Having never been taught about this kind of electronics, and having become interested in such things, I've bought lots of bits and pieces to play around with, including a bunch of 555s and LEDs and such. I really needed this explaining rather slowly and I feel like you did a great job in this video! The fog is slowly clearing and I got the latch working, thanks! Though at the moment my led starts "on" when I turn the power on maybe that will change soon. Be well and thanks Julian 🙋😀
I'm sure i have seen a vid that used a 555 as a flip flop/latching switch to power on/off devices. Nice vid Julian, you have inspired me to also play with basic logic and 555's for which I thank you. As I have now made a couple small sucessful projects. Thanks.
I was actually looking at that page about using 555s as logic gates the other day in the hopes of finding a way to use them to make a counter. I just started with electronics a few months ago and haven't got any logic ICs yet, so I've been trying (in vain) to recreate logic circuits with discrete transistors. I was hoping this would be an easier solution for a counter. Even though you can't get NOT Q from the 555's flip flop, you CAN connect an LED from positive INTO the output (with current limiting resistor) and get an inverted output. You can leave the LED going to ground from the output and have both a Q and NOT Q. Btw the output driver for the 555 is called a totem pole output. I'd been wondering about it myself for ages and randomly came across a wiki article on totem pole outputs and realized it's what they use on the 555 so I began reading more on it. Thanks for taking the time to post this. Now I think I'm gonna binge watch some more of your videos.
Yes, the original NE/SE555 Datasheet, if you should find it, states clearly that the Output pin of a 555 timer will SINK as well as SOURCE supply voltage @ 200mA, all due to that totem pole output. You can do interesting things with a symmetric voltage divider and a dual color LED. Check it out if you have such an LED. Using Julian's favorite 9V battery source build a resistive voltage divider between Source and Ground of either 100 ohm or 120 ohm resistors. Connect your bi-color LED between the output of the 555 and the center of the voltage divider, then set the time to run in a slow second or less astable oscillation. You should see the colors alternate. Note what occurs as you increase the oscillation rate. For those of you who haven't a bi-color LED you can substitute red and green diodes set in parallel Anode to Cathode-Anode to Cathode, but you may not see the same phenomena when increasing oscillation as when the two colors occupy the same package. Works with a bi-color LED with a V-drop of 2.3V requiring 30mA. - Fun! Note: this 200mA limit is Maximum for the standard 555 timer. This circuit should work with the CMOS 7555, but current limitations vary with the CMOS circuitry.
WOW, well done informative video once again Julian ! I realy enjoyed watching you explore and elaborate on these functions and types of applications for 555 's :D
would be cool if you could dissolve the encapsulation and do a microscope analysis of the silicon die and make a diagram of really how it works. It is just a suggestion, I would definitely enjoy watching that.
I knew the good old 555 was a handy device to have (I've always got a few knocking around) but I didn't realise the number of logical elements it can be used to create. Very informative, thanks! - I'm going to be getting one of my breadboards out and some 555's for some logical experimentation over the next few days! (In the unlikely event that I manage to build a super computer, I'll let you know!)
I tried making the same circuit as the one shown at 2:30, however I needed to pullup button PIN 2, and pulldown on PIN 7. You build doesn't need them which I find odd!
+Julian Ilett While you may already know this, i thought i'd mention it anyway since perhaps not all of your viewers do: The 555 can even be used as a Class-D audio amplifier! Here's one example of how to do that: www.edn.com/design/analog/4432210/555-based-class-D-headphone-driver-makes-great-practice-amp And there are several other sites around the 'net with similar circuits.So the 555 is definitely one of the most versatile linear ICs ever made.
The Tyttuutface you are correct, however the four timers in the 558 are somewhat 'crippled' compared to those in the 555 and the 556: there is only ONE control voltage input which serves all 4 timers. For more info about this, i'd suggest you get hold of the relevant datasheets, which should be available from many sources. Addendum: the wikipedia page contains *some* information about the 558: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/555_timer_IC but it also refers to this variant as "obsolete" since no manufacturers are known to make them anymore.
Of course, you just need a lot of these and your whole life to build an x86 computer from them. Though it may take an another human life to render a single frame on it, not to mention the power consumption, cooling etc.
