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Circuit Explanation for 555 Timer

The 8-pin 555 timer must be one of the most useful chips 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!
A popular version is the NE555 and this is suitable in most cases where a '555 timer' is specified.

- Block diagram

A popular integrated circuit of many applications is versatile 555 timer circuit. This IC is made of a combination
of linear comparators and digital flip flop as shown in fig.1. The entire circuit is housed in 8 pins dual in package
with pin numbers specified in fig.1. A series connection of three resistors set the comparators reference voltages
at 1/3 Vcc and 2/3 Vcc. The comparator outputs are S (set) and R (reset) of RS flip flop. The RS flip flop is
enabled if and only if its reset terminal (pin 4) is not activated. Flip flop reset is active Low i.e. if pin 4 is
connected to ground, the flip flop output (pin 3) is kept always Low but if pin4 is connected to Vcc, the flip flop
output may be High or low according to the status of R and S. pins 2 and 6 are called trigger and threshold
respectively. Pin 7 is connected to ground if Q is Low and consequently Q’ is High so the transistor is switched
ON and pin 7 is connected to ground. Pin 5 is called the control voltage because if an external voltage (called
control voltage Ec) is connected to pin 5, the reference voltage of the comparators will be Ec and 0.5Ec instead of
the default voltage references 1/3 Vcc and 2/3 Vcc. The 555 timer circuit may be used astable or monostable or
bistable. The functions of the output stage are (1) allowing low output impedance for the circuit and (2) to allow
the circuit to provide high output current.

555 Timer limitations


(1) Maximum output current is 200mA.
(2) Maximum operating frequency is 200 kHz
Applications

1- Generating -5 Volts From a 9 Volt Battery ( 1 Student )

A 555 timer can be used to generate a square wave to produce a negative voltage relative to the negative
battery terminal. When the timer output at pin 3 goes positive, the series 22 uF capacitor charges through
the diode (D1) to about 8 volts. When the output switches to ground, the 22 uF cap discharges through the
second diode (D2) and charges the 100 uF capacitor to a negative voltage. The negative voltage can rise
over several cycles to about -7 volts but is limited by the 5.1 volt zener diode which serves as a regulator.
Circuit draws about 6 milliamps from the battery without the zener diode connected and about 18 milliamps
connected. Output current available for the load is about 12 milliamps. An additional 5.1 volt zener and 330
ohm resistor could be used to regulate the +9 down to +5 at 12 mA if a symmetrical +/- 5 volt supply is
needed. The battery drain would then be around 30 mA.

2- Doorbell ( 2 Students )

The circuit below can be used for an application such as doorbell. It is not suitable for battery operation as the 555 IC's are
connected to the supply and draw current at all times.

This circuit can be used for a doorbell.

Pin 2 of the first 555 is HIGH and thus it is "non-operational" as it detects a LOW. Pin 6 is detecting a HIGH and
thus the output of the IC is LOW. The output of the first 555 goes to the INHIBIT pin of the second 555. When
pin 4 is LOW, the output of the chip is kept LOW

3- Opened Door Alarm Circuit ( 1 Student )


The following fig shows an alarm circuit. This gives a beep if the door is opened. Opening the door allows an
enough low voltage at terminal 1 of 555, so the beep is generated. If the door is closed the beep stops.

the student may think


how to generate a
beep or tone for a
definite period even
if the door is closed
immediately. A guide
is to use a monostabe
circuit. Try to design
the complete circuit
that operates for at
least 30 seconds.

4 – British siren
Generator
( 2 Students )

The following fig shows the British Siren circuit. The British Siren generator circuit is indicated in the figure
below. The circuit is composed of two circuits; the first generates 1 Hz whose output is the control signal of the
second generator that generates 580 Hz. the 1 Hz allows obtaining a rhythm rather than a single tone.

5 – Tone Generator Circuits ( 2 Students )

The following fig. shows an intermittent tone generator circuit. It is composed of two 555 circuits. The first
circuit generates a square wave of frequency equals 1 Hz. The second circuit generates 476 Hz when the output of
the circuits High. The square wave of the first circuit is almost symmetrical. So the duration of high is almost ½
second. During the period when the output of the first circuit is Low, pin 4 (RESET) of the second circuit is
activated and consequently the output of the second circuit is zero. Thus, we hear the ton for ½ second followed
by ½ second silence and so on. The frequencies can be adjusted by varying either resistors or capacitors.

6- Generating a Delayed Pulse Using The 555 Timer (2


Students )

The circuit below illustrates generating a single positive pulse which is delayed relative to the trigger input time.
The circuit employs two stages so that both the pulse width and delay can be controlled. When the button is
depressed, the output of the first stage will move up and remain near the supply voltage until the delay time has
elapsed, which in this case is about 1 second. The second 555 stage will not respond to the rising voltage since it
requires a negative, falling voltage at pin 2, and so the second stage output remains low and the relay remains de-
energized. At the end of the delay time, the output of the first stage returns to a low level, and the falling voltage
causes the second stage to begin it's output cycle which is also about 1 second as shown. This same circuit can be
built using the dual 555 timer which is a 556, however the pin numbers will be different.

7- Coin Toss Circuit : ( 1 Student )

Electronic ‘Heads- or Tails’ coin toss circuit. Basically a Yes or No decision maker when you can’t make up
your mind yourself. The 555 is wired as a Astable Oscillator, driving in turn, via pin 3, 7473 flip-flop. When you
press S1 it randomly selects the ‘ Heads’ or ‘Tail’ led. The leds flash rate is about 2 KHz, which is much faster
than your eyes can follow, so initially it appears that both leds are ON. As soon as the switch is released only one
led will be ON.

8- voltage to pulse udration converter ( 3 Students )

Voltage levels can be converted to pulse durations by combining an op amp and a timer IC. Accuracies to better
than 1 % can be obtained with this circuit (a), and the output signals (b) still retrain the original frequency,
independent of the input voltage.
7- Segment display counter circuit ----- (for students who studied the Digital Electronic course )
( 3 Students )

This circuit uses two 4026B counter ICs in order to enable two 7-segment displays to count from 0-
99. The first 4026B will output signals to the 1st display and 0nce it has counted to 9 it will return to
1 and activate the second counter which will count from 1-9, thus producing the numbers 11-19. This
will continue through the thirties, fourties up to 99. There are many different 7-Segment displays
around and this circuit may have to be adapted slightly depending on what display you are using. The
seven segment display in this project assumes a 'common cathode' and the inputs are thus connected
to the individual anode pins. For more help, please review the '4016B' in the ICs section of this site, I
have written the information on the 4016B, in relation to the 7-Segment display.
Parts List
2 4026B counter ICs

• 1 47K ohm resistor


• 1 NE555 timer
• 2 1K resistors (values will determine the speed at which the 4026Bs will count)
• 1 0.01 uf capacitor
• 1 variable capacitor
• 2 rocker switches
• 2 7-segment displays (common cathode)
• 1 9V power supply
• Breadboard or similar

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