WattWatch
IoT-based energy monitoring and analytics.
THE PROBLEM
Energy consumption is invisible to most users — there's no easy way to see real-time usage or get alerts before costs spike.
OBJECTIVE
Build an IoT-driven energy monitoring and alert system that tracks power consumption in real time.
ARCHITECTURE
ESP32 microcontroller collects sensor data and publishes via MQTT to a broker, which routes to Firebase Realtime Database, with a web dashboard consuming the live stream.
IMPLEMENTATION
- 01
Configured ESP32 with sensor integration for current/voltage readings
- 02
Set up MQTT broker for lightweight IoT messaging
- 03
Connected MQTT to Firebase for persistent storage and real-time sync
- 04
Built responsive web dashboard consuming Firebase real-time data
- 05
Implemented threshold-based alert system with notifications
CHALLENGES
- ⚠
MQTT message reliability on unstable network connections
- ⚠
Synchronizing IoT sensor timestamps with server time
- ⚠
Designing a dashboard that's useful without overwhelming the user
SOLUTION
Added QoS level 1 for MQTT messages to guarantee delivery. Used NTP for timestamp synchronization on the ESP32. Iterated on dashboard design with progressive disclosure.
RESULT
A live energy monitoring system with real-time data visualization, threshold alerts, and historical usage tracking.
LESSONS LEARNED
- →
IoT reliability requires deliberate protocol choices — MQTT QoS matters
- →
Data visualization is a product decision as much as a technical one
- →
Firebase's real-time sync is powerful but has cost implications at scale
PORTFOLIO // ISSUE #001 · ESHAN SAHAD