Contents

LIST OF FIGURES3
1

ABSTRACT ..

INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................5

THEORY & METHODOLOGY...............................................................6

RESULTS & DATA WITH DATA ANALYSIS......................................12

DISCUSSION & CONCLUSIONS........................................................13

REFERENCES............................................................................................14

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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 2.1: Pin configuration of IC 555.....................................................................5
Figure 3.1: 555 as a Monostable (Timer)...................................................................6
Figure 3.2: Waveform of Monostable Operation.......................................................7
Figure 3.3: 555 as an Astable Multivibrator..............................................................7
Figure 3.4: Waveform of Astable Operation..............................................................8
Figure 3.5: Experiment 1-Circuit diagram.................................................................9
Figure 3.6 Experiment 2-Circuit diagram..................................................................10
Figure 3.7 Experiment 3-Circuit diagram..................................................................10
Figure 3.8 Experiment 4-Circuit diagram..................................................................11

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1. Abstract
The main purpose of this set of experiments is to have a basic idea of timer IC 555 & its
applications. In this set of experiments, characteristics of the modes of the timer &
usages of the IC were observed.
In experiment 1, the given circuit diagram was constructed to study the 555 IC as a
Monostable Timer. Then by changing the values of the resistor R & the capacitor C the
output of the LED was observed.
In experiment 2, the given circuit was constructed to observe the qualities of 555 as an
Astable Multi vibrator. By using an oscilloscope the waveforms were observed while
changing the values of the resistors & the capacitor C.
In experiment 3, the given diagram was constructed to use 555 IC as a dark detector. Here
as a detector, LDR was used & a speaker was used for observe the output.
In experiment 4, the given circuit was designed with 555 IC as an Organ. Its capable of
playing single notes when switching S1 to S8. While pressing switches, waveforms of
outputs were observed by the oscilloscope.

02. Introduction
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The timer IC 555 was introduced in mid-1972. It was famous because of its several
characteristics such as versatility, stability & low cost. In processing it produces accurate time
delays, or oscillations. It has get attention of many designers from mechanical timers, op amps
and various circuits. The IC 555 consists of two voltage comparators, a bistable flip-flop, a
discharge transistor & a resistor divider network.
In 555 IC, it works in two modes as monostable or astable. In monostable mode the time
is controlled by one external resistor and a capacitor. For astable mode as an oscillator, both free
running frequency and the duty circle are accurately controlled by two external resistors and one
capacitor.
As features of the IC it can be mentioned, the IC timing varies from microseconds to
hours, high output current, temperature stability, turn-off time less than 2ms etc.
As applications, it is used in pulse generation, time delay generation, pulse width
modulation etc.
The pin configuration of IC 555 is given below.
GN
D
TRIGGE

VCC
DISCHAR

R
OUTPU

THRESHOL

RESET

CONTROL

Figure 2.1
Pin
No.
1
2

3
4
5
6
7
8

Procedure

0 V supply
When the pin voltage falls below 1/3 of Vcc, the timer is trigged & the
output goes high. In monostable mode, a high low transition on the
trigger pins starts the timer.
The output pulses during astable mode and goes high for a set time in
monostable mode.
If reset in not in use, it is connected to Vcc. If reset falls, a high output
will be forced low.
For reliable operation, a 10 nf capacitor is connected to ground this pin.
Detects when the voltage on the timing capacitor rises above 2/3 Vcc &
resets the output when this happens.
Provides a discharge path from the timing capacitor to ground when
output is low.
Positive power supply voltage
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03.Theory & Methodology

For IC 555 timer, there are three operating modes.
Monostable
Astable
Bistable

Monostable Operation (Timer)

When using 555 as a timer, it works as monostable. It means it has one stable state which is off
state. The circuit is always come back to this state after a period of time T, which is given by,
T= 1.1*R*C

Figure 3.1
Here when the trigger pulse applied to the timer at 2nd pin, falls below 1/3Vcc. Then
while the output voltage is low, the flip-flop turns the discharging Tr. Off and the timer output
become high since charging the external capacitor & setting the flip-flop output at the same time.
The voltage across the capacitor increases exponentially with the time constant t=R*C and
reaches 2/3Vcc at 1.1*R*C. The time constant R*C controls the output pulse width. When the
voltage of the capacitor reaches 2/3Vcc, the comparator on the trigger terminal resets the flipflop turning the discharging Tr. on. At this time the capacitor begins to discharge & the timer
output converts to low. After the whole process repeats.
The general waveforms during the monostable mode is given below.

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Figure 3.2

Astable Operation (Astable Multivibtator)

In this mode, the trigger terminal & the threshold terminal are connected, therefore self-trigger is
formed, operating as a multivibrator.

Figure 3.3
When the timer output is high, its internal discharging Tr. turns off & the voltage of the
capacitor (Vc) increases exponentially with the time constant (R1+R2)*C. When Vc or the
threshold voltage reaches 2/3Vcc, the comparator output on the trigger terminal become high,
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resetting the flip-flop and then the timer output become low. Then turns on the discharging Tr.
and the capacitor discharges through R2 & the discharging Tr. When Vc falls below 1/3Vcc, the
comparator output on the trigger terminal becomes high & the timer output becomes high again.
The discharging Tr. turns off & the Vc rises again.
The time for which the output is high is given by

T1=0.7*(R1+R2)*C

The time for which the output is low is given by

T2=0.7*R2*C

The total period for the oscillation is given by

T=0.7*(R1+2R2)*C

The following waveforms shows the operation of Astable mode.

