Open Source Low-Cost Power Monitoring System

Project data
Type
Authors Oberloier S.
Joshua M. Pearce
Location Michigan, USA
Status Designed
Modelled
Prototyped
Verified
Verified by MOST
OSE
OCI
Years
Links https://www.academia.edu/37563713/Open_source_low_cost_power_monitoring_system
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468067218300610
Device data
Bill of materials https://osf.io/8keau/
Hardware license CERN-OHL-S
Certifications Start OSHWA certification

This study presents an entirely open-source, low-cost power monitoring system capable of many types of measurements including both loads and supplies such as solar photovoltaic systems. In addition, the system can be fabricated using only open source software and hardware. The design revolves around the Digital Universal Energy Logger (DUEL) Node, which is responsible for reading and properly scaling the voltage and current of a particular load, and then serializing it via an on-board ATTiny85 chip. The configuration of the DUEL node allows for custom sensitivity ranges, and can handle up to 50 A and 300V. Up to 127 DUEL nodes communicate via Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C) on a bus, which can be monitored and logged through an Arduino UNO, or other compatible microcontroller. Using accessible equipment, the DUEL node can be calibrated to a desirable accuracy with low error. The DUEL nodes are also completely customizable, making them fit for any input range, where all commercially-available products are fixed range. The open source solution out performs commercial solutions as the price per measurement ($18.25) is significantly smaller, while the number of serviceable channels (127) is significantly higher.

See also

Page data
Authors Joshua M. Pearce
License CC-BY-SA-3.0
Organizations MOST, MTU, OSE, OCI
Cite as Joshua M. Pearce (2018–2025). "Open Source Low-Cost Power Monitoring System". Appropedia. Retrieved November 28, 2025.