10 Different Electronic Projects

This article is for all those electronics enthusiasts eager to fidget with
the basic components in electronics, available all around. So here are 10
very simple yet interesting electronic projects.
1. Crystal Tester
Crystal is used as an oscillator, to generate a high frequency. In all the major
electronic projects crystal is used instead of coil. It is easy to test a coil using
a multimeter but it is quite tough to test a crystal. So in order to overcome
this problem this simple project is designed using few passive components for
testing the crystal.
Circuit Components 

Circuit Connection
This electronic circuit consists of a crystal oscillator, two capacitors and a
transistor forming a Colpitt oscillator. A combination of diodes and capacitors
are used for rectification and filtering respectively. Another NPN transistor is
used as a switch to make the LED glow.

Circuit Diagram 
 Crystal Tester Circuit Diagram
Circuit Operation
The entire circuit is operated with two transistors, two diodes, and few passive
components. If the testing crystal is good then it operates as an oscillator in
combination with transistor. The diode rectifies the output of the oscillator and
the capacitor filters the output. This output is now fed to the base of the
transistor and the transistor starts conducting.

An LED is connected to the collector of the transistor through the resistor. The
LED gets proper biasing and starts emitting light, i.e. it starts glowing. In case
if any fault occurring in the testing crystal then the LED does not glow.

2. Battery Voltage Monitor

This electronic project is used to monitor the charging and discharging of the
battery such that the battery voltage doesn’t exceed the specific level of that
battery. It basically acts as a controlled battery charger. It indicates the
state of the battery.
Circuit Components 
 Circuit Connections
The circuit of the battery voltage monitor is implemented using
an operational amplifier IC (LM709) which is used as a comparator. Here a
bi color LED is used to indicate the status of the battery. A combination of a
resistor and a potentiometer is used as a potential divider.
The voltage at this potential divider is fed to the inverting input pin of the
comparator. The resistor R3 and R4 is used as current limiter of the LED.

Circuit Diagram

Battery Voltage Monitor Circuit

Diagram
Circuit Operation
The entire electronic circuit is powered by 12V battery. When the voltage level
of the battery increases up to 13.5 volts, the voltage at the inverting input is
less than then voltage at the non inverting input and the output of the OPAMP
goes low. LED1 begins to emit red light which indicates that battery is over
charged.

When the voltage level of the battery falls to 10volts, the voltage at the
inverting terminal is less than the voltage at the non inverting terminal. The
OPAMP output goes high. LED2 begins to emit GREEN light which indicates
that the battery needs to be charged.

3. LED Indicator Light

This project is used to design an indicator using LEDs. It is an inexpensive
electronic project and can replace the traditional indicators used in bikes and
cars.

Circuit Components

Circuit Connection
A 555 timer is used in astable mode to generate clock pulses. The trigger
pin of the timer is shorted to the threshold pin. A BCD counter IC 7490 is used
to indicate the pulse count by switching on/off the LEDs. The LEDs are
connected to the output of the counter IC.
Circuit Diagram

LED Indicator Light Circuit Diagram

Circuit Operation
The pulses generated by the 555 timer are fed to the clock input of the
counter. The counter accordingly generates a high signal at each of its output
pins based on the number of the pulses received. For a high signal at any
output pin, the connected LED glows. When the counter starts progressing,
the light appears to move towards left.

If the frequency of the pulses increases, then the light emitted by the LEDs
appears to move in one particular direction. If the frequency is high then the
LED’s appears to glow at an instant. Individual flicker is eliminated as the light
appears to move left at a faster rate.

4. Electronic Thermometer
This is one of the simple electronic projects where an electronic thermometer
is designed. It can be used for measuring wide range of temperature. This
thermometer can replace the clinical thermometer used by doctors.
 Circuit Connection
A 9V battery is used as the DC power supply source for the entire circuit. A
diode is used as a temperature sensor and is connected in feedback path of
an operational amplifier. The input voltage is fixed by VR1, R1, and R2 at the
non inverting pin 3 of the op-amp IC1. The output from this IC1 is fed to the
inverting terminal of another OPAMP IC2. The non inverting terminal of this
OPAMP is given a fixed voltage signal. The output from this IC is connected to
an ammeter which shows the current reading which is calibrated to show
temperature.

Circuit Diagram

Electronic Thermometer Circuit

Diagram
Circuit Operation
The voltage drop across the diode changes with change in temperature. At
room temperature, the voltage drop across the diode is 0.7V and reduces at
the rate of 2mV/degree Celsius. This voltage change is sensed by the
operational amplifier. The output of the operation depends upon the voltage
drop across the diode.

