Automatic Temperature Controller

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Automatic temperature controller

The circuit presented here main- tains the temperature of the load (e.g., electric
irons, heaters, etc) between two preset levels, i.e., a higher and a lower level
which may be manually adjusted with the help of potentiometers VR1 and VR2
respectively. The load supply has been connected via a relay such that the load is
‘on’ only when the relay is energised. The circuit makes use of two negative
temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistors having a resistance of approximately 3
kilo-ohms at room temperature. The thermistors should be placed in the vicinity
of the load for sensing its temperature. The thermistors are connected to the op-
amps which are operated in open loop mode, i.e., as comparators. IC2 (555) is
used in monostable mode and is wired in such a way that its output ‘on time’ not
only depends on RC time constant (1.1x R9 x C1) but also on the output status of
op-amp B at pin 7. Initially, when the circuit is switched on and the temperature
is normal, output pins 1 and 7 of op-amps A and B and pin 3 of timer 555 are at
low level. Transistor T3 is off and transistor T4 is forward biased via zener D3.
The relay is energised and hence the power supply to the load is connected.
When the temperature of the load increases and crosses the lower level for the
first time, pin 7 of the op-amp B goes high but nothing happens since collector of
transistor T2 is open circuited as relay RL1 is in energised state. However, when
temperature further rises and crosses the higher level, output pin 1 of op-amp A
also goes high, triggering IC 555 via transistor T1. The output of 555 goes high
and results in conduction of transistor T3, cutting off transistor T4. This in turn
switches off the relay and thus the supply to the load is disconnected. Timer 555
will continue to remain in this state and will come out only when the temperature
falls below the low level, at which stage output pin 7 of op-amp B would go low
and the load would be again switched on (connected to the supply). A buzzer with
its positive terminal connected to the collector of the transistor T4 and the
negative terminal grounded can be used to give audio indication when the
temperature is between the desired limits.
The current rating of the relay contacts should be high enough to withstand the
load current. This circuit, when incorporated in the electric water heater or any
other electric heating appliance, would effectively maintain the temperature
within the desired limits.

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