Home Motor drivers Solar engines Type 1 (voltage) Zener-based FLED-based Mazibug3 1381-based "Miller" 1381 GBSE MicroPower VTSE DSSSE Chloroplast Vx2SE Type 2 (time) Type 3 (charge rate) Nocturnal Sensors Complete robots Misc. circuits   The BEAM Circuits Collection is a BEAM Reference Library site.		The 1381-based solar engine Using a 1381 voltage detector The 1381 solar engine uses a 1381* voltage detector (a.k.a., a voltage supervisor) IC to drive a voltage-based (type 1) solar engine. The 1381 is normally used to reset CPUs and Micros when the power supply drops too low for reliable operation. So 1381s detect and switch when the input voltage crosses the rated upper and lower threshold voltages. The upper- and lower-switching voltages are slightly overlapped so that the turn-on voltage is a few hundred mV above the turn-off voltage. This hysteresis keeps input noise (around the switching threshold) from resulting in multiple output cycles as the transition occurs. The 1381 SE is designed to increase the 1381 hysteresis from 0.2 - 0.3 V to a much larger value (2 - 4.6 V). This is done by essentially dropping the turn-off voltage to zero, while allowing SE to "fire" at the 1381's rated turn-on voltage. Here's the basic circuit: How it works As the solar cell charges the (4700 uF) storage capacitor, the voltage across the capacitor increases with time. Eventually it reaches the 1381's trip point, and the 1381 applies voltage to the base of the 2N3904. Since this is an NPN transistor, it "trips" and applies current to the motor. Meanwhile, it has brought the base of the 2N3906 "low," which causes it to conduct to the 2N3904's base as well (so at this point, the 1381 is essentially out of the circuit). This state of affairs will continue until the capacitor is fully drained, at which point the 2N3906 and 2N3904 both go "quiescent," and the solar cell resumes charging the capacitor. Parts list for basic circuit Part Solarbotics Digikey Radio Shack Storage capacitor various various various Solar cell various N/A N/A 2N3904 Transistor $0.15, #TR3904 $0.26, #2N3904-ND $0.07, #900-5456 2N3906 Transistor $0.15, #TR3906 $0.26, #2N3906-ND $0.07, #900-5457 2.2 KOhm Resistor 1381* IC You can "tweak" the performance of the SE by adjusting the value of the resistor: Increase the size of the resistor for longer running time (generally more-efficient), but lower starting torque Decrease the size of the resistor for shorter running time, but higher starting torque   Freeforming If you want to build a "freeform" version of this circuit, here's a very compact layout (note that the layout shows the transistors and 1381 in "dead-bug" fashion, i.e., with their legs pointing towards you). You should start by glueing the transistors and 1381 together. As is usual for things this small, you should then solder your connections starting in the middle (i.e., work your way out). Circuit variants You can also build a variant of this circuit with a photodiode to provide light sensitivity: This version of the circuit is often used in pairs in photopoppers. For more information... 1381s are great little ICs, but their availability seems to be spotty. If you can't find 1381s locally, you might have better luck finding its European cousin, the TC-54 -- for details on both of these, see their data sheets. If this page just doesn't whet your appetite for 1381-based solar engine designs, you ought to check out the Miller solar engine and VTSE pages.
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