Faculty of Engineering and Technology

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Design and development of an automatic dust extraction system for electrical panels.
(Busitema University, 2026-07-09) Mulondo, Brian; Kavuma, Hakim; Ajolo, Mercy; Kabanda, Adam; Akadapau, Pollin Faith
Electrical panels are critical components in industrial, commercial, and residential power systems, but their reliability is often compromised by the accumulation of dust, which leads to overheating, corrosion and potential fire hazards. Traditional manual cleaning methods are inefficient, necessitate system downtime, and pose safety risks personnel. This project designed, built, and programmed an Automatic Dust Extraction System for electrical panels. The system utilizes an Arduino microcontroller, operating on a programmed schedule to trigger a cleaning cycle autonomously. The dual fan and ducting system create positive airflow to evacuate dust into a sealed collector with a filter. The entire mechanism operates on a low voltage DC supply, ensuring isolation from the panel’s high voltage components. In controlled tests, the prototype successfully extracted approximately 85% of accumulated dust particles within 5- minutes second cycle. The system enhances operational safety, reduces maintenance frequency, and protects sensitive components, offering a significant improvement over reactive maintenance practice.