Circuit 3 – Dark Sensor (Transistor).
Function
When light level falls below a certain value. The LED will light. The light level at which the
LED will light can be set by use of a variable resistor.
Circuit diagram
Components
SW1 = Toggle switch R1 = 470 ohm
R2 = 2200 ohm R3 = 1k ohm
R4 = LDR VR1 = 47k ohm
Transistor (BC108) LED = 5mm standard
Operation
This circuit uses a transistor (BC108) as an electronic switch.
Transistor action.
When the voltage on the base of the transistor is less than 0.6V the transistor is switched off.
No current can flow through the transistor from collector to emitter so no current flows through
R1 or the LED; thus the LED is unlit.
If more than 0.6 V is applied to the base, the transistor switches on. Now current can pass easily
from collector to emitter so current can flow from the top rail, through R1, the LED and the
transistor back to the battery. The LED is now lit.
Consider the variable resistor (VR1) and the LDR (R4) in series (Ignore R3 which is small in
comparison to VR1). They form what is known as a voltage divider circuit.
Operation of the voltage divider circuit
Consider the value of the variable resistor set so as its resistance is very high.
Consider the LDR placed in bright sunlight i.e. its resistance is very low (in the region of
400ohms). With the large resistance (VR1 = 47k ohms) and resistance of the LDR (400ohms)
connected in series, a large voltage drop will occur across VR1, so the voltage at the connection
of VR1 and the LDR will be very small, (less than 0.6 volts).
As this is the voltage, which appears at the base of the transistor, so in effect the transistor is
switched off, the LED is unlit.
In darker conditions the resistance of the LDR increases, as a result less voltage is dropped
across VR1 and the voltage at connection of VR1 and the LDR will increase (i.e. more than
0.6V). This voltage applied to the base will switch on the transistor and thus the LED is lit.
Thus by adjusting the value of VR1 the transistor can be made to switch on at a particular light
level.
Calculation of the value of R1
It is most important an LED has no more than 2 volts dropped across it, also the current flowing
through the LED should not exceed 20 mA.
When the transistor switches on, the voltage at the collector is approximately 0 V, between the
top rail and the collector is 9 V, so 7V must be dropped across R1.
With 7 V dropped across it and the maximum permissible current of 20 mA flowing through the
LED. The size of resistor can be calculated using Ohms law:
Note
In electronic circuits it is not good practice to have components operating at their upper limits so
a resistor value of 390 or 470 ohms should be used for R1
Remember the larger the value of R1 the less current is drawn from the battery. So battery will
last longer at the expense of the LED being a little dimmer.
Note
By adjusting VR1 so as its resistance is small the voltage on the base of the transistor could be
very high. This high voltage could damage the transistor, for this reason a base resistor (R2)
should always be inserted (value 2200 ohms).
R3 is also placed in circuit as a safety precaution.