Julian - appreciate this is an older video, but I must say, I am learning so much from watching your and Clives videos, and I am really enjoying watching them too. I remember the 555 timer well from my early electronics days... and, check this.. was it the 741 op-amp? Keep up the great work.
Julian Ilett I heard about the 555 a lot, but I didn't what it could do. This video thougt me a lot about it. That's why I thinkt it is the best video. could you maybe make a followup about the astable or clockmode.
Great stuff Julian, Lights are cool, inspiration for me playing with the 555 again, reignited; I'm sure you know what I mean!. Thanks for the video Regards Bob
great video Julian I wish I could understand Electronics better. I have built a microwave Transformer spot welder to build my 18 650 battery for my bicycle . I cannot get my foot switch to be consistent for my spot welds. I need a timer circuit to control the primary side of the Transformer I think others have used zero to one second or something like that do you have any suggestions for a Luddite like my self
you probably solved this long ago but if youre still interested you can control a MOT based spot welder very simply using a relay switching the transformer primary, driven by appropriate capacitors via a double throw switch and a rotary switch. check out Marco Reps' video on DIY spot welders.
...couple of things...The output driver IS inverting (and a bit hefty). Also it is NOT a good idea (esp with CMOS floating around in odd ways) to leave pin 4 (reset) open--simply run a wire to the nearest gnd or pin 8. A couple of things that may be of interest: I once designed (for a contest--"DESIGN IDEAS", IIRC) a --true-- sine wave oscillator based on the 555 with the frequency AND amplitude adjustable and totally independent, one pot did not (in any way) interfere with the others (freq. and amp. control). This was a contest by "Radio Electronics" magazine in the late 80's--the prize was a VERY nice circuit board holder. I wound up trading it for a HUGE resistor kit. One more thing worth mentioning: The digital version of this--using the 555 (actually the 556) as a pulse train generator with the frequency and duty cycle (adjusted with a pot for each) TOTALLY independent of each other...simply drive an astable (oscillator) with one unit, connected to trigger the other unit configured in monostable mode (pulse gen.) settable to any desired pulse width, and you have a rectangular pulse with totally independent freq. and duty cycle control. BTW, it is not difficult to configure a 555 with a virtual 0% to 100% duty cycle...OH!, I seem to be rambling--sorry-'later...'
I see you are using what look like quality breadboards. All the ebay ones I have purchased lately are crap. Warped, bad contacts. These have the mounting screw holes I see, so at least they lie flat. Where can one get boards like these?
That's the right idea there. Basically, you can use a PNP transistor to convert a negative signal to positive, and a NPN transistor to convert a positive signal to negative. They can be used as a one way inverter if you want. That's also how you can massively amplify a signal, negative input to PNP gives positive output that inputs to a NPN and gives a much larger negative output. The second transistor (NPN) is generally larger the the PNP preamp. Very common in simple class A amplifiers.
Some indicate that VCC means Voltage at the Common Collector. My take on it is that VC indicates the voltage at the collector of a bipolar transistor with respect to ground. VCC indicated the power supply voltage to power the transistor stage/s. It all comes from transistor references. VB, base voltage, VBB base power supply voltage. So double scripting with the same letter indicates supply voltages. Another example VD drain voltage of a FET transistor and VDD the power supply voltage for the FET transistor stage. Others may have a better answer but hope this helps.
It would seem more prudent to simply use the data sheet (instead of picking a diagram on google images). Also, if you print it out, it would look better. It's hard to see when you film your screen. Oh and if a box in a diagram has SR inputs and no clock input, that means it's an SR flop (as opposed to a JK or D flop).
Hey Julian, could you make a video about the step down converters on ebay that have the enable pin. It would be interesting to see what current the diffrent modules pull when "disabled" and so on. Example here that i recently ordered, im going to use it to maximise the battery life when the arduino is "sleeping"(i have no free interrupt pins so im making the arduino power off itself, and when i press a button, the arduino will pull the enable pin online, so the energy lost when powered down will be absolutely minimal. - www.ebay.com/itm/401180305767?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
I love your post bag video. u have so many components. can u pls give me some UNO .pls.I am currently studying ece engineering and I also like technology very much.
I recently found out the 555 seems to occupy approximately the same place in school electronics teaching as it did about 30 years ago, and tbh it wasn't exactly cutting edge even then. Just a really cute circuit I suppose - which is why so many people love playing with it.
