Simple Light Sensor using IC LM358

ABSTRACT
The following circuit based project can perform this job
properlyAutomatically turns on when gets dark.This circuit uses the output froma
simple light/dark activated circuit.Drives a relay in its output which canbe further
coupled to switch on/off an electrical appliance in a house.

In this project, we are going to make a day and night

indicator (or dark and light indicator) which will indicate if there is a dark or light
in the surroundings. Some applications of this circuit, are street light controlling,
home/office light controlling, day and night indicators, etc.

Components Required
1. 10k Resistor
2. 4.7k Resitor-02, 220ohm resistor-01
3. LDR
4. IC LM358
5. LED
6. 9V battery
7. Bread board
8. Battery connector

IC LM358
LM358 is a Dual Low Noise Operational Amplifier which have two Op Amp in a
single chip. This is a general purpose op amp which can be configured in many
modes like comparator, summer, integrator, amplifier, differentiator, inverting
mode, non- inverting mode and many more.
Circuit Diagram

Breadboard connection
DEMONSTRATION
This a Light sensor circuit. Probably most simple and interesting
circuit to play with. It can be configured as either shadow detector or Light
detector, which means it can detect the intensity of light.

Right in the circuit diagram it is configured as a

Shadow Detector, that means the LED will turn on when we show a bright light
over LDR.We can change this circuit as Light Detector by simply swapping the pins
2 & 3 of 741 Comparator IC, and then LED will turn on when LDR is dark in this
circuit, please make sure that pins no 1,5 & 8 are not connected and left idle.

6 is output pin. In the circuit it is connected to an LED via 1K resistor, but

you can also connect a transistor to turn on a relay, motor or any other output. In
this circuit we have set reference voltages for both comparators by using
potentiometer we can say this sensitivity of the circuit. Both comparators are
configured in opposite mode. Means at a time only single LED will glowing. In
non-inverting mode when we apply positive voltage greater then reference
voltage to its non-inverting pin it gives a positive output else 0 volt.
And in inverting mode when we apply same voltage at its inverting pin it will give
a 0 volts at its output pin else gives positive voltage. Means both configurations
give opposite output.

Main component of this dark circuit is LDR which detect day

and light. LDR is a light dependent resistor which changes his resistance according
to the light. When light falls on the LDR surface, it reduces its resistance and when
dark resistance of LDR become Maximum. During the daytime there are enough
light so when this light falls on LDR it reduces its resistance and due to this a
potential difference generated at comparators respected pin.

Now both comparators compare this input voltage with reference voltage, if this
input voltage is greater than reference voltage then day LED will glow otherwise
night LED will Glow.

Conclusion
By conducting the above experiment we concluded that during the
presence of light the LED glows and during the absence of light it doesn't glow.