circuit idea

and a few other components.

The sound is captured by micro-

Noise-Level Alarm s.c. dwiv

e d i phone MIC1 and amplified by first-
stage high-gain transistor T1. Trimmer
potentiometer VR1 is used to adjust the
threshold level. the signal is amplified
Petre Tzv. Petrov hypertension, heart disease, annoy- again with second-stage transistor
ance, sleep disturbance and decreased T2. This amplified signal is rectified

N
oise is a serious environ- performance in schools. Sound-level by diode D1 and the charge is stored
mental problem that affects indicators like the one presented here in capacitor C10. Diode D1 should
us in our daily life. There is can help address this problem. This preferably be a small-signal Schottky
scientific evidence supporting that sound-level indicator monitors the diode such as BAT81, BAT82, BAT83,
noise exposure can cause hearing loss, sound level and indicates through an BAT85 or better. You can use 1N4148
LED when the level is above the preset and 1N914 also but the signal from the
Test Points value. input should be stronger.
When the voltage across capacitor
Test point Details Circuit and working C10 is high enough, transistor T3 con-
TP0 0V, GND
Fig. 1 shows the circuit of noise-level ducts and LED1 glows to indicate that
TP1 6V
alarm. The circuit is built around three the sound level is higher than the set
LED1 Glows when sound level above BC550 npn general-purpose transistors level. LED2 indicates power supply is
threshold
(T1 through T3), electret microphone available to the circuit.
LED2 Glows when battery connected
(MIC1), two LEDs (LED1 and LED2) Transistors T1, T2 and T3 should
be high-gain type, such
as BC550C, BC109C and
C2 R2 R12 R9 BC108C. For powering the
300E R5 CON1
100u, 16V 10K
1.8K C5 TP1 620E
1.5VX4
circuit, you can use 6V from
R1 R3 22u,16V
4.7K 680K
A BATT.1 four AA-size batteries or 6V
LED1
R7 B from a regulated wall adap-
C3
10u
330K D1 tor.
R13 C1 BAT83/ C6 C8
16V
T1 1N4148 100p
300E 10u
16V BC550
T2
T3
0.33u Construction
VR1
22K
BC550
R8
BC550 R10
620E
and testing
C4 C7
47K
C9 R4 10u R6 C10 220u
An actual-size, single-side
MIC1 1n 16V R11
TP0 20E 20E 10u
100K 16V LED2 PCB for the noise-level in-
16V
dicator is shown in Fig. 2
GND and its component layout in
Fig. 3. After assembling the
Fig. 1: Circuit of noise-level alarm circuit on a PCB, enclose it in

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90 October 2013 | Electronics For You www.efymag.com

 circuit idea
Parts List threshold of sound and
Semiconductors: adjust VR1 to the point
D1 - BAT83 or 1N4148 signal where LED1 starts glow-
diode
LED1 - 5mm red LED ing. For that, switch on
LED2 - 5mm green LED radio or TV set and set its
T1-T3 - BC550 npn transistor
volume to a level where
Resistors (all ¼-watt, ±5% carbon):
R1 - 4.7-kilo-ohm you want the warning to
R2 - 10-kilo-ohm start. Now adjust poten-
R3 - 680-kilo-ohm
R4, R6 - 20-ohm tiometer VR1 to the point
R5 - 1.8-kilo-ohm where LED1 starts glow-
R7 - 330-kilo-ohm
R8 - 47-kilo-ohm
Fig. 2: Actual-size, single-side PCB for noise-level indicator ing.
R9, R10 - 620-ohm To test the circuit for
R11 - 100-kilo-ohm
R12, R13 - 300-ohm
proper functioning, check
VR1 - 22-kilo-ohm potentiometer correct input supply at
Capacitors: TP1 with respect to TP0.
C1, C3, C4, C10 - 10µF, 16V electrolytic
C2 - 100µF, 16V electrolytic
LED2 also indicates the
C5 - 22µF, 16V electrolytic same. LED1 glows when
C6 - 100pF ceramic disk
the sound level is above
C7 - 220µF, 16V electrolytic
C8 - 0.33µF ceramic disk threshold, which can be
C9 - 1nF ceramic disk simulated with a radio or
Miscellaneous:
MIC1 - Electret microphone
music system. 
CON1 - 2-pin connector The author was a researcher and
BATT.1 - 1.5V×4 cells Fig. 3: Component layout for the PCB assistant professor in Technical
University of Sofia (Bulgaria), and
a lecturer and expert-lecturer in
a suitable case. Fix LED1, LED2 and After connecting the 6V power Kingdom of Morocco. Now he is working in the
potentiometer VR1 on the front panel. supply to the circuit, set the desired private sector in Bulgaria

www.efymag.com Electronics For You | October 2013 91