Semi Automatic Water Level Controller Timer Circuit

The explained circuit of a water level controller circuit is based on a timer circuit whose time delay is first adjusted to match the filling time of the tank, as the the tank fills, the timer delay also simultaneously lapses and its output switches OFF the water pump.
Actually the circuit was requested to me by Mr. Ali Adnan who is one of the fans of this blog. Lets first hear what he had to say:

"Hi, Swagatam I like your blog very much. I have a problem which i think is common in every home, the problem is: I have a Water Pump(which sucks water from bore) installed at my home, when my brother switch on the water pump he always forget(u know bhulakar one:P) to switch it off back:( and water tank gets over flowed and water runs in upper portion of our house:(
I want you to help me to design a timer circuit to automatically turn off the pump at given time. I am not expert in electronics but i like to play with electronic and knows very well how to solder and always trying to do some little experiments with help of your blog. Please provide me the circuit for above sited problem with complete parts list and diagram."

So as you all know I cannot turn down honest requests, therefore sat down to design the following circuit, lets study its functioning details:

The CIRCUIT DIAGRAM of this water level timer controller circuit utilizes a single versatile IC 4060 for generating the required time delay.
P1 is initially adjusted through some trial and error so that it exactly matches the filling time of the water tank which needs to be monitored.

The circuit is initiated by pressing the push button SW1 when the N/O contacts of the relay are bypassed.
This momentarily switches ON the transformer which powers the IC instantaneously.
This instantly triggers the transistor and also the relay which takes over and latches ON the circuit.
Now the circuit holds ON even after the push button is released, everything happens within half a second.
The above operation also simultaneously switches ON the pump motor which starts pushing water in the tank.
Once the timer counting finishes, pin #3 becomes high, T1 conducts and switches OFF T2 and the relay.
The relay contacts reverts to its original state switching OFF the motor as well as the the entire circuit, halting the motor pump and hopefully inhibits the tank from overflowing.

Parts procured by Ali Adnan

Parts List

R1, R3 = 1M, 1/4 watt
R4, R2 = 1K(3 nos), 1/4 watt
P1 = 100K preset horizontal
C1 = 1uF/25V
C2 = 0.22uF disc ceramic
C3 = 1000uF/25V
D1, D2 = 1N4007,
Relay = 12V/SPDT
SW1 = Bell push type of button
IC1 = 4060
T1, T2 = BC547
TR1 = 0-12V/500mA

The above circuit was also built and appreciated by Mr.Raj Mukherji, one of my friends and a keen follower of this blog. Lets learn more about his experience with the circuit.

Hi Swagatam,

Thank you very much for the timer circuit.

I have made the prototype on a general purpose PCB and so far found it to work accurately for my purpose: 5 min, 10 min and 15 min delay respectively (with the P1 set at 15.4 Kohms for 5 min delay etc). I am planning this weekend to house it in a 4x6 box and test it on actual load.

So far, I was looking at the above comments and would like to add something regarding the question raised by Mr. Khan on the relay. For my purpose, I am intending to use this timer on an AC 50 Hz, 220 - 240 volts, Crompton Greaves self priming mono-set pump, type - Miniwin II, 0.37 Kwatt/0.50 HP. So, I have purchased a 12 volt SPST relay which has a contact current tolerence of ~7 Amps. I think this is sufficient for my purpose and also for any kind of small pumps/loads. Isnt it?

I will definitely share with you the picture of the completed project. However, as far as the "time delay calculation" is concerned, please refer to the following URL and suggest us something simple & better (if possible):

http://electroschematics.com/4060/ic-4060-design-note/

Thank you,
Kind regards,
Raj Kumar Mukherji

My answer to Raj:

Hi Raj,

Thats great! Thank you very much for the update.

A 7amp contact would mean a maximum capacity of 7*220 = 1540 watts, thats probably more than sufficient for the purpose.

I am sure the pictures that you will send will be loved by the other readers also, so please do send them here for publication.

Yes, surely the link will be very useful for the readers who would want to learn the timing calculation more accurately.

Thanks and Best Regards.

PCB Layout for the Above Circuit, Designed and Submitted By Raj Mukherji:

(Component-side view)

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Automatic Dresses Collector When Rain Comes

This is Little bit strange circuit.But I have used simple method.When the rain comes This circuit collects dresses automatically.So you dont want to collect dresses you yourself.Here I have used common Ic NE 555.Use a relay for the moter.




Note

# According to the power of your moter give the power for the moter power supply.

# Keep the sensor out of your house.

# Manage this circuit as you like.

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Best Automatic Car Alarm

Even the best car alarm is useless if you forget to set it upon leaving your car, whence this circuit. The relay has a make and a break contact: the  former is necessary to delay the switching in of the  alarm after you have got out of your car, and the  latter serves to switch on the car alarm proper. Immediately on re-entering your car, you must press the hidden switch, Si. This causes silicon-controlled rectifier Thi to conduct so that the relay is energized. At the same time, the green LED lights to indicate that the alarm is switched off. 

 Best Automatic Car Alarm Circuit Diagram

As soon as the ignition is switched off, T, is off, T2  is on, and the buzzer sounds. At the same time,  monostable IC1 is triggered, which causes T3 to  conduct and the red LED to light. The silicon- controlled rectifier is then off, and D4 is reverse  biased, but the relay remains energized via its make  contact for a short time, preset by Pi As soon as this  time has lapsed, the relay returns to its quiescent  state, and the alarm is set via the break contact. The  delay time can be set to a maximum of about 1 minute.

