PIN DIODE BASED FIRE SENSOR

INTRODUCTION:

This is a PIN diode based fire sensor that activates an alarm when it
detects fire. Thermistor based fire alarms have a drawback; the alarm turns on
only if the fire heats the thermistor in close vicinity. In this circuit, a sensitive PIN
diode

is used as a fire sensor for a longer-range fire detection.

It detects visible light and infrared (IR) in the range of 430nm – 1100nm.
So visible light and IR from the fire can easily activate the sensor to trigger the
alarm. It also detects sparks in the mains wiring and, if these persist, it gives a
warning alarm. It is an ideal protective device for showrooms, lockers, record
rooms and so on.

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM:
COMPONENTS REQUIRED:

In the circuit, PIN photodiode BPW34 is connected to the inverting and

non-inverting inputs of op-amp IC1 in reverse-biased mode to feed photo
current into the input of op-amp. CA3140 is a 4.5MHz BiMOs op-amp
with MOSFET inputs and bipolar output.

Gate-protected MOSFET (PMOS) transistors in the input circuit provide

very high input impedance, typically around 1.5T ohms. The IC requires very low
input current, as low as 10pA, to change output status to high or low.

In the circuit, IC1 is used as a transimpedance amplifier to act as a current-

to-voltage converter. IC1 amplifies and converts the photo current generated in
the PIN diode to the corresponding voltage in its output. The non-inverting
input is connected to the ground and anode of photodiode, while the inverting
input gets photo current from the PIN diode.
PIN DIODE:

WORKING OF CIRCUIT:

Large-value feedback resistor R1 sets the gain of the transimpedance

amplifier since it is in inverting configuration. Connection of non-inverting input
to ground provides low impedance load for the photodiode, which keeps the
photodiode voltage low.

The photodiode operates in the photovoltaic mode with no external bias.

Feedback of the op-amp keeps the photodiode current equal to the feedback
current through R1. So the input offset voltage due to the photodiode is very
low in this self-biased photovoltaic mode. This permits a large gain without any
large-output offset voltage. This configuration is selected to get large gain in
low-light conditions.

Normally, in ambient light condition, photocurrent from the PIN diode is very
low; it keeps output of IC1 low. When the PIN diode detects visible light or IR
from fire, its photo current increases and transimpedance amplifier IC1 converts
this current to corresponding output voltage. High output from IC1 activates
transistor T1 and LED1 glows. This indicates that the circuit has detected fire.
When T1 conducts, it takes reset pin 12 of IC2 to ground potential and CD4060
starts oscillating.

IC2 is a binary counter with ten outputs that turn high one by one when it
oscillates due to C1 and R6. Oscillation of IC2 is indicated by the blinking of
LED2. When output Q6 (pin 4) of IC2 turns high after 15 seconds, T2 conducts
and activates piezo buzzer PZ1, and LED3 also glows. The alarm repeats again
after 15 seconds if fire persists

SOME IMPORTANT POINTS:.

You can also turn on an AC alarm that produces a loud sound by replacing
PZ1 with a relay circuitry . The AC alarm is activated through contacts of the
relay used for this purpose.

Normally, when there is no fire flame near the PIN diode, the piezo buzzer
does not sound. When a fire flame is sensed by the PIN diode, piezo buzzer
sounds an alarm. Its detection range is around two metres. It can also detect
sparks in the mains wiring due to short-circuit.