The post discusses the making of a simple yet effective smart laser alarm protection circuit using the IC 555, for securing a specified restricted zone from human interventions. The idea was requested by Mr. Collins.
Contents
Protecting Home with Laser Alarms
Hi sir hope you are well.
I just want to tell you what an amazing passion and dedication to electronics you have and thank you for helping others like me. My name is Collin from south Africa.
We have a huge problem of safety here.
There are countless number of robberies and house break inns its so unreal. I was hoping you can help me with regards to a circuit for a very cost effective and reliable product.
I have built a laser tripwire alarm using a 555 IC timer but the circuit design lacks a lot of features.
I need something that as soon as an intruder enters my property I will be alerted before they even get a chance to try and get into my home.
The circuit needs the following: Once alarm is activated it needs to sound for a few minutes and then go off
and arm again automatically. Don't want it ringing for hours in end if I am not at home to reset it.
It should not be triggered by pets or flying debris in the yard.
Easy alignment of the sensors. The laser alarm works OK but its very difficult to set the pointer on the LDR that keeps moving off. Any tips if we are going than route?
It doesn't have to be a laser system I am open to whatever you think will solve my problem.
Thanks a lot for everything and feel free to add whatever you think I missed out with regards to all the features.
Kind regards
Collin
The Circuit Design
Parts List
R1, R4 = 100K
R2 = 1M
R3/C2 = TO BE CALCULATED (SEE TEXT)
C1 = 4.7uF/25V
IC = ANY 555 VARIANT
C3 = 10nF
C4 = 0.33uF
ALARM = 12V, 200mA PIEZO ALARM.
LDR = any standard
IC 555Pinouts
Circuit Description
The proposed smart yet simple laser alarm circuit using IC 555 can be witnessed in the following image, the functioning can be understood with the following points:
1) The IC 555 is configured in its basic monostable mode.
2) Pin#2, which is the trigger input of the IC can be seen connected with the emitter of a PNP BJT via a blocking capacitor C2.
3) We can also notice a couple of parallel LDRs secured within opaque pipes and their leads hooked up with the base of the PNP BJT, such that as long as the LDRs remain illuminated together through the laser light focus, the BJT remains deactivated. This happens because in the presence of laser light the LDR's combined resistance drops to around 30K, which keeps the base of the PNP more positive than the ground bias from R2.
4) The inclusion of two LDR ensures a fool proof alarm set-up such that only a human presence is able to interrupt the LDRs, while these remain unaffected by other smaller irrelevant intruders such as animals, birds etc.The two LdRs could be placed at a distance of around 2 feet so that only taller objects such as a human being becomes detected.5) Therefore whenever an interruption in the laser beam is detected, the LDRs go through a sudden rise in their resistances causing T2 to switch ON, which in turn triggers pin#2 of the IC via C1.
6) This prompts the IC 555 to activate its pin#3, which finally activates the connected alarm unit.
7) Since the IC 555 is configured in its monostable mode, the pin#3 remains activated only for a period determined by the RC network at pin#6 and pin#7 of the IC, or by R3,C2.
These timing components can be appropriately calculated using the IC 555 calculator software (the first diagram), for accomplishing the desired length of time for which the alarm may remain switched ON.
How to Set Up the Laser Transmitter Units
The laser transmitter devices could be installed near the LDRs itself and focused back to the LDRs using mirror reflectors as shown below:
The installing of the laser devices near the LDRs allows the entire unit to be installed inside a single enclosure and also allows the lasers to be powered from the circuit itself.
This also facilitates securing the lasers and the LDR units firmly and accurately so that both the counterparts are unable to move or deviate from their positions even in an event of a mechanical shock or other vibrational interferences.
The mirrors could be positioned at some specified distance, exactly opposite to the laser installation , making sure that the laser beams intersect the restricted zone and the presence of a possible intrusion is detected without fail.
This concludes the making of the proposed IC 555 based smart laser alarm protection circuit, if you have any doubts please feel free to put them forth in the below given comments box.
