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47 projects to do with a 555!

by Jimmy Proton on December 22, 2010

Table of Contents
47 projects to do with a 555! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Intro: 47 projects to do with a 555! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Advertisements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

http://www.instructables.com/id/47-projects-to-do-with-a-555/

Intro: 47 projects to do with a 555!

These are a whole bunch of things to make with the 555 timer IC with a note for each picture.
I do not take credit for these schematics, they were made by Collin Mitchel.
As you would probably think it took me a very long time to make this but it was night and i was wanting to waste some time so i hope you like it!
I have descriptions for each and every picture so feel free to ask questions!

Image Notes
1. flashing LED

http://www.instructables.com/id/47-projects-to-do-with-a-555/

http://www.instructables.com/id/47-projects-to-do-with-a-555/

Image Notes
1. dice

http://www.instructables.com/id/47-projects-to-do-with-a-555/

http://www.instructables.com/id/47-projects-to-do-with-a-555/

http://www.instructables.com/id/47-projects-to-do-with-a-555/

Image Notes
1. roulette

http://www.instructables.com/id/47-projects-to-do-with-a-555/

Image Notes
1. bike turning signal

http://www.instructables.com/id/47-projects-to-do-with-a-555/

http://www.instructables.com/id/47-projects-to-do-with-a-555/

http://www.instructables.com/id/47-projects-to-do-with-a-555/

http://www.instructables.com/id/47-projects-to-do-with-a-555/

Image Notes
1. automatic curtain closer

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555 IC Intro:
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Comments
50 comments Add Comment

view all 81 comments

asamudrala says:

Nov 15, 2013. 12:12 AM REPLY

Hello Guys, I am facing difficulty in finding good microphone for sound operated robot with 555, I purchased many mic. phones but its range is very. How could I
amplify n improve its range? please suggest me the best one.

ajay.tornado says:

Jul 27, 2014. 4:46 PM REPLY

get a wireless mic and provide a receiver to the robot.

vishnu 9807386401 says:

Jun 21, 2014. 7:30 AM REPLY

vishnu 9807386401 says:

Jun 21, 2014. 7:29 AM REPLY

jde zila says:

Jan 9, 2014. 5:59 PM REPLY

please i need full project work on TV signal booster. my phone number is 233241386559. electronic mail is [email protected]. please i need this badly

ThatCatMan says:

Aug 4, 2013. 2:23 AM REPLY

I would like the see a full page on that metal detector

pwamutitu says:

Jul 27, 2013. 5:03 AM REPLY

hallo i need to make an led signboard with as many led's as possible. probably 500. how can i drive the leds using 555 and 4017 without compromising on
current. what would be the ideal voltage. reply [email protected].

colin55 says:

Aug 16, 2012. 6:05 PM REPLY

All these circuits were drawn by me: COLIN MITCHELL

See my website: talking electronics.com
and 555 circuit eBook with descriptions of the circuits
http://www.talkingelectronics.com/projects/50%20-%20555%20Circuits/50%20-%20555%20Circuits.html

MROHM says:

Jun 26, 2013. 2:55 PM REPLY

Thanks Colin,,, Awesome designs you have here!!!! Unfortunately the Designer of the 555 chip Hans Camerzind passed away Recently,,His Design of
The 555 chip made it a Household Name!!! The 555 is still one of the most widely used I.C.chips in the history of I.C. electronics!!! Actually with all the
circuits we have here I Don't know which one I want to Breadboard Here!!!

georgelstuart says:

Nov 17, 2012. 2:17 PM REPLY

Colin, I recognized your drawings immediately and wanted to point out this author's source from which the drawings were shamelessly copied, then saw
that you already did, and it seems that nobody cares... the dark side of open sharing I guess... at least the link you gave will expose your generously
informative website to some new readers.

http://www.instructables.com/id/47-projects-to-do-with-a-555/

Jimmy Proton says:

Jan 8, 2013. 2:42 PM REPLY

Actually I emailed him and asked permission to use these schematics which he allowed.

mgriff says:

Jan 1, 2013. 11:43 AM REPLY

Mr. Colin55
My name is Mike
I have a question or a favor for you maybe you can help me. Thanks in Advance
I am in the process of making a board game called shut the box it's a dice board game. I'm sure you have heard of it for my daughter. Instead of flipping
wooden numbers I would like to use some type of ic numbers 1-9 that are fixed so all I have to do is push a button coresponing to the specific number to
turn it on or off if you look at google images under shut the box to get a better idea of what im talking about. any help would be greatly appreciated you
can email me at [email protected]
thank you so much

