10 Level Battery Charge Indicator

Circuit
The project “10 Level Battery Charge Indicator Circuit” is designed using
comparator IC LM3914, used to indicates charge of battery in 10 different
level. The project uses 10 LEDs to indicate the charge of battery in 10 level
i.e. each glowing LED indicates 10% of charge in battery. Let say, if seven
LEDs glow, the charge available in battery is 70%. It also has features of
automatic switch off the charging circuit when battery is 100% charged.

How circuit works?

The main components of 10 Level Battery Charge Indicator Circuit is LM3914, contains
10 comparators internally and is arranged in voltage divider network which basically
works on circuit division rule. The battery voltage is divided into 10 parts and its output
is indicated by 10 LEDs arranged in dot mode. For better usual indication different color
LEDs is preferred say 3 red LEDs, 3 Yellow LEDs and 4 Red LEDs. When 10th LED
glow the transistor Q1 goes in saturation state and relay energized the charger circuit is
switched off and battery is disconnected from charger.

If you are interested to design your own 12V battery charger circuit then here are some
links.

1. 12V, 7Ah Smart Battery Charger with PCB Diagram

2. 12V battery charger with over-charge and deep discharge protection.

Circuit Description of 10 Level Battery

Charge Indicator
The circuit of 10 Level Battery Charge Indicator Circuit is shown in figure 1. The entire
circuit of is 10 Level Battery Charge Indicator Circuit built around comparator IC
LM3914, 10 LEDs and few other electronics components like resistors, capacitors,
diodes, transistor etc. for working of circuit flawlessly.
The battery whose charge would be monitoring is connected to B1 where diode D2
block reverse current from the circuit to battery where capacitor C1 is nothing but a filter
capacitor. Variable resistor VR1 is used to calibrate the circuit for glowing LEDs at
different voltage where variable resistor VR2 is used to adjust the intensity of LEDs.

Transistor Q1 is switching circuit which initially is in off state but when the battery is fully
charged i.e. LED10 glows, transistor Q1 become on as a result relay energized and
switch off the charging circuit. The table shown below shows the battery percentage to
corresponding glowing LED.
 Table 1

S.N. Glowing LED Battery charged

1. LED1 10%

2. LED2 20%

3. LED3 30%

4. LED4 40%

5. LED5 50%

6. LED6 60%

7. LED7 70%

8. LED8 80%

9. LED9 90%

10. LED10 100%

Calibration of 10 Level Battery Charge Indicator

1. Connect the 15V variable power supply at B1 point (at place of battery)
 2. Set 3V to variable power supply.
3. Adjust variable VR1 until LED1
4. Increase voltage of variable power supply in interval of 1V per step.
5. Circuit is ready to use.

PARTS LIST OF 10 LEVEL BATTERY CHARGE

INDICATOR
Resistors (all ¼-watt, ± 5% Carbon)

R1 = 33 KΩ

R2 = 1.2 KΩ

R3 = 56 KΩ

VR1 = 10 Ω

VR2 = 200 KΩ

Capacitors

C1 = 100 nF (Ceramic Disc)

C2 = 33 µF/30V (Electrolytic Capacitor)

Semiconductors
IC1 = LM3914 (Comparator IC)

Q1 = BC558 (PNP transistor)

D1, D2 = 1N4001 (General purpose silicon rectifier diode)

LED1 – LED3 = 5mm Red color LEDs

LED4 – LED6 = 5mm Yellow color LEDs

LED7 – LED10 = 5mm Green color LEDs

Miscellaneous

RL1 = 12V Relay