SMALL CIRCUITSCOLLECTION

Switch for
Switch-free Power Supplies 005
U. Reiser
Portable radios, CD-players and cassette recorders that can
also be operated from mains power often do not have a mains
power switch, but instead are switched off on the ‘DC side’.
This means that the power supply is permanently connected
to the mains network if the mains cable is not unplugged. The
situation with equipment requiring a mains adapter is similar.
This is not ideal for the environment or for your pocketbook.
The following circuit allows power to be switched on man-
ually and switched off automatically, directly at the equipment.
Optoelectronic isolation between the mains voltage and the
switching stage ensures continued compliance with safety
regulations.

Switching on
The circuit consists of the switch-on stage T1 and the hold-on
and switch-off stage T2/T3. Both stages drive the power
switch, which is implemented using a semiconductor relay
(IC1). The voltage from the two button cells (2–3 V) is con-
nected to the LED of the semiconductor relay by pressing mA to flow. At the same time, T1 prevents a ‘charging current’
pushbutton switch S1. R1 allows a diode current of around 10 from flowing into the batteries when the semiconductor relay
that switches the mains voltage is ener-
1 gised by T2. Although such a current can
D2 D3
only flow while the pushbutton is pressed,
BT1
IC2
1N4001 this possibility must be taken into account
S201S02 R3
L
2x S201S02
for safety reasons.
10k

1 3
LR44
C1
When the LED of the semiconduc-
tor relay is energised by the battery cur-
S1
470µ
T1 rent, the triac connects the mains voltage
2 4
L' R1 R5 to the transformer of the power supply.
4k7

120Ω
D1 The DC voltage provided to the load is
BC547 T3
R2 twice reduced by 0.65 V by diodes D2 and
680Ω
T2
D3. This threshold voltage, smoothed by
R4
BC557 C1, provides a base current for T3, which
10k
drives T2 into conduction. T2 in turn sup-
BC547 plies current via R2 to LED D1 and the LED
020024 - 11 in IC1. R2 must be matched to the DC volt-
age of the equipment to allow a LED cur-
2 TR1
rent of 10 mA to flow. As long as the push-
button is pressed, two LED currents flow,
and together they should not amount to
B1 more than 20 mA in order to avoid
mains destroying the LED in IC1.
switching
unit
Switching off
The voltage drop across D2 and D3 is only
present if a current drawn by the con-
L L'
nected equipment flows from the output of
the circuit. If this current is interrupted by
020024 - 12
switching off the equipment, T3 and T2 will

24 Elektor Electronics 12/2002


be cut off. The semiconductor relay will then open, and the
mains voltage will be switched off. This switch-off process is
delayed by capacitor C1, so that (for example) you can
exchange an audio cassette without causing the recorder to
be disconnected from the mains.
For the semiconductor relay, you should select a type hav-
ing a zero-crossing switch. This means that the triac will only
switch on at the zero point of the mains voltage, regardless of
when the pushbutton is pressed. Almost no current will thus
flow at the instant when the triac switches, which prevents
inductive switching spikes and associated interference. The
SMALL CIRCUITSCOLLECTION
up to 8 A (continuous) or 80 A (single-cycle peak).
Figure 2 shows how to connect the circuit between the
power supply and the charging capacitor. When laying out the
circuit board, ensure that all components carrying mains volt-
age are separated from each other by at least 3 mm and from
the low-voltage area by at least 6 mm. Naturally, the same
considerations apply to fitting the circuit board into the equip-
ment to be switched. If there is not sufficient space inside the
equipment, the circuit can be fitted between the equipment
and the mains adapter as a sort of cable switch.
(020024-1)

S201S01 semiconductor relay used here can switch currents

Door Knocker Bell 006

1
+3V

R2

100k
C1 16
IC1 IC1 = 74HC123
C2
100n 8

22µ
16V
15 14 7 6
RX/CX CX RX/CX CX
13 5
3 11
2 & 10 &
4 12
1 IC1.A 9 IC1.B
piezo R1
10M

2
+12V

R4
1k8

T2
"0" "1"

1 5.8 mA 6.3 mA A1
BC557
R3 R5
2 0.11 µA 1.2 mA (unloaded)
3
10k

10k

3 0 8 mA (loaded)

T1
TX

BC547

024060 - 11

If you have an old house, it’s nice to have only a door knocker
and no doorbell, since ‘back then’ no-one had a doorbell and
it destroys the illusion of authenticity. Although a door knocker
makes quite a racket, if you happen to be in the garden, the
attic or the cellar it might not be enough. The circuit shown
here solves this problem by acting as a sort of ‘electronic
extension’ for the door knocker.
A standard piezoelectric buzzer (not an active type) is used
here as a vibration pickup (or ‘knocking pickup’, if you will). If
you tap on such a buzzer it can easily produce a voltage of
around 1 V, which is more than enough to trigger monostable
IC1a. This in turn produces a pulse with a duration of approx-
imately one second to drive transistors T1 and T2. into con-
duction. The second of these transistors can be used to ener-
gise a relay (to switch on a suitable bell or beeper) or drive a
443-MHz licence-exempt transmitter (as shown here). If you
use a transmitter, simply connect T2 in place of the pushbut-
ton. The associated receiver can be carried around every-
where within and around the house, so you can always hear
knocking signals from visitors no matter where you are.

12/2002 Elektor Electronics 25