The 8 fundamental IC 741 based op amp circuits presented here are not only interesting but also very amusing to build. The included circuit ideas like inverting and non-inverting amplifiers, tone control and regulated power supply will surely intrigue you. Circuit diagrams are also attached with the article.
Overview
We all are probably aware regarding the high versatility of the IC 741. Amazingly an infinite number of 741 opamp circuit design ideas can be wired by adding just a few passive components to it. We investigate a few of them here. IC 741 is one of the most versatile and multipurpose op-amp and can be wired up in numerous different ways. Let’s study some of the important 741 opamp circuit design configurations:
1) Inverting DC Amplifier:
Sometimes it becomes important for amplifying DC voltages, the diagram above shows how the IC can be wired up into an inverting DC amplifier circuit. As the name informs a DC input to the IC will be amplified at its output but will be just the opposite with polarity. VR1 may be used for adjusting the gain of the amplifier.
2) Non-inverting DC Amplifier:
This configuration is similar to the above circuit, the only difference being the output response, which is always equal to the polarity of the fed input voltage.
3) Inverting AC Amplifier:
The figure shows how the basic inverting DC mode of the IC can be simply modified into an inverting AC amplifier design. This circuit is intended to be used with AC or oscillating input signals, primarily for amplifying minute frequencies. C1 and C2 form the input and the output coupling capacitors. Again here the gain may be varied using the pot VR1.
4) Non-Inverting AC Amplifier:
The 741 op amp circuit is similar to the above explained design; the only difference being the output of the circuit provides oscillations in phase with the input whereas the previous design produces oscillations with opposite phase to that of the input.
5) Active Tone Control:
The opamp IC741 can be very effectively used for processing audio frequencies and customizing them as per one’s own choice.
Folks who prefer more bass in music may achieve it by just adjusting the bass control shaft whereas those who appreciate extra treble with music may do the same through another similar control reserved for the purpose.
The circuit diagram shows how by adding just a few passive components with the IC 741 a neat little active tone control circuit can be built.
For the given values, the circuit provides a bass boost of 12.5 dB and a cut of 10.5 dB at around 100 Hz.
The treble chill is of 8.8 dB with a cut of 9.8 dB at around 10 kHz, with respect to the set gain of the device at 1 kHz. The circuit also features high input impedance and low output impedance.
6) Stabilized Power Supply Circuit Using opamp IC 741
The final diagram of this article shows a classic stabilized voltage DC power supply using 741 opamp circuit design.
A cheap zener / resistor voltage reference is used to provide a reasonably stable reference to the non-inverting input of the IC.
The pot VR 1 is used to set the output voltage right from zero to a maximum of 15 volts continuously. A Darlington pair transistor is used at the output to enhance high current delivering capacity.
However another transistor T3 has also been incorporated to check the above current if it tends to drift beyond limit.
The control limit may be set by varying the value of the resistor R6.
7) Power Amplifier Circuit using IC 741
Though the maximum power of this amplifier is not more than 4 watts, the amplifier provides relatively good response with the applied frequency. The distortion of less than 0.5% and has a bandwidth of over 20kHz. The amplifier requires a minimum input of around 150 mV.
8) IC 741 Darkness Controller Relay
The darkness activated relay can be used to automatically switch on a doorstep or veranda light, automatically switch on a night lamp inside a kid's bedroom, the application can be countless. What goes on, basically, is that as soon as night fall strikes the LDR, the relay is activated. If you would like the relay to run a low voltage gadget, go with a relay having low voltage contacts.
If you would like it to use anything more substantial, select a relay having contacts that can handle the voltage (and current) equivalent to the load wattage. It's exactly that easy. Just be sure the relay coil is rated not less than 150 ohms. With standard brightness, the R6 LDR's resistance will be low. The input potential at pin 3 of IC U1 will be high, which will cause a high at the output at pin 6.
Since the transistor Q1 is a PNP transistor, and the collector current will be reduced as long as the pin6 of the IC 741 holds it base positive. As soon as light source to the LDR becomes low or when darkness sets in, the R6 LDR resistance increases.
In this situation Pin 3 of the IC 741 turns in a negative course, causing the output of IC 741 at pin 6 to become low or around zero voltage. This situation resources the required negative base current to Q1 base via the 4k7 resistor, R4. Collector current of the transistor now increases, and the relay gets instantly activated. When the relay gets activated, the connected lamp or any load turns ON.
9) 741 Touch Switch Circuit
This IC 741 touch switch circuit a sensitive touch-operated switch, which could also be applied (if you like) like a rain detector. AS shown in the figure Pin 3 of the IC 741 is fixed by resistors R1 and R2. Inverting input (pin 2) is taken to the slider arm of the preset R3, that enables you to set the activation limit. As soon as you put your finger on the touch plate, it bridges the odd and even copper stripes of the touch plate, which causes pin 2 to turn negative, which amplifies the effect, causing pin 6 of the IC 741 to become positive.
In the normal situation the SCR remains in the switched OFF condition, keeping the lamp shut off. When pin6 turns positive due to touching of the touch plate, causes the SCR gate go positive, and the SCR fires and conducts and gets latched, switching ON the lamp, which is kept switched ON until the power supply to the circuit is turned OFF by S1.
How about creating a Swagatam Electronic labolatory in Zambia.
Sounds good, who will manage it?
Hi Swagatam, could you suggest a circuit for testing a 741 to see if it is okay the reason being that I have a few of them in my collection and wanting to know if they are okay to use. I am also wanting to build a non contact AC voltage detector that uses a 5v piezo buzzer and a led for audio and visual detection.
