An analog and digital data acquisition system for Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring

Abstract

Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring (NILM) is a method for characterizing and monitoring discrete loads connected to a power distribution system. This can include a ship, a car, or a utility distribution system. The entire concept is predicated on having access to digital samples of the current and voltage signals at the distribution point. This thesis presents a analog to digital converter for this task and a new low-power inductive current sensor for deployment in a standard circuit breaker box. The current sensor uses discrete JFET devices to passively transmit data inductively through the steel door of the circuit breaker.