Individual Lab Report on

Automatic Street Light Control

Circuit
Abstract:
The Aim of this project is to build an Automatic Street light control Circuit that
turns on in dark conditions.
To do this the Circuit Design is first made, then Ran in the NL 14.3 Multisim
Software before being Implemented on the Breadboard.
The maximum value of The Current flowing through the diode is 6.29
milliamperes and the minimum is 6.20 milliamperes.
The maximum value of the Current flowing through the base of the Transistor is
4.21 milliamperes and minimum is 563 microamperes.
The average value of Beta (IC/IB) is 0.774.
Therefore, the Automatic Streetlight Control Circuit is working optimally in
Standard conditions.

Introduction
Project Aim: The Aim of this project is to produce an Automatic Street light control Circuit that
turns on its indicator (Light Emitting Diode (LED)) in Dark environmental conditions and turns it off in
Bright environmental conditions. The Circuit makes use of a Light Dependent Resistor (LDR) for this
purpose as the Light Dependent Resistor restricts current flow in the dark and making use of the
Forward Bias Rule; which states that the LED will turn on after Voltage/Current travelling across it
exceeds a Set Value. And when in light conditions the LED has lower Voltage Values due to lower
resistance and the LED will turn off as the Voltage value/Current value is too low to turn it on.
Technical, Sustainability, Societal and Ethical Aspects:
1. Societal Aspects:
 Convenience and Safety of the Public: The project can address and enhance the safety
of the general public by providing automatic Lighting in dark areas or at nighttime
periods for drivers and Pedestrians preventing accidents and improving their visibility.
Residential Areas can also make use of these lights to keep adjacent streets and
surroundings lit up at night assuring and improving Safety.
 Energy Efficiency: The sensors of the Light Dependent Resistor ensure the LED is only
turned on at night, this not only lowers Bills for Communities but also Reduces their
Carbon footprints.
2. Technical Aspects:
 Circuit Design: The Technical Layout/Design of the Circuit demands reliability and
Efficiency, hence the selected components must work together effectively, fluidly and
efficiently together.
 Sensor implementation: The use of sensors like the LDR (Light Dependent Resistor)
ensure that the LED is controlled to work in specific ways at different light conditions, it
must also be taken into account how the sensor functions with the rest of the Circuit.
 Testing and Validation: Strict testing is undergone to ensure the Circuit functions and
operates under different conditions, this includes testing the LED under different light
conditions to see how the Circuit Operates.
3. Sustainability Aspects:
 Energy Consumption: By making use of A Voltage Regulator that steps down Voltage and
Energy efficient LEDs which use less power, this can lead to efficient energy savings over
time.
 Long term Impact and Material selection: The materials and components used in the Circuit
must be Recyclable, Greenhouse gas friendly which further enhances the projects
sustainability and aligns with Global sustainability goals.
4. Ethical Aspects:
 Environmental Action: The materials and components used in creating the Circuit must
not produce excess waste including proper disposal of electrical components that were
damaged or faulty.
 Accessibility: The Tech produced from the Circuit must be Accessible to all regardless of
Class, Race, Living conditions or Gender.

Methodology
Project Purpose: The components used for the Circuit include a 9V Battery, LM 7805 Voltage
Regulator, Breadboard , 1K Ohms Resistor, 470 Ohms Resistor, Green Light Emitting Diode (LED) ,
BC547 Transistor and a Light Dependent Resistor (LDR). The Circuit Design makes use of a Voltage
Divider and Potentiometer with the Light Dependent Resistor acting as a Potentiometer and the Light
Dependent Resistor coupled with the 1K Ohms Resistor and BC547 Transistor connected in a particular
way making the Voltage Divider. The LM 7805 Voltage Regulator steps down the Voltage from the 9V
Battery to 5V as there is a hazard risk of the LED Burning and the Transistor entering the Thermal
Runway Condition due to High Voltage therefore High Current.

