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03 February 2013

Non-Contact Power Monitor Circuit


This is a design circuit for non-contact AC power monitor for home appliances and laboratory equipment that should remain continuously switched-on. This circuit is built around CMOS IC CD4011 utilizing only a few components. NAND gates N1 and N2 of the IC are wired as an oscillator that drives a piezo buzzer directly. This is the figure of the circuit;


Resistors R2 and R3 and capacitor C2 are the oscillator components. The amplifier comprising transistors T1 and T2 disables the oscillator when mains power is available. In the standby mode, the base of T1 picks up 50Hz mains hum during the positive half cycles of AC and T1 conducts. This provides base current to T2 and it also conducts, pulling the collector to ground potential. As the collectors of T1 and T2 are connected to pin 2 of NAND gate N1 of the oscillator, the oscillator gets disabled when the transistors conduct. Capacitor C1 prevents rise of the collector voltage of T2 again during the negative half cycles. When the power fails, the electrical field around the equipment’s wiring ceases and T1 and T2 turn off. Capacitor C1 starts charging via R1 and preset VR and when it gets sufficiently charged, the oscillator is enabled and the piezo buzzer produces a shrill tone. Resistor R1 protects T2 from short circuit if VR is adjusted to zero resistance. The circuit can be easily assembled on a perforated/breadboard. Use a small plastic case to enclose the circuit and a telescopic antenna as aerial. A 9V battery can be used to power the circuit. Since the circuit draws only a few microamperes current in the standby mode, the battery will last several months.

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