DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

CENTRE FOR DIPLOMA STUDIES

UNIVERSITI TUN HUSSEIN ONN MALAYSIA

GROUP PROJECT REPORT

Project ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENT AND

MEASUREMENT (DAE 21402)

Project Title LIGHT SENSOR CIRCUIT

Course 2 DAE

1. AMIRUL ASHRAF BIN KAMIL

Student’s Name ( AA 162038 )
2. AIMAN MUIEZUDDIN BIN ZULKEFLI
( AA 161292 )
3. MUHAMMAD FAKHRURAZI BIN ABD MAJID
( AA 161200 )

Instructor’s Name PUAN ZIANA BINTI CHE ROSE

AIM
To find out how a light dependent resistor is affected by light intensity.

OBJECTIVES

 To demonstration of working of light dependent resistor and explaining its

characteristics
 To explaining application of photocell with ONE light sensitive circuits.
 To analyzing advantages and disadvantages of light sensor circuit in real life

LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this topic you will be able to;

 Describe the use of photo-transistors, light sensor circuit and light dependent resistors
(LDR)

 State that the resistance of an LDR falls as light intensity increases (non-linear);
 Describe how potentiometers can be used as variable resistors
 List the application from light sensor circuit
 Explain the working principle of light dependent resistors (LDR)

BENEFITS OF PROJECT

 Student will know the working flow of light sensor circuit

 More application of light sensor can be innovate by student when they understand the
working flows.
 Inexpensive cadmium sulphide cells can be found in many consumer items such as
camera light meters, street lights, clock radios, alarm devices, and outdoor clocks.
 They are also used in some dynamic compressors together with a small incandescent
lamp or light emitting diode to control gain reduction
 LDR’s is used in light interruption detectors, automatic light circuits, and logarithmic law
photographic light meters.
LIST OF COMPONENTS / APPARATUS
No. Components / Item Value / Type Quantity

1 Resistor, R1 10 K 1

2 Resistor, R2, R3 1.2 K 2

3 Resistor, R4 100 Ω 1

4 Ceramic Capacitor, C1 0.1 μF (104) @ 100 nF 1

5 Electrolytic Capacitor, C2 1 μF 1

6 Potentiometer, VR1 22 K 1

7 LDR (non-polarity) Normally 50 KΩ 1

8 IC 555 Timer + IC holder (8 pin) 1+1

9 NPN Transistor, Q1 9013 (NPN) 1

10 LED 1, LED 2, LED 3 Normal LED 3

11 Strip board - 1

12 Single core wires: red, black, blue 1 meter each

13 Multi core wires: red, black 1 meter each

14 Solder lead (timah) 1 meter

15 Electronics Soldering iron 15 W – 30 W

16 Battery, PPC (Segi-4) 9V 1 unit

17 Small long nose plier

18 Small cutter

19 Multimeter (China), Test Pen

20 Small Breadboard
SCHEMETIC CIRCUIT DIAGRAM
 RESULTS OF MEASUREMENT ACTIVITIES

DC DC DC DC
Ohmmeter Ohmmeter
No Test point to be measured Voltmeter Ammeter Voltmeter Ammeter % error Notes
Reading Reading
Reading Reading Reading Reading
Simulation (Theoretical Values) Practical (Measured Valued)

1 V at pin 2 IC1 200 mV X X 18.93 mV X X

2 V at pin 3 IC1 8.5V X X 8.93 V X X

3 V at pin 4 IC1 9V X X 9.00 V X X
4 V at pin 5 IC1 6V X X 6.00 V X X
5 V at pin 6 IC1 8V X X 9.00 V X X
6 V across R2 30 mV X X 1.03 mV X X
7 V across R3 8V X X 8.14 V X X
8 V across R4 0.7 V X X 1.59 V X X

9 VBC of Q1 0.7 V X X 769.47 mV X X

10 VBE of Q1 0.7 V X X 790.87 mV X X
11 VLED1 2V X X 2.46 V X X

V across anode LED 3 and

12 7V X X 7.39 V X X
cathode LED 1

I flow through R2 when all

13 X 400 µA X X 401.83 mA X
LED off

I flow through R2 when all

14 X 10 µA X X 861 nA X
LED on

I flow through R3 when all

15 X 0A X X 0A X
LED off

I flow through R3 when all

16 X 6 mA X X 718.19 mA X
LED on

I flow through R4 when all

17 X 0A X X 0A X
LED off

I flow through R4 when all

18 X 10 mA X X 20.95 mA X
LED on

19 R of LDR when fully dark X X 50 K X X 2.90 k

20 R of LDR when fully bright X X 2K X X 464.01
DISCUSSION
The resistance of the cell when unilluminated (dark resistance) is very high at about
10MΩ’s which falls to about 100Ω’s when fully illuminated (lit resistance). To increase the dark
resistance and therefore reduce the dark current, the resistive path forms a zigzag pattern
across the ceramic substrate. The CdS photocell is a very low cost device often used in auto
dimming, darkness or twilight detection for turning the street lights “ON” and “OFF”, and for
photographic exposure meter type applications.

