Design and Modelling of an AC Lighting Brightness Adjusting System for Energy Conservation

This paper presents the design and modeling of an AC lighting brightness adjusting system for energy conservation controlled via a microcontroller-based embedded system. Literature suggest that xcessive power is wasted due to over-lighting in empty venues or due to lights emitting more than the recommended light intensity. To solve this, a light dimming system was designed. It consists of a PIC microcontroller, which serves as the processing unit, receiving user input through a 4x4-matrix keypad and a triac to dynamically adjusting the phase angle of the triggered AC waveform. The hardware includes a zero-cross detection circuit for accurate phase synchronization, enabling smooth dimming without flickering. The methodology encompasses circuit design, programming of the PIC microcontroller, and the development of an algorithm to handle input processing and timing control. Simulation and experimental validation confirm the system’s reliability, demonstrating accurate brightness control from 0% to 100%. The proposed design is cost-effective, making it suitable for residential and commercial lighting applications and it operated satisfactory on a simulation software, Proteus 8 Professional.