Saumya Tripathi says:

Aug 28, 2012. 11:40 AM REPLY

Sir i need some helpful material for music box. Kindly provide how it works?? waiting for ur reply. [email protected]

billbillt says:

Jun 26, 2013. 6:54 AM REPLY

great

merva says:

Apr 12, 2013. 3:39 AM REPLY

hi can i have the working explanation of door bell circuit for back door and front door plz i really need it i wanna understand how the Ic is working

buike says:

Mar 18, 2013. 2:00 PM REPLY

pls can i geta circuit diagram for a 5watts wailing siren

jensenr30 says:

Jan 9, 2013. 7:43 PM REPLY

wow! this is one 555 timer instructable that I can really get behind!
I find that most of them are way too many describing how to do the same thing. but you have really done a neat thing putting all of these different projects
together!
I like it.
=D

Lucky7x7 says:

Nov 17, 2012. 6:19 AM REPLY

You have sensitive touch switch twice... : ) only because you asked

~CableGuy says:

Nov 15, 2012. 10:40 AM REPLY

man just,... W.O.W!, GREAT! (+ 100 other positive words)

EA ready says:

Sep 13, 2012. 11:02 AM REPLY

I need help with coming up with a circuit or finding one that will operate a remote control car to 22 feet then cut off. If anyone have any ideas or can point me
in the right direction it will be appreciated!!

aesquivel says:

Aug 4, 2011. 11:01 AM REPLY

Hi there, for the "Stun Gun", can I replace the 10nF capacitors for 100nF? these are the only ones I can get at 400V, also, can I replace the BD679 darlington for
a TIP122?

Jimmy Proton says:

Aug 4, 2011. 9:18 PM REPLY

Im not sure the 100nF capacitors will make much of a difference and yeah that should work, it seems to be the same things but with higher ratings.

Higgs Boson says:

Jan 23, 2012. 7:48 PM REPLY

could you use 10nf with 500v?

nodoubtman says:
yes why not!

http://www.instructables.com/id/47-projects-to-do-with-a-555/

Sep 12, 2012. 1:14 PM REPLY

azharz says:

Sep 2, 2012. 9:32 PM REPLY

Wow nice projects to do with a 555 timer IC

EdDruino says:

Jan 4, 2012. 10:34 AM REPLY

please help! [nub]

at the tv remote Jammer project, the [5r6] is a 6 ohm resistor and 470r - 470 ohm R? and please...which is the transistor's code?

Jimmy Proton says:

Jan 4, 2012. 1:54 PM REPLY

The R just stands for resistance, so the number next to it is ohms. And there is no specific code for the transistor, I assume that you could just use any
general purpose NPN transistor.

EdDruino says:

Jan 5, 2012. 1:42 AM REPLY

thnx for the quick reply!

Chu Guk says:

Dec 8, 2011. 11:20 AM REPLY

Hey, awesome circuits! I got this pack of 3 555's and am looking for something cool to do with them.
By the way, do the "Police lights" with the two 555's act different from the one with a 555 and a 4017? I mean, do the lights flash any different? Because from
what I know the one with the 4017 flashes fast 3 times on each side, back and forth. I have 3 555's, so if the circuit flashes the same, I'd like to use that one.
Thanks! Awesome instructable. Simple, but useful :D

nprikkel says:

Nov 2, 2011. 2:34 PM REPLY

Does anyone have an eagle file for the stun gun? this would be very helpful as i am new to schematic design

blinkyblinky says:

Oct 22, 2011. 3:47 PM REPLY

Collin Mitchell is the author.

hubi says:

Feb 9, 2011. 4:06 PM REPLY

Hello,
Your 555 Amlifier is cool, it is kind of Class D PWM Amlifier, I think.
Yu could much better results if you use a second 555 as clock generator and feed the trigger of your amp with it. More improvement would be to charge the
cap via costant current to get the ramp of the sawtooth more linear.
I have done all of this, and fed a flyback via Mosfet with this, gives a cool plasma tweeter.

Modscientist says:

Jul 15, 2011. 8:08 AM REPLY

This is true. Remember a lot of times as it sound that you are not new to this that with astale ckt using a mono stale 555 to triger it gives it a more stable
Or accrate conrtole of the ckt. No disrepect you sound that you have exp 555 is a timer (not really a amp in 99% with applicatin goo old fastion
electronics)

matstermind says:

Jan 30, 2011. 7:20 PM REPLY

whats the first one do?

