controlling sound ac signal from potentiometer VR1 is first rectified by diode (D1 and D2) and

maintains it at the output level of IC2.

The display unit is designed around monolithic IC LM3914 (IC3). It drives ten LEDs by sensing
analog voltage. Each LED is connected to output of IC3 represents the sound level of 3 dB in
descending order from 18 to 10. The glowing all ten LEDs indicate sound intensity is 30dB.
The PNP transistor get base bias when output at pin 10 of IC3 goes low to drive the piezo buzzer
in order to give sound.
Normally, sound intensity up to 30 dB is pleasant. Above 80 dB, it becomes annoying. And if it
goes beyond 100 dB, it may affect your psychomotor performance, detracting your attention and
causing stress. Noise pollution may also affect your hearing ability [15].

18. Handy Tester

For beginners, here’s a low-cost multitester that can be used to test the condition of almost all the
electronic components from resistors to ICs. It uses only a few components but can also detect
polarity, continuity, logic states and activity of multivibrators [16].

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 19. Linear Timer For General Use
This simple timer can be used to control any electrical appliance that needs to be switched off
after certain time, like a small heater or a boiler, provided the relay-switch parameters meet the
requirements of that appliance. It uses low-cost components and combines digital precision with
simple analogue control, providing long timing durations without the use of high-valued resistors
or capacitors [17].

20. Strain Meter

This strain meter shows whether the strain is compressive (reducing the length) or tensile
(increasing the length) when an object such as a strut on a crane changes its shape. The
strain is sensed by a strain gauge that is glued to the object being tested. The change in
resistance of the strain gauge produces a change in the reading of the meter. For the
purpose, an analogue or digital meter, such as a voltmeter, can be used that has full-scale
deflection of 1V DC. But use of a digital multimeter would be better [18].

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 21. Digital Soil Moisture Tester
Here is a simple and compact digital soil moisture tester to check whether the soil is dry or wet. It
can also be used to check the dryness or wetness of cotton, woolen and woven fabrics [19].

22. Over-Heating Indicator for Water Pipe

The hot water pipe from the water geyser of your bathroom may burst if it gets overheated and is
left unattended. This circuit monitors the temperature of the water pipe. If the temperature of the
pipe goes above certain limit, it flashes an LED [20].

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 23. Simple Key-hole Lighting Device
This simple circuit is an extracted circuit board from a discarded quartz timepiece [21].

24. Timer with Musical Alarm

This low-cost timer can be used for introducing a delay of one minute to two hours. After the
timing period is over, a musical song is heard [22].

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 25. Automatic Water Pump Controller
Here’s a circuit that automatically controls the water pump motor. The motor gets automatically
switched on when water in the overhead tank (OHT) falls below the lower limit. Similarly, it gets
switched off when the tank is filled up. Built around only one NAND gate IC (CD4011), the
circuit is simple, compact and economical. It works off a 12V DC power supply and consumes
very little power [23].

26. Water Pump Controller

Here is a simple circuit for controlling water level in an overhead tank. The main components of
this pump controller are a step-down transformer, a 24V AC double-changeover relay, two floats
and two micro switches. Any available relay can be used irrespective of its coil voltage. Of
course, current rating of contacts should be taken into account according to the motor power. The
relay should have two contacts. A step-down transformer having secondary voltage suited to the
coil voltage of the relay is used. As the circuit works off AC, no rectification is necessary. Micro-
switches S1 and S2 fixed on top of the water tank are operated by separate floats: one for sensing
the bot tom level and the other for top level. A three-core wire is used for connecting these
switches to the relay [24].

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 27. Ball Speed Checker
This circuit measures the speed of a cricket ball based on the time taken by the ball to travel the
distance from the bowling crease to the batting crease [25].

28. Halogen lamp Saver For Bikes

Halogen lamps are prone to burn-out owing to their low cold current. The rapid heating inside the
lamp melts the thin filament and cuts the lamp life short. The circuit described here enhances the
life of the halogen lamp by allowing soft turn-on of the lamp [26].

