Voltage Controlled Switch

 This is a little circuit that i designed that could be used for a charging controller or voltage limiter. Its very useful if you are thinking of making a solar charger. 

Step 1 Get the Stuff

To build this circuit you would need the following:
2 1k ohm resistors 
2 5V zener diodes
A comparator (the one it used is a KA393)
A led
A Project Board / Breadboard
A Digital Multimeter
A variable power supply ( of your choice once its in the limits of the comparator)
Some wire

Comments

[Crinton]

THanks for posting this, right along the lines of what I am looking for. What would I need to change to be able to control a realy with this circuit. Specifically, have a SPST relay engange at 5V or higher, or relay disengage at anything under 5 volts? Any help is appreciated.

[josh1001]

O yea the K represents 1000. So 1k is 1000 ohms and 10K is 10000 ohms. ZD is the zener diode

[josh1001]

hi crinton, sorry i didnt update this thing yet but there is an easier way of doing it. You can use one diode and a voltage divider plus an opamp / comparator. Ive placed a schematic on below it will show you how to connect it. The circuit is currently connected to turn on @ 5V, if you want it to do the opposite turn off @ 5V exchange the positions of pin 2 and 3. i hope you know how to use a transistor. I labeled ther transistor points B for base, C for collector and E for Emitter. Just purchase any npn low powered npn transistor and you will be fine. Transistors come in 3 different pin configurations CBE, BCE, ECB. the package will show you the pin out. if not go and reference it online. if i missed any thing message me back.

[srainsdon]

this is a very nice I thanks i dont understand it all but im going to collage and will ask some friends to help me out wonderful place for me to start though thanks.

[awatif1989]

how about if i want to use it in solar charger for one AA battery? please help me, huhu..

[rpvanpatt]

Hey,  I like the idea, I am looking to find specific answers for a particular setup I am trying to put together.  Could you help me?  just message me thanks!

[josh1001]

i'll help u, what do u need?

[rpvanpatt]

I am trying to create a mini solar panel battery pack/charger.  I have a mini solar panel that I would like to try to connect to a 9.6v nicd battery (2 if possible).  Also, I was thinking of putting an LED indicator that will let me know when the battery is charging/charged.  I have a drawing I am not sure if it will work or not, if so I dont know the particular parts that I would need.  Any help would be great, thanks www.instructables.com/files/deriv/F5L/T83H/G57007WW/F5LT83HG57007WW.MEDIUM.jpg

[josh1001]

 OK I was working on a circuit to charge a 12 volt battery. Its a charge controller I designed I guess I can tweak it to meet your demands

[josh1001]

(removed by author or community request)

[josh1001]

 when u open the picture view it with the windows picture and fax viewer

[rpvanpatt]

 hey, sorry i dont have that program

[josh1001]

 

[josh1001]

 can u see this one?

[rpvanpatt]

 ya think if i print this and take it to radio shack they could help me figure it all out and the parts?

[josh1001]

well the triangular thing is a KA393 comparator and it is a small ic with 8 pins to find out the pin selections go to http://www.datasheetcatalog.com/ and type in KA393. You can use an enhancement mode p channel mosfet of our choice as the gate. To see how the comparators work check out http://home.cogeco.ca/~rpaisley4/Comparators.html

[rpvanpatt]

 nevermind I got it, but I dont quite understand it all, can ya explain the symbols a bit? sorry ...ive never made some one, or bought stuff for it neither

[nfarrow]

So what if I need a 12v charge controller for something like solar? What would you recommend?

[josh1001]

I will upload a schematic too show u how to get it done. How much watts is this solar panel?
  

[nfarrow]

It’s just a 5watt solar but would like to be able to add more later on since I am working on refurbishing some old car batteries. I have about 12 now and I was told that I should hook them up in parallel.

[josh1001]

Sorry im taking a bit of time, im testing and trying to improve circuit. I should have it soon for you. Is 30W of power ok?

[nfarrow]

No clue, I guess that will work. thanks :)

[josh1001]

 

[mathews]

You may want to place a 330R resistor in series with the the LED output.

Also, why do you have two zener diodes in your circuit, you only need one, and the other input should be a potential divider made up of two resistors. That way if it is over 5v, it will trigger on, and if not it will be off.

[josh1001]

thanks for the tips, i tried the voltage divider circuit and it works. 
Question isn't the comparator sinking the led current ? 
What i mean is the led isn't a big load that would damage the IC, but in future i would put in a resistor just to be safe.

[inventorjack]

You should explain a bit more how the circuit works. If I didn't already understand comparators, zeners and the like, this instructable would be totally greek to me. Perhaps explaining why you chose those specific component values and what the components actually do would be helpful to those less experienced in electronics.

[josh1001]

This is my first time posting  an instructable, and it did realise that i could have change some things. By the way you are right abotu the lack of in fromation in the instructable, I'll update it soon.
 

[inventorjack]

Don't get me wrong. Not saying it's bad, just needs a bit more info.