Smart Energy Storage Monitoring: A Practical Prototype for Backup Prediction and Fault Alerting

– Inverter-based energy storage systems are widely used in residential and small-scale commercial setups, yet users often remain unaware of the remaining backup duration and real-time battery health. This paper presents a cost-effective, Arduino-based embedded system that addresses this gap through two key contributions: (1) a real-time dynamic estimation of remaining battery backup time based on actual current load conditions, and (2) integrated safety monitoring for overvoltage, undervoltage, and overcurrent faults. The system leverages voltage divider circuits and ACS712 current sensors interfaced with an Arduino Uno to continuously acquire battery and load parameters. A backup time estimation algorithm processes these values to display predicted runtime on a 16×2 LCD, while fault conditions are indicated through buzzer alerts. The practical prototype was implemented using a 12V lead-acid battery under varying load profiles, and performance was validated across multiple discharge cycles. The design emphasizes low-cost components, ease of deployment, and scalability for broader adoption in energy-constrained regions. This work offers a viable solution to enhance user awareness and safety in decentralized energy storage systems without reliance on expensive battery management units.