LED circuit indicator

Discussion in 'OnBoard Electronics & Controls' started by bcervelo, Sep 13, 2013.

  1. BertKu
    Joined: May 2009
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    Location: South Africa Little Brak River

    BertKu Senior Member

    Fanie, I understood you have a pick and place machine. Do you do work for other customers also or only for yourself. Lets argue about the cost.


    I hate relays, we sold approx 20 million of them while I headed the electronics division and although you are correct in the above, one cannot pot a relay in. Also is that the reason why there are so many false alarms with the alarm systems !!! (grin on my face)
    Bert
     
  2. BertKu
    Joined: May 2009
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    Location: South Africa Little Brak River

    BertKu Senior Member

    Pota, In series with the resistor and LED, you could place a Philips photo resistor. In dark the resistance is high, thus your LED will dim and when daylight, the resistance is low and the LED shines bright.
    Should the photo resistor create too much of a differentiation, you just damp it with a resistor over the photo resistor and make the difference smaller. I have here about a few hundred of them not used for about 30 years. I don't even know whether Philips still manufacture them. No problem to let you have 2 of them. When I am ever in Barcelona again you can buy me a soft drink. The last time I was there, it was for a cruise on the Caribbean Sea cruise ship. Then 49 years ago when the planes needed 2 stopovers from Luxembourg via Barcelona / Luanda to Johannesburg. Beautiful City, Barcelona. Take a chance, maybe I will be 120 years of age before I come again to Barcelona. Bert
     
  3. Pota de fusta
    Joined: Jun 2014
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    Location: Barcelona

    Pota de fusta Junior Member

    Thanks

    Thank you again.
    I do not know if Bert has traveled to Barcelona. I live 80 km. I have a boat to take you on a ride you want. You are all invited, CDK, and Fanie Bertku. Just tell me when you come to pick up and reach the Airport. I have fresh beer.
    I have no knowledge of electronics. I use an educational version of "Crocodile Clips" to see if it works or if I would be able to build it.
    Philips photo resistor is already too sophisticated for me.
    Bert, I send an email if you can send me some evidence. Maybe try the proposed C. I guess the LEDs can be together, and there will be no problem in temperature between them. I illuminated by LEDs, behind, transparent labels which are next to each switch.
    My specialty is wood and some mechanics:
    http://lumberjocks.com/JordiTomas/projects
    I put a picture of my boat leaving the harbor. See if you urge.
    [​IMG]
    jordinautic@gmail.com
     
  4. Pota de fusta
    Joined: Jun 2014
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    Location: Barcelona

    Pota de fusta Junior Member

    Problem private mesage

    Bert, I can not send private messages Contact me by email. I will send you my Address. Thank you
     
  5. BertKu
    Joined: May 2009
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    Location: South Africa Little Brak River

    BertKu Senior Member

    Porta I will post it to your closest MAIN postoffice as POSTE RESTANTE , just email me a name.
    My email address is gkuijpers@telkomsa.net . I have been twice in Barcelona, but over a period of 50 years. Thanks for the nice offer, but it will take me some time before I will be visiting Barcelona again. We had a postal strike, which seems to be over and will post it from South Africa with some guidance.
    Bert
     
  6. BertKu
    Joined: May 2009
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    Location: South Africa Little Brak River

    BertKu Senior Member

    Pota, thanks for you email, I have tested high bright green LED with a photo resistor in series, it works very well. When it is dark it is glowing very dim and when you have daylight it is bright. However you need to experiment with the resistor values, as I do not know what kind of LED you will be using. Low mcd or also very bright mcd type. I need one more day to put everything together, before I can airmail it to you, as I received unexpected guests tonight. Bert
     
  7. BertKu
    Joined: May 2009
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    Location: South Africa Little Brak River

    BertKu Senior Member

    Porta,

    Attached the breadboard with a transistor, photo resistor, resistors and the white piece of cable simulates the switch. By opening the wire, the switch is open and by making the two end pieces contact, the switch is closed and the green LED should come on. This you will find with the components in your letter to you.
    This is the procedure you should follow.
    a) I assume you have a small soldering iron between 25 - 50 watt
    b) Input voltage is between 10 and 15 Volt DC. red is plus and blue is ground (minus)
    c) before you change any resistor value, test it with bright light and dark.
    d) not bright enough? lower the two resistors to the LED's to 560 Ohm or 680 Ohm
    e) Not bright enough? Lower the resistor value even more.
    f) Now you test the dark condition. Too dark and the green LED is off?
    g) Not happy? place a 270 kilo Ohm resistor over the photo resistor
    h) Still not happy? reduce the resistor to 120 KOhm or lower.
    i) Now you got the hang of it, now you replace the 2 LED's with your dual LED.
    j) Now you have to adjust the resistors to the your satisfaction.
    k) After you absolute sure, that you are happy, now you can start building the circuit in your console or wherever.

    Apart of the breadboard, some 30 resistors enclosed of various values. A piece of solder. 2 low mcd LED's (30 years old) , 5 photo resistors, 3 transistors, also 2 LED holders with LED's in case you decide that it is a better solution to have very low currents instead of draining your battery with 20 milliAmpere currents.

    What you don't use, please keep it with compliments of Fanie, CDK and me and success with your project.

