headlight alarm circuit

C

CM

Guest
Found this circuit on the internet.. It is intended to be a headlight alarm
(warning) to prevent one from leaving lights on by mistake.

http://www.eed.usv.ro/misc/mirrors/cc/circuit.htm/0122.htm

My question is, what is the resistor for ? do you need it and do you need
the diode from the ign aux line? Can't we wire the negative from the buzzer
straight to ign circuit minus the resistor to ground and diode?

Help me undrstand the purpose of the added parts.

Thanks

CM
 
In article <42a76a12$0$900$8fcfb975@news.wanadoo.fr>,
CM <cm08@wanadoo.fr> wrote:
Found this circuit on the internet.. It is intended to be a headlight alarm
(warning) to prevent one from leaving lights on by mistake.
Click to expand...
A useful thing. I'm glad my car already has it.

http://www.eed.usv.ro/misc/mirrors/cc/circuit.htm/0122.htm

My question is, what is the resistor for?
Click to expand...
To limit the amount of current flowing through the circuit.

do you need it?
Click to expand...
Yes.

and do you need the diode from the ign aux line?
Click to expand...
Yes.

Can't we wire the negative from the buzzer
straight to ign circuit minus the resistor to ground and diode?
Click to expand...
No.

Note that 12V is nominal. Probably closer to 14V when the engine is running.

Help me undrstand the purpose of the added parts.
Click to expand...
Here's why everything is where it is. When the car is running the IGN AUX
line is at 12V. When the lights are on the lights are at 12V too. Since
both terminals of the buzzer are at 12V it doesn't buzz.

Now the resistor is required because the IGN AUX line is connected to the
buzzer where ground is also connected. Without the resistor there would be
a short between the IGN AUX line and GND blowing the fuse for the IGN AUX
line rendering it useless.

Now you turn the car off. The IGN AUX line doesn't go to ground. It's simply
disconnected from the battery and is floating. So in your arrangement the
lights are at 12V and the IGN AUX line is connected to nothing. No buzzer.

In the circuit as specified when the IGN AUX line is disconnected then the
other side of the buzzer is now connected to ground. If the lights are on
then the buzzer has 12V on the lights side and GND on the other. So it starts
buzzing.

BAJ
 
"CM" <cm08@wanadoo.fr> wrote in message
news:42a76a12$0$900$8fcfb975@news.wanadoo.fr...
Found this circuit on the internet.. It is intended to be a headlight
alarm (warning) to prevent one from leaving lights on by mistake.

http://www.eed.usv.ro/misc/mirrors/cc/circuit.htm/0122.htm

My question is, what is the resistor for ? do you need it and do you need
the diode from the ign aux line? Can't we wire the negative from the
buzzer
straight to ign circuit minus the resistor to ground and diode?

Help me undrstand the purpose of the added parts.

Thanks

CM
Hi CM,
This is a common simple circuit to activate the buzzer when the lights are
Click to expand...
on. The diodes provide isolation. If the lights are on the buzzer will be
activated from the lights plus through D1 and the resister. If the lights
are on AND the ign is on the buzzer minus will be raised to plus and the
buzzer will not have enough difference to buzz. If you tie the minus of the
buzzer to the ign, the buzzer will not have a path when the lights are on.
You don't want the ign plus tied to ground when the ign is on.
Regards,
Tom
 
The circuit assumes the the signal from the Ign-Aux is +12v without the 1k
resistor there would be a short from +12V to Ground

The 2 diodes prevent the +12V from the Lights and from IgnAux from feeding
each other thru the buzzer.

The circuit works as follows:

When the IgnAux is on there is 12V applied across the resistor

If the lights are turned on the buzzer doesn't sound because both sides of
the buzzer are at the same volts

If you turn off the IgnAux current flows from the lights thru the buzzer and
the 1k resistor causing the buzzer to sound

Dan

--

Dan Hollands
1120 S Creek Dr
Webster NY 14580
585-872-2606
QuickScore@USSailing.net
www.QuickScoreRace.com


"CM" <cm08@wanadoo.fr> wrote in message
news:42a76a12$0$900$8fcfb975@news.wanadoo.fr...
Found this circuit on the internet.. It is intended to be a headlight
alarm (warning) to prevent one from leaving lights on by mistake.

http://www.eed.usv.ro/misc/mirrors/cc/circuit.htm/0122.htm

My question is, what is the resistor for ? do you need it and do you need
the diode from the ign aux line? Can't we wire the negative from the
buzzer
straight to ign circuit minus the resistor to ground and diode?

Help me undrstand the purpose of the added parts.

Thanks

CM
Click to expand...
 
Ok thanks to the responses below. Reason I asked original question was that
I have seen similar schematics wired as follows:

+ headlights--->>>>| (diode)------+Buzzer-------IGN AUX

This was described as headlight power and ign aux 12 V (no buzzer)

Ign off, headlights on 12V will find ground path through ign aux circuit and
buzzer will sound.

