Corrosion free water level indicator

Description:
This is the circuit diagram of a simple corrosion free water level indicator for home and
industries. In fact the level of any conductive non corrosive liquids can be measured using this
circuit. The circuit is based on 5 transistor switches. Each transistor is switched on to drive the
corresponding LED, when its base is supplied with current through the water through the
electrode probes.

One electrode probe is (F) with 6V AC is placed at the bottom of tank. Next probes are
placed step by step above the bottom probe. When water is raising the base of each transistor
gets electrical connection to 6V AC through water and the corresponding probe. Which in turn
makes the transistors conduct to glow LED and indicate the level of water. The ends of probes
are connected to corresponding points in the circuit as shown in circuit diagram. Insulated
Aluminum wires with end insulation removed will do for the probe. Arrange the probes in order on
a PVC pipe according to the depth and immerse it in the tank. AC voltage is use to prevent
electrolysis at the probes. So this setup will last really long. I guarantee at least 2 years of
maintenance free operation. That’s what I got and is still going.

Components:

T1 – T5 BC 548 or 2N2222 Transistors

Notes:
Use a transformer with 6V 500 mA output for power supply. Do not use a rectifier! We
need pure AC. Use good quality insulated Aluminum wire for probes. If Aluminum wires are not
available try Steel or Tin. Copper is the worst. Try the circuit first on a bread board and if not
working properly, make adjustments with the resistance values .This is often needed because
conductivity of water changes slightly from place to place.
Circuit Diagram and Sensor Arrangement:
 LED torch using MAX660

Description:
This is a simple LED torch circuit based on IC MAX660 from MAXIM semiconductors. The
MAX 660 is a CMOS type monolithic type voltage converter IC. The IC can easily drive three
extra bright white LED’s. The LED’s are connected in parallel to the output pin 8 of the IC. The
circuit has good battery life. The switch S1 can be a push to ON switch.

Circuit diagram with Parts list:

Notes:
 Assemble the circuit on a general purpose PCB.
 The IC must be mounted on a holder.
 The circuit can be powered from two torch cells connected in series.
 The capacitors C1 and C2 must be Tantalum type.
 The diodes D1 to D3 must be of 1N4148.
 Electronic mosquito repeller
Description:
Here is the circuit diagram of an ultrasonic mosquito repeller. The circuit is based on the
theory that insects like mosquito can be repelled by using sound frequencies in the ultrasonic
(above 20 KHz) range. The circuit is nothing but a PLL IC CMOS 4047 wired as an oscillator
working at 22 KHz. A complementary symmetry amplifier consisting of four transistors is used to
amplify the sound. The piezo buzzer converts the output of amplifier to ultrasonic sound that can
be heard by the insects.

Circuit diagram with Parts list:

Notes:
 Assemble the circuit on a general purpose PCB.
 The circuit can be powered from 12V DC.
 The buzzer can be any general purpose piezo buzzer.
 The IC1 must be mounted on a holder.
 Battery operated heater
Description:

Here is a simple heater circuit that can be operated from a 12V battery. The first part of the
circuit is an a stable multi vibrator build around the two transistors Q1 and Q2 .The ON time of
transistor Q2 is set to 0.5 S. The ON time of transistor Q1 can be varied by using the POT
R2.The output pulses at the collector of Q2 is used to drive the Darlington power transistor
Q3(TIP122).The transistor Q3 drives the heating elements L1 to L3.The net heat produced can
be varied by selecting the desired combination of heating elements at the output circuit sing
switches S1 and S2.The net heat can be also varied by varying the duty cycle of the triggering
pulse using POT R2.

Circuit diagram with Parts list:

Notes:
 The circuit can be assembled on a general purpose PCB.
 The transistor Q3 must be fitted with a heat sink.
 The elements L1 to L3 can be 10W heating coils.
 The switches S1 and S2 must be able to withstand at least 5A.
 The circuit can be powered from a 12V battery.
 The LED D1 gives a visual indication of the duty cycle of the circuit.
 Plant moisture level monitor
Description:
Here is a simple circuit that will give a visual indication when the soil water level inside
your flower pot goes low below a certain limit.

The U1C and associated components are wired as an oscillator producing a 2KHz square
wave. This square wave is given to one gate input of U1D via a variable potential divider former
by R1 and R2.When the resistance across the probes A and B are low that is when soil moisture
level is high, the C2 will divert the square wave to ground. The output of U1D will be high. The U1
A inverts this high state to low and so the IC U1B is blocked from producing oscillations. The LED
will remain OFF. When there is no moisture across the probes, the C2 cannot bypass the 2KHz
signal to the ground and it appears at the gate input of U1D.The output of U1D goes low, and it is
inverted to high by U1A.The oscillator wired around U1B is activated and it starts oscillating.
These oscillations are amplified by Q1 to drive the LED and LED starts pulsating as an indication
of low moisture. Since square wave is used there won’t be any oxidation on the probes. The
resistor R7 limits the current through LED and ensures a longer battery life.

Circuit diagram with Parts list:

Notes:
 Power the circuit from a 3V battery.
 Two metal wires 10 cm long and 5cm apart driven into the soil will do the job for probes.
 The probes are to be connected at the terminals A and B shown in circuit.
 Capacitors C1 and C2 must be polyester type.
 The IC U1 is a quad two input Schmitt NAND IC 4093.
 The sensitivity can be adjusted by varying the preset R2.
 Mount the IC on a holder.
 Night security light
Description:
Here is a simple circuit switches on a light around 2 hours after midnight, the time at which
most of the robberies taking place.

This simple circuit is build around a CMOS IC 4060 to obtain the required timing. During
day time the LDR has low resistance and keeps the pin 12 of the IC1 high, preventing the IC1
from oscillating. When it is dark the LDR resistance becomes high and the pin 12 of IC1 becomes
low and the IC starts oscillating, which indicated by the flashing of LED D3.The values of the
timing components R1, R2, C4 are so selected that the out put pin3 of IC1 goes high after 8
hours. That means the high output drives the triac to switch on the lamp around 2’O clock. At
morning, the LDR resistance drops and the pin 12 of IC1 goes high and stops the oscillation,
making the lamp OFF. The switch S1 can be used to manually ON the lamp. The capacitor C2
prevents false triggering.

Circuit diagram with Parts list:

Notes:
 Assemble the circuit on a good quality PCB or common board.
 The LDR can be general purpose LDR.
 The light sensitivity can be adjusted using the preset R6.
 The IC1 must be mounted on an IC holder.