Tone generator circuit

Simple, low component count tone generator. It can be adapted to create a morse code circuit, by adding a switch to the output.

How it works:

This circuit is based around the 555 timer circuit, used as an astable (free running) oscillator. The frequency (pitch) of the tone is set by the resistors and capacitors in the left side of the circuit. The first one is a potentiometer (variable resistor), this is our pitch control, which is basically all the external components you need. The capacitor to the far left is to reduce as much noise or undesired operation of the potentiometer, getting a smooth pitch change when adjusting.

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High and Low Voltage Cut-Off with Delay and Alarm

Simple and easy build High and Low Voltage Cut-Off with Delay and Alarm Circuit. This straight forward circuit will protect electrical appliances from over voltage as well as under voltage. The circuit also produces an alarm when the power supply comes back. An ideal circuit for home to protect your valuable equipments from voltage fluctuations. The same circuit with some modifications can be used  to make a automatic voltage stabilizer. 

When the mains voltage is in the normal level, the voltage at the negative terminal of zener diode D4 will be less than 5.6 Volts. At this condition transistor T1 will not conduct. The same time voltage at the negative terminal of zener diode D5 will be greater than 5.6 and so the transistor T2 will be conducting. The relay will be activated and the green LED will be glowing.

When the mains voltage is higher than the set limit the transistor T1 becomes conducting since the voltage at the negative terminal of  D4 is greater than 5.6 V. At the same time transistor T2 will be non conducting which results in the deactivation of relay to cut the mains supply from load. When the mains voltage is less than the set limit transistors T1 & T2 becomes non conducting  making the relay to de-activate and cut the load from mains.

The timer NE555 is wired as a monostable multivibrator with a pulse width of 10ms.When the power comes back after a cut off a negative voltage is obtained at the trigger pin which triggers the IC NE555. The transistor T3 gets forward biased and it drives the buzzer to produce a beep as an indication of power resumption. Also the transistor T1 is made on which in turn makes T2 off. As a result the relay will remain de- activate for 10ms and this provides the sufficient delay and the equipment  is protected from surge voltages.

Notes :

• To calibrate the circuit a autotransformer is needed. Connect the output of autotransformer to the transformer primary.
• Set the voltage to 260V and adjust  VR1 to make the relay deactivated.
• Now set the autotransformer to 160V and adjust VR2  so that the relay is de-energized.
• VR3 can be used to vary the volume of buzzer.

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Gas Leakage Alarm

 LPG gas leakage detector with audio visual indicator


LPG gas is supplied in pressurized steel cylinders. As this gas is heavier than air, when it leaks from a cylinder it flows along floor and tends to settle in low spots such as a basement. This can cause fire or suffocation if not dealt with.

Here is a circuit that detects the leakage of LPG gas and alerts the user through audio-visual indications. Fig. 1 shows the circuit of the gas leakage alarm. The circuit operates off a 9V PP3 battery. Zener diode ZD1 is used to convert 9V into 5V DC to drive the gas sensor module. The SEN-1327 gas sensor module from RhydoLABZ is used in this circuit. Its output goes high when the gas level reaches or exceeds certain point. A preset in the module is used to set the threshold. Interfacing with the sensor module is done through a 4-pin SIP header.
An MQ-6 gas sensor is used in the gas sensor module. As per its datasheet, it has high sensitivity to propane, butane, isobutene, LPG and natural gas. The sensor can also be used to detect combustible gases, especially methane. This circuit has been tested with LPG gas and was found to work satisfactorily. Whenever there is LPG concentration of 1000ppm (parts per million) in the area, the OUT pin of the sensor module goes high. This signal drives timer IC 555, which is wired as an astable multivibrator. The multivibrator basically works as a tone generator. Output pin 3 of IC 555 is connected to LED1 and speaker-driver transistor SL100 through current-limiting resistors R5 and R4, respectively. LED1 glows and the alarm sounds to alert the user of gas leakage. The pitch of the tone can be changed by varying preset VR1. Use a suitable heat-sink for transistor SL100.

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555 Touch Switch

This touch switch built based on famous 555 timer IC. When the plate is touched the 555 timer is triggered and the output on pin 3 goes high turning on the LED and the buzzer for a certain period of time. The time that the LED and the buzzer is on is based on the values of the capacitor and resistor connected to pin 6 & 7. The 10M resistor on pin 2 causes the the circuit to be very sensitive to the touch.

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InfraRed LED Flasher for Optical Switch

This circuit is used to detect objects by reflected infrared light. It can be built into a cylindrical enclosure just like an inductive proximity switch.

This is also useful as a level detector for colored liquids like oil. This has some immunity to ambient sunlight as it detects ac pulses.

IC 555 is used as an astable oscillator and it flashes the Infra red LED D1 at a high speed, The object close to this LED reflects the light along with the ambient light which may also be sunlight.

IR Led’s and Diodes

The types available are various and polarity hard to detect even photo IR transistors can be used. The IR Led can be tested in diode mode of a DMM (battery should be in good condition) it should give around 1.1V drop in proper polarity. An IR detector diode or photo diode can be tested in the same way the drop will be 0.5V at 1 feet from a 60W lamp (no sunlight), closing the IR photo diode with your hand will be an over range on DMM this will happen on proper polarity. the photo diode shows around 10k ohm resistance in daylight and in Mega ohms when covered also the photo diode detects light on reverse bias and used like that.

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555 multivibrator like power oscillator

This is dual 555 multivibrator like power oscillator. This is my contraption and conception but couple of decades old. It appears to have errors. It worked but the document fixing after design worked, not done. This can be used to make a small inverter, for powering 230V gadgets of low power. The transformer is used in step-up mode. It may make a sound if the laminations are not of good quality.

This circuit can be modified using 7555 and switching transistors like BD139 driving a Ferrite 100 kHz transformer to build a Fluorescent Lamp of 10W to 20W.

Fluorescent lamps can be fired and lit at high frequency at relatively lower voltages. Experiment both with frequency and pulse width to get nominal lighting at good efficiency. One of the reasons CFL lamps -230V and emergency lamps 12V fail, is failure of the switching devices. These have to be overrated thrice or more, the switching heat dissipation should not be underestimated, during low/high voltage and keep a aging allowance.

Designing a working circuit is no big deal. But making a batch of reliable and robust power electronics products, which are idiot proof and abuse resistant is a challenge for engineering. Then they will need it at an affordable price too… Checkmate !

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+5 to -5 using a 555 Astable Multivibrator

This is a very simple -5V supply using one 555, useful for analog blocks using FET Opamps using low power. This circuit came up when i had to design limited by inventory. It worked well for its need. It converts Positive Five Volts to Negative Five Volts to create a dual supply.

This +5 to -5 using a 555 Astable Multivibrator.is not a high efficiency design, in fact it cannot take a heavy load. Circuits having some CMOS Opamps and a A/D convertor is ok. Even very small battery designs must avoid this circuit.

This suits well when you want to power an analog amp which has to measure voltages which swing on either sides of zero. It can be used in a LCD based portable measuring instrument running on a rechargeable 9V battery.

Powering a strain gauge amp may be one use, another may be like a RTD temperature meter for -50 to +150 deg C.

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