Using BJTs for Reducing Current Consumption
The above design can be further enhanced to work with lower standby current, and also with a battery backup during of power failures, through the following upgraded schematic:
amal says
What is the value of R3
and C2
Swag says
use the first software from this link to calculate it
https://circuitcalculators.blogspot.in/2017/10/ic-555-calculator.html
Sidhesh dessai says
Hi sir can u give me idea to build revolving search light ,
Swag says
Sidhesh, do you want it using a motor or without a motor through chasing LED simulation?
paul says
Hi im just about to build this circuit for my back yard security, what ohm LDR do i need , havnt done electronics for 15 years im a little rusty! thanks for your time
paul
Swagatam says
Hi, you can use any LDR whose resistance is able to drop to approximately 50K in ambient light (not direct light), and rises to infinity in darkness.
Subrahmanyam G says
In above circuit all leds of first ic glow, the leds of second ic strts glowing ,but leds of first ic also simultaneously glowing, which is not required, kindly solve my problem
Swagatam says
no that shouldn't happen? LED sequencing is supposed to start from the first pin of one IC and go on sequencing one after the other until the 18th LED on the last pinout of the second IC is reached, after this the sequence must revert to the initial pinout of the first IC and the cycle must go on repeating in the same way…please first diagnose and correct the fault in your design
Subrahmanyam G says
Thanks for such a lightening reply. After selecting 4 or 16 position in a selection knob , and pressing of push button , first 4 or 16 LEDs out of 32 should glow one by one then stop, again after push of push button 5 to 9 LEDs should glow with 1 sec gap.
Swagatam says
that means each subsequent LED must stays illuminated while they sequence..you will have to employ SCRs at the outputs for acheiving this
Subrahmanyam G says
sir, i made the above said circuit.kindly guide me to get desired result as said earlier
Swagatam says
Subhramayam, what kind of sequencing are you getting, I am sure it's one led at a time, do you need this kind of sequencing or do you want the subsequent LEds to latch and glow constantly as the sequence proceeds?
for the second option you may have employ small SCRs at the 49017 outputs so that the LED illumination can get latched while sequencing?
after this you will need selector switches for selecting the desired sequence lengths
Swagatam says
i mistakenly mentioned 49017…actually i meant 4017
Subrahmanyam G says
Hi sir, i am from india and very much need of undermentioned circuit. Kindly help me.
After selecting 4 or 16 position in a selection knob , and pressing of push button , first 4 or 16 LEDs out of 32 should glow one by one then stop, again after push of push button 5 to 9 LEDs should glow with 1 sec gap. As it is required to teach my students and I have only mechanical background, i could not make it.please help me.
Swagatam says
Hi Subramanyam, first I would suggest you to make the last circuit from the article which is mentioned below…and succeed making the 18 LEDs run in sequence, once you make this I will instruct you how to proceed further…
https://homemade-circuits.com/2011/12/how-to-make-18-led-light-chaser-circuit.html
muthukumar says
Hai sir i am one of the follower in your blog,Can u give homemade led street light drawing.
Swagatam says
Hi Muthukumar, you can try the following circuit
https://homemade-circuits.com/2016/12/simple-solar-led-street-light-system.html
gowthaman s says
Can you give me a fluorescent lamp electronic choke design for 36 and 40 watts . Input of 230 v 50 hz supply
Swagatam says
you can try the following design
https://homemade-circuits.com/2015/11/120v-220v-electronic-ballast-circuit.html
NvD says
thank u sir
NvD says
sir
can u give me a simple circuit for charging 12v 7.2ah battery
Swagatam says
NVD, you can connect the battery to a 14V/1Amp DC source and allow it to charge for 12 hours and then remove it….
Dragon Monkey says
Im the 1 of followers of you Mr swagatam majumdar. I like your circuit diagram.
Swagatam says
I am glad you liked my circuits, thanks for visiting my site!! and keep up the good work
Dragon Monkey says
Mr swagatam I want to know the value of R3,C2,T1. Thank you.
Swagatam says
it's 100K, 100uF/25V and BC557
TUERESUECO SOR-EL says
It is a wonderfull website!!!!
Swagatam says
thank you!!
debasisneogi says
"Smart Laser Alarm Protection Circuit using IC 555"
Sir, what can be the distance between the laser illuminator and mirror in the subject circuit.
Swagatam says
Debasis, it will depend on how far the laser is able to travel and reflect back on the LDR without losing the required intensity..as long as it is able to implement this, it will work regardless of the distance…