Objective: Simple Light sensor and darkness detector circuit using LDR and a transistor.

Introduction:
Basically a light sensor circuit stay turn on in a light and turn off in a darkness same as a
darkness sensor circuit turn on a light in darkness and turn off light in brightness.
A photoresistor or light-dependent resistor, LDR is a light-controlled
variable resistor.The resistance of a photoresistor decreases with increasing incident light
intensity,in other words,its exhibits photoconductivity.A photo resistor can be applied in light-
sensitive detector circuits,and light-and dark-activated switching circuits.

A photoresistor is made of a high resistance semiconducor. In the dark, a photoresistor can

have a resistance as high as several megaohms (MΩ), while in the light, a photoresistor can
have a resistance as low as a few hundred ohms.

A transistor is a semiconductor device used to amplify or switch electronic signals and

electrical power. It is composed of semiconductor material usually with at least three terminals
for connection to an external circuit.There are two types of transistors:
1. n-p-n transistors
2. p-n-p transistors
The transistors has three region: emitter,base and collector.The base is much thinner than
emitter while collector is wider than both.The emitter is heavily doped so that it can inject a
large number of charge carriers into the base.
BC547 is an NPN bi-polar junction transistor. A transistor, stands for transfer of resistance, is
commonly used to amplify current. A small current at its base controls a larger current at
collector & emitter terminals.BC547 is mainly used for amplification and switching purposes.
It has a maximum current gain of 800. Its equivalent transistors are BC548 and BC549.
Component Required:

 LDR 5mm
 NPN Transistor
 Potentiometer 10k
 Potentiometer 100k
 1k ohm Resistor
 470k ohm Resistor
 Breadboard
 Power Supply: 9v
 Few Breadboard Connectors

Circuit Diagram:

LIGHT SENSOR SCHEMATIC

DARK SENSOR SCHEMATIC

 LIGHT SENSOR CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

DARK SENSOR CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

Simulation:

LIGHT SENSOR WHEN LIGHT TURN ON

 DARK SENSOR WHEN LIGHT TURN ON

Procedure:
1k ohm resister one end is connected with Negative (9v) 0f battery and other end is connected
in series with LDR and LDR another point is connected with positive of battery.470R resistor
one end is connected with Positive (9V) of battery and other end is connected with anode
(positive) of LED .Cathode (negative) of LED is Connected with C (collecter) of BC547
Transistor,Emitter (E) of transistor is connected with the negative of battery,Base (B) is
connected Junction point of the 1K resistor & LDR.Instead of 1k resistance we can use 10k
potentiometer,there result will be same.
Another we will see how to use LDR to make a darkness sensor circuit.
First,47K ohm resistor one end is connected with Positive (9V) of battery and other end is
connected in series with LDR and LDR another point is connected with negative of battery. I
have used 470R resistor.470R resistor one end is connected with Positive (9V) of battery and
other end is connected with anode (positive) of LED,Cathode (positive) of LED is Connected
with C (collecter) of BC547 Transistor,Emitter (E) of transistor is connected with the negative
of battery.Base (B) is connected Junction point of the 47K resistor & LDR.It is a simple and
powerful concept , which uses transistor (BC 547 NPN) as a switch to switch ON and OFF the
LED LIGHT automatically.It automatically switches ON lights when the light goes below the
visible region of our eyes. ( in evening after Sunset ). It automatically switches OFF lights
when light fall on it ( in morning ) , by using a sensor called LDR (Light Dependent Resistor)
which senses the light just like our eyes.
Explanation of Circuits Working:
The sensing component in this circuit is LDR (short form for Light Dependent Resistor). The
resistance of LDR depends on the intensity or brightness of light incident on it and the relation
is of inverse proportionality. Which means that when the intensity of light increases, the LDR's
resistance reduces and vice versa.
You can visually observe this effect by connecting the LDR in series with an LED and power
up the circuit. Now if you reduce the brightness of ambient light, the LDR's resistance
increases, resulting in lesser current flowing through the circuit and so you will observe that
the LED's brightness reduces. Exactly the opposite happens when you increase the brightness
of ambient light.For an npn-transistor, the emitter, collector are of n-junction and the base is
of p-junction. For the transistor to turn on or to allow current to flow from collector to emitter,
the voltage at the base should be above a certain threshold voltage.
We used a resistor in series with the LDR to convert the change in resistance of the LDR to
change in voltage. This change in voltage at the common point between LDR and resistor is
used the trigger the transistor by connecting it to base of the transistor.
In the Light Sensor Circuit (first diagram) when the brightness of light increases, the LDR's
resistance reduces and so the voltage at the base of transistor increases. Once this voltage
increases above the required threshold voltage at the base, the LED turns on. You can now
visualize what happens when you reduce the brightness of ambient light.
In the Dark Sensor Circuit (second diagram) when the LDR's resistance decreases when the
intensity of light increases. So the voltage at the base of transistor increases when the
brightness of light decreases, and once it gets past the minimum threshold voltage required at
the base of transistor, it turns on the LED.
Light sensor works in the way that then the LDR comes to the darkness, or in other words, if
no light falls on it, the transistor turns off. Just the opposite of what we saw with dark sensor.
Same as the dark sensor we could modify light sensor to be more modular by switching the
resistor with variable resistor, thus:
LESS RESISTANCE(R1)-> LESS DARKNESS TO SWITCH OFF THE LED

