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Getting to Grips with 555 Timer Basics

Posted by ChelseaBack on Tue, Apr 26 2016 11:02:08
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Application

Learning about the operating principles and applications of a 555 timer.

Recently on my HND course I have been using 555 timers to build simple circuits like a trac light system.
However, we havent really spent much time looking at exactly what a 555 timer is and consists of. I
decided I would do some of my own reading and get down to the nitty-gritty of what one is and how it
works.

What is a 555 timer then?

A 555 timer is possibly one of the most popular ICs to ever be made! It is used in a wide variety of timer,
pulse generator and oscillator applications and can be used to provide time delays both as an oscillator
and a ip op element.
The 555 has 8 pins and is a dual in line package (DIP).

Technique
Technology

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GettingtoGripswith555TimerBasicsDesignSpark

The general schematic layout for a 555 timer is as follows.

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GettingtoGripswith555TimerBasicsDesignSpark

Supply is at the top, GND is at the bottom, the inputs are to the left and the output is on the right.
The 555 timer has three key functions: monostable, bistable and astable.
Monostablefunctions as 'one shot'. Applications of this type include: timers, bounce switches, touch
switches, frequency divider, capacitance measurement, pulse width modulation and missing pulse
detection.
Bistablemode, or also known as the Schmitt trigger, can also operate as a ip-op (changing between two
stable states) as long as the DIS pin is not connected and there is no capacitor used. This mode can also
be used to make multivibrator circuits.
AstableIn this mode the 555 timer can act as an oscillator. There are many uses for this, which include:
pulse generation, tone generation, pulse position modulation, logic clocks, LED and lamp ashers, as well
as many more. This operation of a 555 timer can also be used as a simple analogue to digital converter.
There are many more applications for the use of an astable 555 timer, however, this list keeps going on!
I found a really good book which is free to download online called Engineers Mini Notebook 555 timer IC
circuits by Forrest M Mimm. This book runs through many dierent examples of uses and applications,
providing the schematics.
To get a better understanding of 555 timer circuits I decided to have a go at building the monostable
touch activated switch application.

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GettingtoGripswith555TimerBasicsDesignSpark

Image source: Engineers Mini-Notebook 555 Timer IC Circuits

Above is an extract from the Engineers Mini-Notebook 555 Timer IC Circuits, showing the hand drawn
schematic for how to wire up a touch activated switch using a 555 timer, where it also shows the eect
that touch has to the output pulse.
I assembled the touch activated switch on breadboard and connected an LED with the cathode to Pin 3
(output) and anode to pin 6 (VCC). Following this the LED should blink when the contacts are touched.

The circuit was connected the GND and VCC rows on the breadboard, with 5V being supplied from the
bench top power supply. When the circuit was rst powered up the LED illuminated and stayed this way
until pins two and ve were touched, which caused the LED to blink.

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Next I wanted to try a circuit which was a little more fun and decided to construct the Toy Organ project.
This uses seven push buttons each with a capacitor in series and connected up to the 555 timer. There is
also an 8 Ohm speaker connected to the output. Using dierent values of capacitor changes the
frequency of the tone generated.

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Image source: Engineer's mini-Notebook 555 Timer IC Circuits

For the values of the capacitors I chose to pick seven of every other one ranging from 0.15uF to 0.0015uF
in the table in the bottom right hand corner.

Instead of using a 100K potentiometer between pin 8 and 7 I decided to use a 100K xed resistor. I also
chose not to include a 1K potentiometer between C8 and the speaker for volume control. When I rst
wired up the circuit on breadboard I had made a few wrong connections to the switches, which meant
when I pushed a button the tone was constant and did not change.

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To x this I altered the connections to the switches and reconnected the power supply, following which
the circuit worked as it should!

The circuit looked a little messy due to the way I had wired the switches, but I managed to tidy this up
when I altered the connections to the switches. The circuit worked and I had a miniature electronic organ
using a 555 timer!

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I think if I were to repeat this project I would alter the values of the capacitors used. The values I selected
produced a very uneven tone between the buttons and also some of the tones were almost ear piercing!

555 timers are pretty cool, I can see how they are included in so many applications and why they are so
popular. This will almost certainly not be the last time I use 555 timers!
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6 comments

Like this

Analogue, Test, Design Phase, Development Kits - Electronics

0

COMMENTS
Posted by johnmc at 22:52 on 10/05/2016
Hey Don,
johnmc

Click on the link that Chelsea provided to "Engineers Mini Notebook 555 timer IC circuits"
by Forrest M Mimm, and you can nd the circuit in there.
Cheers,
John

Posted by don stewart at 16:30 on 10/05/2016

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GettingtoGripswith555TimerBasicsDesignSpark
Thanks for the link jwzumwalt, but it can't be the same circuit as the one described uses
dierent values of capacitor, as shown in the close-up photos.
don stewart

Posted by jwzumwalt at 15:24 on 10/05/2016

jwzumwalt

555_organ.png (29.71 KiB) Not viewed yet

Posted by jwzumwalt at 15:21 on 10/05/2016

The circuit can be found by going to Google Images and searching for "555 toy organ" :)
jwzumwalt

or see this
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to- ... -a-555-IC/

555_organ.gif (3.91 KiB) Not viewed yet

Posted by don stewart at 09:52 on 10/05/2016

don stewart

The toy organ project circuit diagram seems to have got lost and instead the touch activated
circuit is shown twice.
I would be interested to see the real toy organ circuit as I can't see how they are combining
the trigger with the dierent capacitors.
Could you check and hopefully correct the diagrams on this page.
Don Stewart.

