Maker Pro
Maker Pro

humidistat question

G

gdon

Jan 1, 1970
0
I am a humidor builder looking to add active humidification to my larger
models. These models range from around 6 cubic feet to as large as 18. In
smaller models, I use a passive humidification system which uses a 50/50
solution of propylene glycol/distilled water. This does not work well in
large models because they dry out too fast.

What I want to design is a small device to measure humidity and activate a
small 40mm fan if the relative humidity drops below 66%, and turn off the
fan when RH exceeds 70%. The accuracy of the device should be +/-2%. The
fan will pass air over a wicking fiber which is attached to a distilled
water reservoir.

I am aware of the various humidity sensors available as indicated in other
threads:
http://www.digikey.com/scripts/us/dksus.dll?Criteria?Ref=141335&Cat=32375562
But the part that I need help with is the circuit design. I am a newbie!

I was hoping that somebody could point me in the right direction? Any tips
or links are very much appreciated.

Greg
 
J

John Popelish

Jan 1, 1970
0
gdon wrote:
(snip)
I am aware of the various humidity sensors available as indicated in other
threads:
http://www.digikey.com/scripts/us/dksus.dll?Criteria?Ref=141335&Cat=32375562
But the part that I need help with is the circuit design. I am a newbie!

I was hoping that somebody could point me in the right direction? Any tips
or links are very much appreciated.
The basic component that decides if one voltage is more or less
positive than another is the comparator:
http://www.national.com/catalog/AnalogComparators.html

They have two voltage inputs, and lots of gain, so that if the voltage
connected to the + input is even a few thousandths of a volt more
positive than the signal connected to the - input, the output goes
positive (usually this means the output switch which connects to the
negative supply rail turns off).

See the data sheet for the very common dual unit, LM393:
http://cache.national.com/ds/LM/LM193.pdf

It has some circuit suggestions that you might be able to adapt as
your fan control. The versions with hysterisis (clean decisive
switching without chatter) on page 9, for instance.
 
Top