INDEX

1. INTRODUCTION………………………………………………….....1.

2. CIRCUIT DIAGRAM………………………………………………....2.

3. THEORY
• STRIPBOARD…………………………………………………2.

• RISISTORS…………………………………………………....3.
• VARIABLE RISISTORS……………………………………...4.
• CAPACITORS………………………………………………....5
.
• LEDs……………………………………………………….…...6.
• BLEEPER………………………………………………………
7.
• INTEGRATED CIRCUITS…………………………………....8.
• IC HOLDER…………………………………………………....8.
• 555 TIMER CIRCUIT………………………………………....9.
• SWITCHES……………………………………………….….10.
• BATTERY CLIP……………………………………………...12.
4.WORKING……………………………………………………..
…….12.
5.USES…………………………………………………………….…...13.
INTRODUCTION

Adjustable 1-10 Minute Timer Project

A timer is a specialized type of clock. A timer can be used to control the sequence
of an event or process.

The Adjustable 1-10 Minute Timer circuit starts timing when switched on.
The green LED lights to show that timing is in progress. When the time period is
over the green LED turns off, the red LED turns on and the bleeper sounds.

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM
COMPONENTS REQUIRED
• resistors: 470, 33k, 100k
• variable resistor: 1M
• capacitors: 0.1µF, 220µF 16V radial
• LEDs: red, green
• bleeper 9-12V
• 555 timer IC
• 8-pin DIL socket for IC
• on/off switch
• battery clip for 9V PP3
• stripboard 10 rows × 22 holes

THEORY:

STRIPBOARD
Stripboard (usually known by the trademark name Veroboard of the British Vero
Electronics company, who invented it) is a widely-used type of electronics
prototyping board characterized by a 0.1 inch (2.54 mm) regular (rectangular) grid
of holes, with wide parallel strips of copper cladding running in one direction all the
way across one side of the board.

Stripboard is used to make up permanent, soldered circuits. It is ideal for small

circuits with one or two ICs (chips) but with the large number of holes it is very easy
to connect a component in the wrong place. For large, complex circuits it is usually
best to use a printed circuit board (PCB) if you can buy or make one.

Stripboard requires no special preparation other than cutting to size. It can be cut
with a junior hacksaw, or simply snap it along the lines of holes by putting it over
the edge of a bench or table and pushing hard, but take care because this needs
a fairly large Components are placed on the non-copper side, then the stripboard is
turned over to solder the component leads to the copper tracks. force and the
edges will be rough.

RESISTORS
A resistor is a two-terminal electronic component that produces a voltage across
its terminals that is proportional to the electric current through it in accordance with
Ohm's law:

V = IR

The primary characteristics of a resistor are the resistance, the tolerance,

maximum working voltage and the power rating. Other characteristics include
temperature coefficient, noise, and inductance. Less well-known is critical
resistance, the value below which power dissipation limits the maximum permitted
current flow, and above which the limit is applied voltage. Critical resistance
depends upon the materials constituting the resistor as well as its physical
dimensions; it's determined by design.
Resistors can be integrated into hybrid and printed circuits, as well as integrated
circuits. Size, and position of leads (or terminals) are relevant to equipment
designers; resistors must be physically large enough not to overheat when
dissipating their power.

Function
Resistors restrict the flow of electric current, for example a resistor is placed in
series with a light-emitting diode (LED) to limit the current passing through the
LED.

Connecting and soldering

Resistors may be connected either way round. They are not damaged by heat
when soldering.

Resistor values are normally shown using colored bands. Each color represents a
number as shown in the table.

Most resistors have 4 bands:

• The first band gives the first digit.

• The second band gives the second digit.
• The third band indicates the number of zeros.
• The fourth band is used to shows the tolerance (precision) of the resistor

A special colour code is used for the fourth band tolerance:silver ±10%,
gold ±5%, red ±2%, brown ±1%. If no fourth band is shown the
tolerance is ±20%.