Posted by jmw1937 at 09:26 on 10/05/2016

jmw1937

The 555 does NOT like disturbances on its supply rails. If you aren't using a very stable lab
power supply, **connected by short wires**, you need a 220 uF capacitor across the supply
near the 555.
The bipolar and CMOS version of the 555 behave dierently. The CMOS versions are less
robust than the bipolar, but produce symmetrical square waves in astable mode more
simply.

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AnOverviewofthe555Timer
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The555IntegratedCircuit(IC)isaneasytousetimerthathasmanyapplications.Itiswidelyusedinelectroniccircuits
andthispopularitymeansitisalsoverycheaptopurchase,typicallycostingaround30p.A'dual'versioncalledthe556
isalsoavailablewhichincludestwoindependent555ICsinonepackage.
Thefollowingillustrationshowsboththe555(8pin)andthe556(14pin).

Inacircuitdiagramthe555timerchipisoftendrawnliketheillustrationbelow.Noticehowthepinsarenotinthe
sameorderastheactualchip,thisisbecauseitismucheasiertorecognizethefunctionofeachpin,andmakesdrawing
circuitdiagramsmucheasier.

Forthe555tofunctionitreliesonbothanalogueanddigitalelectronictechniques,butifweconsideritsoutputonly,it
canbethoughtofasadigitaldevice.Theoutputcanbeinoneoftwostatesatanytime,thefirststateisthe'low'state,
whichis0v.Thesecondstateisthe'high'state,whichisthevoltageVs(Thevoltageofyourpowersupplywhichcanbe
anythingfrom4.5to15v.18vabsolutemaximum).Themostcommontypesofoutputscanbecategorizedbythe
following(theirnamesgiveyouaclueastotheirfunctions):

Monostablemode:inthismode,the555functionsasa"oneshot".Applicationsincludetimers,missingpulse
detection,bouncefreeswitches,touchswitches,frequencydivider,capacitancemeasurement,pulsewidth
modulation(PWM)etc

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Astablefreerunningmode:the555canoperateasanoscillator.UsesincludeLEDandlampflashers,pulse
generation,logicclocks,tonegeneration,securityalarms,pulsepositionmodulation,etc.
BistablemodeorSchmitttrigger:the555canoperateasaflipflop,iftheDISpinisnotconnectedandno
capacitorisused.Usesincludebouncefreelatchedswitches,etc.
NextPage:
PinConfiguration

CircuitPhotodiode
ImproveDynamicRangeUsingPhotodiodeAmplifiers.DownloadPDF

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PinConfigurationofthe555Timer
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Hereistheidentificationforeachpin:

Whendrawingacircuitdiagram,alwaysdrawthe555asabuildingblock,asshownbelowwiththepinsinthefollowing
locations.Thiswillhelpyouinstantlyrecognisethefunctionofeachpin:

Pin1(Ground):
Connectstothe0vpowersupply.
Pin2(Trigger):
Detects1/3ofrailvoltagetomakeoutputHIGH.Pin2hascontroloverpin6.Ifpin2isLOW,andpin6LOW,output
goesandstaysHIGH.Ifpin6HIGH,andpin2goesLOW,outputgoesLOWwhilepin2LOW.Thispinhasaveryhigh
impedance(about10M)andwilltriggerwithabout1uA.
Pin3(Output):
(Pins3and7are"inphase.")GoesHIGH(about2vlessthanrail)andLOW(about0.5vlessthan0v)andwilldeliverup
to200mA.
Pin4(Reset):
InternallyconnectedHIGHvia100k.Mustbetakenbelow0.8vtoresetthechip.

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PinConfigurationofthe555Timer

Pin5(Control):
AvoltageappliedtothispinwillvarythetimingoftheRCnetwork(quiteconsiderably).

Pin6(Threshold):
Detects2/3ofrailvoltagetomakeoutputLOWonlyifpin2isHIGH.Thispinhasaveryhighimpedance(about10M)
andwilltriggerwithabout0.2uA.
Pin7(Discharge):
GoesLOWwhenpin6detects2/3railvoltagebutpin2mustbeHIGH.Ifpin2isHIGH,pin6canbeHIGHorLOWand
pin7remainsLOW.GoesOPEN(HIGH)andstaysHIGHwhenpin2detects1/3railvoltage(evenasaLOWpulse)when
pin6isLOW.(Pins7and3are"inphase.")Pin7isequaltopin3butpin7doesnotgohighitgoesOPEN.Butit
goesLOWandwillsinkabout200mA.

