Smart Energy Logger (Sel): An Automatic Power Manager for Hostels and PG Rooms (Pay-Later System)

This report explains how we built the Smart Energy Logger (SEL) to solve common electricity problems in places like hostels and PG rooms. In the old system, people check meters by hand. This often leads to arguments, electricity waste, and extra work for owners. To solve this, SEL uses a smart electronic box in each room that works on a pay-later system. Inside the box, an ESP32 microcontroller is used as the main controller. A PZEM- 004T module is used to measure electricity accurately, and a DS1307 clock module keeps the exact time and date. The most important feature of the system is automatic power cut after 30 days using a relay switch. This ensures that the electricity bill is paid on time. The SEL box is connected to the main power line of the room, just like a small sub- meter. The ESP32 has Wi-Fi, so it sends the power usage data to a simple webpage. The owner can easily see how much power each room uses and divide the total bill fairly. After the tenant pays the bill, the owner simply taps an RFID card to restore the power immediately and start the next 30-day cycle. Overall, this project provides a simple, fair, and automatic way to manage electricity and avoid billing disputes.