Regards
Geoff
Hi Geoff, you can connect the opamp as a comparator and check the output response.
connect any one of the input pins between the junction of two 10k resistors whose ends are connected to the supply rails.
connect the other input terminal to the center lead of a 10k preset or pot whose outer terminals are also connected with the supply rails….
connect a couple of LEDs, one from (+) to opamp output, and another from opamp output to (-), both having there own 1K resistors.
now flipping the pot to and fro should light-up/shut-off the Led alternately…proving the correct working of the opamp.
Sir, please do a circuit on bass booster using opamp ic741
Dear sir how to make voltage amplifier
when input voltage 1 V DC 200uA and Need a Output Voltage 2V DC 100mA
that's impossible, unless an external power supply is used.
Is the power supply's output regulated?…
How do I calculate the current limiter R6?…
It's variable voltage but not current?…
tnx for the patience 😀 Engr. Swagatam…
thanks Eshkariel 🙂
yes the output will be regulated as long as the 24V or whatever input is fed is constant.
R6 = 0.6/current limit value
Hi sir, how to increase .5Vtoo 5v.? In my project i use piccontroller and sensor. My sensor gives oly .5v oly. So controller couldn 't take this voltage. How to boost up this voltage that can detect controller ..? Soundhirarasans@gmail.com… thanks in advance ….
Hi Soundhirarasan, you can try a joule thief circuit as shown in this article:
https://www.homemade-circuits.com/2012/10/1-watt-led-driver-using-joule-thief.html
sir, i want to build a parametric oscillator circuit. using a variable inductor. please can you provide me a circuit diagram
Ignatius, using a variable inductor might not be possible for me, but here's one that uses a different principle you can check it out:
https://www.homemade-circuits.com/2014/06/making-ultrasonic-directive-speaker.html
sir, I want to make an portable charger for a mobile by using a solar cell ,wind energy ,a battery and IC 741 so can you provide us circuit diagram and the list of component related to it as early as possible
sanket, you can try the following circuit:
https://www.homemade-circuits.com/2015/09/solar-wind-2-input-hybrid-battery.html
Hi swagatm,
AS I mentioned that the Volts from the pulse coil at low rpms would be 200-250mv, may be 150 mv as well. So I have to eleminate R3 and the relay+diode and connect the collector pin of bc557(PNP) to the base of the PIC which will deliver 5 volts pulse to the PIC. Correct me If I am wrong.
Now the next querry is at highr rpms when the voltage from the pulse coil is 8-10 volts, Do I have to add a zener between the pulse coil and R1.
Waiting for your reply
Hi Akashdeep, yes that's correct……. by "base of PIC" did you mean the input of PIC?
If the supply to the referred transistor circuit is fed with 5V then the input variations will not matter… . The collector of BC557 will always generate 5V regardless of the input variations.
for a safer response make R1 = 100K
Hi Swagatam,
From the pulse coil of my bike I get a pulse of 250 mv at low rpm which is not sufficient for the micro-controller to sense. But at higher rpms The pulse goes up to 8-1- volt.
I thought of adding an op-amp in between the Pulse coil and the micro-controller. So the pulse coil, a resistor, then 4007 diode, then a zener then op-amp and then to micro-controller. Will you plz specify how it should be with the schematics and the component values plz. The power source would be a 12 volt battery.
Hi Akashdeep,
opamp may not be required for such a simple enhancement, you can use two BJTs and configure them as shown in the following example article:
https://www.homemade-circuits.com/2011/12/simple-and-useful-transistor-latch.html
Eliminate R3 and the relay+diode, those are not required, now you can use the collector of T2 for triggering the MCU.
sir its me again
i have a low pass filter using [jrc4558] its is for home made [ home theater sub woofer] , its working but the problem is that i can here little transformer dramming coming from the sub woofer] its sounds mmgmmgmgmgmm….
my question is how can i reduce this problem because its really bad especially working with power amplifier and opm
joshua, you can make and install a 50Hz notch filter circuit for sinking the interference or use an smps based circuit for powering the amp
Thank you very much sir . Once I done I let u know the result .
Sir, Tks for ur valuable comments . I understood. Ic 741 is for 1 o/p only . for my circuit I need to measure two resistors only . 1.2k & 4.5k only. Is there any dual op amp ic ? Pls help me n post the circuit sir .tks in advance.
Prabhu, you can use LM358 IC for it.
you can try the first design shown in the following article:
https://www.homemade-circuits.com/2011/12/how-to-make-simple-low-battery-voltage.html
replace the zener diode with 1K or 10K and adjust the 10k preset either to shut off or light up as you want in response to the selected resistor.
Hi sir , by using op amp can I measure resistance . I need a o/p in a led indication. Fixed value ..let say if 1k red led need to light up if 10k green led need to light up …..pls help ..tks.
Hi Prabhu, yes it can be done. But only for a single resistor for a particular setting, you cannot get multiple indications from one opamp at a time
hi sir
can you send me a circuit of pre amplifier which gives output of bass only
Hi Joshua,
you can try this circuit:
https://www.homemade-circuits.com/2013/06/make-this-low-pass-filter-circuit-for.html
You will need to make a small ferrite transformer for stepping it up. You can try the concept discussed in the following article:
https://www.homemade-circuits.com/2012/10/1-watt-led-driver-using-joule-thief.html
I am sorry, i am comfortable interacting only through my blog.