2.

Fridge Timer

Generally the power consumption by the domestic refrigerator is quite large during peak hours from 6 pm to 9 pm and
is much more on low voltage lines. Hence it is most appropriate to switch off the fridge during these peak hours.

Here a circuit is demonstrated which

automatically switches off the fridge
during this peak period and switches it
on after two and half hours, thus
enabling the saving of energy.

Circuit Working
An LDR is used as the light sensor to
detect the darkness around 6 pm.
During day light, LDR has less
resistance and it conducts. This keeps
the reset pin 12 of IC1 high and the IC remains off without oscillating. VR1 adjust the resetting of IC at the particular
light level in the room, say around 6 pm. When the light level in the room drops below the preset level, IC1 starts
oscillating. After 20 seconds, its pin 5 turns high and triggers the relay driver transistor T1. Normally the power supply
to the fridge is provided through the Comm and NC contacts of the relay. So when the relay triggers, the contacts
break and the power to the fridge will be cut off.

The other outputs of the IC1 turns high one by one as the binary counter advances. But since the outputs are taken to
the base of T1 through the diodes D2 through D9, T1 remains on during the entire period until the output pin 3 turns
high after 2.5 hours. When the output pin 3 turns high, diode D1 forward biases and inhibits the oscillation of IC. At
this time, all the outputs except pin 3 turns low and T1 switches off. Relay deenergizes and the Fridge again gets
power through the NC contact. This condition remains as such till the LDR gets light again in the morning.IC1 then
resets and pin3 again turns low. So during day time also, the Fridge works as usual. Only during the peak hours say
between 6 pm and 8.30 pm, the Fridge remains off. By increasing the value of either C1 or R1, you can increase the
time delay to 3 or 4 hours.

How to Set?

Assemble the circuit on a common PCB and enclose in a Box. You can use the case of a stabilizer so that the output
plug can be fixed easily. Use a 9 volt 500 mA transformer power supply for the circuit. Take the phase line from the
Transformer primary and connect it to the Common contact of the relay. Connect another wire to the NC contact of the
relay and connect its other end to the Live pin of the socket. Take a wire from the Neutral of the transformer primary
and connect it to the Neutral pin of the Socket. So now the socket can be used to plug in the Fridge. Fix the LDR
outside the box where day light is available (note that the room light during night should not fall on the LDR). If the
room light is not sufficient during day time, keep the LDR outside the room and connect it to the circuit using thin
wires. Adjust the preset VR1 to set the sensitivity of LDR at the particular light level.

Auto Dimming Aquarium Light

We all are familiar with Aquariums which we often use at homes for decorative purpose for some one having a desire
to keep fish at home (not for eating of course!).Here a basic system is demonstrated through it is possible to lighten up
the aquarium during the day and night and switch it off or dim it around midnight.
Basic principle involves controlling the triggering of the relay using an oscillating IC.

The circuit uses the

Binary counter IC
CD4060 to get the time
delay of 6 hours after the
sunset. An LDR is used
as light sensor to control
the working of IC. During
day time, LDR offers less
resistance and it
conducts. This keeps the
reset pin 12 of IC high and it remains off. When the intensity of day light decreases, the resistance of LDR increases
and the IC starts oscillating. This happens around 6 pm (as set by VR1). The oscillating components of IC1 are C1
and R1 which gives a time delay of 6 hours to turns the output pin 3 to high state. When the output pin3 goes high
(after 6 hours), transistor T1 turns on and the Relay triggers. At the same time, diode D1 forward biases and inhibits
the oscillation of IC.IC then latches and keeps the relay energized till the resetting of the IC in the morning.
Normally the power supply to the LED panel is through the Common and NC (Normally Connected) contacts of the
relay. But when the relay energize, the power supply to the LED panel will be bypassed through the NO (Normally
Open) contact of the relay. Before entering the LED panel, power passes through R4 and VR2 so that the LEDs turn
dim. VR2 is used to adjust the brightness of LEDs. The light from the LED panel can be adjusted from dim state to
fully off state using VR2.

