Sarcouncil Journal of Engineering and Computer Sciences

Abstract: Many off-grid villages in Sarawak, Malaysia, previously relied on installed solar photovoltaic (PV) panels for electricity. However, with the recent expansion of the local electric utility grid, achieving 99.2% statewide electricity coverage, these solar PV systems are largely unused. This research addresses this underutilization by developing a solar-grid switching system that enables rural villagers to effectively integrate their existing solar PV panels with the grid supply. The system automatically switches to solar PV power when sufficient energy is generated, thereby reducing electricity bills for households and contributing to a lower carbon footprint for the grid. The developed system utilizes microcontrollers to continuously monitor battery voltage. Based on the measured voltage, the microcontroller triggers contactors to switch between the solar PV and grid power sources, ensuring a stable supply to the load. Voltage data is also transmitted to a server via a Wi-Fi-capable microcontroller for remote monitoring.