SMALL CIRCUITSCOLLECTION

be cut off. The semiconductor relay will then open, and the up to 8 A (continuous) or 80 A (single-cycle peak).
mains voltage will be switched off. This switch-off process is Figure 2 shows how to connect the circuit between the
delayed by capacitor C1, so that (for example) you can power supply and the charging capacitor. When laying out the
exchange an audio cassette without causing the recorder to circuit board, ensure that all components carrying mains volt-
be disconnected from the mains. age are separated from each other by at least 3 mm and from
For the semiconductor relay, you should select a type hav- the low-voltage area by at least 6 mm. Naturally, the same
ing a zero-crossing switch. This means that the triac will only considerations apply to fitting the circuit board into the equip-
switch on at the zero point of the mains voltage, regardless of ment to be switched. If there is not sufficient space inside the
when the pushbutton is pressed. Almost no current will thus equipment, the circuit can be fitted between the equipment
flow at the instant when the triac switches, which prevents and the mains adapter as a sort of cable switch.
inductive switching spikes and associated interference. The (020024-1)

S201S01 semiconductor relay used here can switch currents

Door Knocker Bell 006

1
+3V

R2

100k
C1 16
IC1 IC1 = 74HC123
C2
100n 8

22µ
16V
15 14 7 6
RX/CX CX RX/CX CX
13 5
3 11
2 & 10 &
4 12
1 IC1.A 9 IC1.B
piezo R1
10M

2
+12V

R4
1k8

T2
"0" "1"

1 5.8 mA 6.3 mA A1
BC557
R3 R5
2 0.11 µA 1.2 mA (unloaded)
3
10k

10k

3 0 8 mA (loaded)

T1
TX

BC547

024060 - 11

If you have an old house, it’s nice to have only a door knocker around 1 V, which is more than enough to trigger monostable
and no doorbell, since ‘back then’ no-one had a doorbell and IC1a. This in turn produces a pulse with a duration of approx-
it destroys the illusion of authenticity. Although a door knocker imately one second to drive transistors T1 and T2. into con-
makes quite a racket, if you happen to be in the garden, the duction. The second of these transistors can be used to ener-
attic or the cellar it might not be enough. The circuit shown gise a relay (to switch on a suitable bell or beeper) or drive a
here solves this problem by acting as a sort of ‘electronic 443-MHz licence-exempt transmitter (as shown here). If you
extension’ for the door knocker. use a transmitter, simply connect T2 in place of the pushbut-
A standard piezoelectric buzzer (not an active type) is used ton. The associated receiver can be carried around every-
here as a vibration pickup (or ‘knocking pickup’, if you will). If where within and around the house, so you can always hear
you tap on such a buzzer it can easily produce a voltage of knocking signals from visitors no matter where you are.

12/2002 Elektor Electronics 25

SMALL CIRCUITSCOLLECTION
With a transmitter, a monostable time of one second is ade- in the vicinity of the knocker. Excellent results can be obtained
quate, but with a relay it is better to increase this time some- if it is mounted on the inside of the door. If you’re handy with
what by proportionally increasing the value of C2. By the way, tools and want to have everything finished off as neatly as
the relay should not draw more than 100 mA, and don’t for- possible, you can also drill a hole in the door and recess the
get the usual flyback diode. pickup into it.
The nice thing about this circuit is that in the rest state it draws One final remark: depending on the type of buzzer used, the
almost no current (only a few microampères), so two penlight sensitivity may be too great, with the result that the bell rings
cells can serve as a power source for quite a long time. Only at the slightest provocation. In this case, the value of the par-
while someone is knocking does the current consumption rise allel resistor (R1) can be reduced until the desired sensitivity
to several milliampères. is obtained.
Naturally, the pickup (the piezoelectric buzzer) must be fitted flat (024060-1)

Seconds Reference
with Quartz Accuracy 007
M. Köhler
+5V
Simple analogue quartz watches or watch movements, which
R1 R2 R4
can be obtained inexpensively by mail order or at flea mar-
270 Ω

15k

10k
kets, contain a circuit that drives the watch motor with pulses
1 Hz
at the rate of one per second. If you build such a watch move-
D2
ment into a small circuit, you have an inexpensive but never-
T1
theless accurate 1-second frequency standard. D4 D5
1k

Watch movements normally have four pins: two for the supply
D3
4x BC547
voltage and two for the motor coil. Connect a 1-kΩ resistor in 1N4148
R3
place of the motor coil. Negative pulses at a one-second rate
with a duration of around 50 ms (depending on the type of 10k
red rot
movement) can now be found alternately on the two pins. rouge rood

These are combined using an OR gate made from discrete 024005 - 11

components. The output of the circuit thus provides positive

pulses, buffered by T1, for use in other applications.
This circuit can be used with any desired supply voltage, since a red 20-mA LED fitted with a suitable series resistor.
the supply voltage for the watch movement is tapped off from (024005-1)

Modified Time Clock Switch 008

H. Steffes switching off. Set the time ring to the Zero position and fit the
It doesn’t take a lot of effort to convert an electromechanical tab at the desired switch-off time. A mechanical on/off switch
time clock switch into a simple time switch, and it can be done is used to start the time switch. After the set interval has
quite simply. All you have to do is open the case and discon- expired, the motor is de-energised and the time switch is thus
nect the series resistor for the motor from the switch contact. stopped.
Next, use a length of insulated wire to reconnect it to the other Please bear in mind that you are working with the mains volt-
side of the switch contact. The difference between the two age. The device must still be safe to touch after the modifica-
versions is shown in the figure. tion, and the switch must be a type that is suitable for use with
To operate the time switch, all that you need is a tab for the mains voltage. (024038-1)

26 Elektor Electronics 12/2002