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555 Timer Astable Circuit

In an astable circuit, the output voltage alternates between VCC

and 0 volts on a continuous basis.

Inputs
Capacitor (C)

capacitance microFarad (μF)

Resistance (R1)

resistance kiloOhms (kΩ)

Resistance (R2)

resistance kiloOhms (kΩ)

Calculate

Outputs
Frequency

Hertz (Hz)

Period (T)
 milliseconds (ms)

Duty Cycle

Percent (%)

Mark Space Ratio

Time High (T1)

milliseconds (ms)

Time Low (T0)

milliseconds (ms)
555 Timer Calculator Overview
The 555 timer shown above is configured as an astable circuit. This means that
the output voltage is a periodic pulse that alternates between the VCC value
and 0 volts.

How to Calculate Output Voltage Frequency

The frequency is the number of pulses per second. The formula to calculate the
frequency of the output voltage is:
1.44
f =
(R1 + 2R2 )C

The period is the time covered for one pulse. This is just the reciprocal of the
frequency:
1
T = = 0.694(R1 + 2R2 )C
f

The high time (T1 ) and low time (T0 ) can be calculated using the formulas
below. Note that the period is the sum of the high time and the low time.

T1 = 0.694(R1 + R2 )C

T0 = 0.694R2 C

The mark space ratio is the ratio between the high time and the low time or:
T1
Mark Space Ratio =
T0

The duty cycle is more commonly used than the mark space ratio. The formula
for the duty cycle is:
T1
Duty Cycle =  x 100
T

A 50% duty cycle means the high time is equal to the low time. If an LED is
placed at the output of this astable circuit, it will turn on at the same span of
time as it is turned off. Note that getting an exact 50% duty cycle is
impossible with this circuit.

Notes
 Increase C to increase the period (reduce the frequency).
Increase R1 to increase High Time (T1 ), without affecting the Low Time (
T0 ).
Increase R2 to increase High Time (T1 ), increase Low Time (T0 ) and
decrease the duty cycle.

Applications
Synchronous Circuit Timer
A synchronous circuit is a digital circuit in which the changes in the state of
memory elements, commonly flip-flops, are synchronized by a clock signal.
Because of their availability and ease of use, the 555 astable circuit is the
common source of clock signal in many synchronous circuits. A shift register--
an example of a synchronous circuit--is shown below. Normally you would
connect the output of the 555 astable circuit to the clock pin of this shift
register. 

LED Flasher
Although you can build a simpler LED flasher using a single transistor, some
resistors, and a capacitor, most people would rather use a 555 astable circuit.
See circuit below:
How fast would the LED blink? Of course, you can use our calculator to find that
out.  
Tone Generator

The circuit above produces an audible tone and is just one of the many sound-
generating circuits that employ the 555 astable circuits. A 150kΩ potentiometer
is used to adjust the frequency of the tone. It is possible to preset the output's
upper and lower limits to predefined values by adding resistors or trimmers in
series with the potentiometer. 

Further Reading
Textbook - The 555 IC
(https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/experiments/chpt-8/555-ic/)

Experiment - 555 Audio Oscillator

(https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/experiments/chpt-6/555-audio-
oscillator/)

Worksheet - Timer Circuits

(https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/worksheets/timer-circuits/)

Comments 

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(//forum.allaboutcircuits.com/members/Ford-Prefect.87815/)
Ford Prefect (//forum.allaboutcircuits.com/members/Ford Prefect.87815/) 2018-
01-20

Hello,
I was doing some calculations on the 555 Timer Astable Circuit Calculator
page.
https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/tools/555-timer-astable-circuit/
(https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/tools/555-timer-astable-circuit/)
But I am thinking that the results are incorrect. Mainly the Time High (T1).
I entered C as 100uF, R1 as 4.7M and R2 as 1k.
Time High (T1) shows as 326.4 millisecs(ms) but I think this should be 326.4
seconds
Reply

(//forum.allaboutcircuits.com/members/Ford-Prefect.87815/)
Ford Prefect (//forum.allaboutcircuits.com/members/Ford Prefect.87815/) 2018-
01-20

Hello,
I was doing some calculations on the 555 Timer Astable Circuit Calculator
page.
https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/tools/555-timer-astable-circuit/
(https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/tools/555-timer-astable-circuit/)
But I am thinking that the results are incorrect. Mainly the Time High (T1).
I entered C as 100uF, R1 as 4.7M and R2 as 1k.
Time High (T1) shows as 326.4 millisecs(ms) but I think this should be 326.4
seconds
Reply
 (//forum.allaboutcircuits.com/members/Game-Hacker./)
Game Hacker (//forum.allaboutcircuits.com/members/Game Hacker./)
2018-02-16

Hey, it’s correct.. The calculator is showing 3.26e+5 ms which is equal

to 326000 ms or 326 seconds.
Reply

(//forum.allaboutcircuits.com/members/Ford-Prefect.87815/)
Ford Prefect (//forum.allaboutcircuits.com/members/Ford
Prefect.87815/) 2018-02-17
No, you are looking at the wrong box, have a look at the Time
High (T1), NOT Period (T)
The Time High (T1) shows 326.4 millisecs(ms)
It should show 326 seconds or 3.265e+5 milliseconds

(//forum.allaboutcircuits.com/members/Ford-Prefect.87815/)
Ford Prefect (//forum.allaboutcircuits.com/members/Ford Prefect.87815/) 2018-
03-02

OK, this seems to have been corrected. It now show the correct results ))
Reply

(//forum.allaboutcircuits.com/members/kayleighd99.580952/)
kayleighd99 (//forum.allaboutcircuits.com/members/kayleighd99.580952/)
2018-10-27

how do you fine tune the frequency of the 55 timer to get a frequency that is
desired?
 Reply