Automatic Night Lighting:

Automatic night lamp as the name suggests is for turning ON and OFF the
lamp automatically without the need of human interventions. It senses the light
intensity from surroundings and find whether its day or night. And it automatically
turns ON when the surrounding is dark and it turns OFF when it receives light from
surroundings. A sensor called LDR is used to detect the light intensity.

As stated earlier our main objective is to provide an efficient & energy saving
lighting system by evaluating the outside lighting condition and then adjusting the
lights accordingly. The circuit mainly consists of a sensing element known as LDR,
which is followed by processing unit Arduino which takes input for sensing element
and gives its output to the lamps (lighting units).Though other units like relays,
transistors are also be used for higher voltage supply. The LDR senses the light and
sends the data to Arduino. The Arduino analyse the data and gives its response to
the LEDS through the relay mechanism. The Arduino is programmed in such a way
it automatically adjusts the lights to give most accurate result possible.
Light dependent resistor (LDR):
In order to detect the intensity of light or darkness, Light dependent resistor
is used to detect change in light intensity or as a light sensor. LDR is basically a
variable resistor. LDR resistance changes with the change in intensity of light. If
intensity of light falling on LDR is high, LDR will have low resistance. When intensity
of light decreases, LDR offer high resistance. Hence there is a inverse relationship
between intensity of light and resistance of LDR.

So LDR is used as a light sensor. Now the question come to mind, how to measure
resistance which in return can be used to calculate intensity of light. As you know
Arduino Mega R3 board have six analogs to digital converter channels. All analog to
digital converters can measure voltage only. These channels can not measure
resistance directly. But resistance can be measured indirectly by converting it into
voltage form. This is basically call signal conditioning. 10K ohm resistor is used in
series with LDR through 5 volt source. This circuit is used to convert resistance into
voltage form. Voltage measured across LDR can be measure with the help of analog
to digital converter of Arduino. This measured voltage can be converted back into
resistance using voltage division formula.
Relay:
In this project, 12 V relay is used to provide isolation between low voltage circuitry
and high voltage circuitry. Arduino is also used to provide control signal to relay
whenever intensity of light falls below a certain level. Control signal is generated
from pin 13 of Arduino which is used as a output pin. BJT Transistor is used as a
switch here.

circuit diagram
circuit diagram of light sensor and Stadium light control using Arduino is shown
below :