ELECTRIC CIRCUIT
Electric Circuit Articles
This section covers just a few of the
electric circuit concepts relevant to
renewable energy generation - in particular to DIY projects. There are many other references to electric circuit principles and
electronics throughout the rest of the website on relevant pages.
Automatic Hen House Door Closer OpenerFind out how to put together a DIY automatic hen house door opener and closer
Article Last Modified: 11:47, 27th Jun 2009electric circuit | general | solarLow Voltage Battery Disconnect CircuitsFind out more about low voltage battery disconnect (LVD) circuits - used to protect batteries
Article Last Modified: 15:04, 28th May 2009electric circuit | electronics | storageConvert Thermostat to 12v Timer SwitchFind out how to modify a battery powered thermostat to be used as a 12 Volt DC timer switch
Article Last Modified: 16:12, 24th Mar 2009electronics | electric circuit | generalRenewable Energy Powered Timer Relay SwitchPowering an AA battery powered timer thermostat directly with a 12V power source
Article Last Modified: 16:12, 24th Mar 2009electric circuit | electronics | generalMultiple PIR Sensor CircuitsConnecting more than one PIR sensors in a circuit
Article Last Modified: 17:00, 9th Mar 2009electronics | electric circuit | generalLM317T HeatsinkingChoosing a heatsink for use with an LM317T voltage regulator
Article Last Modified: 12:40, 2nd Mar 2009electric circuit | generalWhat is a Zener DiodeFind out more about the Zener diode
Article Last Modified: 10:20, 10th Feb 2009electric circuit | educationSolar Powered Poultry LightingPut together a solar system to power poultry lighting - increase winter egg production
Article Last Modified: 10:21, 15th Nov 2008solar | electric circuit | general | electronicsConvert Digital Mains Timer To Low VoltageConvert a cheap digital mains timer into a low voltage programmable timer relay
Article Last Modified: 10:21, 15th Nov 2008electronics | electric circuit | generalAutomotive RelaysFind out more about automotive relays and their use in renewable applications
Article Last Modified: 10:50, 24th Oct 2008electric circuit | generalRelays and Renewable EnergyFind out more about relays and their uses in renewable energy applications
Article Last Modified: 10:50, 24th Oct 2008electric circuit | electronics | generalSimple Well Pump ControllerFind out how to automatically get water from the well into a header tank
Article Last Modified: 11:52, 1st Oct 2008water | electronics | electric circuitRelay BoardsFind out about relay boards - what they are, where to buy them, and how
to use them
Article Last Modified: 15:16, 19th Sep 2008general | electric circuit | electronicsThree Phase Bridge RectifierFind out about three phase bridge rectifiers
Article Last Modified: 17:13, 18th Sep 2008electric circuit | storage | generalPICAXE MicrocontrollersFind out about PICAXE microcontrollers and their use in renewable energy projects
Article Last Modified: 12:12, 18th Sep 2008electronics | electric circuit | educationLM2941 1A Low Dropout Adjustable RegulatorFind out about the LM2941 - an adjustable regulator with very low dropout voltage
Article Last Modified: 16:10, 16th Sep 2008electric circuit | storage | generalHigh Capacity Alternative to 9 Volt BatteryGet ten times the capacity of a 9 Volt battery to power your devices
Article Last Modified: 15:58, 10th Sep 2008general | electric circuit | solarLM317T Voltage Regulator ChipLearn about the LM317T and its uses in renewable energy projects
Article Last Modified: 14:35, 9th Sep 2008electronics | electric circuitLM2940 12V 1A Low Dropout RegulatorFind out how to use an LM2940 to efficiently regulate voltage
Article Last Modified: 14:35, 9th Sep 2008electric circuit | storage | general | lighting40 Amp Blocking Diode 1N1190AFind out how to use a blocking diode with a wind turbine generator
Article Last Modified: 11:21, 2nd Sep 2008wind | electric circuit | solarBuy a 12v Power Supply UnitFind out more about 12V mains transformers and power supply units
Article Last Modified: 15:16, 19th Aug 2008electric circuit | storage | generalSwitch from Inverter to Mains AutomaticallyPower a circuit directly from a power inverter, but with automatic mains power back up.
