Simple Temperature Indicator


Posted on Sep 18, 2012

For the absolute measurement of temperatures, a thermometer is indispensable. However, in many situations, an


Simple Temperature Indicator
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absolute value is not needed and a relative indication is sufficient. It would be a further advantage if a green light would indicate that all is well as far as temperature is concerned. As the temperature rises, the light should change color slowly to indicate that the equipment is getting too hot. This circuit does this and works directly from the mains. The indicator proper is a two-color LED (Dl), while the sensor is a combination of a negative-tempeniture coefficient (NTC) and a positive-temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor (R4 and R3, respectively). At a relatively low temperature, the value of R3 is low and that of i4 is high. During the positive half cycle of the mains voltage, a voltage will exist across R3/D2 that is sufficiently high to cause the green section of Dl to light. The value of i3 has been chosen to ensure that during the negative half cycle of the mains voltage, the potential across it is too low to cause the red section of Dl to light. If the temperature rises, the value of i4 diminishes and that of i3 rises. Slowly, but surely, the green section will light with lesser and lesser brightness. At the same time, the red section lights with greater and greater brightness until ultimately only the red section will light. Resistor R2 and capacitor CI ensure that the current drawn by the LEDs does not become too large. This arrangement keeps the dissipation relatively low. Both R3 and R4 should be of reasonable dimensions—approximately 6 mm in diameter, not less. At 25°C, the NTC must be 22 to 25 kfl and the PTC must be 25 to 33 . The circuit should be treated with great care because it carries the full mains voltage.




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