Here another Operational amplifier is used as voltage amplifier. The output

from IC1 is amplified by the operational amplifier IC2. The ammeter indicates
the current amplitude of the output signal and this is calibrated to indicate the
value of the temperature.

5. Electronic Motor Controller

This electronic circuit is designed for controlling the motor using electronic
devices. It is more efficient than any electromechanically controlling device.
This project is also designed to eliminate the problems of noise triggering and
noise pulses. These types of electronic projects are very simple and easy to
be constructed and implemented. Here, we have demonstrated lamp intensity
control instead of motor control.
Circuit Components

Circuit Connections
The secondary of the transformer is connected to the diodes. The diode D1
and D2 are used for rectification and the capacitor is used as noise filter of the
switching circuit. Here 5 transistors are biased in common emitter mode. The
transistors Q1, Q2, Q3 are used to detect any fluctuations in voltage. The
output of transistor Q1 is given to transistor Q2. The output from transistor Q2
is given to the base of transistor Q3 and the output from transistor Q4 is fed to
the base of transistor Q4. The collector of transistor Q5 is connected to a
relay.

Here a 2 CO relay is used. A reverse biased diode is also connected to the

relay (at its other point). The resistor network R11, R12, VR1 forms a current
sensor circuit.

Circuit Diagram

Electronic Motor Control Circuit

Diagram
Circuit Operation
The entire circuit is power by pressing the switch SW1. When the switch sw1
is pressed the transformer gets mains voltage supply and converts it into low
voltage. The current through the resistor R8 gives base current to the
transistor T5.

When the relay gets activated the motors also switches on. The current
sensor senses the logic high signal. When the transistor T4 receives a logic
high signal from the current sensor, the R8 resistor gives low signal to the
transistor T5 and the transistor will not conduct.
As a result the relay does not get energized and the motor is switched off.
SW2 switch is used to switch off the motor. The transistor T4 gets on when
the over and under voltage is given to the T3 transistor. The capacitor C2 and
R10 resistor together forms a low pass filter for avoiding noise triggering and
pulses. It also provides sufficient time delay to the circuit.

6. Electronic Dice
A dice is a cube which is often used in many indoor games. Clearly a dice
needs to be unbiased. Conventional dices used often get biased due to
certain deformations or any defects in the construction. Here in this electronic
project, an electronic dice is built which will always remain unbiased and
would provide accurate reading.

Circuit Components

Circuit Connection
Here a 555 timer is connected in astable mode. A resistor of 100K is
connected between pins 7 and8. A resistor of 100K is connected between
pins 7 and 6. The output from the timer at pin 3 is connected to the clock input
pin of the counter IC 4017.
The enable pin of the counter IC is grounded.  4 output pins (Q0 to Q5) are
each connected to an LED. The 5th output pin is connected to the reset pin 15
of the counter IC. This whole circuit is powered by a 9V supply.
Circuit Diagram

Electronic Dice Circuit Diagram

Circuit Operation
With proper values of the resistor and capacitor, the 555 timer generates clock
pulses at a frequency of 4.8 KHz, i.e. a clock cycle of quite low time period.
When these pulses are fed to the counter, each output pin goes high
according to the number of pulses. The LED connected to each pin starts
glowing as the pin goes high. In other words the LEDs start glowing for each
corresponding count. The switching of the LEDs is at such a fast rate that it
cannot be perceived by human eye. The counter resets automatically as the
count advances to 7.

7. Automatic car head lights turn OFF Circuit

This electronic circuit saves the battery energy while the car ignition switch is
turned OFF. It reduces the need for checking whether the head lights are
ON/OFF. We can also vary the time for turn OFF the lamps by the varying the
potentiometer connected to the timer IC.

Circuit Components
 Circuit Connection
This circuit mainly comprises of 555 timer IC, NPN transistor and the relay.
Timer IC is connected in the mono stable mode of operation. In this mode
timer requires a trigger input to generate the pulse with a certain time period.
Output from the timer IC is connected to an NPN transistor. The collector of
this transistor is connected to one terminal of a relay coil. Relay is used to
control ON/OFF periods of the lamp.

