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Battery Voltage Level Indicator

by Gokul Krithivasan, Clemson Automotive Engineering Graduate Student

The Video below demonstrates the working of a simple Battery Voltage Level Indicator that uses an array of 10 LEDs to display the level of voltage remaining on the battery. The Red LEDs denote "Low Battery Charge" while Green LEDs represent "Good/Full Charge" and the Yellow LEDs belong to the Mid-Range.

The Circuit Schematic

Schematic of Battery Voltage Level Indicator circuit

Components Used:

1. 1 x Breadboard

2. 1 x IC LM3914 - Dot/Bar Display Driver

3. 2 x 5K Potentiometers

4. 1 x 1K Resistor

4. 1 x 220 ohm Resistor

5. 1 x 4.7 K Resistor

6. 1 x 10 uF Electrolytic Capacitor

7. 1 x SPST Switch

8. 1 x NI MyDAQ

9. Connecting Wires

The Battery Voltage Indicator Circuit on Breadboard

The Connections on Breadboard Angle 1

The Connections on Breadboard Angle 2

At 15 Volts, the Green LED denotes Full Charge

Battery Fully Charged

At 9 Volts, the Yellow LED denotes Moderate Charge

Battery Partially Charged

At 5 Volts, the Red LED denotes Low Charge

Battery Insufficiently Charged