Pin8(Supply):
Connectstothepositivepowersupply(Vs).Thiscanbeanyvoltagebetween4.5Vand15VDC,butiscommonly5VDC
whenworkingwithdigitalICs.
NextPage:
Insidethe555

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AnOverview

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Insidethe555Timer
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Youmaywonderwhatisinsidethe555timerchiporwhatmakesitwork.Well,the555timerchipanIntergrated
Circuit(IC)andthereforeitcontainsaminiturizedcircuitsurroundedbysilicon.Eachofthepinsisconnectedtothe
circuitwhichconsistsofover20transistors,2diodesand15resistors.
Theillustrationbelowshowsthefunctionalblockdiagramofthe555timerIC.

Doyounoticethethree5kresistors?Thisishowthechipgotit'sname.
PrevPage:
PinConfiguration

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555TimerOperatingModes
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The555hasthreemainoperatingmodes,Monostable,Astable,andBistable.Eachmoderepresentsadifferenttypeof
circuitthathasaparticularoutput.
Astablemode
AnAstableCircuithasnostablestatehencethename"astable".Theoutputcontinuallyswitchesstatebetweenhigh
andlowwithoutwithoutanyinterventionfromtheuser,calleda'square'wave.Thistypeofcircuitcouldbeusedtogive
amechanismintermittentmotionbyswitchingamotoronandoffatregularintervals.Itcanalsobeusedtoflashlamps
andLEDs,andisusefulasa'clock'pulseforotherdigitalICsandcircuits.

Monostablemode
AMonostableCircuitproducesonepulseofasetlengthinresponsetoatriggerinputsuchasapushbutton.Theoutput
ofthecircuitstaysinthelowstateuntilthereisatriggerinput,hencethename"monostable"meaning"onestable
state".histypeofcircuitisidealforuseina"pushtooperate"systemforamodeldisplayedatexhibitions.Avisitorcan
pushabuttontostartamodel'smechanismmoving,andthemechanismwillautomaticallyswitchoffafterasettime.

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555TimerOperatingModes

BistableMode(orSchmittTrigger)
ABistableModeorwhatissometimescalledaSchmittTrigger,hastwostablestates,highandlow.TakingtheTrigger
inputlowmakestheoutputofthecircuitgointothehighstate.TakingtheResetinputlowmakestheoutputofthe
circuitgointothelowstate.Thistypeofcircuitisidealforuseinanautomatedmodelrailwaysystemwherethetrainis
requiredtorunbackandforthoverthesamepieceoftrack.Apushbutton(orreedswitchwithamagnetonthe
undersideofthetrain)wouldbeplacedateachendofthetracksothatwhenoneishitbythetrain,itwilleithertrigger
orresetthebistable.Theoutputofthe555wouldcontrolaDPDTrelaywhichwouldbewiredasareversingswitchto
reversethedirectionofcurrenttothetrack,therebyreversingthedirectionofthetrain.

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UsingtheOutputofa555Timer
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Theoutput(Pin3)ofthe555canbeinoneoftwostatesatanytime,whichmeansitisadigitaloutput.Itcanbe
connecteddirectlytotheinputsofotherdigitalICs,oritcancontrolotherdeviceswiththehelpofafewextra
components.Thefirststateisthe'low'state,whichisthevoltage0Vatthepowersupply.Thesecondstateisthe'high'
state,whichisthevoltageVccatthepowersupply.
SinkingandSourcing
WhentheOutputgoeslow,currentwillflowthroughthedeviceandswitchiton.Thisiscalled'sinking'currentbecause
thecurrentissourcedfromVsandflowsthroughthedeviceandthe555to0V.
WhentheOutputgoeshigh,currentwillflowthroughthedeviceandswitchiton.Thisiscalled'sourcing'current
becausethecurrentissourcedfromthe555andflowsthroughthedeviceto0V.
Sinkingandsourcingcanalsobeusedtogethersothattwodevicescanbealternatelyswitchedonandoff.

Thedevice(s)couldbeanythingthatcanbeswitchedonandoff,suchasLEDs,lamps,relays,motorsorelectromagnets.
Unfortunately,thesedeviceshavetobeconnectedtotheOutputindifferentwaysbecausetheOutputofthe555can
onlysourceorsinkacurrentofupto200mA.Makesureyourpowersupplycanprovideenoughcurrentforboththe
deviceandthe555,otherwisethetimingofthe555willbeaffected.
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555TimerCalculator
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Thispageisveryusefulwhencreating555timercircuits.itwillallowyoutocalculatethefrequencyanddutycycle.
Astable555SquareWaveCalculator
Inanastablecircuit,theoutputcontinuallyswitchesstatebetweenhighandlowwithoutanyinterventionfromthe
user.ThedurationofthehighandlowstatesarebasedonwhatvaluesyouchooseforR1,R2andC1.
Theformulasusedare:
TimeHigh(secs)=0.693*(R1+R2)*C1
TimeLow(secs)=0.693*R2*C1
Frequency=1.44/((R1+R2+R2)*C1)
DutyCyclePercentage=(Th/(Th+Tl))*100

Resistor(R1)

Ohms

Resistor(R2)

Ohms

Capacitor(C1)

Farads
Calculate

EnterR1,R2andC1,thenpressCalculate

Monostable555TimeoutCalculator
Thiscalculatorisdesignedtogivethetimeoutvalue(D)foraMonostable555TimerCircuit.Whenpowerisappliedtoa
monostablecircuittheoutputislowuntilthedelaytimehaselapsed,theoutputthengoeshighandremainshigh.
Theformulausedis:
TimeOutDelay(secs)=1.1*R1*C1
TousethiscalculatorsimplyentervaluesforR1andC1,thenpressCalculate.

