Solar Operated Bridge Light Controller

ABSTRACT

Energy is the primary and most universal measure of all kinds of work

done by human beings and nature. Every thing that happens in the world is the

expression of flow of energy in one of its form. Man has needed and used energy

at an increasing rate for his sustenance and well being ever since he came on

the earth a few million years ago. Primitive man required energy primarily in the

form of food. He derived this by eating plants or animals, which he hunted.

Subsequently he discovered fire and his energy needs increased as he started to

make use of wood and other biomass to supply the energy needed for cooking

as well as for keeping himself warm. With the passage of time, man started to

cultivate land for agriculture. He added a new dimension to the use of energy by

domesticating and training animals to work for him. With further demand for

energy man began to use the wind for sailing ships and for driving windmills and

the force of falling water to turn water wheels. Till this time, it would not be wrong

to say that the sun was supplying all the energy needs of man either directly or

indirectly and that man was using only renewable sources of energy.

Here I am presenting a system, which uses solar energy, a renewable

source of energy. This system is designed and implemented in the laboratory.

This is an approach to provide light on remotely located bridge, which is away

from grid. The lamps are turned ON when IR sensor detects vehicle at the entry

of the bridge and they are kept ON till the vehicle crosses the bridge. Saving lot

of power makes the optimum utilization of energy.

 Solar Operated Bridge Light Controller

INTRODUCTION

In todays scenario, stress is laid on the fact that machine should be

operated automatically without much human involvement. We are dependent on

available non-renewable sources like coal, petrol, diesel etc., which are not

everlasting. The only solution to this problem is to use renewable sources of

energy efficiently, which are available to us abundantly. Renewable sources

of energy are those, which can be used over and over again i.e.

inexhaustible. e.g. solar, wind, water etc., whereas non-renewable sources

are those which cant be used over and over again i.e. exhaustible. e.g.

coal, petrol, natural gas etc. Solar energy is a major source of energy for the

post-fossil-fuel era, which is not too far off in the future. Solar photovoltaic is

the technology of converting solar energy into electricity and making it available

for the various applications.

Photovoltaic lighting system, with their minimal maintenance

requirements is the best option for security and street lighting in remote

locations. Even in urban areas with easy access to the utility grid,

photovoltaic is preferred as it eliminates the need for trenching and road

repairs, wiring metering and electric utility bills.

The solar operated bridge light control system using microcontroller

is a cost effective system. The main aim of this system is to encourage the

use of renewable sources of energy and minimize power wastage. This system

uses solar cell that directly converts solar energy into electrical energy. This
 Solar Operated Bridge Light Controller

effect is called as Photovoltaic effect. There is wastage of power during night

hours when the lights remain ON in the absence of vehicle. The proposed

system overcomes this problem by providing automatic switching of lights at

night, i.e., ON in the presence of vehicle and OFF in the absence of vehicle thus

saving the power.

The IR sensors are used on both sides of the bridge to sense the

presence of vehicle. When the vehicle is approaching the bridge, it obstructs the

rays through IR sensor and the fluorescent lamp is turned ON. It remains ON till

the vehicle passes the bridge to save the stored power. The microcontroller is

used to perform this task.

Proposed system:

The schematic for the proposed scheme is shown in Fig.1. If the vehicle

enters the bridge from LHS, the sensors IR1 followed by IR2 will detect it. The

sensors IR3 followed by IR4 detect its exit. Similarly, if the vehicle enters the

bridge from RHS, the sensors IR4 followed by IR3 will detect it and the sensors

IR2 followed by IR1 detect its exit.

 Solar Operated Bridge Light Controller

IR1 IR2 IR3 IR4

LHS RHS

Fig 1: Proposed Schematic

The light will be turned ON when microcontroller detects a sequence

IR1, IR2 and will be turned OFF when it receives a sequence IR3 followed

by IR4. Similarly it will also be turned ON when microcontroller detects a

sequence IR4, IR3 and will be turned OFF on the detection of sequence IR2

followed by IR1. This proper sequence will avoid turning OFF of the lamps

in the situation of entering the vehicle from both the sides of the bridge.
 Solar Operated Bridge Light Controller

BLOCK DIAGRAM

Solar
Solar check Battery
Panel regulator

LDR to ON the
light
IR IR
Transmitter Receiver
Tran Rec

Tran Rec Main Inverter

50Hz

Microcontroller
89C51

Lamps
Tran Rec

Tran Rec

Figure shows the block diagram of solar operated bridge light control

system using microcontroller. It consists of the following.

1. Input Block:

Its main function is to convert the intercepted solar power into electricity

by the photovoltaic cells, to provide constant voltage for battery charging.

(24V lead acid).

 Solar Operated Bridge Light Controller

2. Inverter Block:

The conversion of DC voltage to AC voltage is performed by the inverter.

