Wiring Material

 3 Level Audio Power Indicator Circuits Diagram

Parts:

R1__________100K1/4W Resistor

R2___________50K1/2W Trimmer Cermet

R3__________330K1/4W Resistor

R4____________1M21/4W Resistor

R5__________470K1/4W Resistor

R6,R7_______500K1/2W Trimmers Cermet

R8____________1K51/4W Resistor

R9-R11______470R1/4W Resistors

C1___________47pF63V Ceramic Capacitor

C2__________100nF63V Polyester Capacitor

C3___________47µF25V Electrolytic Capacitor

C4____________1µF25V Electrolytic Capacitor

D1______BZX79C5V1 5.1V 500mW Zener Diode

D2_________1N414875V 150mA Diode

D3-D5________3mm.Yellow LEDs

IC1_________LM339Quad Voltage Comparator IC

SW1__________SPSTSlider Switch

B1_____________9VPP3

Clip for 9V PP3 Battery

Circuit operation:

This schema is intended to indicate the power output level of any audio amplifier. It is simple, portable, and displays three power levels that can be set to any desired value. For a standard HiFi stereo power amplifier like the 25W  Audio Amplifier described in these pages, the power output values suggested are as follows:

• D5 illuminates at 2W
• D4 illuminates at 12.5W
• D3 illuminates at 24.5W

The above values were chosen for easy setup, but other settings are possible.
IC1A is the input buffer, feeding 3 voltage comparators and LEDsdrivers by means of a variable dc voltage obtained by R5 and C4 smoothing action. In order to achieve setting stability, the supply of IC1 and trimmers R6 & R7 is reduced and clamped to 5.1V by Zener diode D1.

Notes:

• The simplest way to connect this schema to the amplifier output is to use a twisted pair cable terminated with two insulated crocodile clips.
• Setup is best accomplished with an oscilloscope or an audio millivoltmeter like the one described in these pages. Precision Audio Millivoltmeter
• A 1KHz sine wave generator with variable output is also required (see a suitable schema in this website also). 1KHz Sinewave Generator
• Connect the generator to the amplifiers input and the Audio Power Indicator to the output of the amplifier, in parallel with the oscilloscope probe or the audio millivoltmeter input.
• When using high power outputs disconnect the loudspeakers to avoid Tweeters damage and connect in their place an 8 Ohm 20-30 Watt wirewound resistor.
• Remember that VRMS output is equal to output Peak-to-Peak Voltage divided by 2.828.
• RMS power output in Watts is equal to VRMS² divided by speaker impedance (usually 8 or 4 Ohm).
• Example: set the output of the 1KHz sinewave generator to read 14V on the audio millivoltmeter (24.5W @ 8 Ohm). Set R2 until D3 illuminates, and be sure that D3 turns-off when diminishing a little the generators output.
• Do the same with R7 for D4 and R6 for D5. The readings of the audio millivoltmeter must be 10V (12.5W @ 8 Ohm) and 4V (2W @ 8 Ohm) respectively.