 

RX SIDE – Step-by-Step (Receiver + Auto Powercut Unit)

1. ESP32 Setup

Another ESP32 is used at the substation/control side to receive LoRa signals.

 

2. LoRa Receiver Connection

The RX LoRa module receives sensor data sent from the pole.

This data is decoded by ESP32.

 

3. Sensor Inputs (Optional Monitoring)

RX side also includes:

Tilt sensor

Voltage sensor

Current sensor

This allows double confirmation and backup monitoring on the control side.

 

4. Display Monitoring

A 16x2 LCD is connected to show:

Voltage

Current

Pole Status (Normal / Tilt / Break)

Connection Quality

 

5. Servo Motor / MCCB Mechanism

Based on the alert:

The servo motor physically triggers the switch to cut supply

OR

MCCB mechanism is activated for instant and safe shutdown.

 

6. Local Buzzer Alert

A buzzer is used at the RX station for loud warning during faults.

 

7. Power System

Battery module and wiring provide stable power to the RX board and components.

 

8. Final Integration

RX unit is placed at the control room/substation and continuously monitors incoming data from the pole.

BLOCK DIAGRAM :

SAMPLE 2D DIAGRAM : 

 

FINAL OUTPUT : 

BoM Link : 

https://www.digikey.in/short/dpjt3f5p

Some components models not available but I put another model components

 

PROJECT CONCEPT

Our project is a Smart Breakage Detection and Auto-Powercut System for local transmission lines. It continuously monitors the electrical pole using sensors such as tilt, voltage, and current sensors. If the pole falls or the line breaks, the system immediately detects the abnormal condition. Using ESP32 + Edge AI, it analyzes sensor data at the device level and sends fast alerts to the EB office using LoRa / GSM. At the same time, a servo-based mechanism cuts the power in that section to prevent accidents, fire hazards, and electrocution.

 

PROBLEM IN SOCIETY

In many areas, electric poles fall due to wind, accidents, or natural disasters. When a pole falls, the live wire may touch the ground or nearby houses. This causes:

High risk of electrocution to public

Chance of fire accidents

Long delays before EB staff identify the fault

Difficulty in locating the exact break point

Manual shutdown causes more damage and power loss

People often report only after the incident happens. No real-time detection exists in many rural and semi-urban areas.

 

SOLUTION

Our system provides a fully automated safety mechanism:

1. Tilt sensor detects pole movement or fall.

2. Voltage & current sensors detect wire break or abnormal flow.

3. ESP32 with Edge AI analyzes data locally for faster decision-making.

4. LoRa/GSM sends instant alert messages to the EB office with fault information.

5. Servo/MCCB mechanism cuts power automatically in the affected line.

6. Buzzer + LCD give local alerts to workers and nearby people.

7. System runs even during power issues using a lithium battery backup.

This ensures quick response, improved safety, and accurate detection without waiting for manual inspection.

 

ADVANTAGES

Immediate detection of pole fall or line break

Automatic power shutdown prevents electrocution & fire

Faster response through real-time SMS/LoRa alerts

Highly reliable because Edge AI processes data on-device

Low cost compared to traditional MCCB-based systems

Prevents accidents and increases public safety

Works in rural areas even with low network coverage

Accurate & continuous monitoring of field conditions

Easy to install and maintain

 

PROTOTYPE 

Codes

Downloads

Schematic_view Download
Electroff__20251120_214021_0000 Download

Institute / Organization

Erode Sengunthar Engineering College
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