Reliable Car Battery Tester Circuit Diagram

This circuit uses the popular and easy to find LM3914 IC. This IC is very simple to drive, needs no voltage regulators (it has a built in voltage regulator) and can be powered from almost every source. This circuit is very easy to explain: When the test button is pressed, the Car battery voltage is feed into a high impedance voltage divider. His purpose is to divide 12V to 1,25V (or lower values to lower values).

This solution is better than letting the internal voltage regulator set the 12V sample voltage to be feed into the internal voltage divider simply because it cannot regulate 12V when the voltage drops lower (linear regulators only step down). Simply wiring with no adjust, the regulator provides stable 1,25V which is fed into the precision internal resistor cascade to generate sample voltages for the internal comparators. Anyway the default setting let you to measure voltages between 8 and 12V but you can measure even from 0V to 12V setting the offset trimmer to 0 (but i think that under 9 volt your car would not start).

There is a smoothing capacitor (4700uF 16V) it is used to adsorb EMF noise produced from the ignition coil if you are measuring the battery during the engine working. Diesel engines would not need it, but I'm not sure. If you like more a point graph rather than a bar graph simply disconnect pin 9 on the IC (MODE) from power. The calculations are simple (default)

For the first comparator the voltage is : 0,833 V corresponding to 8 V
* * * * * voltage is : 0,875 V corresponding to 8,4 V
for the last comparator the voltage is : 1,25 V corresponding to 12 V
Have fun, learn and don't let you car battery discharge... ;-)

author: Jonathan Filippi

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Lamp and Fuse Tester Circuit Diagram

Why a lamp tester or fuse tester? Testing cables, wires, lamps… belongs to a repair job and sometimes this becomes too cumbersome since one has only two hands and too often, one has to hold the part being tester and the two probes of an ordinary continuity tester all at the same time.

This fuse and lamp tester enables easy testing of lamps and fuses by using the conductivity of the human body. One of the test probes is connected to the part under test while the other probe is hel dby the normal hand.

Lamp and Fuse Tester Circuit Diagram

When the lamp or fuse is working properly, your eyes will glow in the dark! Just kidding :) . When the lamp or fuse is working properly, a small amount of current flows through the hand which is enough to switch the transistors and light the LED. 

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Zener Tester Circuit Diagram

The circuit can be simply Q1 is connected as a current source. By D1, there is a constant voltage on the base, and it is worth considering the selected resistor in the emitter approximately 5.6 V. With an emitter resistor of 5K6 R2 will then 1mA through the transistor.

With the chosen resistors in the circuit the current is approximately: 1mA, 2mA, 5mA, 10mA and 20mA. Great precision is not required.

If meter is chosen here for a small DVM module. However, every other meter is applicable, provided that the input resistance is high enough.

Construction:
The circuit is simple to build on a piece of PCB holes. Note that the DVM module separate from the circuit galvanic isolated power supply needs.

Using
Connect the test zener diode between the terminal A and K. Start with a current of 2mA. This is a safe value for most type zener diodes. Depending on the type of zener diode, may be chosen for a greater current. Than the Zener voltage will vary slightly.

Join the zener diode on backwards, the meter will indicate approximately 0.7V. The same picture shows an ordinary silicon diode. A germanium diode, a voltage of about 0.3 V to 0.4 V indicate when a Schottky approximately 0.2 V indicates.

Connect an LED to A and K, it will be highlighted and the Vforward (LED voltage) of the LED indicate.
The diode / LED failure, the meter displays zero if the voltage at the collector of Q1 is, this is> 25V.

Zener Tester Circuit Diagram

parts List

     Bridge rectifier BR1 = 40V 500mA
     R1 = 3k3 ¼ W
     R2 = 5K6 ¼ W
     R3 = 2k7 ¼ W
     R4 = 1k ¼ W
     R5 = 560 ohm W ½
     R6 = 270 ohm ½ W
     C1 = 470µF 35V
     D1 = 6V2 zener 400mW
     Q1 = BC161-16
     S1 = on / off switch
     S2 = 5 modes 1 mom ignition switch
     ENG = The diode under test (Device Under Test)
     DVM DVM = module of BACO or Dick Best (input adapted to 200V)

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Circuit Board Checker Circuit Diagram

This little circuit indicates the basic integrity of a printed board, detecting 0V, positive supply voltage from less than 3V to 30V and floating parts. If the probe is floating, as it would be in a broken track, then both LEDs barely light up, since there is no current to drive the transistors, but if the probe touches 0V or a positive voltage one or other lights. A digital signal should light them in proportion to the mark-space ratio whereas the output of a circuit oscillating at a frequency rate below about 20Hz will cause the LEDs to flicker alternatively. The LEDs will illuminate always at a constant intensity, no matter the voltage supply used, because they are fed by a very simple FET constant-current generator (Q1).

Circuit diagram:

Circuit Board Checker Circuit Diagram

Parts:

R1 = 22K
R2 = 22K
D1 = Red LED
D2 = Green LED
Q1 = BF245
Q2 = BC547
Q3 = BC557

Notes:

• The Black clip must be connected to the negative ground of the board under test.
• The Red clip should be connected to a positive voltage source (not exceeding 30V) available on the same board.
• Metal probe is suitable for this circuit.
• Two Miniature Crocodile Clips (Red and Black) are also necessary.