Resistor(R1)

Ohms

Capacitor(C1)

Farads
Calculate

EnterR1andC1,thenpressCalculate

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CommonMistakesWhenUsinga555Timer
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Herearesomemistakestoavoid:
1.Pin7getsconnectedtothe0vrailviaatransistorinsidethechipduringpartoftheoperationofthe555.Ifthepotis
turnedtoverylowresistanceinthefollowingcircuit,ahighcurrentwillflowthroughthepotanditwillbedamaged:

2.Theimpedanceofthe100uelectrolyticwillallowaveryhighcurrenttoflowandthechipwillgetveryhot.Use10u
maximumwhenusing8Rspeaker.

3.Theresetpin(pin4)isinternallytiedHIGHviaapprox100kbutitshouldnotbeleftfloatingasstraypulsesmay
resetthechip.

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CommonMistakesWhenUsinga555Timer

4.Donotdraw555circuitsasshowninthefollowingdiagram.Keeptoastandardlayoutsothecircuitiseasytofollow.

5.Here'sanexamplefromtheweb.Ittakesalotoftimetoworkoutwhatthecircuitisdoing:

Theaimittolayoutacircuitsothatitshowsinstantlywhatishappening.That'swhyeverythingmustbeinrecognised
locations.
Hereisthecorrectedcircuit:Fromthisdiagramitisobviousthecircuitisanoscillator(andnotaoneshotetc).

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CommonMistakesWhenUsinga555Timer

6.Don'tusehighvalueelectrolyticsandhighresistancestoproducelongdelays.The555isveryunreliablewithtiming
valuesabove510minutes.Thereasonissimple.Thechargingcurrentfortheelectrolyticisbetween13microampin
thefollowingdiagram(whentheelectroisbeginningtocharge)anddropstolessthan1microampwhentheelectrois
nearlycharged.
Iftheleakageoftheelectrois1microamp,itwillneverfullychargeandallowthe555to"timeout."

7.DonotconnectaPNPtotheoutputofa555asshowninthefollowingdiagram.Pin3doesnotrisehighenoughto
turnoffthetransistorandthecurrenttakenbythecircuitwillbeexcessive.UseanNPNdriver.

CircuitPhotodiode
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3x3x3LEDCubeCircuit

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3x3x3LEDCubeCircuit
Like 187peoplelikethis.Bethefirstofyourfriends.

Thiscircuitdrivesa3x3x3cubeconsistingof27whiteLEDs.The4020ICisa14stagebinarycounterandwehave
used9outputs.Eachoutputdrives3whiteLEDsinseriesandwehaveomittedadropperresistorasthechipcanonly
deliveramaximumof15mAperoutput.The4020produces512differentpatternsbeforethesequencerepeatsand
youhavetobuildtheprojecttoseetheeffectsitproducesonthe3Dcube.

CommentonthiscircuitorviewtheElectronicCircuitsCommunityForum.

CircuitPhotodiode
ImproveDynamicRangeUsingPhotodiodeAmplifiers.DownloadPDF

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555AmplifierCircuit
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The555canbeusedasanamplifier.Itoperatesverysimilartopulsewidthmodulation.Thecomponentvaluescause
the555tooscillateatapprox66kHzandthespeakerdoesnotrespondtothishighfrequency.Insteaditrespondsto
theaverageCDvalueofthemodulatedoutputanddemonstratestheconceptofpulsewidthmodulation.Thechipgets
veryhotandisonlyforbriefdemonstrations.

CommentonthiscircuitorviewtheElectronicCircuitsCommunityForum.

MixedSignalIntegration
HighFrequencyLowpass/BandpassFilterMSHFS16

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AUTOMATICCURTAINCLOSERCircuit

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AUTOMATICCURTAINCLOSERCircuit
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Thiscircuitusesamixtureoftransistors,anICandarelayandisusedtoautomaticallyopenandcloseapairofcurtains.
UsingswitchS3alsoallowsmanualcontrol,allowingcurtainstobeleftonlypartiallyopenorclosed.Thecircuitcontrolsa
motorthatisattachedtoasimplepulleymechanism,tomovethecurtains.
AutomaticOperation
Thecircuitcanbebrokenintothreemainpartsabistablelatch,atimerandareversingcircuit.ToggleswitchS3
determinesmanualorautomaticmode.Thecircuitasshownaboveisdrawnintheautomaticpositionandoperationisas
follows.ThebistableisbuiltaroundQ1andQ2andassociatedcircuitryandcontrolsrelayA/2.S1isusedtoopenthe

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AUTOMATICCURTAINCLOSERCircuit

curtainsandS2toclosethecurtains.Atpoweron,abriefpositivepulseisappliedtothebaseofQ2viaC2.Q2willbeon,
andactivaterelayA/2.

