Real-Time Power Distribution Transformer Monitoring Using a Wi-Fi–Based IoT System

Wireless communication technologies provide a practical means for improving the monitoring and management of electrical distribution transformers. This study presents the design and implementation of an Internet of Things (IoT)–based system for real-time monitoring of distribution transformer parameters using a wireless local area network (WLAN). The proposed system comprises an embedded monitoring unit, a centralized web server, and a web-based client interface. The embedded unit integrates voltage and current sensing modules, a microcontroller, a Wi-Fi communication module, and a local display for on-site visualization. Acquired electrical parameters are digitized using an analog-to-digital converter and transmitted to the server through an event-driven WebSocket communication protocol. The server, implemented using a Django-based web application, supports real-time data visualization, structured data storage, and remote user management through a standard web browser interface. A prototype system was developed using an Arduino Mega 2560 microcontroller and an ESP8266 Wi-Fi module, with firmware and server applications implemented in C and Python, respectively. Experimental testing under laboratory conditions confirmed reliable real-time data transmission, accurate data logging, and effective remote monitoring capabilities. While the results demonstrate the feasibility of a low-cost, IoT-enabled monitoring solution for distribution transformers, challenges related to large-scale deployment, long-term reliability, data security, and system scalability remain and are identified as important directions for future work.