Having never been taught about this kind of electronics, and having become interested in such things, I've bought lots of bits and pieces to play around with, including a bunch of 555s and LEDs and such. I really needed this explaining rather slowly and I feel like you did a great job in this video! The fog is slowly clearing and I got the latch working, thanks! Though at the moment my led starts "on" when I turn the power on maybe that will change soon. Be well and thanks Julian 🙋😀
I'm sure i have seen a vid that used a 555 as a flip flop/latching switch to power on/off devices. Nice vid Julian, you have inspired me to also play with basic logic and 555's for which I thank you. As I have now made a couple small sucessful projects. Thanks.
I was actually looking at that page about using 555s as logic gates the other day in the hopes of finding a way to use them to make a counter. I just started with electronics a few months ago and haven't got any logic ICs yet, so I've been trying (in vain) to recreate logic circuits with discrete transistors. I was hoping this would be an easier solution for a counter. Even though you can't get NOT Q from the 555's flip flop, you CAN connect an LED from positive INTO the output (with current limiting resistor) and get an inverted output. You can leave the LED going to ground from the output and have both a Q and NOT Q.
Btw the output driver for the 555 is called a totem pole output. I'd been wondering about it myself for ages and randomly came across a wiki article on totem pole outputs and realized it's what they use on the 555 so I began reading more on it. Thanks for taking the time to post this. Now I think I'm gonna binge watch some more of your videos.
Yes, the original NE/SE555 Datasheet, if you should find it, states clearly that the Output pin of a 555 timer will SINK as well as SOURCE supply voltage @ 200mA, all due to that totem pole output. You can do interesting things with a symmetric voltage divider and a dual color LED. Check it out if you have such an LED. Using Julian's favorite 9V battery source build a resistive voltage divider between Source and Ground of either 100 ohm or 120 ohm resistors. Connect your bi-color LED between the output of the 555 and the center of the voltage divider, then set the time to run in a slow second or less astable oscillation. You should see the colors alternate. Note what occurs as you increase the oscillation rate. For those of you who haven't a bi-color LED you can substitute red and green diodes set in parallel Anode to Cathode-Anode to Cathode, but you may not see the same phenomena when increasing oscillation as when the two colors occupy the same package. Works with a bi-color LED with a V-drop of 2.3V requiring 30mA. - Fun! Note: this 200mA limit is Maximum for the standard 555 timer. This circuit should work with the CMOS 7555, but current limitations vary with the CMOS circuitry.
WOW, well done informative video once again Julian !
I realy enjoyed watching you explore and elaborate on these functions and types of applications for 555 's :D
Wow. it looks like I'm gonna love the next episode. Didn't have a clue you can use 555 for something else than a clock.
Subbed by the way glad to run into you . Your in the alley I enjoy
would be cool if you could dissolve the encapsulation and do a microscope analysis of the silicon die and make a diagram of really how it works.
It is just a suggestion, I would definitely enjoy watching that.
Loved the video, very informative and well done, subbed 👍
I accidentally bought 100 555s, but haven't had the time or space to fiddle with them.
I just 'accidentally' bought 100 555s also, and this gives me an idea what to do with them.
smadge1 I almost bought 100 too, but then only bought 50... For £1.19 though so thats not bad even if Im not gonna use them...
smadge1 I also 'accidentally' purchased 100 555s. What is the world coming to?!
Accidents over accidents!
Another 100 osc. synth wall :)
I knew the good old 555 was a handy device to have (I've always got a few knocking around) but I didn't realise the number of logical elements it can be used to create. Very informative, thanks! - I'm going to be getting one of my breadboards out and some 555's for some logical experimentation over the next few days! (In the unlikely event that I manage to build a super computer, I'll let you know!)
+Pete Allum He he, please do :)
Excellent video (as always). More logic please!
I tried making the same circuit as the one shown at 2:30, however I needed to pullup button PIN 2, and pulldown on PIN 7. You build doesn't need them which I find odd!
+Julian Ilett
While you may already know this, i thought i'd mention it anyway since perhaps not all of your viewers do:
The 555 can even be used as a Class-D audio amplifier!