ThenetworkofC3andR4formalowcurrentholdingcircuitfortherelay.RelayA/2isa12Vrelaywitha500ohmcoil.It
requiresslightlylesscurrenttokeepitenergizedthanitdoestooperateit.Oncetherelayhasoperated,thecurrent
throughthecoilisreducedbyR4,savingpowerconsumption.WhenQ2isoff,C3willbedischarged,butwhenQ2becomes
active(eitheratswitchonorbypressingS1)capacitorC3willchargeveryquicklyviatherelaycoil.Theinitialcharging
currentissufficienttoenergizetherelayandcurrentflowthroughR4sufficienttokeepitenergized.

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BIPOLARLEDDRIVERCircuit
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Some2leadedLEDsproduceredandgreen.ThesearecalledBipolarLEDs.Thiscircuitalternatelyflashesared/green
bipolarLED:

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SERVOTESTERCircuit

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SERVOTESTERCircuit
Like 80peoplelikethis.Bethefirstofyourfriends.

Thiscircuitcanbeusedtomanuallyturnaservoclockwiseandanticlockwise.Bypushingtheforwardorreverse
buttonforashortperiodoftimeyoucancontroltherotationoftheservo.Itwillalsotestaservo.
HereisaphotoofakitfromCanaKitfor$10.00pluspostage(itisaslightlydifferentcircuit)andamotorand
gearbox,commonlycalleda"servo."Theoutputshafthasadiskorwheelcontainingholes.Alinkageorpushrodis
fittedtoaholeandwhenthediskrotates,theshaftispushedandpulled.Theshaftonlyrotatesabout180toactuate
flapsoraileronsetc.

Apotcanbeusedtocontrolthepositionoftheservobyusingthefollowingcircuit.Itproducesapositivepulsebetween
about0.9millisecondsand2.1milliseconds.Theoffperiodbetweenpulsesisabout40milliseconds.Thiscanbe
shortenedbyreducingthevalueofthe3M3resistor.

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SERVOTESTERCircuit

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MOSQUITOREPELLERCircuit

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MOSQUITOREPELLERCircuit
Like 72peoplelikethis.Bethefirstofyourfriends.

Thiscircuitproducesatoneabovethehumanaudiblerangeandthisissupposedtokeepthemosquitoesaway.You
needapiezodiaphragmthatwillrespondto15kHzandtheseareverydifficulttofind.

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MACHINEGUNCircuit

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MACHINEGUNCircuit
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Thiscircuitproducesasoundverysimilartoamachinegun:

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LATCHCircuit

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LATCHCircuit
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ThiscircuitisaLATCHandremainsACTIVEwhenthepushbuttonhasbeenpressedforanINSTANTandreleased.

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LIGHTDETECTORCircuit

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LIGHTDETECTORCircuit
Like 66peoplelikethis.Bethefirstofyourfriends.

ThiscircuitdetectslightfallingonthePhotocell(LightDependentResistor)toturnonthe555andcreateatonethatis
deliveredtothespeaker.Pin4mustbeheldbelow0.7vtoturnthe555off.Anyvoltageabove0.7vwillactivatethe
circuit.Theadjustablesensitivitycontrolisneededtosetthelevelatwhichthecircuitisactivated.Whenthesensitivity
potisturnedsothatithasthelowestresistance(asshowninred),alargeamountoflightmustbedetectedbytheLDR
foritsresistancetobelow.ThisproducesavoltagedividermadeupoftheLDRand4k7resistor.Astheresistanceofthe
LDRdecreases,thevoltageacrossthe4k7increasesandthecircuitisactivated.
Whenthesensitivitycontrolistakentothe0vrail,itsresistanceincreasesandthiseffectivelyaddsresistancetothe
4k7.ThelowerpartofthevoltagedividernowhasalargerresistanceandthisisinserieswiththeLDR.Lesslightis
neededontheLDRforittoraisethevoltageonpin4toturnthe555on.

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MUSICBOXCircuit

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MUSICBOXCircuit
Like 51peoplelikethis.Bethefirstofyourfriends.

Thiscircuitproduces10differenttonesandbyselectingsuitablevaluestochangethevoltageonpin5,theresultcanbe
quitepleasing.Note:thetwounusedoutputsofthe4017produceatoneequaltothatproducedbythe555whenpin5
hasnoexternalcontrolvoltage.

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ZENERDIODETESTERCircuit

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ZENERDIODETESTERCircuit
Like 21peoplelikethis.Bethefirstofyourfriends.

Thiscircuitwilltestzenerdiodesupto56v.SeeTalkingElectronicswebsite,leftindex,200TransistorCircuits(circuits1
100)andgotoZenerDiode(making)toseehowtomakeazenerdiodeandhowtocreateazenervoltagefroma
combinationofzeners.
Placethezeneracrosstheterminalsinthecircuitbelowandreadthevalueacrossitwithamultimetersetto50v
range.

