Practical Intercom, cheaply

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http://www.sentex.ca/~mec1995/circ/intercom.html

Practical Intercom
by Jan Hamer
"Baby-monitors, baby-phones, or simply intercoms are for sale everywhere in a variety of models and
colors. Some work on AC, others wireless or just via a little wire. We all have our preferences. Just in case
you're looking for a VERY reliable Intercom, the circuit below will suit your needs."

Replacements
For BC548B =
For BC558B =
220nF =
1000uF =

you can use:

NTE123AP, 2N4401, 2N3904, PN100, 2N2222A, or TUN.
NTE159, 2N4402, 2N4403, 2N3906, PN200, or TUP.
0.22uF, 25V minimum. Any type or combination will do.
1000uF/25V, electrolytic. Any working voltage over 25V works.

This Intercom is powered by two 9volt batteries and uses only current when the Intercom is used. Both units
are connected via a two-wire little cable or simply two wires (dotted lines). The loud speakers act both as
loudspeaker and as a microphone. When you press S1 and speak into the loudspeaker then this signal is
amplified by the transistor stage and made audible in the right loudspeaker and vice-versa. An added benefit
of this system is that when the switch is pressed it is quiet, not even annoying noise. This circuit has worked
for me to my full satisfaction for many years now.
I get regular emails with complaints that there is no audio output when the button is pressed. As it turns out,
the problem is always that a low-impedance loud speaker is used and although the circuit is working normally
there is no audio or very little. Indeed it maybe difficult sometimes to obtain high-impedance loudspeakers,
which probably is that by modern radio's the final audio stage is a transistor amplifier and they can provide a
lot more current than a tube.

27/01/2016 19:06

Practical Intercom, cheaply

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http://www.sentex.ca/~mec1995/circ/intercom.html

To accommodate those in that situation, below is a solution which will solve the problem by using a audio
transformer with a ration of 1:2 or 1:4 to 'up' the impedance. What that means is that the ohm's value at the
primary side of this transformer is about 82 ohms. That will accomodate about 100mA max and because the
collector voltage is pretty 'nil', it is impossible for the transistor to get hot. If it does, you have the incorrect
transformer!

If you have questions about this circuit, please direct them to Jan Hamer or visit his website in the
Netherlands (if you can read Dutch).
Published & Translated from Dutch into English with permission of Jan Hamer, The Netherlands.
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Page Copyright 2002 - Tony van Roon

27/01/2016 19:06