Figure 3.4

Experiment 1: The Monostable Multivibrator

The circuit was constructed as given below.
The power supply was switched on & the micro switch was pressed and the operation was
observed. After pressing the micro switch and at the same moment the stopwatch was started and
the length of the time which the LED is on was measured and recorded. Repeated the same
procedure by varying the values of the of R & C
Finally the timer was started as previously and the wire from pin 4 was connected to ground
terminal immediately & observed.

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Figure

Experiment 2: The Astable Multivibrator

The circuit was connected as shown in the following figure.
The channel 1 of the oscilloscope was connected to the output of the circuit & the channel 2 was
connected to the pin 2 of the IC. Then the power supply switch was on and the waveforms were
observed.
By varying the values of R1 & R2 as R1=R2 and starting the timer, the period of output
waveforms were measured using the oscilloscope.
By setting the value of C as 0.2 f, the procedure was repeated.
Finally the oscilloscope was removed and a LED was connected to that terminals (through 1k
resistor) & observed the output pattern of the circuit.

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Figure 3.6

Experiment 3: The Dark Detector

+12 V

Figure 3.7
At first the LDR was illuminated using
the lamp & measured the resistance
of the LDR. Then the LDR was covered and the resistance was measured.
Then the circuit was connected as the above diagram.
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After the LDR was illuminated and switched on the circuit. Then the status of the circuit
(speaker) was observed. After that the LDR was covered & observed the output status of the
circuit.

Experiment 4: The 555 Organ

Figure 3.8
The circuit was constructed as the above diagram.
Then switched on the power supply & the switches S 1-S8 were pressed & observed the
waveforms of appears on the oscilloscope. After that the resistance of VR 1-VR8 were changed
while pressing S1-S8 & tuned the circuit to give waveforms with given periods.
Finally the resistances of VR1-VR8 were measured using the digital Ohmmeter and recorded the
taken values.

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04. RESULTS & DATA WITH DATA

ANALYSIS

05.
Discussion
Conclusion

and
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The set of experiments were based on the introduction of the modes of IC 555 timer & its
real world applications. The success keys of the IC are versatility, stability and low cost. The IC
can act in two modes called Monostable & Astable. In monostable mode, it is used as a timer &
in astable mode it is used as a multivibrator.
In experiments 1 &2, the calculated & measured values were not similar. But
theoretically they should be same. The reasons for that are, the time measured was totally depend
on the values of resistors & the capacitors. Then the values of them can be varied with the
tolerance & actually they havent a unique value. So the values which were earned would be
varying in a relevant range.
While using the stop watch there were errors also, when starting & stopping in correct
position of the LED cant be recognized well. There could be loosely connected terminals and
wires on the bread board and it might be caused for wrong data values.

Experiment 1:
In this experiment two values of capacitors were used such that 47 f &100 f. When
using higher value of capacitor, observed length of time of the LED was increased than the low
value of the capacitor. Also while using varies resistors with a certain capacitor, when changing
the values of resistors from low to high, the time length was increased. Therefore the delay of
time of LED can be changed by using different values of capacitors & resistors.
The time which is given by 0.7*(R1+2R2)*C
There are lot of advantages of using these kind of electronic timers than mechanical timers.
Electronic timers are very fast, high precision accuracy, high efficiency & event feedback is
better More compact & also more complex. In LED or any digital electronic circuits, it has a
long time range & easy to maintain.

Experiment 2:
In this circuit by, varying the couple of resistors and the capacitor, the measured period can be
changed. When using resistors from low to high values for certain value of capacitor, the period
of the waveform is increasing and the frequency goes down. The frequency is given by
F= 1.45/ [(R1+2R2)*C]
After getting the readings of the experiment, a LED was connected to the output & observed. In
a faulty, instead 1000 k, 1 k was connected and the output pattern of the LED was observed.
But there wasnt any observation. Therefor the correct decision was the LED was blinking at that
moment & it couldnt be observed because of its frequency is very high. Then the correct resister
was fixed & observed the pattern of the circuit (LED).
Here also there were differences between measured & calculated values. The reasons are the
components of the circuit were not in required values because of the tolerance, the connections
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of wires might be loosed not fitted to the bread board correctly. When using the stop watch, also
errors were occurred.
Multivibrators can be found in varies of circuit systems such as where square waves or timed
intervals are required, frequency dividers, early used in organs & televisions,

Experiment 3:
Here the LDR was used for sensing of the light. When light falls on it, the value of the
resistance was very low. In dark light mode the resistance was very high. The circuit with the
LDR was kept in dark, the speaker made a noise. In the circuit there was a variable resister. The
purpose of it, is in what light condition the circuit should be reacted. This type of circuits can be
used in security systems, or can be used to notify when a lamp (or bulb) burns out.

Experiment 4:
The circuit was based on 555 astable oscillator. By pressing the switches S1-S8 it is capable to
play single notes in this circuit. The frequencies can be changed with the variable resistors V1V8 to produce totally different set of notes. The purpose of the diode & the capacitor which are
used across the input voltage is to prevent variances of the supply voltage, and keep a constant
supply voltage.

From these set of experiments it can be decided that IC 555 timer plays a important role in
electronic world with lot of advantages.

References:
http://www.yenka.com/Technology objects/Electronics/ Analogue components/
Integrated circuits/ 555 timer
http://www.ibiblio.org/kuphaldt/electricCircuits/Exper/EXP_8.html
http://www.danaherspecialtyproducts.com/Eagle_Signal/Products_and_Solutions/Timers/

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