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TRANSISTORTESTERCircuit

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TRANSISTORTESTERCircuit
Like 78peoplelikethis.Bethefirstofyourfriends.

The555operatesat2Hz.Outputpin3drivesthecircuitwithapositivethenzerovoltage.Theotherendofthecircuitis
connectedtoavoltagedividerwiththemidpointatapprox4.5v.ThisallowstheredandgreenLEDstoalternatelyflash
whennotransistorisconnectedtothetester.
Ifagoodtransistorisconnected,itwillproduceashortacrosstheLEDpairwhenthevoltageisinonedirectionandonly
oneLEDwillflash.Ifthetransistorisopen,bothLEDswillflashandifthetransistorisshorted,neitherLEDwillflash.
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SERVOTESTERCircuit

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SERVOTESTERCircuit
Like 38peoplelikethis.Bethefirstofyourfriends.

Thiscircuitcanbeusedtomanuallyturnaservoclockwiseandanticlockwise.Bypushingtheforwardorreverse
buttonforashortperiodoftimeyoucancontroltherotationoftheservo.Itwillalsotestaservo.
HereisaphotoofakitfromCanaKitfor$10.00pluspostage(itisaslightlydifferentcircuit)andamotorand
gearbox,commonlycalleda"servo."Theoutputshafthasadiskorwheelcontainingholes.Alinkageorpushrodis
fittedtoaholeandwhenthediskrotates,theshaftispushedandpulled.Theshaftonlyrotatesabout180toactuate
flapsoraileronsetc.

Apotcanbeusedtocontrolthepositionoftheservobyusingthefollowingcircuit.Itproducesapositivepulsebetween
about0.9millisecondsand2.1milliseconds.Theoffperiodbetweenpulsesisabout40milliseconds.Thiscanbe
shortenedbyreducingthevalueofthe3M3resistor.

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SERVOTESTERCircuit

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VOLTAGEDOUBLERCircuit

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VOLTAGEDOUBLERCircuit
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Avoltagehigherthanthesupplycanbecreatedbya"ChargePump"circuitcreatedwitha555,diodesandcapacitorsas
showninthefollowingcircuit.Theoutputwilldeliverabout50mA

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TILTSWITCHCircuit

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TILTSWITCHCircuit
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TheoutputisLOWatstartupduetothecapacitoronpin4.Whenthemercuryswitchcloses,theoutputgoesHIGH
andremainsHIGHuntiltheresetbuttonispressed.ThiscircuitiscalledaLATCH.

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TOUCHSWITCHandTOUCHONOFFCircuit

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TOUCHSWITCHandTOUCHONOFFCircuit
Like 67peoplelikethis.Bethefirstofyourfriends.

TheTouchSwitchcircuitwilldetectstrayvoltagesproducedbymainsvoltagesandelectrostaticbuildupinaroom.In
thefirstcircuit,pin2mustseeaLOWforthecircuittoactivate.Ifsufficientstaticvoltageisdetectedbytheplate,the
chipwillchangestate.Ifnot,youwillneedtotouchtheplateandthe0vrail.Inthesecondcircuit,twotouchplatesare
providedandtheresistanceofyourfingerchangesthevoltageonpin2or6totogglethe555.

Thecircuitcanbemade100timesmoresensitivebyaddingatransistortothefrontendasshowninthediagram
below:

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REACTIONTIMERGAMECircuit

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ElectronicCalibration
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REACTIONTIMERGAMECircuit
Like 49peoplelikethis.Bethefirstofyourfriends.

Thisisagamefortwoplayers.
Player1pressestheSTARTbutton.Thisresetsthe4026counterchipandstartsthe555oscillator.
The555produces10pulsespersecondandthesearecountedbythe4026chipanddisplayedonthe7Segment
display.
ThesecondplayerisrequiredtopresstheSTOPbutton.ThisfreezesthedisplaybyactivatingtheClockInhibitlineof
the4026(pin2).
Twotimedelaycircuitsareincluded.Thefirstactivatesthe555bycharginga10uelectrolyticandatthesametime
deliveringa(high)pulsetothe4026chiptoresetit.Thesecondtimerfreezesthecountonthedisplay(byraisingthe
voltageonpin2)soitcanberead.

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MOTORPWMCircuit

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MOTORPWMCircuit
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Thespeedofamotorcanbeadjustedbythiscircuit,from5%to95%.

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FlashingLEDCircuit

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MilitaryLEDFlashlight
75%OffG700TacticalFlashlight.SameTechUsedbyU.S.NavySeals.

FlashingLEDCircuit
Like 299peoplelikethis.Bethefirstofyourfriends.

ACircuitthatflashesanLEDonandoff.
Overview
Thiscircuitusesthe555timerinanAstableoperatingmodewhichgeneratesacontinuousoutputviaPin3intheform
ofasquarewave.ThisturnstheLED(D1)onandoff.ThespeedatwhichtheLED(D1)isturnedonandoffissetbythe
valuesofR1andR2.
Schematic

Video
Thisvideowalksyouthroughbuildingthiscircuitusingabreadboard.