Article Last Modified: 15:16, 19th Aug 2008electric circuit | storage | generalThree Phase BasicsGet an understanding of three phase wiring in wind turbine alternators
Article Last Modified: 15:13, 19th Aug 2008wind | electric circuit | websitesShunt RegulatorFind out about the uses of shunt regulators and dump load controllers in renewable energy applications
Article Last Modified: 15:13, 19th Aug 2008electronics | electric circuitUse Thermostat as 12 Volt TimerFind out how an old battery powered thermostat can be used as a low voltage automatic timer
Article Last Modified: 13:21, 7th Aug 2008electric circuit | electronics | generalSwitch Mains Powered Appliances SafelyFind out how to safely control mains-powered devices automatically without needing an electrician
Article Last Modified: 16:41, 6th Aug 2008electric circuit | electronics | generalMeasuring the Capacity of a BatteryFind out how to measure the capacity of a battery
Article Last Modified: 10:22, 6th Aug 2008storage | electric circuit | generalSimple Sump Pump ControllerPut together a sump pump controller with two float switches and NO electronics
Article Last Modified: 08:58, 5th Aug 2008water | electric circuit | electronicsSolar Charge ControllerFind out more about Solar Charge Controllers
Article Last Modified: 15:43, 29th Jul 2008solar | electronics | electric circuitFloat Switch Water Level MeasurementFind out how to use float switches in renewable energy applications
Article Last Modified: 12:07, 28th Jul 2008water | electric circuit24V 12V DC DC ConverterFind out how you can use a 24V battery (bank) to power 12V devices
Article Last Modified: 11:31, 24th Jul 2008storage | electric circuitAWG to Square mm Wire Size ConverterConvert between AWG, inches and mm diameter, and square mm area measures of wire size
Article Last Modified: 06:45, 19th Jul 2008storage | electric circuitDC Voltage Multiplier Circuit PlansBuild a circuit to boost the voltage of a DC power source using a MAX756
IC Chip
Article Last Modified: 09:06, 10th Jul 2008electric circuit | electronics | educationSump Pump Control SystemPut together a fully automatic system to reliably pump out the water collected in a sump pit
Article Last Modified: 16:02, 2nd Jul 2008water | electric circuit | electronicsUsing The LM317T With LED LightingUse an LM317T to regulate the current in LED lighting projects
Article Last Modified: 12:47, 12th Mar 2008lighting | electric circuitLM317 Voltage CalculatorA handy online output voltage calculator for the LM317, LM338, and other linear voltage regulators
Article Last Modified: 12:47, 12th Mar 2008electric circuit | electronics | generalLM317 Current CalculatorA handy online output current calculator for the LM317, LM338, and other linear voltage regulators
Article Last Modified: 12:47, 12th Mar 2008electric circuit | electronics | generalStar Delta Wiring CalculatorAn online calculator to work out the output voltage and current for an alternator wired in star or delta configuration
Article Last Modified: 13:39, 10th Mar 2008education | wind | electric circuitMinimising Line Losses in RE SystemsSelect wire of the correct diameter for your renewable energy system
Article Last Modified: 10:32, 8th Mar 2008storage | electric circuitZener Diode Voltage RegulatorMake a simple zener diode voltage regulator
Article Last Modified: 17:31, 7th Mar 2008electric circuit | educationUsing The LM317T To Regulate VoltageUse an LM317T to regulate voltage in renewable energy projects
Article Last Modified: 15:04, 7th Mar 2008electric circuit | electronicsSimple Solar Tracker ConceptMake a very simple sun tracker to maximise electricity generation from a PV solar panel
Article Last Modified: 10:37, 9th Feb 2008solar | electric circuit | generalTimer Circuits With 4060BBuild a reliable timer to switch devices on and off - from 30 seconds to 24 hours
Article Last Modified: 10:34, 18th Jan 2008electronics | electric circuitRepeat Timer CircuitMake a repear timer circuit with large intervals between ON times
Article Last Modified: 10:34, 18th Jan 2008electric circuit | electronics | generalAdjustable Step Up Voltage RegulatorFind out more about a step up voltage regulator used to output a voltage higher than the input voltage
Article Last Modified: 11:42, 15th Dec 2007electronics | electric circuit | generalHigh Current Voltage RegulationConnect voltage regulators in parallel to increase the current which can be regulated
Article Last Modified: 17:16, 5th Dec 2007electric circuit | electronics | generalLED Dimmer CircuitFind out how to put together a simple but efficient PWM dimmer circuit for LEDs
Article Last Modified: 16:03, 21st Nov 2007lighting | electronics | electric circuitWater Pump Hysteresis CircuitA simple circuit to prevent a pump being damaged by being turned on and off rapidly (multiswitching)