The LED panel consists of 45 LEDs of single color or two colors. The LEDs should be high bright transparent type to
give sufficient brightness. Arrange the LEDs in 15 row each consisting of 3 LEDs in series with a 100 ohms current
limiting resistor. Only two rows are shown in the diagram. Arrange all the 15 rows as shown in the diagram. It is better
to fix the LEDs in a long sheet of common PCB and connect the panel to the relay using thin wires. The LDR should
be placed in a position to get day light. Connect the LDR using thin plastic wires and place it near the window or
outside so as to get day light.

IC4060

Let us now have a brief about IC 4060

IC CD 4060 is an excellent IC for designing timer for different

applications. By selecting suitable values of the timing
components, it is possible to adjust the timing from a few
seconds to several hours. CD 4060 is the Oscillator cum
Binary counter cum Frequency divider integrated circuit that
has a built in oscillator based on three inverters. The basic
frequency of the internal oscillator can be set using the external capacitor- resistor combination. IC CD4060 works
between 5 and 15 volts DC while the CMOS version HEF 4060 works down to three volts.

Pin 16 of the IC is the Vcc pin. If a 100 uF capacitor is connected to this pin, the IC gets more stability even if the input
voltage fluctuates slightly. Pin 8 is the ground pin.

Working

The IC4060 is a 14- stage binary ripple counter which generates the basic time delay pulses. Variable resistor R1 can
be adjusted to get different time delays. The delay pulse is obtained at IC 4060. The counter output is set by a
jumper. The output from the 4060 goes to a transistor switch arrangement. A jumper sets the option. – the relay can
turn ON when power and counting start then turn OFF after the count period, or – it can do the opposite. The relay will
turn ON after the end of the count period and stay on so long as power is supplied to the circuit. When the supply is
ON then transistors T1 and T2 are activated, then supply voltage is slowly goes to low. The supply voltage start at 12V
when supply is ON then slowly goes down. This is working of long duration timer.

Timing Circuit

IC CD4060 requires external timing components to feed oscillations to the Clock in pin 11. The timing capacitor is
connected to pin 9 and the timing resistor to pin 10. Clock in pin is 11 which also require a high value resistor around
1M. Instead of the external timing components, clock pulses from an oscillator can be fed to clock in pin 11. With the
external timing components, the IC will start oscillating and the time delay for the outputs depends on the values of the
timing resistor and timing capacitor.

Resetting

Pin 12 of the IC is the reset pin. IC oscillates only if the reset pin is at ground potential. So a 0.1 capacitor and a 100K
resistor are connected to reset the IC at power on. Then it will start oscillating.

Outputs and Binary Counting

The IC has 10 outputs each can source around 10 mA current and voltage slightly less than that of Vcc. The outputs
are numbered as Q3 through Q13. Output Q10 is missing so that double time can be obtained from Q11. This
enhances more flexibility to get more timing. Each output from Q3 to Q13 goes high after completing one timing cycle.
Inside the IC there is an oscillator and 14 serially connected Bistables. This arrangement is called Ripple Cascade
arrangement. Initially, the oscillation is applied to the first bistable which then drives the second bistable and so on.
The signal input is divided by two in each bistable so a total 15 signals are available each of half the frequency of the
previous one. Out of these 15 signals, 10 signals are available from Q3 to Q13. So the second output gets double time
than that of first output. The Third output gets double time than that of the Second one. This continues and maximum
time will be available at the last output Q13. But during that time, other outputs will also give high output based on
their timing.

Latching the IC
CD 4060 based timer can be latched to block the oscillation and to keep the output high until resetting. For this IN4148
diode can be used. When the high output is connected to Pin11 through the diode, the clocking will be inhibited when
that output becomes high. The IC will stars oscillation again only if it is reset by switching off the power.

Formula for the Timing Cycle

Time t = 2 n / f osc = Seconds

n is the selected Q output number

2 n = Q output number = 2 x Q no times Eg. Q3 output = 2x2x2 = 8

f osc = 1 / 2.5 (R1XC1) = in Hertz

R1 is the resistance at pin 10 in Ohms and C1, the capacitor at pin 9 in Farads.

For example if R1 is 1M and C1 0.22 the basic frequency f osc is

1 / 2.5(1,000,000 x 0.000,000 22) = 1.8 Hz

If the selected output is Q3 then 2 n is 2 x 2 x 2 = 8

Therefore time period (in seconds) is t = 2 n / 1.8 Hz = 8 / 1.8 = 4.4 seconds