Introduction: Energy Ally

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Our project enables homeowners to be able to test the efficiency of their HVAC systems throughout the home, which then enables them to make more energy efficient decisions.

Designed and Produced by: Christopher Cannon, Brent Nanney, Kayla Sims & Gretchen Evans

Step 1: Parts Required

The parts required includes:

  • RedBoard
  • Breadboard
  • Temperature Sensor
  • Piezo Buzzer
  • LCD Display
  • Potentiometer
  • Wires (25x)
  • MicroUSB/USB connector

Step 2: Wire the Board for the Temperature Sensor

A temperature sensor is exactly what is sounds like--a sensor used to measure ambient temperature. This particular sensor has three pins -- a positive, a ground, and a signal. This is a linear temperature sensor, and a change in temperature of one degree centigrade is equal to a change of 10 millivolts at the sensor output.

Refer to the diagram provided to connect the sensor to the power.

Step 3: Adding the Piezo Buzzer.

This buzzer is used to be able to alert the user to when the HVAC system is not being used efficiently.

Refer to the diagram provided to correctly connect the buzzer to the power.

Step 4: Connect the LCD to Another Breadboard and Then the Power!

This LCD, or a liquid crystal display, is a simple screen that will tell the user when something is not right with, i.e. that it is not running efficiently, the HVAC system it is reading for.

Refer to the diagram provided in order to correctly connect the screen. The only change that was made to this original design, is the LCD being on a smaller breadboard, which was just connected to the power as usual.

Step 5: The Code

Attached is the MATLAB code, "Temp_sensor.m", that we used to be able to convert the temperature that the sensor read into an EER value, which is the value that shows the efficiency of the HVAC system.

The "SOS_2.m" code was the code used to set the buzzer to go off and to get the LCD to display the error message.

Attachments