The development addresses a common problem in homes, offices, and other buildings: lights that remain switched on after people have left an area. Conventional lighting systems often require users to physically return to the switch to turn the lights off.
IoT technology provides an alternative by connecting lighting equipment to the internet. With an appropriate microcontroller and communication system, users can send commands from a smartphone and check the condition of lights without being physically present at the building. Zakwansyah and his colleagues designed their system specifically to combine this remote capability with conventional manual switching.
A Three-Point Approach to Lighting Control
The key feature of the system is its three-point control configuration. Two points remain available for manual operation inside the building, while a third point is connected to a relay controlled through an ESP32 and Telegram Bot.
This arrangement is particularly relevant for corridors and staircases. A user can turn a light on when entering a corridor or staircase and switch it off from another location after reaching the end. If the person subsequently leaves the building and discovers that the light remains on, the third control point allows the light to be switched off remotely.
The researchers said the approach expands conventional two-point lighting control by adding a remote IoT-based control point. The system can therefore accommodate different operating locations without eliminating the familiar manual switches already used inside buildings.
ESP32 Connects the Lighting System to the Internet
The ESP32 serves as the central electronic component connecting the lighting circuit to the remote control system. The microcontroller provides Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity and can be programmed to communicate with external devices and control equipment such as relays.
For the prototype, the researchers initially built a three-point lighting installation in Laboratory 204 of the Electronics Technology Study Program at Politeknik Aceh. The basic configuration used one cross switch and two toggle switches. One toggle switch was subsequently replaced with a relay whose contacts performed a similar switching function.
The ESP32 was then programmed to perform two main functions: remotely switching the lamp on or off and reporting the lamp’s current status to the smartphone.
Telegram Bot Provides Remote Status Checks
The Telegram Bot acts as the user interface for the remote lighting system. Instead of requiring a dedicated application, users can issue commands through Telegram.
The system provides commands for both checking and changing the lamp’s condition. By sending the “status” command, the ESP32 responds with information about whether the lamp is on or off. The “press” command activates the relay, allowing the lamp to change state according to the switching function.
This feature becomes particularly useful when users are away from the building. A person can check whether corridor lights remain on and switch them off remotely if necessary.
Testing Shows the Prototype Performs Its Intended Functions
The researchers reported that the developed system successfully provided three control points. Two points used toggle and cross switches for manual operation, while the third point used a relay controlled by the ESP32 and Telegram Bot.
The resulting system supports both local and remote operation. Users can control the lights manually within the building or remotely through a smartphone. The Telegram Bot can also provide real-time information about the lamp’s status.
According to Zakwansyah, Fakhruddin, Mizanul Ahkam, and Abu Bakar of Politeknik Aceh, the combination demonstrates how conventional electrical switching can be integrated with IoT technology without removing manual control. Their prototype provides a practical model for lighting applications in areas where lights need to be controlled from multiple locations.
The researchers also associate the system with potential electricity savings. Remote monitoring means users do not necessarily have to return to a building simply because a light has been left on. Turning off unnecessary lighting remotely can reduce avoidable electricity consumption.
Future Development Could Add Automatic Lighting
The Politeknik Aceh team identified several ways to expand the prototype.
One proposed improvement is an automatic scheduling function that would allow lights to be switched on and off according to predetermined times. This could be useful in offices, educational facilities, public buildings, and residential properties.
The researchers also recommend integrating PIR sensors to detect human presence and LDR sensors to detect light intensity. Such sensors could enable the lighting system to respond automatically to whether people are present or whether sufficient ambient light is available.
Another proposed development is a dedicated mobile application. While Telegram provides a functional interface for the current prototype, a purpose-built application could make monitoring and control easier for general users.
The work illustrates a broader direction in smart-building technology: existing electrical infrastructure can be combined with connected microcontrollers to provide additional control and monitoring functions. Rather than replacing traditional switches entirely, the system developed by Zakwansyah and colleagues adds remote access to an existing manual control arrangement.
Author Profiles
Zakwansyah is the corresponding author and is affiliated with the Industrial Electronics Technology Study Program at Politeknik Aceh.
Fakhruddin is affiliated with the Industrial Electronics Technology Study Program at Politeknik Aceh.
Mizanul Ahkam and Abu Bakar are affiliated with the Information Technology Study Program at Politeknik Aceh.
The available article does not state the authors’ academic degrees or provide detailed individual fields of expertise. Those details have therefore not been added beyond the affiliations explicitly provided in the publication.
Research Source
Article Title: Monitoring Long-Distance Light Control Combination of Switch and Cross Based on IoT
Authors: Zakwansyah, Fakhruddin, Mizanul Ahkam, Abu Bakar
Journal: International Journal of Sustainable Applied Sciences (IJSAS)
Volume: 4, No. 8
Year: 2026
Pages: 859–864
DOI: 10.59890/ijsas.v4i8.42
URL: https://ijsasjournal.my.id/index.php/ijsas
0 Komentar