Override digital out with pushbutton

Question

I have an Arduino Digital Out pin connected to a 1k resistor, then connected the base of a 2N3904 transitor. In fact, that same digital out is connected to several resistor->base-of-2n3904. Each transistor is in turn driving a p-channel mosfet.

I would like to add a pushbutton to override the digital out. By that, I mean that the digital out is most of the time OFF, but sometimes ON from a brief moment. Pressing the pushbutton will have the same effect as turning ON the digital out.

I don't think I can simply add a momentary pushbutton between the digital out and +5V, can I ? This will probably feed 5V directly into the output pin. Should I maybe add a resistor in series with the pushbutton ? do I risk frying the pin by adding the pushbutton like so:

^{simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab}

Answer 1

You could switch this around and make the output of the Arduino open-drain, tied to +5 through a 10K resistor (R4). Get rid of the three transistors, and drive the gates of the MOSFETs directly from the output pin. (By the way, I'm not sure why you have three transistors in parallel; it seems you could of run the output of one transistor to all thee MOSFETs.)

Now, setting the output pin to ground will be the same as turning on the transistors in your earlier circuit (collectors connected to ground). Setting the pin high (tri-stated for open-drain outputs) will leave the outputs at +5 due to R4. Meanwhile, if the switch is now connected to ground, and tied directly to the outputs (no R5), pushing the switch will also drive the output low without interfering with the output pin of the Arduino whether it is tro-stated or at at ground.

If you want to use your existing circuit, making as few changes as possible, you should be able to isolate the switch and the output of Arduino using just a 1N4148 diode and adding a resistor to ground. (The resistor in series with the switch is removed.)

Answer 2

This is what I was thinking out loud in the comments.

^{simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab}

The push button can be in parallel to the BJT without a problem.

Answer 3

The digital output presumably drives actively both in the high and low directions. 10 kΩ to any voltage from 0-5 volts won't have any effect on it.

There is a way to do this. Connect the bottom of R5 directly to the base of Q1, which means on the right side or R1. I'd also make R1 higher. The collector load is only 10 kΩ, so 10 kΩ on the base is plenty low enough. R5 of 10 kΩ as you have it now should then work.

Remember that the digital output will be actively driving the left side of R1 low during the pushbutton override. With R1 and R5 equal, most of the current thru R5 will go to turn on the resistor since the base will be at about 700 mV. If R1 were much lower than R5, as you have it now, then most of the current thru R5 during override will actually go thru R1 and into the digital input instead of into the base of Q1.

However, a better way to do this overall is to connect the button to another input of the processor, then perform the override action in firmware. That way the firmware knows it's happening, the switch will be debounced, and you don't have to worry about current sharing. The only real drawback is that it takes another input pin. As long as you have one available, this is really the better way to solve the problem.

Answer 4

I'm not sure if jippie had something like this in mind, but you can use a "master" transistor that will control the rest of the transistors.

The transistor I have used is in an emitter follower configuration (to avoid inversion). When the AVR output is high then the emitter will output about 4.3v and will turn the output transistors on. If the button is pressed during that state then it will just feed the output transistors with 5v which will not make a difference for the way they are used (as switches).

When the AVR output is low then the transistor will be off, but the button will be able to override and feed the output transistors with 5v.

^{simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab}

Answer 5

You could use a SPDT momentary pushbutton (or momentary toggle)

^{simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab}

Probably the simplest way for an existing system.

Or if you must use a momentary SPST, one added diode and resistor will make it happen.

(But @tcrosley already posted the second solution, so look at his answer!).