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Automatic Night Lamp with Morning Alarm

This circuit automatically turns on a night lamp when bedroom light is switched off. The lamp remains ‘on’ until the light sensor senses daylight in the morning. A super-bright white LED is used as the night lamp. It gives bright and cool light in the room. When the sensor detects the daylight in the morning, a melodious morning alarm sounds. The circuit is powered from a standard 0-9V transformer. Diodes D1 through D4 rectify the AC voltage and the resulting DC voltage is smoothed by C1. Regulator IC 7806 gives regulated 6V DC to the circuit. A battery backup is provided to power the circuit when mains fails. When mains supply is available, the 9V rechargeable battery charges via diode D5 and resistor R1 with a reasonably constant current. In the event of mains failure, the battery automatically takes up the load without any delay. Diode D5 prevents the battery from discharging backwards following the mains failure and diode D6 provides current path from the battery.

Automatic Night Lamp with Morning Alarm Circuit Diagram

The circuit utilises light-dependant resistors (LDRs) for sensing darkness and light in the room. The resistance of LDR is very high in darkness, which reduces to minimum when LDR is fully illuminated. LDR1 detects darkness, while LDR2 detects light in the morning. The circuit is designed around the popular timer IC NE555 (IC2), which is configured as a monostable. IC2 is activated by a low pulse applied to its trigger pin 2. Once triggered, output pin 3 of IC2 goes high and remains in that position until IC2 is triggered again at its pin 2. When LDR1 is illuminated with ambient light in the room, its resistance remains low, which keeps trigger pin 2 of IC2 at a positive potential. As a result, output pin 3 of IC2 goes low and the white LED remains off. As the illumination of LDR1’s sensitive window reduces, the resistance of the device increases.

In total darkness, the specified LDR has a resistance in excess of 280 kilo-ohms. When the resistance of LDR1 increases, a short pulse is applied to trigger pin 2 of IC2 via resistor R2 (150 kilo-ohms). This activates the monostable and its output goes high, causing the white LED to glow. Low-value capacitor C2 maintains the monostable for continuous operation, eliminating the timer effect. By increasing the value of C2, the ‘on’ time of the white LED can be adjusted to a predetermined time. LDR2 and associated components generate the morning alarm at dawn. LDR2 detects the ambient light in the room at sunrise and its resistance gradually falls and transistor T1 starts conducting. When T1 conducts, melody-generator IC UM66 (IC3) gets supply voltage from the emitter of T1 and it starts producing the melody. The musical tone generated by IC3 is standard 0-9V transformer. Diodes D1 through D4 rectify the AC voltage and the resulting DC voltage is smoothed by C1. Regulator IC 7806 gives regulated 6V DC to the circuit.

A battery backup is provided to power the circuit when mains fails. When mains supply is available, the 9V rechargeable battery charges via diode D5 and resistor R1 with a reasonably constant current. In the event of mains failure, the battery automatically takes up the load without any delay. Diode D5 prevents the battery from discharging backwards following the mains failure and diode D6 provides current path from the battery.

The circuit utilises light-dependant resistors (LDRs) for sensing darkness and light in the room. The resistance of LDR is very high in darkness, which reduces to minimum when LDR is fully illuminated. LDR1 detects darkness, while LDR2 detects light in the morning. The circuit is designed around the popular timer IC NE555 (IC2), which is configured as a monostable. IC2 is activated by a low pulse applied to its trigger pin 2. Once triggered, output pin 3 of IC2 goeshigh and remains in that position until IC2 is triggered again at its pin 2. When LDR1 is illuminated with ambient light in the room, its resistance remains low, which keeps trigger pin 2 of IC2 at a positive potential. As a result, output pin 3 of IC2 goes low and the white LED remains off. As the illumination of LDR1’s sensitive window reduces, the resistance of the device increases.

In total darkness, the specified LDR has a resistance in excess of 280 kilo-ohms. When the resistance of LDR1 increases, a short pulse is applied to trigger pin 2 of IC2 via resistor R2 (150 kilo-ohms). This activates the monostable and its output goes high, causing the white LED to glow. Low-value capacitor C2 maintains the monostable for continuous operation, eliminating the timer effect. By increasing the value of C2, the ‘on’ time of the white LED can be adjusted to a predetermined time. LDR2 and associated components generate the morning alarm at dawn. LDR2 detects the ambient light in the room at sunrise and its resistance gradually falls and transistor T1 starts conducting. When T1 conducts, melody-generator IC UM66 (IC3) gets supply voltage from the emitter of T1 and it starts producing the melody. The musical tone generated by IC3 is amplified by single-transistor amplifier T2. Resistor R7 limits the current to IC3 is amplified by single-transistor amplifier T2. Resistor R7 limits the current to IC3 and zener diode ZD limits the voltage to a safer level of 3.3 volts.

The circuit can be easily assembled on a general-purpose PCB. Enclose it in a good-quality plastic case with provisions for LDR and LED. Use a reflective holder for white LED to get a spotlight effect for reading. Place LDRs away from the white LED, preferably on the backside of the case, to avoid unnecessary illumination. The speaker should be small so as to make the gadget compact.

Source:   http://www.ecircuitslab.com/2012/02/automatic-night-lamp-with-morning-alarm.html

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