CONSTRUCTION OF A CAR BATTERY VOLTAGE LEVEL INDICATOR WITH MODIFIED AUDIO ALARM FOR POOR VOLTAGE LEVEL, WITH A BATTERY CHARGER

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title page                                                                                               i

Approval page                                                                                       ii

Dedication page                                                                                     iii

Acknowledgement page                                                                         iV  

Abstract                                                                                                 V

Table of content                                                                                    Vi

               CHAPTER ONE

• Introduction 1

1.1 Background of study                                                                       

1.2 Statement of the problem                                                                

1.3 Purpose of the study                                                                       

1.4 Significance of the study                                                                 

1.5 Delimitation of the study                                                                 

1.6 Operational definition of term                                                        

1.7 Choice of materials                                                                         

               CHAPTER TWO

2.0 Literature review of the components used

2.1 Resistors

2.1.1 Relationships between voltage, current and Resistance

2.1.2 Types of Resistors

2.1.3 Resistors color code

2.1.4 Factors that determine the choice of resistors

2.2.0 Capacitors

2.2.1 Factors affecting the value of capacitance

2.2.2 Capacitance conversion guide

2.3.0 Semiconductors

2.3.1 Semiconductor diodes

2.3.2 P-N junction construction

2.3.3 Current and voltage characteristics of semiconductor diodes

2.3.4 Biasing a junction diode

2.4.0 Types of diodes and their applications as used in this project

2.4.1 Silicon junction type-semiconductor diodes

2.4.2 Zener diodes

2.4.3 The zener effect and zener (breakdown) voltage

2.4.4 Light Emitting Diode (LED) or electroluminescent diode

2.5.0 Transistors

2.5.1 Types of transistors

2.5.2 Applications of transistors

2.5.3 Configurations and characteristic curves

2.5.4 Transistor Regions

2.6.0 Integrated circuits (ICs)

2.6.1 Construction of the 555 Timer IC

2.6.2 Some common features of a 555 Timer IC

2.6.3 Types of ICs

2.7.0 Moving coil loudspeaker

2.8.0 Toggle switch

2.9.0 Transformer

2.9.1 Types of transformer

2.9.2 Transformation Ratio of a transformer

2.9.3 Losses in a transformer

2.9.4 Transformer efficiency

2.9.5 General transformer equation

                                             CHAPTER THREE

3.0 Construction procedure

3.1 Section of the components

3.2 Testing of components

3.2.2 The 555 Timer as a multi-vibrator and the audio alarm

3.3 The Darlington-pair amplifier

3.3.1 The advantages of using two transistors

3.4.0 Block diagram of the battery charger

3.4.1 The schematic diagram of the simple 13V battery charger circuit and its working principle

3.5 Names and symbols of components used

3.6 List of materials used

CHAPTER FOUR

CONSTRUCTION PROCEDURES

4.0 The circuit diagram

4.1 Tools used in the project work and their functions

4.2 Mounting and soldering process

4.2.1 Mounting process

4.2.2 Soldering process

4.3 Layout of the project

4.4 Testing

4.5 Measurement and calculations

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 Summary, Recommendation, conclusion

5.1 Summary

5.2 Recommendation

5.3 Conclusion

5.4 References

             ABSTRACT

This project was constructed purposely to solve the problems associated with road accidents in this country (Nigeria). It was noticed that many of the accidents that occurs on the road in Nigeria and other countries in Africa are due to the negligence from the drivers to inspect or to observe the voltage level of their batteries. Based on statistics, it has been proved that about 10% of the accidents on the road every year is caused by lack of power to the trafficators or ignition systems in the vehicles. The purpose of this project is to tackle this problem. If it is imposed on the drivers and car owners to use this device, accidents will be reduced by 10%. There are two sets of warning signals in this network, namely: the visual and the audio signals. The visual signal indicates the voltage level and this can only be interpreted by the car owners, drivers; while the audio signal or alarm send a general warning to both passengers and the driver. The visual signals are Light Emitting Diodes while the audio signal can be buzzer or loudspeaker or any sound indicator. The car battery voltage level indicator is a dual-purpose device which can be used in vehicles and as well as a battery charger tester. More is said about the device in the write-ups.    