Jimmy Proton says:

Jan 31, 2011. 12:33 PM REPLY

This circuit drives a 3x3x3 cube consisting of 27 white LEDs. The 4020 IC is a 14 stage binary counter and we have used 9 outputs. Each output drives 3
white LEDs in series and we have omitted a dropper resistor as the chip can only deliver a maximum of 15mA per output. The 4020 produces 512
different patterns before the sequence repeats and you have to build the project to see the effects it produces on the 3D cube.

meevenson says:

Feb 23, 2011. 10:10 AM REPLY

I have built this circuit and I can not get it to work. Depending on the voltage I apply and the resistor I swap out I can get about five seconds of
flashing on half of the cube and then it dies out and does nothing. Any ideas?

Modscientist says:

Jul 15, 2011. 7:55 AM REPLY

The capcitor is what stores the voltage.the resistor controlls how fast or slow it is released. Alway remember check all ground. Voltage take the
least resistant to ground(eath neg - ) Alwaways double check your wiring . Even experience tech can get one wire come lose or miss something.
Always remember the notch is the to or referance for the chip Check the diagram on the package or tech info on how chip I/O (inputsput/
Outsputs are located At notch or dot were pin 1 2 3 4 are and were they are located.

matstermind says:
try a different type of 555 timer (TLC/NE instead of a SE). switching it helped for the touch plate circuit

http://www.instructables.com/id/47-projects-to-do-with-a-555/

Feb 23, 2011. 12:30 PM REPLY

meevenson says:

Feb 23, 2011. 3:40 PM REPLY

Tried that already. Tried switching the cap, the voltage, the resistor, and switching around the wires. The most I can get out of it is one row to
stay lit up and a few others to blink for a couple of seconds and then it dies out and does not start over. I left it on for 15 minutes just to see if
it was running through a process and nothing happened.

Obi-Wan14 says:

Apr 16, 2011. 9:28 AM REPLY

The 4020 IC is the CMOS 4020 IC right?

Modscientist says:

Jul 15, 2011. 7:39 AM REPLY

es jimmy proton is corret. There are a series of 40-- chips. Like stated by JP to expand with these ckt no mader what if the ckts are supported by
outside components usally rc(resistor and capacitor ckt they can be changed to get different output result. Not always having to do with
changeing resistor first or cap first .You juust have to experament. The cacitor is a storige device. Like a batt. A resistor controls how fast or slow
the ckt releasethe signal. Like rubbing your feet on a rug your the cap. Then you touch a doorKnob resistor. ZAP! Thunder and Lightning.

Jimmy Proton says:

Apr 16, 2011. 10:44 AM REPLY

I believe so.

2010wow says:

May 31, 2011. 11:39 PM REPLY

what a nice projects ......

but could explain how the circuit of 555 amplifier work plz
thnx :)

Modscientist says:

Jul 15, 2011. 7:23 AM REPLY

The 555 is not a amp. This ckt is most popular even to this day as a timer (clock) to stables a ckt and like a heartbeat. It is actually what thay call a flip
flop ckt. The chip is a config of transistor ect. The output is a pulse usally a square wave. It deppends on the rc ( resistor And capacitor) configuration and
applcation Eg. Flashig Light; Test at certaian freq for speaker and timmig for compters (To simlify). And a seacret not a seacret for x-box controllers
shhhhhhhh. (Not) Which i am Redsigning alegitly.

newwarhammer2 says:

Jul 13, 2011. 8:17 AM REPLY

For the reaction timer, can I use a 7447 7 segment driver instead?

Jimmy Proton says:

Jul 13, 2011. 9:17 AM REPLY

I'm not sure, you would have to look at some datasheet's.

baven says:

Jun 28, 2011. 11:33 AM REPLY

Must be the cmos IC programmed or he is pre programmed

phevtron says:

Mar 27, 2011. 12:35 PM REPLY

ammm the music box ? what does it do ?

Jimmy Proton says:

Mar 27, 2011. 12:46 PM REPLY

It produces 10 different tones and by selecting suitable values to change the voltage on pin 5. The two unused outputs of the 4017 produce a tone equal
to that produced by the 555 when pin 5 has no external control voltage.

phevtron says:
cool,,hmm

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Mar 28, 2011. 5:00 AM REPLY