Simple 2 LED Battery Status Indicator Circuit

This Simple 2 LED Battery Status Indicator Circuit work like gas meter but for battery.

It uses LED lights to tell how much power battery still have.

One light mean battery is full another light mean half power and last light mean time to charge.

It use small parts like resistors, Zener diodes and transistors to check battery voltage and turn ON the lights.

So we can always see when to charge and keep our device working.

Circuit Working:

Parts List:

If LED light always stay ON in battery device like emergency lamp it will use battery even when not using the lamp.

This make battery lose power slowly because LED need around 2 volts to work.

So people keep charging battery again and again to keep it full.

But this circuit fixes that problem it only turn ON LED two times:

When battery is too full means overcharge or too low means overdischarge

This circuit use Zener diodes and work like a voltage switch.

It uses one bicolor LED in which one light show red and the other one show green to show two states.

ZD1 Zener diode and T1 PNP transistor show when battery is almost empty.

When battery voltage is more than 5V ZD1 works and stops T1 so red LED goes OFF.

But if battery goes below 5V then ZD1 stop working and T1 turns ON and red LED turn ON.

This mean battery is going empty.

ZD2 and T2 NPN transistor show when battery overcharged.

When battery is under 6.8V ZD2 does not work and T2 is OFF then green LED goes OFF.

But if battery goes more than 7V then ZD2 and T2 turn ON and green LED turns ON.

This mean battery is overcharged.

So when battery is between 5V and 7V and if the LED light is ON then this saves the power.

To set this circuit correct we need power supply where we can change.

First give 5V and adjust VR1 so red LED turn ON and green LED stay OFF.

Then give 7V and adjust VR2 so green LED turn ON and red LED stay OFF.

At 6V both LED must be OFF.

Formulas:

This is the formula for resistor divider it is used in circuit like battery level checker.

To find output voltage Vout in this type of circuit we can use this formula:

Vout = (Rb / (Ra + Rb)) × Vin

here,

• Vout is the voltage where LED just start to glow and should be near 3 volts.

In our circuit:

• For red LED Rb is VR1 and Ra is R1.
• For green LED Rb is VR2 and Ra is R3.

This formula help to set when LED will turn ON.

How to Build:

To build a Simple Battery Status Indicator Circuit follow the below mentioned steps:

Connect Zener diode ZD1 and transistor T1 for low battery overdischarge LED:

• Connect anode of ZD1 to base of T1.
• Connect cathode of ZD1 to (+) side of battery.
• Connect emitter of T1 to (–) side of battery.
• Connect collector of T1 to red side of bicolor LED.
• Connect Zener diode ZD2 and transistor T2 for overcharge LED:
• Connect anode of ZD2 to base of T2.
• Connect cathode of ZD2 to (+) side of battery.
• Connect emitter of T2 to (–) side of battery.
• Connect collector of T2 to green side of bicolor LED.

Connect variable resistors:

• Connect VR1 between base of T1 and one side of battery.
• Connect VR2 between base of T2 and one side of battery.
• Add resistors to limit current for LEDs:
• Put one resistor in line with red LED.
• Put another resistor in line with green LED.
• Connect other pin of bicolor LED with common pin to ( +) side of battery.

Calibration (setting it right):

• Give 5V to circuit and Turn VR1 until red LED turns ON.
• Now give 7V and turn VR2 until green LED turns ON.
• Set voltage to 6V and now both LEDs should be OFF.

Note:

• Use proper resistor values to stop too much current going to LEDs and check LED datasheet for this.

Conclusion:

Simple 2 LED Battery Status Indicator Circuit is helpful circuit that uses LED lights to show how much charge is in battery.

It checks battery voltage and show if battery is full, low or need charging.

This help people know battery status and use power in better way.

References:

 Battery Level Indicator