Schematics > Models and model remote control > Receiver Battery Low Voltage Alarm
Receiver Battery Low Voltage Alarm

Here is another equally cool low voltage alarm circuit for your
glider receiver battery that I've shamelessly stolen from George Steiner's book
"A to Z--Radio Control Electronic Journal" (see below). I've modified it to
use with small battery packs in R/C gliders. This design has a trigger voltage at
about 4.3 volts, and it draws 1mA or less when quiet and about 4mA when buzzing.
This can be constructed from parts fromt Radio Shack, though you may need to order
a few through them.
The voltage of a receiver system is punctuated by low-voltage spikes
every time the servo motors spin up, since the servos draw more than the battery
can deliver. With large receiver battery packs, this is not as much of an
issue, and it may not be noticeable. However with 270mA and smaller battery
packs, particularly with more than two servos, low voltage alarms can chirp
constantly, every time a servo moves. The challenge is to design in a little
slack or delay, just enough so that you are not annoyed by constant chirping, but
not too much so that the chirps can give you a warning before the battery is completely
exhausted. Here, this "hysteresis" is adjusted with the capacitor. For
large packs (600mA and above), no capacitor is probably needed, although I've been
using a 1uF capacitor on my open class ship with 6 servos and a 600mA battery.
For 270 mA and two servos, I'd suggest trying a 1uF capacitor. For 150mA or
less, a 2.2uF capacitor works well. If you want to know only when the
battery has finally reached the trigger voltage, try a 5uF (or 4.7uF) capacitor.
The actual type of capacitor is not critical, but tantalum capacitors are physically
smaller. If you want to worry about the polarity of the capacitor, the
negative side should be directed toward the negative pole of the battery, but at
these relatively low voltages compared to the capacitor rating, the polarity probably
does not matter.
This circuit is set up for a four cell receiver battery pack at
a trigger voltage of about 4.3 volts (about 1.1volts/cell). You can adjust
R1 (here a 3.3k resistor) to change the trigger voltage of the circuit.
For example, for a 5 cell pack, to change the trigger voltage to 5.5 volts, change
R1 to 2.2k. For a three cell pack, to change the trigger voltage to 3.3 volts,
change R1 to 6.8 k (or use two 3.3k resistors in parallel by soldering a resistor
in each hole and twisting together the top leads). Because of slight
variability in tolerances of the componants, you should check this little device
with a variable power source and a voltmeter to confirm its trigger point.
Alternately, use your digital voltmeter or expanded scale voltmeter to calibrate
its chirp pattern by measuring the voltage of the onboard battery pack intermittently
as you fly.
Make sure the band on the Zener diode is toward the "+" side (toward
R1). Solder a battery connector or servo connector to the board with positive
and negative as shown, and plug the connector into an unused slot in your receiver.

Radio Shack parts: Here again, you can use smaller rated resistors
if you can get them--1/8 watt or less is fine. Tantalum capacitors are physically
smaller, but any composition will work.
| 273-074 |
$2.99 |
Miniature Piezo Buzzer, 12v, PC board mount |
| 271-312 |
$7.99 |
1/4 watt 5% carbon film resistors, 500 pieces (Take the plunge!) |
| 276-1604 |
$2.26 |
Package of 15 PNP small signal 2N3906-type transistors. Could use
instead 276-2016 $0.59 2N3904 PNP transistors
|
| RSU 11673505 |
$0.79 |
3.3v Zener diode (not on shelf--need to order 1-800-THE-SHACK) |
| 272-1434 |
$0.59 |
1uf tantalum capacitor (see above for choice of capacitor) |
| RSU 11295888 |
$1.19 |
2.2uF tantalum capacitor (not on shelf--need to order) |
| 272-1024 |
$0.49 |
4.7uF radial-lead electrolytic capacitor |
Digikey (1-800-344-4539) part numbers:
Digikey does sell the peizo buzzers, but they are much more expensive than those
at Radio Shack and are larger as well.
| 2N3906-ND |
$0.25 |
PNP general purpose amp/switch transistor |
| 1N5226BMSCT-ND |
$0.21 |
3.3v Zener diode 500mA |
| 3.3KEBK-ND |
$0.28/5 |
1/8 watt resistors |
| 4.7KEBK-ND |
$0.28/5 |
1/8 watt resistors |
| 10KEBK-ND |
$0.28/5 |
1/8 watt resistors |
| P2105-ND |
$0.28 |
1.0uF Tantalum capacitor 16volt |
| P2022-ND |
$0.26 |
2.2uF Tantalum capacitor 10volt |
| P2024-ND |
$0.32 |
4.7uF Tantalum capacitor 10 volt |
| FP012C-5-ND |
$3.96 |
3M clear 0.5" heat shrink tubing, 5 feet |
George Steiner's book, crammed with cool R/C radio info, can be had for $19.95
postage paid from the following:
| GSP AZ Journal |
| 2238 Rogue River Drive |
| Sacramento CA 95826 |
| phone: 916-362-1962 |
Title: Receiver Battery Low Voltage Alarm
Source: www.electronics-lab.com
Published on: 2005-02-02
Reads: 576
Print version:  Other schematics from Models and model remote control Radio Remote Control using DTMF Infra Red Switch Remote control using VHF modules Precision Receiver Battery Low Voltage Alarm Clap Activated Remote Downed Model Locator Infrared Remote Control Remote control using telephone Downed Model Locator II Discharger for Receiver Battery Packs Schematics > Models and model remote control > Receiver Battery Low Voltage Alarm |