Colour Code
Colour Number
Black 0
Brown 1
Red 2
Orange 3
Yellow 4
Green 5
Blue 6
Violet 7
Grey 8
White 9
VARIABLE RESISTORS
Variable resistors consist of a resistance track with connections at both ends and a
wiper which moves along the track as you turn the spindle. The track may be
made from carbon, cermet (ceramic and metal mixture) or a coil of wire (for low
resistances). The track is usually rotary but straight track versions, usually called
sliders, are also available.

Variable resistors may be used as a rheostat with two connections (the wiper and
just one end of the track) or as a potentiometer with all three connections in use.
Miniature versions called presets are made for setting up circuits which will not
require further adjustment.

Variable resistors are often called potentiometers in books and catalogues. They
are specified by their maximum resistance, linear or logarithmic track, and their
physical size. The standard spindle diameter is 6mm.
Some variable resistors are designed to be mounted directly on the circuit board,
but most are for mounting through a hole drilled in the case containing the circuit
with stranded wire connecting their terminals to the circuit board.

PresetsThese are miniature versions of the standard variable resistor. They are
designed to be mounted directly onto the circuit board and adjusted only when the
circuit is built. For example to set the frequency of an alarm tone or the sensitivity
of a light-sensitive circuit. A small screwdriver or similar tool is required to adjust
presets.

Presets are much cheaper than standard variable resistors so they are sometimes
used in projects where a standard variable resistor would normally be used.
CAPACITORS
A capacitor or condenser is a passive electronic component consisting of a pair
of conductors separated by a dielectric. When a voltage potential difference exists
between the conductors, an electric field is present in the dielectric. This field
stores energy and produces a mechanical force between the plates. The effect is
greatest between wide, flat, parallel, narrowly separated conductors.

An ideal capacitor is characterized by a single constant value, capacitance, which

is measured in farads. This is the ratio of the electric charge on each conductor to
the potential difference between them. In practice, the dielectric between the plates
passes a small amount of leakage current. The conductors and leads introduce an
equivalent series resistance and the dielectric has an electric field strength limit
resulting in a breakdown voltage.

Capacitors are widely used in electronic circuits to block the flow of direct current
while allowing alternating current to pass, to filter out interference, to smooth the
output of power supplies, and for many other purposes. They are used in resonant
circuits in radio frequency equipment to select particular frequencies from a signal
with many frequencies.

LIGHT EMITTING DIODES

LEDs are based on the semiconductor diode. When the diode is forward biased
(switched on), electrons are able to recombine with holes and energy is released in
the form of light. This effect is called electroluminescence and the color of the light
is determined by the energy gap of the semiconductor. The LED is usually small in
area (less than 1 mm2) with integrated optical components to shape its radiation
pattern and assist in reflection.[2]

Function
LEDs emit light when an electric current passes through them.

Connecting and soldering

LEDs must be connected the correct way round, the diagram may be labelled a or
+ for anode and k or - for cathode (yes, it really is k, not c, for cathode!). The
cathode is the short lead and there may be a slight flat on the body of round LEDs.
If you can see inside the LED the cathode is the larger electrode (but this is not an
official identification method).
LEDs can be damaged by heat when soldering, but the risk is small unless you are
very slow. No special precautions are needed for soldering most LEDs.

COLOURS OF LEDs

LEDs are available in red, orange, amber, yellow, green, blue and white. Blue and
white LEDs are much more expensive than the other colours.The colour of an LED
is determined by the semiconductor material, not by the colouring of the 'package'
(the plastic body). LEDs of all colours are available in uncoloured packages which
may be diffused (milky) or clear (often described as 'water clear'). The coloured
packages are also available as diffused (the standard type) or transparent.

TRI-COLOUR LEDs
The most popular type of tri-colour LED has a red and a green LED
combined in one package with three leads. They are called tri-colour because
mixed red and green light appears to be yellow and this is produced when both the
red and green LEDs are on.
The diagram shows the construction of a tri-colour LED. Note the different lengths
of the three leads. The centre lead (k) is the common cathode for both LEDs, the
outer leads (a1 and a2) are the anodes to the LEDs allowing each one to be lit
separately, or both together to give the third colour.

