Medium

Laser Trip-Wire Alarm

A phototransistor waits for a continuous beam of light — when someone breaks it by walking through, a buzzer triggers instantly. The classic spy-movie setup, built with real parts.

Circuit Diagram

+9V LED beam source light beam ⟶ R Phototransistor BPW77NA Q BC547 C → buzzer E → GND BUZZER Beam unbroken keeps Q OFF — breaking it flips Q ON, buzzer sounds

How to Build It

  1. Position an ordinary LED (as the light source) facing the phototransistor, some distance away — this is the beam.
  2. Wire the phototransistor so that, normally (beam unbroken), it keeps a BC547 transistor OFF.
  3. Connect the BC547's collector to a buzzer and then to the positive rail.
  4. Connect the emitter to GND.
  5. Power the circuit — the buzzer should stay silent while the beam is unbroken.
  6. Pass a hand through the beam — the buzzer should sound immediately.

Bill of Materials

ProductCodeQty
Buzzer LD-BZPG-2312 1
Phototransistor 1
LED (3/5/10mm, SMD, power) l-934ID-12V 1
Resistor DR47K-8/9 1
Transistor (incl. IGBT) 1
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