Scribd
Upload
19 views

Using The 555 Timer

The document discusses the 555 timer and 741 op amp components and their pinouts. It then discusses using a 555 timer in a monostable configuration with a resistor and capacitor to create a time delay circuit. The time delay can be calculated using the time constant formula of 1.1 x R x C. It also discusses transistors as electronic switches and identifying the base, collector, and emitter pins on diagrams. It provides an example circuit using a transistor to light an LED when two points are connected, such as in a simple moisture detector circuit for a plant. It suggests improvements that could be made to the detector circuit, such as using a flashing light or buzzer for the output and adapting it to detect moisture levels

Uploaded by

Maurice
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
19 views

Using The 555 Timer

The document discusses the 555 timer and 741 op amp components and their pinouts. It then discusses using a 555 timer in a monostable configuration with a resistor and capacitor to create a time delay circuit. The time delay can be calculated using the time constant formula of 1.1 x R x C. It also discusses transistors as electronic switches and identifying the base, collector, and emitter pins on diagrams. It provides an example circuit using a transistor to light an LED when two points are connected, such as in a simple moisture detector circuit for a plant. It suggests improvements that could be made to the detector circuit, such as using a flashing light or buzzer for the output and adapting it to detect moisture levels

Uploaded by

Maurice
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

Using the 555 Timer, 741 OP Amp and … others

The 555 timer has eight pins – It is a DIL package (Dual In-Line) - It as two
rows of four pins in-line !  It may seem hard to remember which pins are
connected where – but start by getting rid of two of them.  Pins 1 and Pin 8
– These connect to the power connections: Pin 1 to the negative and Pin 8
to the positive.   Its getting better since now we have fewer to remember.
Try now to remember that pin 2 is the Input and Pin 3 the Output  - we have
allocated half of them already !
The grey area shows the position for the output LED if the effect required is
for the LED to stay OFF for the required time delay rather than ON – the
position shown without shading.

This circuit is the basic


MONOSTABLE layout and will be controlled by the variable resistor and the
capacitor.  
Basically the larger the values of both – the longer will be the time delay.
* Pin numbers are always shown – but may for convenience be shown in different
positions.
The time delay can be calculated by simply multiplying the value of R1 with
the value of C1.  This is known as the Time Constant.
            

Tc = 1.1 x R1 x C1
One major point to remember in calculating Time Constants is the units that are
being used.  Most frequently the Capacitance will be measured in MicroFarads (F
x 10-6)   And the Resistance in either K ohms (103) or M ohms ( 106).  These
calculations are just really a matter of moving the decimal point around.  A
calculator isn’t needed although that will obviously make things very easy.    The
answer units will be in ‘seconds’
If you are familiar with scientific notation then adding the powers easily gives the
answer.  If you prefer to move the 0’s  - simply cross off each of the 0’s  to the
right of the decimal point as one from the left of the decimal point is crossed off. (
Remember the last two 0’s shown here on the Capacitor’s value would not be
included as 0.000100 is really 0.0001.   Once the decimal point is reached then the
1 will move to the other side of the decimal point and then 0’s will be tagged on
As simple as it is to be turn a switch on with one a simple flick or push it is often
more convenient to have a switch operate automatically.  Transistors are exactly
that – simple electronic switches that can be made to join up two of their contacts
by allowing a small flow of electric current to arrive at a third connection.  Their
invention in 1947 dramatically altered the potential for the creation of more
compact, less ’power hungry’ circuits and has led to the availability of infinitely
more mobile products like phones, radios and TV’s.
Transistors can be packaged in different metal or plastic cases and also come in
several different types - one common type is shown here and the small tag on
this ‘npn’ type transistor shows which leg is to be connected to the negative side
of the circuit.  That leaves two other connections that need identifying.  The
central one is called the base and it is this that requires the small current to do
the switching.  The final connection is called the collector and needs to be
connected to the positive side of the circuit.
When working with different types of transistor it is important to correctly
identify the legs.
On circuit diagrams the transistor is shown as in the diagram
In this simple circuit on the left you should be able to see that joining points A
and B will allow a current to flow to the transistor.   
      

What would you expect to happen then ?


    

From what has already been said – the other two connections would join as if
switched on – and this would allow the LED shown in this circuit to light up.
There is a ‘limiting’ resistor  in series with the LED as a protection – preventing
too much current damaging the LED itself.
So now we have a basic circuit that will work by simply  joining the two
points, to what use could the circuit be put? Well a simple water detector
could be made with two steel prongs being joined to the two contacts A
and B – with those then pushed into the soil of a plant pot.  If the soil was
quite wet the LED would glow – green perhaps… If it went out then the soil
would need watering.  
A fair idea but one that could be improved…….
 

What changes would you make for a water detector that might make it a lot
more useful ?
     

Check out the Year 9 task.

What would you say would be the best ‘output’ device ?


... A Buzzer or a Constant coloured light ... or a flashing light ?
What might the implications be if the plant were to dry-up during the night ?
Would it be possible to adapt the design to make a better product that could take
this into account ?

You might also like