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LIGHT SENSOR TO SWITCH ON A LIGHT OR ANY DEVICE LDR

Technical Report · December 2018

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.27258.54724

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Saif Aldeen Saad Alkadhim Sarah Kadhim Abbood

Xi'an Jiaotong University University Of Kufa
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LIGHT SENSOR TO SWITCH ON A
LIGHT OR ANY DEVICE
LDR
Saif Aldeen Saad Obayes Al-Kadhim Sarah Kadhim Aboud
MIEEE [email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

TECHNICAL REPORT
LAB
 The Light Dependent Resistor (LDR)

1. The LDR:
The Light Dependent Resistor (LDR) is made from a Cadmium-Sulfide compound
(CdS). CdS is a semiconductor material. The resistance of the LDR changes as the light
level changes. More light produces more electron – hole pairs in the material, making the
material a better conductor in light. Resistance decreases (conductivity increases) as light
levels increase because there are more charge carriers in the material. Note that R = 1/G
(G is conductance)

The LDR controls the voltage on the transistor’s base. As it gets darker in the room,
the voltage on the base will increase until the transistor is forward biased. This results in
high current flowing from the transistor’s collector to the base. This collector current flows
to the LED and is responsible for turning the LED on.

 The light dependent resistor is an electronic component whose resistance decreases

with increasing light intensity. It is also called as “Photo Resistor” or “Photo
conductor”
 The light dependent resistor uses high resistance semiconductor material.

 When light falls on such a semiconductor the bound electrons [ ie., Valence
electrons] get the light energy from the incident photos.

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 Due to this additional energy, these electrons become free and jump in to the
conduction band. The electron –hole pairs are generated. Due to these charge
carriers, the conductivity of the device increases, decreasing its resistivity.

Figure 1 Generation of charge carriers due to light.

Figure 2 LDR symbol

Figure 3 Resistance as a function of illumination

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 EXPERIMENT
Lights Control using Light Dependent
Resistor
1. Objectives
To control lights using LDR sensor.
2. Contents
In this lab an LED is automatically turned on when the ambient light level falls
below a threshold. The threshold is determined by adjusting a variable resistor
(potentiometer). The circuit contains a transistor that amplifies the current coming into its
base. This current controls the LED.

3. Parts:

a) LDR or PhotoCell 10 K ohme -100K K

ohme (1M K ohme Dark) (DigiKey p/n:
PDV-P9007-ND)
b) NPN 3904
c) 1N400X Diode (optional)
d) 100 K Pot
e) 22 K ohme
f) 470 K ohme
g) Bright LED (3000-4500 mCd)
h) 9V Battery and battery straps
i) 22 gauge wire
j) Solderless Breadboard

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 4. The Bipolar Transistor:

The transistor in this lab is an NPN transistor. When the LDR’s resistance increases
in low light, the voltage on the transistor’s base increases. When this occurs the base-
emitter junction of the transistor becomes forward biased while the base-collector junction
is reverse biased. This is called active-mode. In active-mode current flowing from the
collector to emitter is about 100 times larger than the current flowing into the base of the
transistor. Thus, the gain is roughly 100. Very small changes in current are used to control
the LED.

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 5. The Circuit:

V+

1N400X

50K
Pot 2N3904

22K

470
LDR

6. Construction of Circuit:

Step 1- Insert wires for the power (+9V) and ground nodes. Connect the diode between
power and another unused node. Make sure the diode’s band is facing away from power
as shown below:

Step 2 – Note that the potentiometer (pot) has three pins. Insert the potentiometer (pot)
into the board. Make sure each pin is straight and placed in a separate node.

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Insert the pot as shown. Make sure one end of the pot connects with the diode.

Step 3- Next insert the LDR from the center pin of the pot to the ground node as shown
below.

Step 4 - Next insert the 22kresistor from the center of the pot to another unused node
as shown.

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Step 5-Insert the transistor into the board. The pin lay-out is:

Make sure the base of the transistor (center pin) is connected to the 22kresistor. Then
add a wire so that the collector (C) is connected to the diode as shown.

Step 6 - Connect the 470 resistor between the emitter of the transistor and another
unused node.

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Step 7- Next insert the LED between the 470 resistor and ground. Make sure the long
lead is connected to the 470 resistor.

Step 8 - Finally attach the battery straps to the +9V battery. Connect the red wire to +V
on the board and the black wire to ground on the board.

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Step 9- Working in normal indoor light conditions, get a small flathead or trim pot tool.
Adjust the pot until the LED comes on. Then slowly go back the other direction and stop
turning as soon as the LED goes off.

Cover the LDR with your hand. The LED should come on. Take the circuit into a dark
place such as a closet. Again the LED should come on.

Step 10 - Test your light in various light conditions.

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 7. Questions:

i. What is another application for a LDR controlling a light source?

ii. What is another use for a LDR besides turning on and off a light? Explain how this
application works. (see ideas above)
iii. Research the material used in the LDR and explain how a LDR works.
iv. The circuit in this lab could be adapted to control other things. For example, a
Thermister could replace the LDR and the circuit could then be used as a thermostat
to control a fan or heater. What does a thermostat do and how does a thermostat
work?