    Unfortunately I have to go into the Hospital on Thursday and will not be able to communicate for at least a week. It will be airmailed to you tomorrow (Wednesday)
    Bert
     

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  8. Pota de fusta
    Joined: Jun 2014
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    Location: Barcelona

    Pota de fusta Junior Member

    What a coincide that on Thursday I must go to the hospital too for a surgery intervention. Nothing serious but need to do rest for at least two weeks.
    I’m extremelly grateful for your help, Bert. Could be possible that you send me a little drawing of the circuit? I’ve remembered the drawing of the post #48 (pag. 4) and it has two photo-resistors, and the one you send me has only one.
    I tried the model C (post # 11, p 1) in the simulator "Crocodile Clips". I put in series, I thought it was the photo resistor (I just found something called "light dependent resistor") I had to add a light to mimic daylight. I think there is a strong variation of lumens if I many switches ON
    Anyway I'm having a very good learning some things electronic.
    Wishing you luck with your visit to the hospital.
    Jordi

    [​IMG]
     
  9. BertKu
    Joined: May 2009
    Posts: 2,521
    Likes: 47, Points: 58, Legacy Rep: 223
    Location: South Africa Little Brak River

    BertKu Senior Member

    Pota , I see you are on line. I want have the time to cut 2 led's and glue them together, but that is not important. Basically you don't need it.

    Don't be afraid to make errors, you cannot blow anything, except if you short circuit your battery. That is the only thing you must watch out for., Further you can place any resistor on whatever position, you can even short circuit a resistor, provided you haven't changed the values in the meantime.

    Your problem will be to come to an compromise what is electronically the best solution and your dual led. When testing the circuit, the sensitivity varies between red and green LED due to the 2 different voltage drop of the LED's.
    red is lower than green. This affect your sensitivity with the dark/light stage of the photo resistor. I have put 2 more photo resistors in you letter, you can then separate each LED its own photo resistor and fine tune it to your likings.,
    Bert
     
  10. Pota de fusta
    Joined: Jun 2014
    Posts: 21
    Likes: 0, Points: 1, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: Barcelona

    Pota de fusta Junior Member

    What a coincide that on Thursday I must go to the hospital too for a surgery intervention. Nothing serious but need to do rest for at least two weeks.
    I’m extremelly grateful for your help, Bert. Could be possible that you send me a little drawing of the circuit? I’ve remembered the drawing of the post #48 (pag. 4) and it has two photo-resistors, and the one you send me has only one.
    I tried the model C (post # 11, p 1) in the simulator "Crocodile Clips". I put in series, I thought it was the photo resistor (I just found something called "light dependent resistor") I had to add a light to mimic daylight. I think there is a strong variation of lumens if I many switches ON
    Anyway I'm having a very good learning some things electronic.
    Wishing you luck with your visit to the hospital.
    Jordi

    [​IMG]

    I could only put four switches in the simulator. (I've put a total of 12) I can do it in two groups of six
     
  11. BertKu
    Joined: May 2009
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    Location: South Africa Little Brak River

    BertKu Senior Member

    O.K. Pota,

    I will enclose a drawing, but basically it is CDK's drawing with the exception that I placed "A light sensitive resistor" (photo resistor) to the ground with a resistor over the Photo sensitive resistor to damping the wide sensitivity and narrow it more down. I have now suddenly to do millions of things before I go into the hospital. My wife's 3000 revs washing spinner is rusted through today and I have to make quickly a stainless steel bottom with brackets . Otherwise she will not be able to get her washing so quickly dry. Rain is predicted and I will be out of order for at least a week.
    Bert
     
  12. Pota de fusta
    Joined: Jun 2014
    Posts: 21
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    Location: Barcelona

    Pota de fusta Junior Member

    I have connection problems. Today I was very slow. Misatge wanted to edit and add the line end. I repeated the whole message, sorry. I studied and translated the answers. Excuse me
     
  13. Pota de fusta
    Joined: Jun 2014
    Posts: 21
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    Location: Barcelona

    Pota de fusta Junior Member

    Now I changed my computer with my daughter.)
    I have no hurry. Do not sink the ship because the panel switches.
    The operation is an inguinal hernia. I think I'll have a week to experiment with the circuit (if the resistance or leds does not weigh too much Kg o lb)
    If successfully completed my work, I will put pictures of the result.
     
  14. BertKu
    Joined: May 2009
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    Location: South Africa Little Brak River

    BertKu Senior Member

    No problem Pota,

    I found a few other type of sensitive light resistors. (40 years old) Will put 2 of them also in the letter (450 Ohm with bright light). Over and above the 3 lose Philips type (27 Ohm , (bright light on them) and the one on the board. Be very careful, one can very easy break the leads off, when bending it straight. I have to fold them over, to enable me to place it on a piece of paper in the envelope.

    Also enjoy the operating theater and wish you a speedy recovery.
    Bert
     

  15. BertKu
    Joined: May 2009
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    Location: South Africa Little Brak River

    BertKu Senior Member

    Hi Jordi,

    What you have to watch out for is the maximum power dissipation of the photo resistors when using low mcd LED's in a parallel circuit. The maximum power dissipation is 100 milliWatt. It means that if you use 20 mA per circuit x 6 , it will burn your photo resistor out. For that reason I used high mcd LED's with very low currents of 0,5 mA. In that case I stay within the maximum limit.
    If the photo resistor is getting hot or warm, do your calculations and change the circuit or place a lower value resistor parallel to the photo resistor.
    Bert.
     
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