QUASAR ELECTRONICS KIT No.

1006a
800W MUSIC TO LIGHT MODULATOR

General Description

A music to light modulator is an electronic circuit that is used to control the intensity of one or
more lamps and make them follow the rhythm of the music. This is usually done by
connecting the modulator with the output of the amplifier. The problem with poorly designed
modulators is that if there is a fault the mains that is used to power the lamps may flow
through the amplifier causing very serious damage, creating a fire hazard, and even being
harmful or lethal to people that may be using the amplifier at that moment. This problem has
been solved in this project as there is no direct link between the circuit and the amplifier used.
A relatively new device is used to link the modulator to the sound source isolating at the same
time the two circuits completely. This device is an OPTOCOUPLER and will be discussed in
detail in the «How it works» section below.

Technical Specifications - Characteristics

Working voltage: 220VAC

Max. c urrent: 3.5 A
Max. output power: 800Watts
Input sensitivity:2-60 Watts
Adjustable input sensitivity.
Complete isolation from the mains thanks to the OPTOCOUPLER used.
Safe and reliable operation.
Simple and inexpensive to built.

How it Works

Let us first discuss this new component that is used in the modulator, the OPTOCOUPLER or
OPTOISOLATOR. This is a device that includes in the same casing a LED and a
PHOTOTRANSISTOR or a light sensitive SCR or a TRIAC. The LED is used as the input and
the signal is transmitted optically to the output device which converts it back to electrical
signal. Thanks to this arrangement it is possible to achieve total isolation between input and
output and the device is used extensively in cases where the two stages to be linked have a
great voltage difference. As you can see from the circuit diagram of the modulator the signal
is applied across the LED of the optocoupler at points 1 and 2 on the p.c. board through a
resistor R1 and a potentiometer P1. The potentiometer adjusts the input sensitivity of the
circuit and the resistor is used to protect the from very high input signals when the
potentiometer is set for the maximum sensitivity. When an audio signal is applied at the input
of the circuit the LED will flicker following its changes in amplitude. The LED is emitting in the
infrared part of the spectrum and is used to drive a TRIAC inside the package that is sensitive
to the same type of radiation. This TRIAC is in turn used as a TRIAC driver in order to control
another TRIAC capable of handling larger cur rents. The resistor R2 that you can see
connected in series with the driver and the TRIAC gate is used to protect the optoisolator and
the gate from excess current at the signal peaks. If you connect a lamp in series with the
TRIAC at points 3 and 4 and the mains supply at points 5 and 6 of the board this lamp will
follow the variations of the input signal and the result will be a simple but effective light
modulator. The isolation between the two parts of the OPTOCOUPLER is greater than 1500
V and this makes it totally safe for any installation.

Construction

First of all let us consider a few basics in building electronic circuits on a printed circuit board.
The board is made of a thin insulating material clad with a thin layer of conductive copper that
is shaped in such a way as to form the necessary conductors between the various
components of the circuit. The use of a properly designed printed circuit board is very
desirable as it speeds construction up considerably and reduces the possibility of making
errors. Quasar Kit boards also come pre-drilled and with the outline of the components and
their identification printed on the component side to make construction easier. To protect the
board during storage from oxidation and assure it gets to you in perfect condition the copper
is tinned during manufacturing and covered with a special varnish that protects it from getting
oxidised and makes soldering easier. Soldering the components to the board is the only way
to build your circuit and from the way you do it depends greatly your success or failure. This
work is not very difficult and if you stick to a few rules you should have no problems. The
soldering iron that you use must be light and its power should not exceed the 25 Watts. The
tip should be fine and must be kept clean at all times. For this purpose come very handy
specially made sponges that are kept wet and from time to time you can wipe the hot tip on
them to remove all the residues that tend to accumulate on it.
DO NOT file or sandpaper a dirty or worn out tip. If the tip can not be cleaned, replace it.
There are many different types of solder in the market and you should choose a good quality
one that contains the necessary flux in its core, to assure a perfect joint every time. DO NOT
use soldering flux apart from that which is already included in your solder. Too much flux can
cause many problems and is one of the main causes of circuit malfunction. If nevertheless
you have to use extra flux, as it is the case when you ha ve to tin copper wires, clean it very
thoroughly after you finish your work. In order to solder a component correctly you should do
the following:
Clean the component leads with a small piece of emery paper.
Bend them at the correct distance from the component body and insert the component in its
place on the board.
You may find sometimes a component with heavier gauge leads than usual, that are too thick
to enter in the holes of the p.c. board. In this case use a mini drill to increase the diameter of
the holes slightly. Do not make the holes too large as this is going to make soldering difficult
afterwards.
Take the hot iron and place its tip on the component lead while holding the end of the solder
wire at the point where the lead emerges from the board. The iron tip must touch the lead
slightly above the p.c. board.
When the solder starts to melt and flow wait till it covers evenly the area around the hole and
the flux boils and gets out from underneath the solder. The whole operation should not take
more than 5 seconds. Remove the iron and leave the solder to cool naturally without blowing
on it or moving the component. If everything was done properly the surface of the joint must
have a bright metallic finish and its edges should be smoothly ended on the component lead
and the board track. If the solder looks dull, cracked, or has the shape of a blob then you
have made a dry joint and you should remove the solder (with a pump, or a solder wick) and
redo it.
Take care not to overheat the tracks as it is ve ry easy to lift them from the board and break
them.
When you are soldering a sensitive component it is good practice to hold the lead from the
component side of the board with a pair of long -nose pliers to divert any heat that could
possibly damage the component.
Make sure that you do not use more solder than it is necessary as you are running the risk of
short-circuiting adjacent tracks on the board, especially if they are very close together.
After having finished your work cut off the excess of the component leads and clean the board
thoroughly with a suitable solvent to remove all flux residues that still remain on it.

