![]() ![]() And the output switches to a low state or negative saturation when the input voltage at the inverting terminal is larger than the non-inverting terminal. The output of the comparator will be in a high state or positive saturation when the input voltage at the non-inverting terminal is larger than the voltage at the inverting terminal. The two inputs of the comparator are inverting ( – ) and non-inverting ( + ) inputs. The voltage level indicator circuit given here uses a comparator circuit to compare the input values to check whether the input is above or below the reference value.Ī comparator is a device that compares two inputs and produces an output that indicates which input is larger. ![]() Because the input value is above the reference point 3V & 6V but below 9V & 12V. If we apply an input voltage of 8V then the LED 1 and 2 becomes ON and the LED 3 and 4 remain OFF. Usually, the circuit consists of a sequence of threshold points with the corresponding sequence of LEDs arranged to light ON when the input voltage reaches equal to or above each threshold values.įor example, the reference points of a voltage level circuit are 3V, 6V, 9V, 12V, and the corresponding LEDs are LED1, LED2, LED3, LED4 respectively. Connecting a 33K resistor across D9 corrected this little problem without affecting anything else.A voltage level indicator is a circuit that can be used to indicate the voltage range of input supply. This was traced to Zener D9 dropping out of conduction thus starving the voltage divider. Testing on variable voltage turned up an interesting bug –when the voltage was turned down to about 10V, all LEDs lit again. To reduce standby power, a push-to-test pushbutton may be used. This current can be adjusted simply by varying the emitter driver resistors (R9 through R13). The LEDs are biased to operate at 2.3mA which is reasonably bright for high efficiency LEDs. The remaining LEDs will switch on close to the indicated voltage –accuracy of those voltages may suffer slightly, but should be close. Then adjust the calibration pot until D2 flickers. The quad comparator compares the various voltages from the two dividers.įor calibration, connect to a voltage source that can be set to the highest LED threshold (41V in this case). R7 & 8 form a voltage divider to that divides the battery voltage by a factor of 9. Tied to this is a string of divider resistors (R2-6) that set the various fixed voltage levels. While this is relatively busy, it places virtually no burden on the shunt regulator.ĭ1 is the voltage reference zener. By limiting the emitter current, the LED current is automatically limited to the same value. However, the cascode transistors may drive LEDs that are tied to a much higher voltage –up to 80V using the MPS-A16. By tying the bases of these transistors to the 13V bus, the LM339 open collector drive transistors never see more than 13V. In this circuit it offers one great property –low voltage in, high voltage out. This configuration is generally used for RF amplifiers. There are two solutions for this: increase the current rating of the shunt regulator so that it can power the LEDs, or run the LEDs via a cascode amplifier arrangement –I chose the cascode amplifier.Ī cascode amplifier is a configuration where one transistor feeds a 2nd transistor that is connected in the common base configuration. However, the LM339 open collector outputs cannot drive LEDs powered from the battery bus due to the same maximum voltage limitation. Shunt regulators are very simple, inexpensive and robust –good for this application. ![]() The solution involves running the IC power rail off a zener shunt regulator. One limiting factor is the LM339 that has an absolute maximum voltage rating of 36V –and it is not good practice to operate near that point.
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