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Wire Continuity Tester by LM709 Circuit Diagram

While detecting discontinuities on a circuit board, it is probable to include resistors, semiconductors or other elements in measurements. This situation may cause wrong results. On the other hand sometimes the voltage or current of the multimeter may defect some circuit components.

Our circuit overcomes this inconvenient conditions. The circuit determines greater than 1 ohm values as discontinuity. Measure voltage is not more than 2mV. So no kind of diode, IC or other component is bypassed. Maximum current output of the circuit is about 200uA.

Simple Wire Continuity Tester by LM709 

Indicator of the circuit is a LED. Voltage supply may be two 9 Volt batteries. Voltage adjustment of the amplifier is done by P1 potentiometer. To do this process, first short circuit the probes and then turn P1 until LED brights. When you separate the probes again LED will fade out. This is a cheap and very useful circuit. You can build it on a PCB to use more easily.

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Infra-red Remote Control Tester Circuit Diagram

As I was developing my IR Extender Circuit, I needed to find a way of measuring the relative intensities of different Infra red light sources. This circuit is the result of my research. I have used a photodiode, SFH2030 as an infra red sensor. A MOSFET opamp, CA3140 is used in the differential mode to amplify the pulses of current from the photodiode. LED1 is an ordinary coloured led which will light when IR radiation is being received.

The output of the opamp, pin 6 may be connected to a multimeter set to read DC volts. Infra red remote control strengths can be compared by the meter reading, the higher the reading, the stronger the infra red light. I aimed different remote control at the sensor from about 1 meter away when comparing results. For every microamp of current through the photodiode, about 1 volt is produced at the output. A 741 or LF351 will not work in this circuit. Although I have used a 12 volt power supply, a 9 volt battery will also work here.

Circuit diagram:

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Infrared Remote Tester Circuit Diagram

Suitable for any Infrared emitting device, 3V battery supply. A very simple device allowing a quick check of common Infra-red Remote-Controls can be useful to the electronics amateur, frequently asked to repair or test these ubiquitous devices. A reliable circuit was designed with a handful of components: the LED will flash when any of the Remote-Control push buttons will be pressed. The side of the Remote-Control bearing the IR emitting diode(s) must be directed towards the Photo Transistor (Q1) of the checker circuit: maximum distance should not exceed about 20 - 25cm.

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Circuit Diagram:

 Infrared Remote Tester Circuit Diagram

Parts:
R1 = 470K
R2 = 47R
D1 = LED Any Type
Q1 = Photo Transistor
Q2 = BC327
B1 = 3V Battery or 2 AA cell


Notes:

• Current drawing of the circuit is less than 1mA when the LED illuminates and 0mA when no signal is picked-up by the Photo Transistor: therefore, SW1 can be omitted.
• SW1 will be SPST Toggle or Slider Switch

Sourced By: Streampowers

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Measuring Milliohms with a Multimeter Circuit Diagram

Low values of resistance can be troublesome especially when large current s f low through them. A current of, say, 10 A passing through a terminal with a contact resistance of 50 m? will produce a voltage difference of 0.5 V. This resulting power loss of five watts is dissipated in the termination and can give rise to a dangerously high temperature which may degrade insulation around the wires.
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Measuring Milli ohms with a Multimeter Circuit Diagram

Measuring Milliohms with a Multimeter Circuit Diagram
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Measuring low values of resistance is not easy. Low cost multimeters do not include a milliohm measurement range and specialist equipment is expensive. The simple circuit described here allows milliohm measurements to be made safely on a standard ist equipment is expensive. The simple circuit described here allows milliohm measurements to be made safely on a standard multimeter. The circuit consists of little more than a 6 V voltage regulator and a mains adapter capable of supplying around 300 mA at 9 to 12 V. 

The circuit supplies a fixed cur-rent output of 100 mA or 10 mA selected by switch S1. This connects either the 60 ? or 600 ? resistor into the constant current generator circuit. The resistor values are produced by paralleling two identical resistors; 120 ? and 1.2 k? from the E12 standard resistor range. Two test leads with probes are used to deliver current to the test resistance. The resultant voltage drop is measured by the multimeter (M1). With the test current set to100 mA a measurement of 1 mV indicates a resistance of 10 m?. At 10 mA (with S1 in the position shown in the diagram) a measurement of 1 mV indicates a resistance of 100 m? while 0.1 mV is equal to 1 m?. Diode D1 protects the meter from too high an input voltage. 

With the voltmeter connected as shown in the diagram it measures not only the voltage drop across RX but also that produced by the resistance of the test leads, and probes. To make a true measurement, first touch the probes close together on the same lead of the test resistance and note the reading, now place the probes across the test resistance and note the reading again. The first reading measures just the test leads and probes while the second includes the resistance RX. Subtract the first measurement from the second to get the value of RX. 

The accuracy of the measurements are influenced by the contact resistance of switch S1, the precision of resistors R1 to R4, the 6 V supply level and of course the accuracy of the measuring voltmeter. For optimum decoupling C1 should be fitted as close as possible to pin1 of IC1. An additional electrolytic capacitor of around 500 µF can be used at the input to the circuit if the input voltage from the AC power adapter exhibits excessive ripple.

Author : Klaus Bertholdt - Copyright : Elektor

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