Sources:

[1] http://www.reuk.co.uk/Light-Dependent-Resistor.htm
[2] Saif Aldeen Saad Obayes Al-Kadhim, and et al., Prototype Wireless Controller
System based on Raspberry Pi and Arduino for Engraving Machine, UKSim-AMSS
19th International Conference on Modelling & Simulation, DOI:
10.1109/UKSim.2017.20.
[3] Saif Aldeen Saad Obayes Al-Kadhim, Industrial Workshop Based on Internet of
Things: Automated Manufacturing Systems Technology, Noor Publishing (August 1,
2017), ISBN-10: 3330965754, ISBN-13: 978-3330965751.
[4] Saif Aldeen Saad Obayes Al-Kadhim, and et al., CNC Machine Based on Embedded
Wireless and Internet of Things for Workshop Development Article in IJCDS
Journal Volume 6(Issue 4):205 · July 2017, DOI: 10.12785/ijcds/060406.
Saif Aldeen Saad Obayes Alkadhim
M.Sc. Electromechanical Engineering
(e-mail: [email protected]).
Saif Aldeen Saad Obayes: Born in Babylon (1984). earned his BSc in Electrical
Engineering from Babylon University (2006), Higher Diploma in Power System technology
from College of Electrical and Electronic Technology (2010), MSc degrees in
ElectroMechanical System Engineering from University of Technology (2016), Baghdad,
Iraq.
More than 8 years’ experiences in ElectroMechanical systems. Interested in Internet of
Things, CAD/CAM system, Industry Management and E-governments.
Senior researcher. Participated in IEEE ROBOTICS AND AUTOMATION SOCIETY, IEEE
Industrial Electronics Society, IEEE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, IEEE Biometrics Council, IEEE
Nanotechnology Council, IEEE Sensors Council and IEEE Systems Council.

1. Saif Aldeen Saad Obayes Al-Kadhim, and et al., Prototype Wireless Controller System
based on Raspberry Pi and Arduino for Engraving Machine, UKSim-AMSS 19th
International Conference on Modelling & Simulation, DOI: 10.1109/UKSim.2017.20.
2. Saif Aldeen Saad Obayes Al-Kadhim, Industrial Workshop Based on Internet of
Things : Automated Manufacturing Systems Technology, Noor Publishing (August 1,
2017), ISBN-10: 3330965754, ISBN-13: 978-3330965751.
3. Saif Aldeen Saad Obayes Al-Kadhim, and et al., CNC Machine Based on Embedded
Wireless and Internet of Things for Workshop Development Article in IJCDS Journal
Volume 6(Issue 4):205 · July 2017, DOI: 10.12785/ijcds/060406.
4. Al-Saedi, Ibtesam RK, Farag Mahel Mohammed, and Saif Aldeen Saad Obayes. "CNC Machine
Based on Embedded Wireless and Internet of Things for Workshop Development." International
Journal of Computing and Digital Systems 6.4 (2017): 205-213.

5. I. R. K. Al-Saedi, F. M. Mohammed and Saif Aldeen Saad Obayes Al-Kadhim, "CNC machine
based on embedded wireless and Internet of Things for workshop development," 2017
International Conference on Control, Automation and Diagnosis (ICCAD), Hammamet,
2017, pp. 439-444.
doi:10.1109/CADIAG.2017.8075699.
6. Saif Aldeen Saad Obayes Al-Kadhim, I. R. K. Al-Saedi and F. M. Mohammed, "Prototype
Wireless Controller System Based on Raspberry Pi and Arduino for Engraving
Machine," 2017 UKSim-AMSS 19th International Conference on Computer Modelling &
Simulation (UKSim), Cambridge, 2017, pp. 69-74. doi: 10.1109/UKSim.2017.20.
7. Obayes, Saif Aldeen Saad, Ibtesam RK Al-Saedi, and Farag Mahel Mohammed. "Prototype
Wireless Controller System based on Raspberry Pi and Arduino for Engraving
Machine." Computer Modelling & Simulation (UKSim), 2017 UKSim-AMSS 19th International
Conference on. IEEE, 2017.
8. Obayes, Saif Aldeen Saad, Ibtesam R. K. Al-Saedi, and Basil Jabir Shanshool, " Microstrip
Grid Antenna Array for 5G Mobile Devices," Journal of Communications, vol. 13, no. 5,
pp. 225-229, 2018. Doi: 10.12720/jcm.13.5.225-229.
9. Obayes, Saif Aldeen Saad. Simulation of Multi-Machine Transient Stability. Diss. College
of Electrical and Electronics Techniques, Middle Technical University, 2010.
10. Obayes, Saif Aldeen Saad. Analog Speech Scrambling by Using Wavelet Transform. Diss.
University of Babylon, 2006.
11. Obayes, Saif Aldeen Saad. Application of Computer Numerical Control Machine Based
on Internet of Things System. Diss. University of Technology, 2017.
12. Obayes, Saif Aldeen Saad, Ibtesam RK Al-Saedi, and Basil Jabir Shanshool. "Microstrip Grid
Antenna Array for 5G Mobile Devices." JCM 13.5 (2018): 225-229.
13. Al-Kadhim, Saif Aldeen Saad Obayes. "CNC Machine Based on Embedded Wireless and Internet
of Things for Workshop Development." IJCDS 6.4 (2017): 205.
 14. Obayes, Saif Aldeen Saad. "Solar Cell Parameter Extraction From Data using MATLAB and
Simulink."
15. Al-Kadhim, Saif Aldeen Saad Obayes. "Communicating with Raspberry Pi via MAVLink."
16. Obayes, Saif Aldeen Saad, Sarah Kadhim Aboud. "LIGHT SENSOR TO SWITCH ON A LIGHT
OR ANY DEVICE LDR.".Tequneical report
17. Obayes, Saif Aldeen Saad, Sarah Kadhim Aboud. (2017). LIGHT SENSOR TO SWITCH ON A
LIGHT OR ANY DEVICE LDR. Project: IoT and Smart System Retrieved from Researchgate
database. DOI:10.13140/RG.2.2.34584.49928.

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