Circuit Design:
The above Circuit Diagram is the Automatic Street light Control Circuit Being Run in the Nl 14.3 Multisim
software. The Tools and components used for the simulation are as listed below:

1. 9V Battery DC Power Source

2. LM 7805 Voltage Regulator
3. BC547BG Transistor
4. Green LED (Light Emitting Diode)
5. 1K Ohms Resistor, 470 Ohms Resistor
6. 20K Ohms Variable Resistor as the Multisim software does not have a Light Dependent
Resistor.

The Variable Resistor was chosen in place of the LDR due to the fact it not only can act as a
Potentiometer, it can be manually controlled to see how the Circuit would operate with an Automatic
like the LDR. It can be said that at 0% of the Variable Resistors Resistance value the circuit is in
immensely bright environments and at 100% of the Resistors Resistance value the Circuit is in dark
environment devoid of any light.

 Connection Specifications and Simulation Setup:

It can be seen in the diagram that the LED’s cathode is connected to the Collector of the BC547
Transistor and the Base is connected to the junction of the Variable Resistor and 1K Ohms Resistor to
form the Voltage Divider, the LM 7805 Voltage Regulator’s Input is connected to the Positive of the 9V
Battery and its Ground/Base is connected to the Negative of the 9V Battery with the Output connected
to the 1K Ohms Resistor along with the 470 Ohms Resistor. The Variable Resistor of 20KOhms value
and the 1K Ohms Resistor are connected in Parallel, the Green LED along with the 470 Ohms Resistor
and the BC547 Transistor are connected in Parallel.

 Series connections: 9V Battery > LM 7805 Voltage Regulator. Emitter of BC547 Transistor
>Negative of 9V Battery. Output of LM7805 Voltage Regulator > 1K Ohms Resistor & 470 Ohms
Resistor
 Parallel connections: 1K Ohms Resistor > 20K Ohms Variable Resistor> Base of BC547
Transistor 470 Ohms Resistor> Green LED Anode> Green LED Cathode > Collector of BC547
Transistor. Ground of LM 7805 Voltage Regulator > Negative of 9V Battery.

The above Connection specifications can be seen in the screenshot of the Multisim Software above
and in the Multisim file to produce the full complete Circuit.

 Functions of components used in the circuit:

1. 9V Battery (DC Power Source): Provides the Circuit with Energy that allows Electric
Current to flow.
2. LM 7805 Voltage Regulator: Steps down Voltage and Current flowing through the
Circuit from the 9V Battery to 5V to allow Circuit components to function optimally
 without constraints and prevent hazards from occurring by preventing High Current
and Voltage flow.
3. Light Dependent Resistor/20K Ohms variable Resistor: Acts as a potentiometer to
control Current flow and Output Voltage in the Circuit.
4. Resistors(1K,470) Ohms: The 1K Ohms Resistor acts as a Current limiter to reduce
the Current/Voltage flowing into the base of the Transistor and allowing it to work
at a Set and definite range of minimum and maximum current values regardless of
Total Resistance. The 470 Ohms Resistor acts as a Current limiter to limit the
Current flowing into the LED therefore protecting it from harm and Hazardous
situations.
5. BC547 Transistor: Forms a Voltage Divider through being connected to the junction
between the 1K Ohms Resistor and 470 Ohms Resistor and acts as a Closed switch
through its Base. The Transistor’s Base Voltage allows it to act as a Switch as the
more Voltage it has coming through it which is controlled by the Potentiometer the
more current will flow turning the LED on and vice versa. Using the Potentiometer
as a Reference means High Resistance = High Current meaning LED will turn on in
Dark Conditions and Vice Versa in Light Conditions.
6. Green LED (Light Emitting Diode): The LED Acts as an indicator to signify the Circuit
is working under proper Conditions. If the LED turns on it allows the Technician to
know the Circuit is connected properly and functioning well.

This list of Functions shows how the Circuit Components function together to produce the Automatic
Street Light Control Circuit and the reason each Components were picked for usage.

