light detector, no microprocessors, just simple electronics :)

I will show you two circuits, one turns an LED off when theres no light, and the other turns an LED on when theres no light.

for the first one you will need:
-R1(LDR) 10K
-R2 (1.2K) colour code: brown, red, red.
-R3(10 ohms) colour code: brown black black.
-T1 almost any low voltage NPN transistor will do.
-L1 LED i used a red one.
-potenciometer(optional)
-jump wires
-breadboard
-2 1.5 volt bateries and pack for them

for the second one you will need:
-R1 (LDR) 10K
-R4 (10K) colour code: brown, black, orange.
-R3(100 0hms) colour code: brown, black, black.
-T1 any low voltage NPN transistor
-L1 LED i used a red one.
-potenciometer(optional)
-jump wires
-breadboard
-2 1.5 volt bateries and pack for them

it cost me under 1€ to make this, everything was salvadged from old radios, etc...
exept the LDR, but you can easiy get one from those light switch thingies at the dollar shop, or from the internet very cheap... add some more stuff if you get it from the net though... you dont wanna pay 10 cents for the part and 8 dollars for shipping =|

Step 1 Turn LED off when theres no light

the 1.2 K resistor goes in the middle pin of the transistor and to - on battery
dont forget the round part of the transistor is facing you!

DONT FORGET THE POLARITIES OF THE LED!!!

Comments

[McBlaise]

could I connect a motor on that two wires on the right? please answer...........

[amando96]

yes you could, although it has to be a small motor, very small, like a pager motor, i actually did that lol heres a pic of the bot:
http://s498.photobucket.com/albums/rr346/AmandoAbreu/?action=view&current=100_2562.jpg

http://s498.photobucket.com/albums/rr346/AmandoAbreu/?action=view&current=100_2574.jpg

i only have one motor yet though xD

but yea if its a small motor, its fine, if you want to use bigger rmotor, you'll have to put another transistor

[wooohhhoooo9]

yeah it worked. i add a BC547 NPN and it worked using a regular motor!!

[jules15]

or you could use a smal 5volt reed relay to power a bigger(like over 5 volt) motor

[robot1398]

i used a 2n2222 transistor and it works great.

cool project

[imakethings]

i used a 2n 2904 transistor.. in this case the first circuit works for the purpose of second and vice a versa why so??

[imakethings]

hey thank you very much you have helped me a lot...!!

[ARJOON]

for the transistor i used a 2n2222. works great

[souichi]

i did exactly the same thing but it doesn't work

[akhile1996]

 where's the LDR

[akhile1996]

can i add a 3 volt buzzer

[cybertron]

In the first circuit...
 Turn LED off when there's no light!

 If i use 5VDC for the power supply do i need to change the resistor on the base of the transistor if so, at what value. Also the led resistor needs to change to compensate for the leds current. BUT i have that covered.

Does any other components need to change at 5VDC. This will be tested in a circuit to detect, very bright light.

Reply would be appreciated. 

[amando96]

if you wanna detect very bright light, then i think you have to get a smaller value resistor at the base of the transistor, also you need a 220 ohm resistor to not burn the led, instead of the 10 ohm, i have there.

try using a potenciometer, to find the resistance you need for the light you want to detect.

[cybertron]

OK. BUT. I  Already changed the LED resistor for the led at 5v.
 as stated, Got this covered..  Thanks for pointing that out.

So you're saying to use a potentiometer at the base of the transistor for base current to find the resistance i need for the light i need to detect.

How will that deterrmine the resistance of the light I'm detecting.

And what vulue would the pot need to be 1k, 5k. 20k. or Higher.

So the LDR dose not need to be replaced. i just need too lower the base current.
  
Reply Thanks.


 

[DRM_MX]

Hello Armando96: I'm new in electronic. I follow your instructions but led always is turn on. Can you please tell me what is exactly values that you uses with transitor. You mention that uses any NPN transistor but led allways is turn on. Please let me know. Thank you.

[amando96]

ok, i know for sure that a BC546 works, try using this one, if it still doesnt work, try changing the light drastically, say from a dark room, to puting lamp very close to the ldr.

[sharlston]

i thought at first it sayed a lie dtector

[mhkabir]

It did'nt

[sharlston]

yes i know but i mistaked it for "lie detector" not "light detector"

[mhkabir]

oh

[mhkabir]

could the circuit run on 12v and light 30 - 40 LEDs in paralell???????

[amando96]

umm i thinkt he transistor would burn, i'm not used to working on higher voltages just the regulated 5v for most IC's... i think you can try, but i'm pretty sure the transistor would burn, maybe a MOSFET?

[mhkabir]

Which MOSFET??Any ideas?

[amando96]

any that can withstand 12v i guess, IRF520?

[mhkabir]

Thanks. I'll try.

[amando96]

i know how you could do that, you'll need two power sources though, the 3v for this to work, and then the 12 volts, the plus connected to source on the mosftet, the leds connected to drain, and gate connected to where the LED is. has to work. i did the same but with a NE555 for a speed controller

[joasan18]

hey bro i did it but it did not work can you put pics for step by step like you did in the other one? please thank you god bless u

[amando96]

all you have to do is: the resistor and the ldr are connected to the middle pin of the transistor right? the LDR goes to +3v(positive) and the resistor goes to 0v(negative), just switch order, so the LDR goes to 0v(negative) and the ressitor goes to +3v(positive) should work if the rest is right

[joasan18]

i got it solve. thank you for your help all i did was i changed the rsistence of resistor that goes in the middle pin. thank you

[comodore]

Nice Project! I really like it! I have 2 question! 1. Can you give me some examples of Low Voltage Transistors...a couple so I know witch one to buy... 2. Where does the potenciometer, variable resistor located? Where should I connect it? Thank you!

[amando96]

about the transistors, i am not sure wich i used here, it had the letters erased, i know a C945 will work, coz i have a few The pot goes from the base of the transistor to either positive, or negative, depending on the curcuit. if the LDR is on positive, the pot will be on the negative, and vice versa. just use the middle pin of the pot, and one of the side pins. the pot will control when the led will go on/off, you can also try diferent resistors. sorry for the late reply, i didnt get an email for this reply :-s

[imakethings]

very good project for beginners

[imakethings]

recreate this wont work with the second type of circuit

[ReCreate]

This Could Be made Much Simpler,The Photo Transistor In series to the Led and Resistor,Done. Though This Is Documented Well and All.

[batista0]

nice Instructable... I want to adapt it to another project, it works with different voltages or i have to change resistances?? please answer

[amando96]

you'll have to change the LED resistor, or it will burn... as for the other resistors, tiz fine... but what voltage? coz i think you'll have to do something with the transistor...

[batista0]

I have two 9v batteries, so 18v...

[amando96]

umm that'll burn the transistor me thinks :S i dont know how to make it work... i might find out though.

[amando96]

wait, the wires on the right? those go to the battery...

[AndyGadget]

For the sake of anyone trying to build this, I suggest you tidy up the component references a bit. They don't tie up with the circuits at the moment. Also, not all low voltage NPN switching transistors use the same pinouts. Whatever you're using, find the pinouts by googling, for example, "BC109C datasheet".