Loudspeaker Protector Monitors Current

This circuit uses a 0.1O 1W resistor connected in series with the output of a power amplifier. When the amplifier is delivering 100W into an 8O load, the resistor will be dissipating 1.25W. The resulting temperature rise is sensed by a thermistor which is thermally bonded to the resistor. The thermistor is connected in series with a resistor string which is monitored by the non-inverting (+) inputs of four comparators in an LM339 quad comparator.

All of the comparator inverting inputs are connected to an adjustable threshold voltage provided by trimpot VR1. As the thermistor heats up, its resistance increases, raising the voltage along the resistor ladder.

Circuit diagram:

Loudspeaker Protector Circuit Diagram

When the voltage on the non-inverting input of each comparator exceeds the voltage at its inverting input, the output switches high and illuminates the relevant LED. NOR gate latches are connected to the outputs of the third and fourth comparators. When the third comparator switches high, the first latch is set, turning on Q1 and relay 1. This switches in an attenuation network (resistors RA & RB) to reduce the power level.

However, if the power level is still excessive, comparator 4 will switch, setting its latch and turning on Q2 and relay 2. This disconnects the loudspeaker load. The thermistor then needs to cool down before normal operation will be restored. The values of R1-R4 depend on the thermistor used. For example, if a thermistor with a resistance of 1.5kO at 25°C is used, then R1 could be around 1.5kO and R2, R3 and R4 would each be 100O (depending the temperature coefficient of the thermistor).

The setup procedure involves connecting a sinewave oscillator to the input of the power amplifier and using a dummy load for the output. Set the power level desired and adjust trimpot VR1 to light LED1. Then increase the power to check that the other LEDs light at satisfactory levels.

Author: David Devers - Copyright: Silicon Chip Electronics

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Simple Voltage to Current Converter Drives White LEDs

You sometimes need to drive a white LED from one 1.5V battery. Unfortunately, the forward voltage of a white LED is 3 to 4V. So, you would need a dc/dc converter to drive the LED from one battery. Using the simple circuit in Figure 1, you can drive one white LED or two series-connected green LEDs, using only a few components. The circuit is a voltage-to-current converter, which converts the battery voltage to a current that passes through the LED.

You can adjust this current and, thus, the brightness of the LED, by varying resistor R3. If you turn on switch S1, resistor R2 feeds base current to transistor Q2. Q2 turns on, and its collector current, via R3, turns on Q1. Now, the current through inductor L1 increases. The slope of the increase is a function of the value of L1 and the battery voltage. The current through L1 increases until it reaches a maximum value, which depends on the gain of Q1. Because the value of R3 sets the base current drawn from Q1, Q1s collector current is also limited.

White LEDs Circuit Diagram

Once the current through L1 reaches its maximum value, the slope of the current through L1 changes. At that instant, the voltage on L1 switches to a negative polarity forced by the changed slope. This negative voltage traverses capacitor C1 and turns off Q2, which in turn turns off Q1. The negative voltage on L1 increases until it reaches the forward voltage of the LED. The peak current through inductor L1 now flows through the LED and decreases to zero. Now, Q2 switches on again, via the current through R2, and the cycle starts again.

By adjusting resistor R3, you can set the peak current through L1 and the peak current through the LED. The brightness of an LED is a linear function of the current through the LED. So, adjusting the value of R3 also adjusts the brightness of the LED.

It doesnt matter which LED you use; the forward voltage on the LED always increases until the peak current through L1 flows through the LED. Different forward voltages of the LEDs yield different on-times (duty cycles) but the same peak current through the LED. With the values shown in Figure 1, the circuit oscillates at a frequency of approximately 30 kHz and delivers a 20-mA peak current through the LED.

The duty cycle depends on the ratio of the battery voltage to the forward voltage of the LED. One advantage of this circuit is that it requires no series-limiting resistor for the LED. The peak current through the LED is a function of the value of R3 and the gain of Q1.[via]

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Solid State Relay Required Only 50uA Drive Current

This circuit demands a control current that is 100 times smaller than that needed by a typical optically isolated solid state relays. It is ideal for battery-powered systems. Using a combination of a high current TRIAC and a very sensitive low current SCR, the circuit can control about 600 watts of power to load while providing full isolation and transient protection.

Solid State Relay Circuit diagram:

 Source: Discover Circuits

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