IoT Device to Detect Fuse Status in Overhead Distribution Grids

This article deals with the development of a sensor with embedded communication, to be used in overhead distribution grids in order to monitor fuses arranged along the feeder, using a low cost IoT communication grid. The developed device has as main objective to assist in the fast and effective location of defects related to the current that cause the fuse to burn, either by short circuits or overload, in a simple and practical way, showing a great improvement in decision making in sending the field team to more assertive repairs. As a consequence, the consumer present in the project area who will benefit from the performance of this monitoring system will notice an increase in speed in the correction of power failure events caused by short circuits in the grid, observing a constant improvement in service quality. The study is part of an R&D (Research and Development) project from ENEL Distribution São Paulo, named "Urban Futurability". It was carried out in a region with a high-density load with the predominance of commercial consumers, in the city of São Paulo, Brazil.