BI-COLOUR LEDs

A bi-colour LED has two LEDs wired in 'inverse parallel' (one forwards, one
backwards) combined in one package with two leads. Only one of the LEDs can be
lit at one time and they are less useful than the tri-colour LEDs described above.

BLEEPERS
These devices are output transducers converting electrical energy to sound.
They contain an internal oscillator to produce the sound which is set at about
400Hz for buzzers and about 3kHz for bleepers.

Bleepers have wide voltage ranges, such as 3-30V, and they pass a low current of
about 10mA.

Buzzers and bleepers must be connected the right way round, their red lead is
positive (+).

CIRCUIT SYMBOL

Integrated Circuits (Chips)

Integrated Circuits are usually called ICs or chips. They are complex circuits which
have been etched onto tiny chips of semiconductor (silicon). The chip is packaged
in a plastic holder with pins spaced on a 0.1" (2.54mm) grid which will fit the holes
on stripboard and breadboards. Very fine wires inside the package link the chip to
the pins.

Pin numbers
The pins are numbered anti-clockwise around the IC (chip) starting near the notch
or dot. The diagram shows the numbering for 8-pin and 14-pin ICs, but the principle
is the same for all sizes.

IC HOLDER (DIL sockets)

ICs (chips) are easily damaged by heat when soldering and their short pins cannot
be protected with a heat sink. Instead we use an IC holder, strictly called a DIL
socket (DIL = Dual In-Line), which can be safely soldered onto the circuit board.
The IC is pushed into the holder when all soldering is complete.

IC holders are only needed when soldering so they are not used on breadboards

555 TIMER CIRCUIT

The 8-pin 555 timer must be one of the most useful ICs ever made and it is used in
many projects. With just a few external components it can be used to build many
circuits, not all of them involve timing!

Standard 555 ICs create a significant 'glitch' on the supply when their output
changes state. This is rarely a problem in simple circuits with no other ICs, but in
more complex circuits a smoothing capacitor (eg 100µF) should be connected
across the +Vs and 0V supply near the 555 .

The input and output pin functions are described briefly below and there are fuller
explanations covering the various circuits:

• Astable - producing a square wave

• Monostable - producing a single pulse when triggered
• Bistable - a simple memory which can be set and reset
 • Buffer - an inverting buffer (Schmitt trigger)

INPUTS OF 555
Trigger input: when < 1/3 Vs ('active low') this makes the output high (+Vs). It
monitors the discharging of the timing capacitor in an astable circuit. It has a high
input impedance > 2M .

Threshold input: when > 2/3 Vs ('active high') this makes the output low (0V)*. It
monitors the charging of the timing capacitor in astable and monostable circuits. It
has a high input impedance > 10M .
* providing the trigger input is > 1/3 Vs, otherwise the trigger input will override the
threshold input and hold the output high (+Vs).

Reset input: when less than about 0.7V ('active low') this makes the output low
(0V), overriding other inputs. When not required it should be connected to +Vs. It
has an input impedance of about 10k .

Control input: this can be used to adjust the threshold voltage which is set
internally to be 2/3 Vs. Usually this function is not required and the control input is
connected to 0V with a 0.01µF capacitor to eliminate electrical noise. It can be left
unconnected if noise is not a problem.

The discharge pin is not an input, but it is listed here for convenience. It is
connected to 0V when the timer output is low and is used to discharge the timing
capacitor in astable and monostable circuits.

PIN DIGRAM OF 555

OUTPUTS OF 555
The output of a standard 555 can sink and source up to 200mA. This is more than
most ICs and it is sufficient to supply many output transducers directly, including
LEDs (with a resistor in series), low current lamps, piezo transducers,
loudspeakers (with a capacitor in series), relay coils (with diode protection) and
some motors (with diode protection). The output voltage does not quite reach 0V
and +Vs, especially if a large current is flowing.