The inverter consists of power transistors along with RC snubber circuit for its

protection. The output of inverter is stepped up using a step-up transformer. The

transformer provides power to the load.

3. Microcontroller Unit:

The heart of the circuit is microcontroller IC 89C51. It controls the

switching of transistors in the inverter. It also turns ON and OFF the fluorescent

lamp based on the IR sensor output.

Hardware Details:

The hardware consists of the following parts.

1. Solar Cell Panel:

In the field of photovoltaics, a photovoltaic module is a packaged

interconnected assembly of photovoltaic cells, also known as solar cells. An

installation of photovoltaic modules or panels is known as a photovoltaic array or

a solar panel. Photovoltaic cells typically require protection from the environment.

For cost and practicality reasons a number of cells are connected electrically and

packaged in a photovoltaic module, while a collection of these modules that are

mechanically fastened together, wired, and designed to be a field-installable unit,

sometimes with a glass covering and a frame and backing made of metal, plastic

or fiberglass, are known as a photovoltaic panel or simply solar panel. A

 Solar Operated Bridge Light Controller

photovoltaic installation typically includes an array of photovoltaic modules or

panels, an inverter, batteries (for off grid) and interconnection wiring.

The solar radiation is incident on the solar cell panel. The Solar cell

converts solar energy into electrical energy. The impedance of solar cell is low of

the order of 1 Ohm for maximum power transfer from solar cell to the battery.

Solar cells are always operated unbiased. One solar cell can provide 360mV

max. voltage and can deliver max. 33mA current. The voltage and current

ratings are different for different applications, which can be obtained by

connecting the arrays of solar cells in series and parallel combination. The

solar array consists of 36 photovoltaic cells connected in series. One panel

gives an output voltage of 20 V. (approx) in the presence of average sunlight.

Two solar panels are used in series to get a total output voltage of 40V.

2. Zener and Blocking Diode:

The blocking diode is used to prevent the flow of reverse current and

hence, prevents the battery discharge in the absence of solar radiation. A zener

diode is used for over voltage protection of the IC 723.

 Solar Operated Bridge Light Controller

3. Regulator and Battery Charging Unit:

This unit regulates the output voltage fluctuations which consist of a

temperature compensated voltage reference source, an op-amp as an error

amplifier, a series pass transistor capable of 150mA output current, and a

transistor can be used to limit the output current. The output voltage is

compared with this temperature compensated reference potential of 7V. The

error amplifier is high gain differential amplifier, which controls the series

pass transistor acting as variable resistor. It is a small power transistor

having about 800mW power dissipation.

4. Battery:

The battery is charged from output of regulator, which provides 24V

DC. It uses two 12V batteries in series to get the required output of 24V

(D.C). This supply from battery is used to drive the microcontroller circuit and

inverter circuit.

5. Sensor Unit:

The battery will be charged during daytime and inverter remains OFF.

This is achieved by using a LDR in series with a transistor in Darlington

pair. Thus, the LDR acts as a switch to turn the lights OFF during the

daytime and to turn it ON during night time on detection of presence of

vehicle using IR sensor.

6. Inverter:

The inverter consists of transistors and snubber circuit. The base

pulses required to drive the inverter switches are provided by the microcontroller.
 Solar Operated Bridge Light Controller

When there is sufficient solar light on solar cell, IC 723 based battery

charger charges the battery. At night microcontroller activates the inverter

and provides AC supply to the fluorescent lamp so as to turn it ON. The input

to inverter is 24V (D.C) that is provided by the batteries and the output is

24V/50Hz AC. The output of inverter is stepped up to 230V/50Hz, using a

step up transformer of 1:10 turns ratio and current rating of 1.3A which drives the

load.
 Solar Operated Bridge Light Controller

7. Microcontroller Unit:

MICROCONTROLLER IC AT89C52
Block Diagram

Block Dig. of AT89C52

 Solar Operated Bridge Light Controller

IC Description:

The AT89C52 is a low-power, high-performance CMOS 8-bit

microcomputer with 8 Kbytes of Flash Programmable and erasable read only

memory (PEROM). The device is manufactured using Atmels high Density

nonvolatile memory technology and is compatible with the industry standard

80C51 and 80C52 instruction set and pin out. The on-chip flash allows the

program memory to be reprogrammed in-system by a conventional nonvolatile

memory programmer. By combining a versatile 8-bit CPU with flash on a

monolithic chip the Atmel AT89C52 is a powerful microcomputer which provides a

highly flexible and cost effective solution to many embedded control applications.

The AT89C5d2 provides the following standard features : 8Kbytes of

Flash, 256 bytes of RAM, 32 I/O lines, three 16-bit timer/counters, six-vector,

two-level interrupt architecture a full duplex serial port on-chip oscillator and clock

circuitry. In addition the AT89C52 is designed with static logic for operation down

to zero frequency and supports two software selectable power saving modes.

