High and Low Voltage Cutout with delay and Music

Voltage variations and power cuts adversely affect various equip- ment such as TVs, VCRs, music systems and refrigerators. This simple circuit will protect the costly equipment from high as well as low voltages and the voltage surges (when power resumes). It also gives a melodious tune when mains power resumes. When mains voltage is normal, the DC voltage at the cathode of zener diode D4 is less then 5.6V. As a result transistor T1 is in ‘off’ state. The DC voltage at the cathode of zener diode D5 is greater than 5.6V and as a result transistor T2 is in ‘on’ state. Consequently, relay RL1 gets energised, which is indicated by lighting up of green LED. Under high mains voltage condition, transistor T1 switches to ‘on’ state because the voltage at cathode of zener diode D4 becomes greater than 5.6V. Consequently, transistor T2 switches to ‘off’ state, making the relay to de-energise Under low mains voltage condition, transistor T1 switches to ‘off’ state and as a result transistor T2 also switches to ‘off’ state, making the relay to de-energise.

Timer IC 555 in the circuit is configured to operate in a monostable mode. The pulse width is about 10 seconds with the timing component values used in the circuit. When the power resumes after a break, pin 2 of IC 555 goes low briefly and this triggers it. Its output makes music IC UM66 to operate through transistor T3. Simultaneously, transistor T1 also gets forward biased as the monostable IC1 output is connected to its base via diode D8 and resistor R7. As a result, transistor T1 conducts and biases transistor T2 to cut off. Thus relay RL1 remains de-energised for the duration of mono pulse and the load is protected against the voltage surges.

To adjust presets VR1 and VR2, you may use a manually variable auto-transformer. Set the output of auto-transformer to 270V AC and connect it to the primary of transformer X1. Adjust preset VR1 such that relay RL1 just de-energises. Next set the output of auto-transformer to 170V AC. Now adjust preset VR2 such that relay RL1 again de-energises. Volume control VR3 may be adjusted for the desired output volume of the tune generated by IC UM66.

Over / Under Voltage Cut-Out

This over/under voltage cut-out will save your costly electrical and electronic appliances from the adverse effects of very high and very low mains voltages. The circuit features auto reset and utilises easily available components. It makes use of the comparators available inside 555 timer ICs. Supply is tapped from different points of the power supply circuit for relay and control circuit operation to achieve reliability. The circuit utilises comparator 2 for control while comparator 1 output (connected to reset pin R) is kept low by shorting pins 5 and 6 of 555 IC. The positive input pin of comparator 2 is at 1/3rd of Vcc voltage .

Thus as long as negative input pin 2 is less positive than 1/3 Vcc, comparator 2 output is high and the internal flip-flop is set, i.e. its Q output (pin 3) is high. At the same time pin 7 is in high impedance state and LED connected to pin 7 is therefore off. The output (at pin 3) reverses (goes low) when pin 2 is taken more positive than 1/3 Vcc. At the same time pin 7 goes low (as Q ouptput* of internal flip- flop is high) and the LED connected to pin 7 is lit. Both timers (IC1 and IC2) are configured to function in the same fashion. Preset VR1 is adjusted for under voltage (say 160 volts) cut-out by observing that LED1 just lights up when mains voltage is slightly greater than 160V AC. At this setting the output at pin 3 of IC1 is low and transistor T1 is in cut-off state. As a result RESET* pin 4 of IC2 is held high since it is connected to Vcc via 100 kilo-ohm resistor R4. Preset VR2 is adjusted for over voltage (say 270V AC) cut-out by observing that LED2 just extinguishes when the mains voltage is slightly less than 270V AC.

With RESET* pin 4 of IC2 high, the output pin 3 is also high. As a result transistor T2 conducts and energises relay RL1, connecting load to power supply via its N/O contacts. This is the situation as long as mains voltage is greater than 160V AC but less than 270V AC. When mains voltage goes beyond 270V AC, it causes output pin 3 of IC2 to go low and cut-off transistor T2 and de-energise relay RL1, in spite of RESET* pin 4 still being high. When mains voltage goes below 160V AC, IC1’s pin 3 goes high and LED1 is extinguished. The high output at pin 3 results in conduction of transistor T1. As a result collector of transistor T1 as also RESET* pin 4 of IC2 are pulled low. Thus output of IC2 goes low and transistor T2 does not conduct. As a result relay RL1 is de-energised, which causes load to be disconnected from the supply. When mains voltage again goes beyond 160V AC (but less than 270V AC) the relay again energises to connect the load to power supply.