Einstein RV LED Light Controller
Project Description
This project implements an intelligent LED lamp controller that is used as a replacement for incandescent bulbs
in a camper or recreational vehicle. The controller board plugs in in place of standard 1141 bayonet bulbs
and uses less than 1/10th the power. This light provides numerous advantages over the traditional bulb especially
for dry camping where every watt of power used is important. This project also makes an excellent emergency lamp
when combined with a gell cell battery.
This project has been prototyped and tested over the past year. I do not have
circuit boards or kits for building this project but it is simple enough to be built on a breadboard.
Features:
- 3 light output levels (tri-light mode).
- Delayed off mode so you can get into bed before the lights go out.
- 1/2 hour or 2 1/2 hour auto off mode for those times you forget.
- Low battery voltage alarm at about 11.4 volts.
- A direct plugin replacement for an 1141 bayonet bulb with about 1/10 the current draw.
- Requires no drilling or wiring to install in most fixtures.
- Maintains regulated light levels down to 11 volts using 21 ultra bright LEDs.
- Remembers last mode setting between power cycles
Configuration:
The normal configuration is with three jumpers installed on the left hand 3 sets of pins.
- Jumper from pin 5-6 enables the auto off feature. Remove this jumper if you do not want the light to turn
off automatically after the time interval selected by jumper 7-8.
- Jumper from 7-8 enables a long delay before auto off (about 2.5 hours).
With jumper removed auto off will occur after about 1/2 hour.
- Jumper from pin 9-10 enables low battery warning. Remove the jumper if you dont want the low battery indication.
Project Files
Eagle 4.13 PCB drawing file - camper-lite.sch(236K)
Eagle 4.13 PCB board file - camper-lite.brd(21.4K)
PNG Image of Drawing - einstein.png(28K)
PIC assembler source code - ultralite.asm(21.9K)
System Requirements
The source code can be compiled using the free microchip IDE environment under windows or
using the gp_utils package (gpasm assembler) under linux. The PIC microcontroller is programmed
using the in circuit programming capabilities of the PIC chip. You will need to build or buy
an in circuit programmer that supports the 16F627. See PIC
16F627 programmer and software for Linux.
Back to Lawrence's Software Stuff Page