The Idle Mode stops the CPU while allowing the RAM timer/counters, serial port

and interrupt system to continue functioning.

The Power down Mode saves the RAM contents but freezes the oscillator

Disabling all other chip functions until the next hardware

 Solar Operated Bridge Light Controller

The microcontroller 89C51 controls the switching of transistors in the

inverter based on the IR sensor output. The IR sensors detect the presence of

vehicle.

The tasks assigned to micro-controller are

(a) To respond to the LDR output for checking day and night time.

(b) To detect the presence and direction of entry of vehicle based on IR

sensors sequence generated.

(c) To generate the pulses for the transistor switches of the inverter to

turn them ON so as to produce ac voltage.

(d) To turn OFF the fluorescent lamps based upon the IR sensors output

depending upon the exit of the vehicle.

The input to microcontroller is applied through input buffer

IC74LS245. The output of microcontroller is given to relay through

another buffer. The IR sensor will provide the logic signal to

microcontroller if the vehicle obstructs the IR rays. As per the

software, the microcontroller switches ON the inverter, so as to make the

fluorescent lights ON.

 Solar Operated Bridge Light Controller

FLOWCHART

Start

Check whether 1st &

2nd sensor is cut
or
Last & Last but one sensor
is cut

Check the readings of

ADC (Connected to LDR)

It is equal or less than No

UPT < LDR value
LTP > LDR value

Turn OFF
Yes
relay of
Inverter
Turn ON
relay of
Inverter

Check 1st &

2nd sensor is cut
or
Last & Last but one sensor
is cut

Yes

Turn OFF
Main
Inverter

End
 Solar Operated Bridge Light Controller

WORKING

This circuit contains four IR trans receivers, micro controller, Relay driver

circuit, Relay, 16 * 2 module LCD screen, 0808 ADC and LDR and temperature

sensor.

In this type of circuit four IR sensors is connected to micro controller which

is placed near the Gate, between these two IR sensor length is absolute 20-25 ft.

When the vehicle is entering then IR sensor gets affected and IR2 sensor is

getting affected when any vehicle is exit. There is one relay is connected to micro

controller throughout Relay driver which is capable drive the current of Relay. In

these CKT Relay one is get connected to the main line of power supply. This

relay is connected to inverter circuit which is going on 'ON' condition of inverter.

As inverter gets 'ON', it will 'ON' all lights of bridge.

When any vehicle is entered, then some binary acknowledge is given to

micro controller. Then suddenly it drives the main inverter of relay. Power takes

ON, then light sensor LDR gives the Analog values to ADC 0808 which converts

into digitally form. Calculation is takes placed weather the light intensity is low the

lights gets is ON state through Relay.

The pole lamps is drives to directly proportional to values to light intensity

when the light intensity is high the micro controller driver the pole relay is OFF

state and intensity is low (or night) then the lamp is ON state.

When the vehicle get exit then micro controller drives main phase power

supply relay to OFF all power supply.

 Solar Operated Bridge Light Controller

ADVANTAGES

1. Intelligent lighting system with the use of microcontroller.

2. Saves the energy when the bridge is not in use.

3. Works automatically.

4. Less maintenance.

5. Requires no human being to operate.

6. Adequate in remote areas like forest.

7. Modification can be made at any time.

8. Scheduled operation is possible.

 Solar Operated Bridge Light Controller

CONCLUSION

This seminar presents solar operated bridge light control using

microcontroller. The system takes input from solar energy and converts it into

electrical energy, which is used to switch ON lamps on the bridge when it detects

the vehicle. The output of the inverter used in the system is 230V/50Hz. This

system is efficient, low cost and requires no other power input. This system can

be further generalized to install it on the entire street.

 Solar Operated Bridge Light Controller

REFERENCES

1. Ned Mohan, Undeland and Robbins, Power Electronics converters,

applications and design John Wiley and sons 1995, pp. 364-370.

2. Pressman, Switched Mode Power Supply McGraw Hill Nov. 1997, pp.

430-433.

3. Sergio Franco, Design with OP-AMP and analog integrated circuits,

McGraw Hill Nov. 1997, pp. 690-697

4. Kenneth Ayala, The 8051 Microcontroller: Architecture, programming &

application, PRI publication.

5. Intels MCS 51 Data Book , Intel Inc.

6. V.J. Vibhute, N.G. Palan, P.B. Borle, 8 bit microprocessor &

Microcontroller, Techova publication.

7. Microcontroller 8051, handbook.

8. TTL IC Data Book.

9. www.google.com

10. www.pvpower.com

11. www.eren.doe.gov.pv