Article Last Modified: 14:54, 19th Nov 2007water | electronics | electric circuitAutomatic Pump Shut Off CircuitPut together an automatic system to switch off a pump when there is no more fluid left to pump
Article Last Modified: 14:54, 19th Nov 2007water | electric circuitDual Powered Lighting CircuitPower a lighting circuit from renewable energy or mains electricity
Article Last Modified: 08:18, 14th Nov 2007lighting | electric circuitPIR Sensor CircuitsFind out more about using PIR sensors within renewable energy applications
Article Last Modified: 11:32, 3rd Nov 2007electronics | electric circuit | general | solarLM741 Light Dark Sensor CircuitBuild a light/dark sensing circuit to automatically turn on/off lights and other devices
Article Last Modified: 08:43, 2nd Nov 2007electronics | electric circuit | generalLight Dependent ResistorFind out more about LDRs and their use in renewable energy projects
Article Last Modified: 09:26, 24th Oct 2007electric circuit | solarLM741 OpAmp Voltage IndicatorPlans for a simple voltage high/low indicator built around an LM741 operational amplifier
Article Last Modified: 09:31, 8th Oct 2007electronics | electric circuit | generalThree Phase Voltage MultiplierThe Cockcroft-Walton turbine voltage multiplier
Article Last Modified: 09:22, 1st Oct 2007electric circuit | wind | general12 Volt Battery Low Indicator LM741Plans for a battery low indicator for a 12 Volt battery using an LM741 operational amplifier
Article Last Modified: 10:17, 28th Jul 2007electronics | electric circuit | generalSolar Powered Wireless CCTVUse a solar panel to power a wireless CCTV system
Article Last Modified: 09:32, 26th Jun 2007solar | electronics | electric circuitSolar Powered Nestbox CCTV CameraObserve wildlife inside a nestbox with a solar powered wireless CCTV camera
Article Last Modified: 09:32, 26th Jun 2007solar | electric circuit | generalTL431 Battery Voltage MonitorMonitor the voltage of a battery or battery bank using an TL431 (aka LM431) shunt regulator
Article Last Modified: 16:42, 11th Jun 2007storage | electric circuit | electronicsFixed Voltage RegulatorsUse a voltage regulator to obtain a fixed voltage supply (at <1.5 Amps) from a variable source
Article Last Modified: 11:17, 21st May 2007electric circuit | electronicsStepper Motor Voltage Doubler CircuitDouble the voltage from a stepper motor using two bridge rectifiers
Article Last Modified: 10:45, 9th May 2007general | electric circuit | educationMaking Voltage Doublers and MultipliersFind out how to construct an AC voltage doubler circuit. Extend it to a tripler circuit and more.
Article Last Modified: 14:29, 26th Apr 2007electric circuit | educationPut Together an REUK Solar Lighting KitFull construction plans for solar powered shed or garage lighting using LED spotlights
Article Last Modified: 14:36, 25th Apr 2007solar | lighting | electric circuitSmoothing CapacitorsFind out more about the uses of smoothing capacitors in renewable energy circuits
Article Last Modified: 11:47, 4th Apr 2007electric circuit | educationReed Switch Wind Turbine RPM MeterFind out how to use a reed switch to make a wind turbine RPM meter
Article Last Modified: 09:54, 4th Apr 2007wind | electric circuit | educationReed SwitchesFind out more about reed switches and their uses in RE
Article Last Modified: 09:54, 4th Apr 2007electric circuit | electronics | windSolar Shed Lighting Circuit TestingAnalysis of a typical solar shed LED lighting circuit
Article Last Modified: 11:56, 31st Mar 2007lighting | solar | education | electric circuitSolar Battery Charger With LM317TFind out how to make a current controlled solar battery charger using an LM317T
Article Last Modified: 09:34, 30th Mar 2007solar | education | electric circuitMake a Simple Battery Status MonitorMonitor battery status with this easy electric circuit project - no skill required!
Article Last Modified: 12:33, 16th Mar 2007storage | electric circuitWhat is a ShuntFind out what is a shunt resistor and how it is used in RE applications
Article Last Modified: 12:52, 28th Feb 2007electric circuit | educationMake a Shunt ResistorMake your own rough and ready shunt resistor
Article Last Modified: 12:52, 28th Feb 2007electric circuit | educationOhms LawLearn about Ohm's Law and how it is used in Renewable Energy systems
Article Last Modified: 12:15, 23rd Feb 2007electric circuit | educationResistor Colour CodesLearn how to identify different resistors with their colour code
Article Last Modified: 14:19, 22nd Feb 2007electric circuit | educationMake A Bridge Rectifier From DiodesMake your own single or multi phase bridge rectifier from diodes
Article Last Modified: 15:33, 2nd Feb 2007wind | electric circuit