HIGH RESISTANCE(R1)-> MORE DARKNESS TO SWITCH OFF THE LED

Yet again, this circuit works the same as the dark sensor. Just now the potential divider circuit
is formed a bit differently. Thus, when no light is present resistance of LDR is very high and
no base voltage is applied to the transistor - transistor remains shut off.
As the light level increases the resistance of the LDR starts to decrease causing the base voltage
to rise. At some point determined by the voltage divider, the base bias voltage is high enough
to turn the transistor on. Activating the right branch of the circuit.
Cost:
Product Name Model Quantity Price Subtotal(BDT)
LDR 5mm SEN-00001 2 5.08 10.16
BC547NPN SWD-00021 2 2.00 4.00
Transistor
Potentiometer PCM-00429 2 25.05 50.1
10k
Potentiometer MOD-00082 1 50.00 50.00
100k
1kohm Resistor PCM-00044 2 1.50 3.00
470ohm Resistor PCM-00075 2 2.02 4.04
Subtotal 121.3tk

Advantages:
 It is a very basic darkness detector with very simple hardware components and circuit.
 There is no need for any complex microcontroller circuit or programming to
implement this project

Disadvantages:
 Since the system is not controlled by any microcontroller, the results might not be as
accurate as expected.

Applications:
 This project can be implemented in applications like automatic switching on of lights
when it becomes dark
 This circuit can be part of a bigger circuit or project like home automation or home
security system.
Discussion:
After analysing different scenarios we can conclude that based on our preference we can
construct the system for both dark and light environment. Photoresistors changes it’s resistance
drastically based on the ambient lighting in an environment.Exposed to darkness,a
photoresistance has a tremendous amount of resistance.When exposed to bright light ,a photo
resistors resistance drops drustically.
We can changes the environment after useing photoresistor.A photoresistors works like a
resistors.So when we uses in light sensors led remains off then when light turn on the led goes
brighter in the same way when uses the LDR in other position and used potentiometer 100k
then the circuit led remains on or bright condition,then when we increases the light the led
becomes less brighter.
This circuit diagram or project looks like simple but it has some also advantages and
disadvantages. The controlling of outdoor and street lights, home appliances, etc., are typically
operated manually. The manual operation is not only risky but also causes wastage of power
due to the negligence of operating personnel and also unusual conditions in monitoring these
electrical appliances. The automatic light sensor circuit can be used for designing numerous
practical embedded systems based projects. A few light sensor circuit based projects can be
listed as a solar highway lighting system with auto turn off in daytime, security alarm system
by photo electric sensor, sunset to sunrise lighting switch, Arduino managed high sensitive
LDR based power saver for street light control system, etc.
In this circumstance, for this circuit or project setup on breadboard is important.Because when
uses the circuit we have to use potentiometer,and it has signal,Gnd and vcc.So this setup from
resistance is important otherwise the circuit will not run properly.
Suggestion:
This project is really great for learning purposes of building simple circuits with transistors.
But not only it is simple, these circuits can be really powerful and give great outcome if used
with relay or other components.
The only difference between these two circuits is just the position of LDR and Resistor. It just
differently forms the voltage divider and so, the transistor reacts differently too.

Bibliography:
 Idea: http://elonics.in/breadboard-projects/light-sensor-and-darkness-detector-circuit-using-
ldr-transistor
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhySv8ePwyM
 Book:https://www.academia.edu/18362511/Electronics_Devices_and_Circuit_Theory_11th_
edition_Robert_Boylestad
 https://www.instructables.com/id/Transistor-DarkLight-Sensor