Mains Frequency Monitor

Here is a simple frequency counter designed to monitor the 240VAC mains supply. It as a frequency range of 0-999Hz, so it could also be used with 400Hz equipment. Standard TTL/CMOS logic is employed for the counters and display drivers, while an ELM446 (IC1) generates accurate 1Hz pulses for gating. This device utilizes a 3.579545MHz crystal for its timebase, as commonly found in TV and video circuits and even on old PC motherboards.

Circuit diagram:Mains Frequency Monitor Circuit DiagramCopyright: Silicon Chip Electronics Magazine