Night Lamps

Ashok K. Doctor
Here are two night lamp circuits using LEDs. One could be used as a night-vision clock and the other as a T lamp. !oth the circuits are A" operated and consume ver# little power. These are also protected against mains $luctuations. The night-vision lamp uses twelve LEDs arranged in the circular pattern o$ a wall clock% while the T lamp uses &' LEDs in prism $ormat.

Fig. 1: Night-vision clock circuit

(ig.) shows the circuit o$ night-vision clock. "apacitor ") *+.&&,(- reduces the current to sa$e limit% diode D) provides recti$ied D" to bring out the characteristic colour o$ white LEDs and the ). /ener diode maintains the voltage at a sa$e level. 0esistor 0& protects the circuit against high inrush current% while resistor 0) is used $or additional protection o$ the LEDs.

Fig. 2: leds mounted through drilled holes

Fig. 3: leds mounted below the band

Assemble the circuit on a general-purpose 1"! and mount the white LEDs *LED) through LED)&-% through drilled holes% in the circular $ormat o$ the clock dial as shown in (ig. &. 2imilarl#% #ou can mount LEDs on another dial o$ the clock as shown in (ig. 3. (ig. ' shows the T lamp circuit. 4atching T in darkness puts strain on #our e#es. 2o an illumination o$ )+-).4 is recommended. The circuit described here is known as Ken 2chult/ circuit. 5t uses a total o$ &' white LEDs *LED)3 to LED36- and is well balanced against surges and voltage spikes. The lamp produces almost no heat.

Fig. 4: tv lamp circuit

Assemble the circuit on a general-purpose 1"!% with the white LEDs *LED)3 through LED36mounted in a triangular $ormat *(ig. .-. 7ow enclose it in the proposed T lamp $itting shown in (ig. 6.

Fig. 5: leds mounted in a triangular ormat on a general-purpose p!b

Fig. ": tv lamp ittings

Night Lamp From Scrap CFL

85L57D 8. 29TA0% :EE A7 2. ;HODAKE A7D 10O(. 1.!. :O2H5
Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are available in different shapes and power ratings. These consist of an electronic ballast circuit and a programmable-logic-controlled tubelight. Most CFL manufacturers offer a guarantee of half a year on their product.
5n an unserviceable "(L% the $ilament has reached the end o$ its li$e but there is ever# possibilit# that the electronic ballast circuit inside the bottom o$ the "(L is in working condition. The night lamp circuit described here uses the serviceable electronic circuit $itted in the base o$ an ))-watt "(L.

Fig. 1: An efficient night lamp circuit

(or constructing this night lamp% remove the "(L glass tube and replace it with $our white LEDs as described below. <ou should be care$ul not to break the tube as it contains ha/ardous materials such as mercur#. "are$ull# open the base o$ "(L holder using an appropriate tool. <ou can see the electronic ballast circuit on a circular 1"!.

Fig. 2: LEDs arrangement in waste CFL

9se the components $rom the ballast circuit and a series combination o$ $our bright white LEDs as shown in (ig. ). 0emove all other components $rom the original ballast circuit. As per the re=uirement o$ light intensit# in #our room% #ou can increase the number o$ white LEDs up to eight. As shown in (ig. )% the $ull-wave bridge recti$ier comprising diodes D) through D' converts A" voltage into D" voltage. 2nubber capacitor ") at the input reduces the line input voltage o$ &3+ to a ver# low-level A" voltage. 2eries current-limiting resistor 0& and series inductor coil L) avoid voltage spikes. (it the circular 1"! in the waste "(L holder and #our night lamp is read# $or use.