01/02/2023 11:07 Digital thermometer with LED / LCD display
Digital thermometer with LED / LCD display
Now we bring you two versions of a homemade digital thermometer with ICL7106 that I recently built. One version
uses a LED display, the second version LCD display. In both versions, is used silicon transistor as a temperature sensor.
The temperature is determined by the voltage drop, temperature dependence is approximately -2.2 mV / °C. Power can be
either a 9V battery or a suitable power supply. Oscillator with R1 and C1 determines the sampling frequency - using 100k
and 100p the frequency is 3 Hz. Theoretical temperature range is from -199.9 to 199.9 °C, the real temperature range is
limited by the measuring transistor to approximately -65.0 To 150.0 °C. Resolution to 0.1 °C. If you want to use it as a
room thermometer, it is not necessary to use the hundreds digit, (left) or minus sign. Also digit right from the decimal point
may be omitted if 1 °C resolution is sufficient. A simple room thermometer thus requires only two-digit display, as on
photo below.
LED version
LED version is usually constructed with the circuit ICL7107, which has a higher output current, but this circuit requires
symmetrical stabilized power supply. Advantage of 7106 is a simple power supply without stabilization. The problem is
solved by a low curren (1 mA) superbright display. 7106 is also easier to salvage from something (like digital multimetr)
than 7107. I will not discuss the 7107 here. Info on both those integrated circuits can be found in their datasheet.
LCD version
Here, the circuit 7106 is connected in the usual way. LCD is driven by AC 60Hz signal. At all outputs for display and the
common electrode terminal have a rectangle 60Hz waveform. Outputs for the segments that are not to be displayed, have a
voltage in phase with a common electrode. Outputs for segments that are displayed, are out of phase. T1 is used as an
inverter for the decimal point. Thermometer with LCD is also possible to make by rebuilding cheap or old digital
multimeter (most of them used circuit ICL7106 or some equivalent ...7106). Current consumption is less than 1 mA,
therefore it is suitable for battery power.
Calibration
The thermometer must be calibrated. Calibration is performed using the trimmer P1 and P2 in two steps. The first step is to
set the zero using crushed ice (the ice and water mix). Set P2 approximately in the center. Probe (Transistor) Place in a
waterproof container and dip into crushed ice (ice pieces in water). After stabilizing the set P1 and to display 00.0 °C. In
the second step P2 is set according to a known temperature, preferably in boiling water at 100 °C. Alternatively the P2
setting can be made according to another thermometer at room temperature. For accurate setting you can use multiturn
trimmers.
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01/02/2023 11:07 Digital thermometer with LED / LCD display
Schematic diagram of a digital thermometer with LED display
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01/02/2023 11:07 Digital thermometer with LED / LCD display
Schematic diagram of a digital thermometer with LCD display
Test wiring of the room thermometer with LED display, 0-99 °C, resolution to 1 °C.
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01/02/2023 11:07 Digital thermometer with LED / LCD display
A ruin of an old multimeter prepared to transform into the thermometer ....
... and completed LCD thermometer, -65 to 150 °C, resolution 0.1 °C.
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01/02/2023 11:07 Digital thermometer with LED / LCD display
Zero calibration in crushed ice.
Old integrated circuits MH7106 and MHB7106 made in TESLA, Czech Republic. Today look for ICL7106.
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01/02/2023 11:07 Digital thermometer with LED / LCD display
Various thermometers. To calibrate P2 they also can be used (to avoid working with boiling water) but the accuracy is
worse. Mercury laboratory thermometers are fairly accurate, cheap digital thermometers from Vietnamese still usefull,
alcohol thermometers are inaccurate (deviation commonly about 1 °C).
home
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