Turn LED on when voltage drops to level.

crutschow

Joined Mar 14, 2008
38,532
Personally I think i'd have gone down the comparator route, I've done something similar with a comparator (may have been a 339), a zener, a handful of resistors and a 2N2222 to drive an NC relay........ The primary reason for this was low quiescent drain (down to several uA, as it's for a vehicle),
That's certainly a good option.
But an LM339 takes more than several μA, more like 800μA (which is still a very low drain).
And there's also current for the zener and other bias currents.

Below is the circuit with an LM339/393 comparator.
Take your pick. ;)

upload_2018-3-1_17-33-32.png
 

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Tonyr1084

Joined Sep 24, 2015
9,744
Just thinking here; but if your voltage drops below a set point you want the LED to come on and to activate a relay. The relay remains active (as per your requirement) until you push a reset button. If so - what happens, assuming a fully charged battery, during start up? The voltage is likely going to drop below your trigger point, so you're going to have to reset the relay every time you start the engine.

I may not have a solution to your problem, but I can be good at finding the problems with any solution. It's my nature.
 

danadak

Joined Mar 10, 2018
4,057
Just a thought but an ATTINY UP running Bascom Basic language
could cut down on parts count, and add flexibility for changes/upgrade.

https://www.mcselec.com/

ATTINY44 would probably do. Has onchip Vref and A/D.

For future reference.

Regards, Dana.
 
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