AUTOMATIC NIGHT LIGHT

1. The circuit will automatically switch on the AC lamp when night falls and the lamp will be automatically switched off after a preset time.
2. The working of this night light circuit very simple. An LDR is used as the sensor here. At day time the resistance of the LDR will be low and so do the voltage drop across it, the transistor Q1 will be in the conducting mode.
3. When darkness falls the resistance of LDR increases and so do the voltage across it. This makes the transistor Q1 OFF. Base of Q2 is connected to the emitter of Q1 and so Q2 is biased on which in turn powers the IC1.
4. NE555 is wired as monostable multivibrator that is automatically triggered at power ON. This automatic triggering is achieved with the help of capacitor C2. The output of IC1 remains high for a time determined by resistor R5 and capacitor C4.
5. When output of IC1 goes high transistor Q3 is switched ON which triggers triac T1 and the lamp glows. A 9V battery is included in the circuit in order to power the timer circuit during power failures.
6. Resistor R1, diode D1, capacitor C1 and Zener D3 forms the power supply section of the circuit. R7 and R8 are current limiting resistors.

NOTES:

• The circuit can be assembled on a vero board.
• Preset R2 can be used to adjust the sensitivity of the circuit.
• Preset R5 can be used to adjust the ON time of the lamp.
• With R5 @ 4.7M the ON time will be around three hours.
• The wattage of L1 must not exceed 200W.
• Heat sink is recommended for BT136.
• IC1 must be mounted on a holder.