Breadboard Implementation
 The above picture shows the Breadboard Implementation of the Circuit with all components
clearly visible.

Risk Assessment and Health and Safety Measures:

Risks:
1. The LED Can overheat and burn due to Current Overload if a DC Power Source with
very high Voltage is used.
2. The Transistor can enter a Thermal Runway condition which would cause all Circuit
components to overheat and may lead to burns if components are touched in these
conditions.
3. Not Connecting Breadboard Components properly can lead to short Circuits Causing
an Electric Shock.
 Mitigation of Risks:
Preventions:
i. Making use of a Battery as low as 9V prevents Current
Overload as Voltage and Current are kept to a minimum.
ii. Using a LM 7805 Voltage Regulator steps the Current down
as low as possible to prevent Thermal Runway and Current
Overload chances to zero allows components to work at
optimal conditions.

Measures:
1. Ensure all Breadboard Components are connected properly to avoid short circuits.
2. Avoid use of faulty or Naked wires in the Circuit to prevent Electric Shocks.
3. Makes use of a 9V power source and avoid using a Higher rated Power Source.

Gantt Chart:

Task Week 1 Week 2

Research and Planning X
Circuit Design X X
Multisim Simulation X X
Breadboard Implementation X X
Data Analysis and Value Measurement X
Result Collation X
Report Writing and Documentation X
Final Review & Submission X

The Gantt Chart shows all activities and tasks that led to the completion of the project and how long
they were performed.

Results:
 Breadboard Implementation:
 The above picture is the Circuit fully assembled on the
Breadboard.

Multisim Evidence of Values:

 As shown in the above screenshot of the Multisim, the LM7805 Voltage
Regulator has stepped down the voltage to 5 Volts from 9 Volts.

As shown in the Screenshot above, Due to the Transistor acting as a Switch and
the 20K Ohms Variable Resistor has been switched with a 1K Ohms Resistor to
show that the minimum Current required to turn on the LED Is 6.20
milliamperes.
 The above Screenshot shows that the 20KOhms Variable Resistor has
been replaced with a 500K Ohms Variable Resistor at 100% of their Resistance
Value each yet the Current does not go beyond 6.29 milliamperes. This is proof
of Safety & Mitigation Measures being implemented and addressed through the
work of the components.
The final Screenshot shows the Simulation running yet the LED is not lighting,
this is due to the Current flowing through it not being enough as the
Potentiometer has very low Resistance. This shows how the Circuit operates in
accordance to the functions of an Automatic Street light Control Circuit.

Table of Values:
Percentage Value of 20KOhms Variable Resistor IB/mA IC/mA Beta
At 0% -0.000000244 0.000000341 -1.397540984
At 20% 4.01 6.28 1.566084788
At 40% 4.11 6.28 1.527980535
At 60% 4.14 6.29 1.519323671
At 80% 4.16 6.29 1.512019231
At 100% 4.17 6.29 1.508393285
IB/mA Average: 3.431666626
IC/mA Average: 5.23833339
Beta Average: 1.039376755
IB/mA Range: 4.170000244
IC/mA Range: 6.289999659
Beta Range: 2.905934269
Gradient/Gain: 0.774004796
The table of values shows the measurements of the Current at the Transistor
Base (IB/mA), the Current at the Transistor Collector (IC/mA) and the value of
Beta (IC/mA/IB/mA).

Conclusion:
 The key factors to note are the various uses of the Transistor and the unique
behavior of the Light Dependent Resistor under certain conditions. The use of a
potentiometer and Voltage Divider and how they impact a Circuit has been
taken note of.
 The produced Circuit works optimally as an Automatic Street Light Control
Circuit should, it turns off in bright conditions and on in dark conditions as seen
on the Multisim.
 The Circuit should be constructed with a 555 timer to control the rate at which
the lights turn on saving more energy and reducing bill costs.

Citing:
Google Beta ,Opera GX.