Does the above also make sense then? I realize there are many ways to
accomlish the same thing.

CM

"CM" <cm08@wanadoo.fr> wrote in message
news:42a76a12$0$900$8fcfb975@news.wanadoo.fr...
Found this circuit on the internet.. It is intended to be a headlight
alarm (warning) to prevent one from leaving lights on by mistake.

http://www.eed.usv.ro/misc/mirrors/cc/circuit.htm/0122.htm

My question is, what is the resistor for ? do you need it and do you need
the diode from the ign aux line? Can't we wire the negative from the
buzzer
straight to ign circuit minus the resistor to ground and diode?

Help me undrstand the purpose of the added parts.

Thanks

CM
Click to expand...
 
On Thu, 9 Jun 2005 14:00:05 +0200, "CM" <cm08@wanadoo.fr> wrote:

Ok thanks to the responses below. Reason I asked original question was that
I have seen similar schematics wired as follows:

+ headlights--->>>>| (diode)------+Buzzer-------IGN AUX

This was described as headlight power and ign aux 12 V (no buzzer)

Ign off, headlights on 12V will find ground path through ign aux circuit and
buzzer will sound.

Does the above also make sense then? I realize there are many ways to
accomlish the same thing.
Click to expand...
It may not work for some cars. Some car will ground the IGN AUX and
other car it may be simply disconnected (floating). A quick way to
check this is to turn the key to accessory or on and then use a meter
to check for continuity from IGN AUX to ground. If you get zero, the
above schematic might work. If you get infinity, you'll need to add
another diode, 1k resistor, and ground connection as mentioned in the
link in your first post.
--
When you hear the toilet flush, and hear the words "uh oh", it's already
too late. - by anonymous Mother in Austin, TX
To reply, replace digi.mon with phreaker.net
 
Thanks that definitely clears the difference up completely.

"Impmon" <impmon@digi.mon> wrote in message
news:i5iga1lavifv5qa25l91g5ukis9so52ajr@4ax.com...
On Thu, 9 Jun 2005 14:00:05 +0200, "CM" <cm08@wanadoo.fr> wrote:

Ok thanks to the responses below. Reason I asked original question was
that
I have seen similar schematics wired as follows:

+ headlights--->>>>| (diode)------+Buzzer-------IGN AUX

This was described as headlight power and ign aux 12 V (no buzzer)

Ign off, headlights on 12V will find ground path through ign aux circuit
and
buzzer will sound.

Does the above also make sense then? I realize there are many ways to
accomlish the same thing.

It may not work for some cars. Some car will ground the IGN AUX and
other car it may be simply disconnected (floating). A quick way to
check this is to turn the key to accessory or on and then use a meter
to check for continuity from IGN AUX to ground. If you get zero, the
above schematic might work. If you get infinity, you'll need to add
another diode, 1k resistor, and ground connection as mentioned in the
link in your first post.
--
When you hear the toilet flush, and hear the words "uh oh", it's already
too late. - by anonymous Mother in Austin, TX
To reply, replace digi.mon with phreaker.net
Click to expand...
 
CM wrote:
Found this circuit on the internet.. It is intended to be a headlight alarm
(warning) to prevent one from leaving lights on by mistake.

http://www.eed.usv.ro/misc/mirrors/cc/circuit.htm/0122.htm

My question is, what is the resistor for ? do you need it and do you need
the diode from the ign aux line? Can't we wire the negative from the buzzer
straight to ign circuit minus the resistor to ground and diode?

Help me undrstand the purpose of the added parts.

Thanks

CM
Click to expand...
Hi, CM. You're probably not seeing it because it's so simple.

Let's ignore the "To IGN-AUX" part of the circuit (which happens when
it's at 0v, i.e. the ignition and aux are off, and the diode prevents
current from flowing). The buzzer BZ1 is a low current device. When
"To Lights" is high (i.e. the lights are ON), 0.7V will be dropped
across the diode, and a volt or four across the 1K resistor, leaving 8
to 11 volts across the buzzer, enough voltage to make the buzzer sound.

Now let's assume the key is in the ignition and it's turned to AUX or
ON. There's 12V there, so 0.7V will be dropped across the diode, and
the rest will be dropped across the 1K resistor. That means there will
be no voltage for the buzzer, and it won't turn on.

Net effect: the buzzer will only turn ON when the IGN/AUX switch is
OFF and the lights are ON. Simple & straightforward.

A buzzer isn't specified. I'd recommend trying your buzzer or binger
with 12V and a 1K series resistor before you install. It's possible it
might not be loud enough for you.

Good luck
Chris
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Welcome to EDABoard.com

Sponsor

Back
Top