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

A voltage is the amount of potential energy between two points in an electrical field or in a circuit. It is also seen as the quantitative expressions of the potential difference in charge between two points in an electric field it is also called electromotive force. It is measured in volts.

        A car battery is an automotive rechargeable battery that supplies electrical energy to motor vehicles. It is also known as a “starting-lighting-ignition”. It main purpose is to start engine. (Elert 2016)

        A car battery voltage level detector is a device for detecting the level of the voltage of a car battery.

As the study of engineering and industrialization are undergoing some technological and industrial changes, the role of physics cannot be over emphasized. As a matter of facts, physics remain undisputable. “The master of all technology”

         To me whether you study the course as a trade or subject or not, you need the services of electrical electronic devices for your everyday life. However, it is with this motive of making life more comfortable that the dream of constructing a car battery voltage level detector was conceived.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

It has been observed that without taking note of the voltage level of vehicles battery, about 10% of road accident in Nigeria and African countries are caused due to lack of power to the starter motor when the battery is switched on. Also, the failures of traffic light (Traficator) especially when a driver wants to turn to a corner or crosses a cross-road. A car may fail to start at a traffic hold-up when the driver decided to turn off the engine as a result of long time hold-up and that cause more lot of problems.

    With the conception of this project, I believe that these problems will be solved especially to the drivers who understand the importance of electrical electronic signaling devices incorporated with the dashboard of their vehicles. Some of the staff in physics department in federal college of education pan shin is not exempted from these problems. It was therefore the desire of the researcher to overcome this problems that necessitated taking up the construction of a 12 volts car battery voltage level detector with audio alarm for a poor voltage level.

1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

    The purpose of this study is:

1. To construct a 12 volts car battery voltage level detector with audio alarm for a poor voltage level.
2. To overcome the limitation experienced with some battery chargers that may not charge up to the 12 volts level, as such, immediately the car ignition system is switched on, it will indicates the voltage level.
3. To work on the functionality of the device so it can also be used as a voltage-tester to the battery chargers.
4. To help some car owners who may not know the poor voltage level of their car battery to overcome electrical problems that may occur.

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This project shall be beneficial to:

1. Students; the project shall serve as a documentary reference prospective final year students and others who may have interest to construct a similar electronic device as it demonstrates the knowledge and skills acquired in physics electronics during the course of studies in this institution.
2. Physics department; the physics students, staff, and technicians who are car owners can use this device to test the voltage level of their car batteries and also, it could help in any physics practical that may need the use of car battery in the laboratory.
3. Technicians; the project shall be beneficial to the technicians who could possibly refer to this piece of work in future when construction of similar work is to be done.
4. The community; it can be useful to the immediate inhabitants of the school community who may own car to detect and know the voltage level of their car battery to avoid problems that may emerge as a result of poor voltage level.

1.5 DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY

        This project is limited to the construction of 12 volts car battery voltage-level detector with a modified audio alarm for the poor voltage level.

1.6 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

1. i. IC; integrated circuit is a small that contains a large number of electrical connections and perform the same as a large circuit made from separate parts.
2. Transistor; is a device used for the amplification of weak current, it has three terminals, emitter, base and collector. The two types are NPN and PNP.

iii. Light Emitting Diode (LED) are elements for light signalization in electronics.

1. Loudspeaker/Buzzer; loudspeaker is the output transducer used as pickup or sensor. Buzzer is a device that produces buzzing sound as a signal.
2. Toggle switch; is a switch for breaking and making of circuits, this switch is used as the master switch of the circuits (Basic concept of electronics 2012)

1.7 CHOICE OF MATERIAL

     The choice of material in this project refers to the type and quality of the materials used for the construction in other to meet up with the desire of the project. It is always advisable to make good choice of materials that will attract and extend the life span of the project. It also determined the type, size and quality of the materials to be use to meet up with ones desired goal. The following materials are put into consideration: casing, transistor, capacitor, switch, 555Timer, vero board, loudspeaker etc.