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This device is a simple timer, allowing to keep on the headlights of your vehicle for about 1min. and 30sec., e.g. when accessing some dark place, without the necessity of coming back to switch-off the lights.... [read more]

This circuit is intended to signal when a plant is needing water. A LED illuminates at maximum brightness when the ground in the flower-pot is too dry: it dims gradually as the water's content in the pot grows, turning off when the optimum moisture's level is reached. This condition is obtained trimming R3.... [read more]

Sometimes you have a situation where you have a 5-V supply voltage but part of the circuit needs a lower supply voltage. A voltage regulator from the Texas Instruments TPS62000 family [1] is a good choice for this if the current consumption is less than 600 mA.... [read more]

This circuit is intended for alerting purposes after a certain time is elapsed. It is suitable for table games requiring a fixed time to answer a question, or to move a piece etc. In this view it's a modern substitute for the old sandglass. Useful also for time control when children are brushing teeth (at least two minutes!), or in the kitchen, and so on.... [read more]

In operation, when the relay is deactivated, the 100uF capacitor will charge to 6 volts. When the button is pressed, the capacitor will apply 6 volts to the MOSFET gate turning it on. The capacitor voltage (and gate voltage) will fall from 6 to 3 volts in about 200 mS which should be enough time for the relay contacts to move. For very slow relays, a larger capacitor may be needed.... [read more]

This is a single zone alarm - with automatic exit, entry and siren cut-off timers. It will accommodate all the usual types of normally-closed input devices - such as magnetic reed contacts, foil tape, PIRs etc. But it's easy to add a normally-open trigger. When the alarm is activated - the siren will sound for a fixed length of time. Then it will switch off - and remain off. The alarm will not reactivate. The Circuit Description offers a good introduction to the Cmos 4060 and the SCR.... [read more]