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Dewpoint Sensor

This document describes a simple circuit that uses a dew sensor element to detect humidity and prevent equipment damage from condensation. The circuit works by changing the resistance of a conductive polymer in the sensor element when it gets wet from humidity or dew. The sensor element is connected to an op-amp comparator that triggers an optocoupler when humidity is detected. This circuit provides galvanic isolation and can be used to activate an alarm or other controller.

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Manju Ks Reddy
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131 views1 page

Dewpoint Sensor

This document describes a simple circuit that uses a dew sensor element to detect humidity and prevent equipment damage from condensation. The circuit works by changing the resistance of a conductive polymer in the sensor element when it gets wet from humidity or dew. The sensor element is connected to an op-amp comparator that triggers an optocoupler when humidity is detected. This circuit provides galvanic isolation and can be used to activate an alarm or other controller.

Uploaded by

Manju Ks Reddy
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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circuit

ideas
124 February 2011 electroni cs for you www. e F y ma g . c o m
D
ew-point sensors are widely
used in sensitive electronic
equipment like cameras and
copiers etc, to protect them from mois-
ture failure by fast detection of dew.
You can easily build one yourself using
the readily-available dew sensor ele-
ment as described here. Alternatively,
you can use the tiny dew sensor ele-
ment of your old VCR or video camera.
This simple but highly responsive
circuit to protect equipment from dew
(condensed moisture) can also be used
to prevent condensation on surfaces
like cold water pipes and windows.
The working of the dew sensor ele-
ment (DS1) is based on the change in
resistance of a conductive polymer in a
thin flm on a small ceramic substrate.
When the sensing polymer becomes
wet, its resistance increases drasti-
cally because the polymer expands
to increase the distance between the
conductive particles.
In the circuit, the dew sensor ele-
ment (DS1) is connected to inverting
input pin 2 of op-amp UA741 (IC1).
Resistors R2 and R3 and VR1 preset
provide the reference voltage at the
non-inverting input pin 3 of the op-
amp. When a high humidity is de-
tected, the output of IC1 changes state
to switch on galvanic-isolator IC 4N35
(IC2) through optocoupler driver tran-
sistor BC337 (T1).
Adjust preset VR1 such that IC2 is
disabled when the sensor (DS1) detects
low humidity and enabled when hu-
midity is high.
The circuit operates off 12V DC,
which may be provided by a separate
mains adaptor. It can operate off lower
voltages as well, provided you select
the right components.
Assemble the circuit on a general-
purpose PCB and enclose in a suitable
T.K. Hareendran
dew-PoinT SenSor
S.C. DW
IVEDI
aluminium cabinet. Mount the dew
sensor element on the front panel of
the cabinet using a double-sided bond-
ing tape. For maximum bond strength,
the metallic surface of the cabinet on
which DS1 has to be mounted should
be thoroughly cleaned and dried. You
can use isopropyl alcohol as the clean-
ing solvent.
Use a long wire to connect sensor
DS1 so that it can be extended to de-
sired distance. Using a shielded cable
for the purpose would eliminate tran-
sient problems.
This dew-point sensor can precisely
sense the dew-point and activate any
externally connected relay or similar
controller to sound an alarm. A small
amount of hysteresis added to the
comparator helps it to avoid oscilla-
tions of the information.
As shown in the circuit, safe and
secure galvanic isolation is provided
at the output of IC1 using optocou-
pler 4N35 (IC2). Both the terminals
of the internal phototransistor of IC2
are hanging, so you can interface this
circuit to any analogue/digital gadget
after suitable modifcation at its trigger
input. Further, for simple purposes,
you can replace optocoupler IC2 with
an electromagnetic relay. For this, just
remove resistor R6, capacitor C2 and
IC2 and connect the electromagnetic
relay between the emitter of transistor
T1 and ground. Dont forget to add a
free-wheeling diode in anti-parallel
with the relay coil.

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