Smart Meter Ghost Light

RF-Reactive Art Installation DIY

The Concept

This project turns the invisible radio chatter of smart meters into a visible, pulsing light sculpture. The artwork reacts in real-time to the energy consumption of your neighborhood, visualizing the unseen infrastructure of our modern world.

A quiet night might reveal a gentle, rhythmic glow as meters sync. A busy morning with appliances firing up will cause the light to flicker and pulse erratically, showing the unseen demand on the grid. It’s a visual heartbeat of the city's power.

Build Options

We'll explore two approaches, from simple to more powerful.

💡 Option 1: Simple (Arduino/ESP32)

Easiest entry, uses a basic radio module and microcontroller.

Core Components:

The Magic: RSSI Detection

The RFM69 radio triggers an interrupt when it "hears" RF signals.

// Pseudo-code for Arduino
void setup() {
  rfm69.setRssiThreshold(RSSI_THRESHOLD);
  attachInterrupt(PIN, handleRFIrq, RISING);
}
void handleRFIrq() {
  digitalWrite(LED_PIN, HIGH); 
}
💻 Option 2: Powerful (RPi + RTL-SDR)

More setup, but greater potential for analysis and visual complexity.

Core Components:

View Schematic Wiring Diagram

The Magic: Spectrum Analysis

The RTL-SDR monitors energy levels across the 900MHz band.

# Python Snippet
power = np.mean(magnitudes**2)
if power > SPIKE_THRESHOLD:
    print(">>> METER DETECTED <<<")
    # Trigger LEDs

Safety Note

Working with electronics requires care. Ensure you understand basic wiring and power safety. The RF energies involved here are extremely low and non-ionizing, well within public safety limits. Focus on electrical safety!