To switch larger currents you can connect a transistor.

The ability to both sink and source current means that two devices can be
connected to the output so that one is on when the output is low and the other is on
when the output is high. The top diagram shows two LEDs connected in this way.
This arrangement is used in the Level Crossing project to make the red LEDs flash
alternately.

SWITCHES
Standard Switches
Type of Switch Circuit Symbol Example
ON-OFF
Single Pole, Single Throw = SPST

A simple on-off switch. This type can

be used to switch the power supply
to a circuit.

When used with mains electricity

this type of switch must be in the live
wire, but it is better to use a DPST SPST toggle switch
switch to isolate both live and
neutral.
(ON)-OFF
Push-to-make = SPST Momentary

A push-to-make switch returns to its

normally open (off) position when
you release the button, this is shown Push-to-make switch
by the brackets around ON. This is
the standard doorbell switch.
ON-(OFF)
Push-to-break = SPST Momentary

A push-to-break switch returns to its

normally closed (on) position when Push-to-break switch
you release the button.
ON-ON
Single Pole, Double Throw =
SPDT

This switch can be on in both

positions, switching on a separate
device in each case. It is often called
a changeover switch. For example,
a SPDT switch can be used to
switch on a red lamp in one position SPDT toggle switch
and a green lamp in the other
position.

A SPDT toggle switch may be used

as a simple on-off switch by
connecting to COM and one of the A
or B terminals shown in the diagram.
A and B are interchangeable so SPDT slide switch
switches are usually not labelled. (PCB mounting)

ON-OFF-ON
SPDT Centre Off
A special version of the standard
SPDT switch. It has a third switching
position in the centre which is off.
Momentary (ON)-OFF-(ON) versions
are also available where the switch SPDT rocker switch
returns to the central off position
when released.
Dual ON-OFF
Double Pole, Single Throw =
DPST

A pair of on-off switches which

operate together (shown by the
dotted line in the circuit symbol).

A DPST switch is often used to

switch mains electricity because it
DPST rocker switch
can isolate both the live and neutral
connections.
Dual ON-ON
Double Pole, Double Throw =
DPDT

A pair of on-on switches which

operate together (shown by the
dotted line in the circuit symbol).

A DPDT switch can be wired up as a

reversing switch for a motor as
shown in the diagram.
DPDT slide switch
ON-OFF-ON
DPDT Centre Off
A special version of the standard
SPDT switch. It has a third switching
position in the centre which is off.
This can be very useful for motor
control because you have forward, Wiring for Reversing
off and reverse positions. Switch
Momentary (ON)-OFF-(ON) versions
are also available where the switch
returns to the central off position
when released.

BATTERY CLIP
The standard battery clip fits a 9V PP3 battery and many battery holders such as
the 6 × AA cell holder shown. Battery holders are also available with wires
attached, with pins for PCB mounting, or as a complete box with lid, switch and
wires.

Many small electronic projects use a 9V PP3 battery but if you wish to use the
project for long periods a better choice is a battery holder with 6 AA cells. This has
the same voltage but a much longer battery life and it will work out cheaper in the
long run.

Larger battery clips fit 9V PP9 batteries but these are rarely used now.
WORKING
The circuit starts timing when switched on. The green LED lights to show that
timing is in progress.When the time period is over the green LED turns off, the red
LED turns on and the bleeper sounds.
The time period is set by adjusting the variable resistor and it can be adjusted from
1 to about 10 minutes.
Please note that the range of time periods is only approximate. With perfect
components the maximum time period should be 4½ minutes, but this is typically
extended to about 10 minutes because the 220Μf timing capacitor slowly leaks
charge. This is a problem with all electrolytic capacitors, but some leak more than
others. In addition the actual value of electrolytic capacitors can vary by as much
as ±30% of their rated value.

USES
It could be used to set a time limit when playing games or as an egg-timer in the
kitchen.