The construction of the modulator is very simple as it only uses five electronic components.
First of all insert the 6 pins in their pla ces on the board and solder them. Solder the resistors
then in their places and insert the TRIAC with the printed side of its casing towards the 220 V
indication on the board. Solder small pieces of wire to the leads of the potentiometer, insert
them in the respective holes on the p.c. board and solder them there. Finally insert the
OPTOISOLATOR carefully and solder it taking care not to overheat it. You can also use an IC
socket if you wish so but as there are no 6 DIL sockets, you must use an 8 DIL one and cut
two of the pins away. The work is finished here and you should stop to make one final VERY
CAREFUL inspection before making the connections and proceeding with the testing of the
project under power. Make sure there are no mistakes as they can be very dangerous
considering the voltages involved in the circuit. If everything looks right, connect a 220 V lamp
across the points 3 and 4 on the board and a twin mains lead to the two points marked 220 V,
5 and 6. Connect then the output of an amplifier, radio, or cassette recorder across the input
of the circuit, points 1 and 2 on the board. It is a good idea to use a switch and a 3-4 A fuse in
series with the mains for more protection. If you have made all the connections correctly then
plug the mains lead to a convenient mains outlet and turn the music on. The lamp should start
following the rhythm of the music. If nothing happens turn the potentiometer to increase the
input sensitivity of the circuit or increase the output of your amplifier if the former is not
possible. DURING ALL THE TESTS DO NOT TOUCH ANY PART OF THE CIRCUIT WHILE
IT IS CONNECTED TO THE MAINS.

Adjustments

This kit does not need any adjustments, if you follow the building instructions.

Warning

Quasar kits are sold as stand alone training kits.

If they are used as part of a larger assembly and any damage is caused, our company bears
no responsibility.

While using electrical parts, handle power supply and equipment with great care, following
safety standards as described by international specs and regulations.
If it does not work

IF IT DOESN’T WORK
Disconnect the mains and inspect the circuit again for possible mistakes and/or short circuits
between tracks on the board.
Make sure there are not any dry joints.
Are the OPTOISOLATOR and the TRIAC connected the right way round?
Are all the connections to the circuit correct?

If it still fails to work properly please contact us for information on our Get-You-Going service..

ATTENTION

In the kit you may find precision metal film resistors with different colour coding. The values of
these resistors can be read as follows:
1stst colour band: 1stst significant figure
2ndnd colour band: 2ndnd significant figure
3rdrd colour band: 3rdrd significant figure
4thth colour band: multiplier
Space
5thth colour band: tolerance

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MOC3010 OPTOISOLATOR

Transmitter (LED)
Working voltage: ...... 1.2-1.5V
Reverse current: .......... 100mA
Internal capacitance: ...... 50pF
Signal transmission: ....... IR
Receiver (TRIAC)
Maximum voltage A1/A2: .... 250V
Maximum current: ............ 1.2 A
Maximum power dissipation: 300mW
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TRIAC BT136
BT136 - 500R 600R 800R
Maximum voltage A1/A2: 500V 600V 800V
Max. Transient current 4A 4A 4A
Maximum current 25A 25A 25A

The triac is a bi-directional silicon controlled rectifier. It has three leads which are A1 (anode
1), A2 (anode 2), and G (gate). It can cont rol relatively high AC voltages and currents
between A1 and A2 with the help of small control voltages which are applied to its gate G.
CAUTION

This circuit works from the mains and there are 220 VAC pre sent in some of its parts.
Voltages above 50 V are DANGEROUS and could even be LETHAL. In order to avoid
accidents that could be fatal to you or members of your family please observe the following
rules:

- DO NOT work if you are tired or in a hurry, double check every thing before connecting your
circuit to the mains and be ready to disconnect it if something looks wrong.
- DO NOT touch any part of the circuit when it is under power.
- DO NOT leave mains leads exposed. All mains leads should be well insulated.
- DO NOT change the fuses with others of higher rating or replace them with wire or
aluminium foil.
- DO NOT work with wet hands. -If you are wearing a chain in the neck or anything that may
be hanging and touch an exposed part of the circuit BE CAREFUL. -ALWAYS USE a correct
mains lead with the correct plug and earth your circuit correctly.
- If the case of your project is made of metal make sure it is properly earthed.
- If it is possible use a mains transformer with a 1:1 ratio to isolate your circuit from the mains.
- When testing a circuit that works off the mains wear shoes with rubber soles, stand on dry
non conductive floor and keep one hand in your pocket or behind your back.
If you take all the above precautions you reduce the risks you are taking to a minimum and
this way you are protecting your self and those around you. A carefully built and well insulated
device does not constitute any danger for its user.

BEWARE: ELECTRICITY CAN KILL IF YOU ARE NOT CAREFUL.

Electronic Diagram.

Parts List

All components including printed circuit board, assembly instructions including schematics
and detailed parts list are supplied when you purchase the kit.

Ordering

For pricing info and online ordering please visit:

http://www.quasarelectronics.com/1006.htm

For further info please contact us by e-mail:

mailto: [email protected]
COPYRIGHT © 2003 Quasar Electronics Limited. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this document in whole or
in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Quasar Electronics Limited is prohibited.

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