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 29. Night Vision Enhancer
Here is a simple green LED flashlight built around 555 timer IC (IC1) and powered from a 3V
battery pack [27].

Another circuit
Load shedding is the common problem in developing country where student is more effected. By
keeping this problem in mind the group of dreamlover technology post very simple, useful and
inexpensive project using ultra-bright white LEDs which provide sufficient light for reading
purpose which consume very low power i.e. 3 watts of power. It works like emergency light i.e.
when AC mains failure, the battery backup circuit instantly light up the LEDs but when the power
resumes, the battery supply is automatically disconnected and this circuit again works on AC
mains.
Circuit Description of LED-based reading lamp
For power section the circuit of LED-based reading lamp use bridge rectifier connected to
secondary coil of 0-7.5V, 500mA step-down transformer X1. Pulsating DC from output of
rectifier is given to input of voltage regulator IC1 for pure DC output. All LEDs (LED1 to
LED10) is connected in parallel across the output of voltage regulator. Here resistors R1 to R10
are connected in series with the LEDs respectively to limit the current. In this circuit 5 more
LEDs can be used for lamp to increase intensity in the same manner used. When AC mains
available relay RL1 energized and disconnect to battery and vice-versa on absent of AC mains.
For charging battery, a lead from rectifier is directly connected to positive and negative terminals
of battery. Here diode D5 andD6 is used as reverse-current protection diode that don’t allow the
battery current to flow towards the supply section and diode D7 is for reverse polarity protection.

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 PARTS LIST
Resistors (all ¼-watt, ± 5% Carbon)
R1- R10 = 56 Ω
Capacitors
C1 = 1000 µF/16V; C2 = 0.1 µF
Semiconductors
IC1 = 7805 Voltage regulator

30. Triple-Mode Tone Generator

Here is a simple circuit that generates three different tones. You can use it as a call bell, burglar
alarm or any other security alarm [28].

Another circuit.
Now, here is unique tone generator circuit which produces three different type of sound according
to input three different logic levels (i.e. 0&1, 1&0 and 1&1).
Circuit description
This circuit is designed around digital IC 7400 which is NAND gate. The working of the circuit is
like the working principle of oscillator circuit, where frequency depends upon capacitors C1 and
C2. The duty cycle of this circuit is 50%. The output is given to power amplifier circuit which
further drive loudspeaker or head phone. For low frequency value of capacitor C1 and C2 must be
high and vice-versa.

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 PARTS LIST
Resistors (all ¼-watt, ± 5% Carbon)
R1, R4 = 1.2 KΩ; R2, R3 = 1 KΩ; R5 = 10 KΩ; R6, R7 = 47 KΩ
Capacitors
C1 = 100 kpF; C2 = 220 kpF; C3, C4 = 10 kpF
Semiconductors IC1 = 7400 (NAND gate)

31. Soldering Iron Temperature Controller

Here is a simple circuit to control the temperature of a soldering iron. It is especially useful if the
soldering iron is to be kept on for long since you can control the heat dissipation from the iron.
When a soldering iron is switched on, the iron takes time to reach the solder’s melting point.
Simply connect this circuit to the soldering iron as shown in the figure and the iron reaches the
solder’s melting point quickly [29].

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 32. Mains Failure/Resumption Alarm
This mains indicator sounds an alarm whenever AC mains fails or resumes. It is very useful in
industrial installations, cinema halls, hospitals, etc [30].

33. Multipurpose White-LED Light

Standard fluorescent lamps and their smaller versions called compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs)
radiate light in all directions (360°) and tend to increase the room temperature. In emergency
lights using these lamps, the battery lasts only a few hours due to the power loss during
conversion of DC into AC. These limitations can be overcome by using ultra-bright white LEDs
[33].

34. IR-Based light Control

This circuit turns on the lights at the portico, car parking or other areas when a motorbike or car
enters through the gate to cross the sensing area. It can also be used as an electronic watchdog for
your house, by activating an alarm simultaneously [33].

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