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Astable Multivibrator and Astable Oscillator Circuit-5

The document discusses the selection of capacitor values for an astable multivibrator circuit, emphasizing the importance of tolerances that can affect output frequency by ±20%. It introduces the use of timing tables for easier calculation of frequencies based on resistor and capacitor values, and suggests using a dual-ganged potentiometer for tuning the output frequency. An example is provided to illustrate the calculation of minimum and maximum frequencies using specific component values.

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Abhijith AS
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25 views1 page

Astable Multivibrator and Astable Oscillator Circuit-5

The document discusses the selection of capacitor values for an astable multivibrator circuit, emphasizing the importance of tolerances that can affect output frequency by ±20%. It introduces the use of timing tables for easier calculation of frequencies based on resistor and capacitor values, and suggests using a dual-ganged potentiometer for tuning the output frequency. An example is provided to illustrate the calculation of minimum and maximum frequencies using specific component values.

Uploaded by

Abhijith AS
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The values of 4.83nF and 24.

1nF respectively, are calculated values, so we would need to choose the


nearest preferred values for C1 and C2 allowing for the capacitors tolerance. In fact due to the wide
range of tolerances associated with the humble capacitor the actual output frequency may differ by as
much as ±20%, (400 to 600Hz in our simple example) from the actual frequency needed.

If we require the output astable waveform to be non-symmetrical for use in timing or gating type
circuits, etc, we could manually calculate the values of R and C for the individual components required
as we did in the example above.

However, when the two timing resistors and capacitors are both of equal value, we can make our life a
little bit easier for ourselves by using timing tables. Timing tables show the astable multivibrators
calculated frequencies for different combinations or values of both R and C relevant to our circuit. For
example:

Astable Multivibrator Frequency Table

Capacitor Values
Res.
1nF 2.2nF 4.7nF 10nF 22nF 47nF 100nF 220nF 470nF
1.0kΩ 714.3kHz 324.6kHz 151.9kHz 71.4kHz 32.5kHz 15.2kHz 7.1kHz 3.2kHz 1.5kHz
2.2kΩ 324.7kHz 147.6kHz 69.1kHz 32.5kHz 14.7kHz 6.9kHz 3.2kHz 1.5kHz 691Hz
4.7kΩ 151.9kHz 69.1kHz 32.3kHz 15.2kHz 6.9kHz 3.2kHz 1.5kHz 691Hz 323Hz
10kΩ 71.4kHz 32.5kHz 15.2kHz 7.1kHz 3.2kHz 1.5kHz 714Hz 325Hz 152Hz
22kΩ 32.5kHz 14.7kHz 6.9kHz 3.2kHz 1.5kHz 691Hz 325Hz 147Hz 69.1Hz
47kΩ 15.2kHz 6.9kHz 3.2kHz 1.5kHz 691Hz 323Hz 152Hz 69.1Hz 32.5Hz
100kΩ 7.1kHz 3.2kHz 1.5kHz 714Hz 325Hz 152Hz 71.4Hz 32.5Hz 15.2Hz
220kΩ 3.2kHz 1.5kHz 691Hz 325Hz 147Hz 69.1Hz 32.5Hz 15.2Hz 6.9Hz
470kΩ 1.5kHz 691Hz 323Hz 152Hz 69.1Hz 32.5Hz 15.2Hz 6.6Hz 3.2Hz
1MΩ 714Hz 325Hz 152Hz 71.4Hz 32.5Hz 15.2Hz 6.9Hz 3.2Hz 1.5Hz

Pre-calculated frequency tables can be very useful in determining the required values of both R and C
for a particular symmetrical output frequency without the need to keep recalculating them every time a
different frequency is required.

By changing the two fixed resistors, R2 and R3 for a dual-ganged potentiometer and keeping the values of
the capacitors the same, the frequency from the Astable Multivibrators output can be more easily
“tuned” to give a particular frequency value or to compensate for the tolerances of the components used.

For example, selecting a capacitor value of 10nF from the table above. By using a 100kΩ’s potentiometer
for our resistance, we would get an output frequency that can be fully adjusted from slightly above
71.4kHz down to 714Hz, some 3 decades of frequency range. Likewise a capacitor value of 47nF would
give a frequency range from 152Hz to well over 15kHz.

Astable Multivibrator Example No2


An Astable Multivibrator circuit is constructed using two timing capacitors of equal value of 3.3uF and
two base resistors of value 10kΩ. Calculate the minimum and maximum frequencies of oscillation if a
100kΩ dual-gang potentiometer is connected in series with the two resistors.

With the potentiometer at 0%, the value of the base resistance is equal to 10kΩ.

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