SMALL CIRCUITSCOLLECTION

Voltage Tester for Model Batteries 001

With a suitable load, the terminal voltage of a
NiCd or lithium-ion battery is proportional to
the amount of stored energy. This relationship,
which is linear over a wide range, can be used
to build a simple battery capacity meter.
This model battery tester has two functions: it
provides a load for the battery, and at the same
time it measures the terminal voltage. In addi-
tion, both functions can be switched on or off
via a model remote-control receiver, to avoid
draining the battery when it is not necessary to
make a measurement.
The load network, which consists of a BC517
Darlington transistor (T2) and load resistor R11
(15 Ω / 5 W), is readily evident. When the load
is active, the base of T1 lies practically at
ground level. Consequently, T1 conducts and
+5V
allows one of the LEDs to be illuminated.
P1 The thoroughly familiar voltmeter circuit,
100k R4 R11
16 which is based on the LM3914 LED driver,
15Ω
500k

IC1 determines which LED is lit. The values of R6

R3 8
C2
5W and R7 depend on the type and number of
100k

C1
cells in the battery. The objective here is not to
100n
7 6 measure the entire voltage range from 0 V, but
10n RX/CX CX JP1
15 14 5 rather to display the portion of the range
RX/CX CX 11
13 10 & between the fully charged voltage and the fully
3 12
2 &
9 IC1.B discharged voltage. Since a total of ten LEDs
4 R5
R2 1 IC1.A are used, the display is very precise. For a
1k

NiCd battery with four cells, the scale runs

47k

JP2
SIGNAL T2
from 4.8 V to 5.5 V when R6 = R7 = 2 kΩ. The
R1 measurement scale for a lithium-ion battery
IC1 = 74HC123
47k

BC517 with two cells ranges from 7.2 V to 8.0 V if R6

= 2 kΩ and R7 = 1 kΩ.
R12 For remote-control operation, both jumpers
should be placed in the upper position
15k

+5V T1
(between pin 1 and the middle pin). In this
R6
D10
configuration, either a positive or negative sig-
2k2

BC557 nal edge will start the measurement process.

D9
A positive edge triggers IC1a, whose output
3
D8 goes High and triggers IC1b. A negative edge
9
MODE L10
10 has no effect on IC1a, but it triggers IC1b
5 11 D7
6
SIG L9
12
directly. In any case, the load will be activated
RHI IC2 L8
R10
7
REFOUT L7
13 D6 for the duration of the pulse from monostable
L6
14
IC1b. Use P12 to set the pulse width of IC1a to
330Ω

15 D5
L5
4 16 an adequate value, taking care that it is shorter
R9 RLO L4
LM3914
L3
17 D4 than the pulse width of IC1b.
1k2

18
8
L2
1 D3
If the voltage tester is fitted into a remote-con-
REFADJ L1
R7 R8
trolled model, you can replace the jumpers
2 D2
with simple wire bridges. However, if you want
2k2

1k5

D1
to use it for other purposes, such as measuring
the amount of charge left in a video camera
014071 - 11

22 Elektor Electronics 12/2001

 SMALL CIRCUITSCOLLECTION

R2 014071-1
R8 R7 D1
HOEK1

HOEK2

SIGNAL R3 D2

IC1
D3
C2 C1
+ R9 D4

IC2
0V R4 D5
R6
D6
R1 JP1 JP2
P1 D7
T2
R10 D8
R5 T1 D9

HOEK3
HOEK4

D10
ROTKELE )C( 1-170410 R12 R11 014071-1 (C) ELEKTOR

COMPONENTS LIST tors!) Capacitors: T2 = BC517

R8 = 1kΩ5 C1 = 10nF IC1 = 74HC123
Resistors: R9 = 1kΩ2 C2 = 100nF IC2 = LM3914AN
R1,R2 = 47kΩ R10 = 330Ω
R3 = 100kΩ R11 = 15Ω 5W Semiconductors: Miscellaneous:
R4 = 500kΩ R12 = 15kΩ D1-D10 = LED, red, high effi- PC1,PC2,PC3 = solder pin
R5 = 1kΩ P1 = 100kΩ preset ciency JP1,JP2 = jumper or pushbut-
R6,R7 = see text (1% resis- T1 = BC557 ton

battery, it is recommended to connect double-throw push- while the normally open contact corresponds to the lower
button switches in place of JP1 and JP2. The normally position.
closed contact corresponds to the upper jumper position, (014071-1)

12/2001 Elektor Electronics 23