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FlashingLEDCircuit

PartsList
1xNE555BipolarTimer
1xLED(Red)
1x470KResistor(1/4W)
2x1KResistor(1/4W)
1x1FElectrolyticCapacitor(16V)
1x9VVoltageBattery

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ovating.

Simplify IT

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STEPPERMOTORCONTROLLERTE5551Circuit

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ERPSystems
DynamicsNAVfromAustralia'sMostExperiencedImplementers

STEPPERMOTORCONTROLLERTE5551Circuit
Like 98peoplelikethis.Bethefirstofyourfriends.

ThedirectionofrotationisdeterminedbytheFORWARDandREVERSEswitchesandthemotordoesnottakeany
currentwhenaswitchisnotpressed.

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CONTINUITYTESTERCircuit

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CONTINUITYTESTERCircuit
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Thiscircuitwilldetectlowresistancesandhighresistancestoproduceatonefromthespeaker.
Itwilldetectupto200kandthecircuitautomaticallyturnsoffwhentheprobesarenotused.

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DUMMYALARMCircuit

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DUMMYALARMCircuit
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ThisDummyAlarmprojectmakesanLEDflashbrieflyonceevery5secondstoimitatetheindicatorlightofarealalarm.
Overview
Thecircuitisdesignedtouseverylittlecurrenttoprolongbatterylifesothatitcanbeleftonpermanently.Anon/off
switchisnotincluded,butcouldbeaddedifyouwish.The7555timerICusedisalowpowerversionofthestandard
555timer.AsuperbrightredLEDisusedbecausethisprovidesabrightflashwithalowcurrent.TheLEDisofffor
mostofthetimesotheaveragetotalcurrentforthecircuitislessthan0.2mA.Withthisverylowcurrentasetof3
alkalineAAcellsshouldlastforseveralmonths,maybeaslongasayear.
Schematic

PartsList
1xNE555BipolarTimer
1xLED(Red)
1x680KResistor(1/4W)
1x1KResistor(1/4W)
1x10KResistor(1/4W)
1x10FElectrolyticCapacitor(16V)
1x9VVoltageBattery

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DARKDETECTORCircuit

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DARKDETECTORCircuit
Like 67peoplelikethis.Bethefirstofyourfriends.

Whentheleveloflightonthephotocelldecreases,the555isactivated.Photocells(Photoresistors)haveawiderange
ofspecifications.Somecellsgodownto100Rinfullsunlightwhileothersonlygodownto1k.SomehaveaHIGH
resistanceofbetween1Mandothersare10Mintotaldarkness.Forthiscircuit,theLOWresistance(theresistancein
sunlight)isthecriticalvalue.
Moreaccurately,thevalueforaparticularlevelofillumination,isthecriticalfactor.Thesensitivitypotadjuststhelevel
atwhichthecircuitturnsonandallowsalmostanytypeofphotocelltobeused.

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ElectronicCalibration
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DRIVINGABICOLOURLEDCircuit

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ElectronicCalibration
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DRIVINGABICOLOURLEDCircuit
Like 19peoplelikethis.Bethefirstofyourfriends.

Some3leadedLEDsproduceredandgreen.Thiscircuitalternatelyflashesared/greenbicolouredLED:

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DRIVINGARELAYCircuit

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DRIVINGARELAYCircuit
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The555willactivatearelay.Whenpins2and6areconnectedasaninput,thechiprequiresonlyabout1uAtoactivate
theoutput.Thisisequivalenttoagainofabout200,000,000(200million)andrepresentsabout4stagesof
amplificationviatransistors.
Inthefirstcircuit,theoutputwillbeoppositetotheinput.Therelaycanbeconnected"high"or"low"asshowinthe
seconddiagram.Onepointtonote:Theinputmustbehigherthan2/3Vfortheoutputtobelowandbelow1/3Vforthe
outputtobehigh.ThisiscalledHYSTERESISandpreventsanynoiseontheinputcreating"relaychatter."

NEGATIVELOGIC
Aninterestingpointtoremember.
Inthefirstdiagramabove,therelayisconnectedsothatitisactivewhentheoutputislow.ThisiscalledNEGATIVEor
NEGATIVELOGIC.Ithasthesamereasoningas5(5)=0.

OrinEnglish:"IamnotNOTgoing."
Whentheinputislowinthefirstdiagram,theoutputisHIGHandtherelayisOFF.Thecircuitrycreatestworeversalsand
makesiteasytoseethatwhentheinputisLOW,therelayisOFF.
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CUBICModularEnclosures
Highqualityelectricalenclosuresforalltypesofindustryandplace

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DRIVINGMANYLEDSCircuit

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DRIVINGMANYLEDSCircuit
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The555iscapableofsinkingandsourcingupto200mA,butitgetsveryhotwhendoingthisona12vsupply.
ThefollowingcircuitshowsthemaximumnumberofwhiteLEDsthatcanberealisticallydrivenfroma555andwehave
limitedthetotalcurrenttoabout130mAaseachLEDisdesignedtopassabout17mAto22mAmaximum.AwhiteLED
dropsacharacteristic3.2vto3.6vandthismeansonly3LEDscanbeplacedinseries.

