Adjustable timer unit

There is a variety of outdoor light controllers available. Some switch lights ON at the fall of dusk and OFF at the break of dawn. Others switch lights ON at the end of dusk and OFF after few hours. But for domestic use, where we require light in the early morning also, these do not serve the purpose. The circuit described here solves this problem.

It offers the following features:

1. It switches ON lights at about 6.00 PM and switches OFF at about 11.00 PM. Again it switches ON lights at about 4.30 AM and switches OFF about 6.00 AM. We can change this time by changing simple components.
2. There are separate ON and OFF switches for easy operation of the system.
3. It use LED indicators to detect different conditions of the circuit.
4. Preset control to set the trigger time.
5. The circuit comprises five sections.

Block diagram of Adjustable Timer Unit

1. Triggering

This section is used to trigger the circuit at the fall of dusk. It is configured around IC 1, which is working in the monostable mode. A variable voltage is fed to trigger pin 2 of IC 1 via LDR and VR 1. In the monostable mode of operation, the output of IC 1 stays high as long as its trigger input stays bellow 1/3 Vcc.

At night, the resistance of LDR is high, so the voltage at pin 2 is at a low level and hence the output of IC 1 goes high at night. The output condition of IC 1 can be detected from LED 1. the output of IC 1 gives power supply to the next stage.

2. Resetting

The next section is used to reset two 4017 decade counter ICs used in the counter section. This is also based on a 555 timer [IC 2]. Its trigger pin 2 is connected to capacitor C3 and resistor R4. In the absence of supply, there is no voltage across capacitor is bellow 1/3 Vcc and its output goes to a high state. The voltage across capacitor C3 increases, so that the voltage at pin 2 crosses 1/3 Vcc. The time period for which the output stays in the high state depends upon resistor R5 and capacitor C4 and is given by the relationship 1.1*R5*C4.

The output of IC 2 is given to the reset pin 15 of decade counter IC 3 and IC 4. These ICs are reset when IC 2 is triggered, and as long as the output of IC 3 is in the high state, the counters sty in the reset position.

3. Oscillator

This section is used to produce a square wave output. It is based on IC 5 an NE 555. Its output frequency depends upon resistors R6 and R7 and capacitor C5 and is calculated by the equation

1.443/( (R7+2R6)C5)

The output frequency is fed to the counter section.

4. Counting

The counter section is used to count the output frequency from the oscillating section. It uses two CMOS CD4017 ICs. The frequency from oscillating section, IC 5, is fed to the input pin of IC 3. IC 3 works as frequency divider and its output is fed to the input pin of IC 4.

The four outputs of IC 4 are combined by using diodes D1 through D4. This combined output is given to the last section. If any of the output is high, then the load is ON state. The condition of this combined output is detected by LED 2.

5. Output

The output section is used to switch the relay ON and OFF. It is based on BEL 187 transistor. The relay is connected at the collector of transistor. Diode D5 is connected to protect transistor. The output from the counting section is fed to the base of transistor through resistor R3. If the output from counting section is high, it biases the transistor and thus the relay is activated.

Working:

At the fall of dusk, the resistance of LDR increases, so a large voltage is dropped across it, resulting in a decrease in the voltage at pin2.

When the voltage at pin 2 drops below 1/3 Vcc, IC 1 is triggered and stays in the high state still morning. Since the output of IC 1 is high, the next three states get power supply.

When C3 is fully charged, IC 2 is triggered and reset pins of IC 3 and IC 4 both get a positive value. Therefore, the first outputs of both ICs are high. This condition changes when the voltage across capacitor C4 crosses 2/3 Vcc, because then the output of IC 2 goes to a low  state and the reset pins of IC 3 and IC 4 get a negative pulse each. In this condition IC 3 gets ready to accept pulses from the oscillating section and its outputs are changed.

For each set of ten pulses from IC 5 the outputs of IC 4 are changed one by one. The output time period of oscillating section is about 540.5 seconds, i.e. about nine minutes. Since IC 3 divides the output frequency from IC 5. IC 4 gets a time period 9*10=90 minutes, i.e. one and half hours. So, the outputs of IC 4 are changed every one and half hour’s duration.

When the controller is switched ON, the output Q0 at pin 3 of IC 4 is high and it turns on the load for first one and a half hour. Then, the next output Q1 at pin 2 is high, which switches ON the load for the second one and a half hour. Next, output Q2 at pin 4 goes high, which switches ON the load for the same period again.

When the output Q3 at pin 7 is high it switches of the relay as pin 7 has no connection. Then, the output of IC 6 changes to Q4, Q5, Q6 for each one and a half hour, and when it reaches Q7(i.e. pin 6) the load is again switched on. After one and a half hour, the output is changed to Q8 (pin 9). Since pin 9 of IC 6 has no connection, it again switches OFF the relay.

At the break of dawn, the resistance of LDR decreases, and the trigger pin of IC 1 gets a positive voltage greater than ½ Vcc, so that its output goes low which, in turn cuts off power supply to the next three stages.

Circuit diagram of Adjustable Timer Unit