Night Light

Saver V3.2 (PIC12C508)

Wichit Sirichote, kswichit@kmitl.ac.th

A Microchip PIC12C508 8-pin CMOS Microcontroller turns a night light on and off
with preset time everyday. Save Energy, No EMI, No Battery, Built-in Lamp Fixture,
and Peak Shaving

Introduction
It's time for 8-pin microcontroller Microchip PIC12C508, the SAVER V3.2, my latest
design of a device that turns a night light on and off everyday. The circuit uses only a
PIC12C508 8-pin CMOS micontroller and a small triac, MAC97A6. The Saver V3.2 also
demonstrates the use PCW PIC C Compiler.

Circuit Description
The schematic of the SAVER V3.2 is depicted in Figure 1.A transformerless power supply
uses Xc of a 0.22uF capacitor to limit current providing about 10mA current source. The
diodes rectifies ac current to dc current which in turns charged to filtering capacitor,
100uF. A 5.1V zener diode provides dc supply ~5V to the PIC12C508. The
microcontroller circuit runs with low power 32kHz X-tal. GP2 connects a momentary
button for setting time to 8:00. GP1 drives small dot LED that blink every 5 s for normal
running. GP0 directly drives with source current to a small triac MAC97A6.
Caution!! High Voltage!! Do not touch any conductive parts of the circuit

Figure 1: Schematic of the Saver V3.2

Software
Saver.hex is HEX file suitable for writing the code to the PIC12C508 chip. This file sets
time to 8:00 when press S1 once. Time on and off is set to 19:00 to 22:00 everyday.

The original source program SAVER.C and SAVER.H was written in 'C' language. User
may change set time when press S1 and change time on/off.

To recompile the source file you need a PCW PIC C Compiler from CCS.

Installation
The Saver may be built-in any kind of lamp fixtures. Figure 2 shows the author's concept
for building-in a 25W lamp fixture.
 under preparation
Figure 2: The author's concept night light fixture with built-in Saver circuit
Although the Saver can operate even wrong connection of L and N to the circuit. The
author suggests to correct AC line connection to L and N of the circuit. After finished
installation, turn the main switch on, functioning LED will blink every 1 second. Let try
press S1 once, the lamp will turn on 1 minute then off. The Saver assumes the current time
is then be 8:00.

Note that every time you press S1, the lamp will turn on 1 minute only once. The day after
the lamp will then turn on and off at preset time. Functioning LED will blink at low rate
indicating normal operation.

If high blink rate is noticed when return home, power failed should happen, no problem,
just wait again 8:00 then press S1.

If the LED is not blinked, someone may turn main switch off, turn it back on again and
wait for 8:00.

Energy Saving Lamp

The Saver was not designed for turning such energy saving lamps on and off. They mostly
use internal high frequency inverter. I have been tested with one from National, it works!!
But I am not guarantee for your energy saving lamp. I shall be grateful if you could test
and let me know the result.

Backing Up with Supercapacitor or Battery

My first design as seen in SAVER V5.0 does not provide backup supply if line voltage has
failed. I have installed one at my home and have to repress S1 three times during three
months. The Saver 5 draws much current while PIC12C508 draws as less as 36uA. So one
can modify by putting backup circuit with additional one or two signal diodes, 1N914, say.
A supercapacitor 0.1F may provide backup time a couple of hour while battery may
provide up to a year. GP0 needs external PNP transistor and drives a triac with sink current
instead to prevent discharging from backup supply.

Changing time on for different seasons

Night time for different seasons is of course different in winter or summer, say. The sun
will set more early in winter while later in summer. One may ask how can we change time
on, since the chip was programmed time on/off at 19:00/22:00 everyday. Very easy, just
press S1 to set 8:00 early or later than our clock. Example is shown below;

Press S1 at our clock Time on Time off Season

8:00 19:00 22:00 preset
7:30 18:30 21:30 winter
8:15 19:15 21:15 summer
Night Light Saver V3.2 was designed by W.Sirichote
Saver.C was wriiten by W.Sirichote