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LASERRAYCircuit

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LASERRAYCircuit
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Thiscircuitproducesaweird"LaserRay"soundandflashesawhiteLEDatapprox5Hz:

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LEDDICE(withSlowDown)Circuit

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LEDDICE(withSlowDown)Circuit
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Thiscircuitproducesarandomnumberfrom1to6onLEDsthataresimilartothepipsonthesideofadice.Whenthe
twoTOUCHWIRESaretouchedwithafinger,theLEDsflashveryquicklyandwhenthefingerisremoved,they
graduallyslowdownandcometoastop.

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LEDDIMMERCircuit

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LEDDIMMERCircuit
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ThiscircuitwilladjustthebrightnessofoneormoreLEDsfrom5%to95%.

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MetalDetectorCircuit

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O
D AT A S T
V

MetalDetectorCircuit

RAGE

W
V

RK
O
S
P
P U TE
W
E
M
CO
E
T
G
H
NE
E

J G

HI

V
B

E
Q

Like 156peoplelikethis.Bethefirstofyourfriends.

Acircuitthatdetectsmetalandalsomagnets.
Overview
Whenamagnetisbroughtclosetothe10mHchoke,theoutputfrequencychanges.
Schematic

PartsList
1xNE555BipolarTimer
1x47KResistor(1/4W)
2x2.2FElectrolyticCapacitor(16V)
1x10FElectrolyticCapacitor(16V)
1x10FElectrolyticCapacitor(16V)
1x10mHInductor
1x8OhmSpeaker(1/4W)
1x9VVoltageBattery

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POLICELIGHTSCircuit

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POLICELIGHTSCircuit
Like 197peoplelikethis.Bethefirstofyourfriends.

ThiscircuitflashestheleftLEDs3timesthentherightLEDs3times,thenrepeats.
Overview
Thiscircuitusesa555timerwhichissetuptobothrunninanAstableoperatingmode.Thisgeneratesacontinuous
outputviaPin3intheformofasquarewave.Whenthetimer'soutputchangestoahighstatethistriggerstheacycle
onthe40174017decadecountertellingittooutputthenextsequentialoutputhigh.Theoutputsofthe4017are
connectedtotheLEDsturningthemonandoff.
Schematic

Video
Thisvideowalksyouthroughbuildingthiscircuitusingabreadboard.

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POLICELIGHTSCircuit

PartsList
1xNE555BipolarTimer
1x4017DecodedDecade
6x1N4148Diode
1x1KResistor(1/4W)
1x22KResistor(1/4W)
2x4.7KResistor(1/4W)
6x470Resistor(1/4W)
1x2.2FElectrolyticCapacitor(16V)
2xBC547NPNTransistor
2xLED(Blue)
2xLED(Red)
1x9VVoltageBattery
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TOYORGANCircuit

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555TimerCircuits

555Timersarefunandagreatwaytostartlearningelectronics

TOYORGANCircuit
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Acircuitthatproduces5differentsounds.
Overview
Thiscircuitproducesatoneaccordingtothebuttonbeingpressed.Only1buttoncanbepressedatatime,that'swhyit
iscalledamonophonicorgan.Youcanchangethe1kresistorstoproduceamoreaccuratescale.
Schematic

Video
ComingSoon
PartsList
1xNE555BipolarTimer
1x4.7KResistor(1/4W)
4x1KResistor(1/4W)
1x10KPotentiometer(1/4W)
1x10FElectrolyticCapacitor(16V)

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TOYORGANCircuit

1x100nFCapacitor(16V)
1x8OhmLoudspeaker

1x9VVoltageBattery

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GSMEGSMPCSFilters
Bandpass&DuplexersforReceive&Transmit.Custom&OEMAvailable

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RAINALARMCircuit

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555TimerCircuits

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555Timersarefunandagreatwaytostartlearningelectronics

RAINALARMCircuit
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Thiscircuitconsumesnocurrentuntilmoistureisdetectedontherainplate.

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UP/DOWNFADINGLEDCircuit

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555TimerCircuits

555Timersarefunandagreatwaytostartlearningelectronics

UP/DOWNFADINGLEDCircuit
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ACircuitthatfadesanLEDonandoff.
Overview
ThesetwocircuitsmakeaLEDfadeonandoff.Thefirstcircuitchargesa100uandthetransistoramplifiesthecurrent
enteringthe100uanddelivers100timesthisvaluetotheLEDviathecollectoremitterpins.Thecircuitneeds9vfor
operationsincepin2ofthe555detects2/3Vccbeforechangingthestateoftheoutputsoweonlyhaveamaximumof
5.5vviaa470RresistortoilluminatetheLED.
Schematic

Video
Thisvideowalksyouthroughbuildingthiscircuitusingabreadboard.

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UP/DOWNFADINGLEDCircuit

PartsList
1xNE555BipolarTimer
1xLED(Red)1x470Resistor(1/4W)
1x33KResistor(1/4W)
1x100FElectrolyticCapacitor(16V)
1xBC547NPNTransistor
1x9VVoltageBattery
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