Battery state indicator

Many a time the outdoor audio or video recording becomes imperfect due to a ‘dying’ battery. If
the battery voltage is less than 9V for a 12V recorder, the output during playback will not be of
a good quality due to variations in the motor speed.

Many car owners take their battery for granted, rarely giving it the maintenance required. As the
winter nights advance the demands made on this vital power source increase. Combined with
the inevitable aging process and diminishing ability to store a charge for a  long period, this
makes the requirement of a simple aid to monitor battery voltage continuously obvious.

PARTS LIST
R1 1 KΩ
R2 8.2 KΩ
R3 470 Ω
R4 1 KΩ
R5 8.2 KΩ
 D1 9V 400mW
D2 LED YELLOW
D3 LED RED
D4 5.1V 400mW
D5 IN4001
D6 LED GREEN
D7 12V 400mW
D8 IN4001
Q1 BC 148B
Q2 BC 148B
The indicator was therefor designed to forestall any incipient failure by providing ‘at a glance’
information on battery state with three coloured LEDs.
Green indicating a battery voltage adequate for normal use,
Yellow that the voltage was fairly low and
red that the cell was dead.

When the battery is in top condition, its output voltage will be around 13V and, of course, even
higher if recently charged. This potential is applied via D8 through R4, D7 and R5 to the base of
Q2. This turns Q2 on, causing D6 to illuminate via R3. At this time Q2 effectively places a short
circuit across the rest of circuit via D6, preventing D2 and D3 from emitting light.

As the battery voltage becomes lower,Q2 begins to turn off as the threshold of D7 is
reached.This allows D2 to conduct as Q1 has all the time to be turned on via R1, D1 and R2.
(D5 increases the voltage required for turning on D2 when T2 is on.) The current thus drawn via
R3 precludes D3 from illuminating as the potential across it and D4 is not above the zener
level.

Eventually, at still lower battery voltage, Q1 will turn off in the same way as Q2, allowing
potential at the junction of D2, D3 and D6 to rise in excess of 5V zener level of D4 which
begins to pass current and illuminates D3.

Zener diodes may be selected for other switching points and / or battery voltages.