Connecting a light dependent resistor in series with a standard resistor like this across a
single DC supply voltage has one major advantage, a different voltage will appear at their
junction for different levels of light. The amount of voltage drop across series resistor, R2 is
determined by the resistive value of the light dependent resistor, RLDR. This ability to generate
different voltages produces a very handy circuit called a “Potential Divider” or Voltage Divider
Network.

As we know, the current through a series circuit is common and as the LDR changes its
resistive value due to the light intensity, the voltage present at VOUT will be determined by the
voltage divider formula. An LDR’s resistance, RLDR can vary from about 100Ω’s in the sun light,
to over 10MΩ’s in absolute darkness with this variation of resistance being converted into a
voltage variation at VOUT.

This basic light sensor circuit is of a relay output light activated switch. A potential
divider circuit is formed between the photoresistor, LDR and the resistor R1. When no light is
present ie in darkness, the resistance of the LDR is very high in the Megaohms (MΩ’s) range so
zero base bias is applied to the transistor TR1 and the relay is de-energised or “OFF”.As the light
level increases the resistance of the LDR starts to decrease causing the base bias voltage at V1
to rise. At some point determined by the potential divider network formed with resistor R1, the
base bias voltage is high enough to turn the transistor TR1 “ON” and thus activate the relay
which in turn is used to control some external circuitry. As the light level falls back to darkness
again the resistance of the LDR increases causing the base voltage of the transistor to decrease,
turning the transistor and relay “OFF” at a fixed light level determined again by the potential
divider network.

By replacing the fixed resistor R1 with a potentiometer VR1, the point at which the relay
turns “ON” or “OFF” can be pre-set to a particular light level. This type of simple circuit shown
above has a fairly low sensitivity and its switching point may not be consistent due to variations
in either temperature or the supply voltage. A more sensitive precision light activated circuit
can be easily made by incorporating the LDR into a “Wheatstone Bridge” arrangement and
replacing the transistor with an Operational Amplifier.
CONCLUSION
During the making of the project LIGHT SENSOR CIRCUIT, we developed a vast
knowledge on working of IC'S, LDR's and concept of Relay.

We also studied and collected information on the various fields of implementations of

the system. This project is very beneficial in today's life as we worked on electronics
equipment’s. The task was decided between the group members and every task was
interrelated, so it was our duly Lo ensure that every one of us completed our task before
moving to next step. This helped us to develop an understanding of the Learn work and the
need lo carry everyone along working for a group project.

By completing this project, we also learnt that there are many application of Light
Sensor Circuit such as Street lights, Shadow alarm, Burglar alarm, Fire alarm Garage door and
car control systems Other remote control systems

POSSITIVE COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS

This project taught us a lot about Light Sensor circuit which use LDR as the sensor. Not only did
we learn about light sensor circuit, we also learn about team works from this project. We would
suggest to make more project such this project in next Semester because it bring out many
positive things.

REFERENCES
WEB

 http: /Lpecworld.zxgunet/Assets/SQURCEIPDE fun circuit / A pdf files manual 20303

lune05.pdf 2.
 www.datasheetscatalog.com/datasheets pdfNL.INE 555.shtml
 http: / Len wikipedia orgl/wikil/Switch
Book

 Ramakant A. Gayakwad- "OP AMP and linear integrated circuits 4th edition 2001), Page
no 33, 33 133-147.
 TOTAL COST

No. Components / Item Value / Type Quantity RM / Item Total RM

1 Resistor, R1 10 K 1 RM 0.05 RM 0.05

2 Resistor, R2, R3 1.2 K 2 RM 0.05 RM 0.10

3 Resistor, R4 100 Ω 1 RM 0.05 RM 0.05

4 Ceramic Capacitor, C1 0.1 μF (104) @ 100 nF 1 RM 0.10 RM 0.10

5 Electrolytic Capacitor, C2 1 μF 1 RM 0.10 RM 0.10

6 Potentiometer, VR1 22 K 1 RM 1.10 RM 1.10

7 LDR (non-polarity) Normally 50 KΩ 1 RM 0.60 RM 0.60

8 IC 555 Timer + IC holder (8 pin) 1+1 RM 1.50 RM 1.50

9 NPN Transistor, Q1 9013 (NPN) 1 RM 1.20 RM 1.20

10 LED 1, LED 2, LED 3 Normal LED 3 RM 0.20 RM 0.60

11 Strip board - 1 RM 3.00 RM 3.00

Single core wires: red, black,

12 4 meters RM 0.60 RM 2.40
blue

13 Multi core wires: red, black 3 meters RM 0.80 RM 2.40

14 Solder lead (timah) 3 meters RM 2.97 RM 8.91

15 Electronics Soldering iron 15 W – 30 W RM 15.70 RM 15.70

16 Battery, PPC (Segi-4) 9V 1 unit RM 10.50 RM 10.50

17 Small long nose plier - -

18 Small cutter - -

19 Multimeter (China), Test Pen 1 unit RM 3.98 RM 3.98

20 Small Breadboard 1 unit RM 12.75 RM 12.75

TOTAL COST RM 53.30