Circuit Diagram

Automatic Car Headlights Circuit

Diagram
Circuit Operation
An ignition switch acts as a triggering pulse to the timer. When the ignition is
switched ON, a high logic signal is fed to the trigger pin of the timer and the
timer doesn’t produce any output. The diode as well as the transistor doesn’t
conduct. The relay coil gets energized as it is connected to proper supply and
headlights get switched on. When the ignition switch is turned OFF, a low
logic pulse is given to the second pin of the timer so the output of the timer
goes HIGH for time period which is set by the RC values. The relay coil will be
energized and the lamp will glow, but for a certain minimum time period and
then will be switched off.

8. Fire Alarm Circuit

This simple electronic circuit is designed to give an alarm incase when fire
breaks out. This circuit works on the principle that ambient temperature
increases as fire breaks out and this temperature changed is sensed and
processed to give an alarm signal.

Circuit Components

Circuit Connection
Here a PNP transistor is used as a fire sensor and its collector is connected to
the base of a NPN transistor through a series combination of a potentiometer
and a resistor. The emitter of this NPN transistor is connected to the base of
another transistor. The emitter of this transistor is connected to a relay. A
diode is connected across the relay for back EMF protection. This relay is
used to control the switching of the load, which can be a horn or a bell.

Circuit Diagram

Fire Alarm Circuit Diagram

Circuit Operation
When fire breaks out, the temperature increases. This causes the leakage
current of the PNP transistor Q1 to increase. As a result transistor Q2 will be
biased and starts conducting. This in turn brings transistor Q3 to conduction.
The collector and emitter terminals of this transistor are shorted and current
flows from the DC power supply to the relay coil. The relay coil gets energized
and the load gets switched on.

9. Mobile Incoming Call Indicator

This circuit is designed to give an indication for incoming call on a cell
phone. This electronic project proves to be a relief from the nuisance created
due to the sudden ringing of the mobile. There are many situations where we
cannot switch off the mobile nor put it in silent mode, yet a loud ring can prove
to be very embarrassing. This circuit proves to be a relief in such situations.
Circuit Components
 Circuit Connection
A coil is connected with a capacitor to the base of an NPN transistor. The
collector of this NPN transistor is connected to the trigger pin of the timer
IC555. This timer IC is connected in mono stable mode with a resistor of 1M
connected between pins 7 and 8. The output of the timer at pin 3 is connected
to the anode of the LED and the cathode of the diode. This whole circuit is
powered by a 9V battery.

Circuit Diagram

Mobile Incoming Call Indicator

Circuit Diagram
Circuit Operation
When the mobile receives an incoming call, its transmitter generates a signal
around 900MHZ.  This oscillation is picked up by the coil in the circuit. As
current flows from the coil to the base of the transistor, it conducts. As the
transistor conducts, i.e. gets switched on, the collector and emitter are shorted
and connected to ground. This gives a low logic signal to the trigger pin of the
timer and the timer is triggered. A high logic signal is produced at the output of
the timer. The LED gets proper biasing and starts blinking. This blinking of the
LED indicates the incoming call.

10. LED Knight Rider Circuit

LED Knight rider running circuit is a light chaser or running light effect
generator which produces forward and reverse moving effects. This type of
lighting is used mainly in the automotive applications and other sequential
type of lighting applications. It is one of the application circuits of IC 4017.
Circuit Components

Circuit Connection
This circuit comprises of two IC’s i.e., timer IC and decade counter IC. 555
timer IC generates the clock pulses which are fed to the clock signal of the
decade counter IC. The rate at which the lights are glowing depends on the
RC time constant or clock frequency of the timer. Decade counter IC 4017 has
ten outputs which go on high in sequence when pulses are applied at the
clock input. These LED’s are connected through the diodes to produce the to
and fro chasing.
Circuit Diagram

LED Indicator light Circuit Diagram

Circuit Operation
555 timer IC is connected in astable mode so that it will continue to generate
the pulses at a rate fixed by the RC values connected to it. These pulses are
applied to the 4017 IC so the outputs of this IC are sequentially tuned ON at
rate fixed by the timer. Initially the LEDs are switched on in increasing order
and as the last LED gets switched on, the switching of the LEDs occur in
reverse order.

In other words, the first 6 outputs are connected directly to the LEDs to
produce sequential switching of the LEDs and the next 4 outputs are
connected to each LED so as to produce a reverse lighting effect. By varying
the potentiometer at the timer we can get the variable rate of the LED’s
switching.

So simple and basic circuits, isn’t it? Don’t you find all these electronic
projects worth to be implemented at your home or used as ? Of course, I
guess. So there is this one little task for you. Amongst all these projects, pick
up one which catches your attention and try to make some changes in it.