Here's one example of how to do that: www.edn.com/design/analog/4432210/555-based-class-D-headphone-driver-makes-great-practice-amp
And there are several other sites around the 'net with similar circuits.So the 555 is definitely one of the most versatile linear ICs ever made.
For the size I really love the Atmel Attiny85
The 554 was not right and the 556 never caught on. God bless the 555
You forgot the 558 - a quad timer, I think.
The Tyttuutface you are correct, however the four timers in the 558 are somewhat 'crippled' compared to those in the 555 and the 556: there is only ONE control voltage input which serves all 4 timers.
For more info about this, i'd suggest you get hold of the relevant datasheets, which should be available from many sources.
Addendum: the wikipedia page contains *some* information about the 558:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/555_timer_IC but it also refers to this variant as "obsolete" since no manufacturers are known to make them anymore.
TheDutyPaid
I've never heard about a 554 timer ic before, can you tell me more about that one?
But can it run crysis?
Of course, you just need a lot of these and your whole life to build an x86 computer from them. Though it may take an another human life to render a single frame on it, not to mention the power consumption, cooling etc.
wooosh
4-bit version only.
cool flashing lights and lots of stuff I don't understand. great video.
Same here. Thank God for those flashing lights :D
fantastic tutorial ! I love it.
Julian - appreciate this is an older video, but I must say, I am learning so much from watching your and Clives videos, and I am really enjoying watching them too. I remember the 555 timer well from my early electronics days... and, check this.. was it the 741 op-amp? Keep up the great work.
The 555 and the 741 ==RULED== back in the day!!!
Whats the 'modern' 741? The 358?
great video! I like your breadboarding style!
Flashing L.E.D's make any project better, been a long time since I messed with 555s
this is the best video ever!!!
Thanks :)
Julian Ilett I heard about the 555 a lot, but I didn't what it could do. This video thougt me a lot about it. That's why I thinkt it is the best video. could you maybe make a followup about the astable or clockmode.
It's an old video, but try this th-cam.com/video/r_Zul7SRF3M/w-d-xo.html
Sir great to 555 vedio and you great as well. ...👍
Great stuff Julian, Lights are cool, inspiration for me playing with the 555 again, reignited; I'm sure you know what I mean!. Thanks for the video Regards Bob
I know what you mean :)
Fives -- so good they named them thrice
You not need to teel me something about compators because Mumbo told.
great video Julian I wish I could understand Electronics better. I have built a microwave Transformer spot welder to build my 18 650 battery for my bicycle . I cannot get my foot switch to be consistent for my spot welds. I need a timer circuit to control the primary side of the Transformer I think others have used zero to one second or something like that do you have any suggestions for a Luddite like my self
you probably solved this long ago but if youre still interested you can control a MOT based spot welder very simply using a relay switching the transformer primary, driven by appropriate capacitors via a double throw switch and a rotary switch. check out Marco Reps' video on DIY spot welders.
Please upload a circuit diagram for the blinking leds( using 9 NE555) and (set/reset) on/off led( on the small breadbord)
...couple of things...The output driver IS inverting (and a bit hefty). Also it is NOT a good idea (esp with CMOS floating around in odd ways) to leave pin 4 (reset) open--simply run a wire to the nearest gnd or pin 8.
A couple of things that may be of interest: I once designed (for a contest--"DESIGN IDEAS", IIRC) a --true-- sine wave oscillator based on the 555 with the frequency AND amplitude adjustable and totally independent, one pot did not (in any way) interfere with the others (freq. and amp. control). This was a contest by "Radio Electronics" magazine in the late 80's--the prize was a VERY nice circuit board holder. I wound up trading it for a HUGE resistor kit.
One more thing worth mentioning: The digital version of this--using the 555 (actually the 556) as a pulse train generator with the frequency and duty cycle (adjusted with a pot for each) TOTALLY independent of each other...simply drive an astable (oscillator) with one unit, connected to trigger the other unit configured in monostable mode (pulse gen.) settable to any desired pulse width, and you have a rectangular pulse with totally independent freq. and duty cycle control. BTW, it is not difficult to configure a 555 with a virtual 0% to 100% duty cycle...OH!, I seem to be rambling--sorry-'later...'
For the second and subsequent 555s that are used as inverters, wouldn't it be more practical (and cheaper) to simply use a transistor?
I see you are using what look like quality breadboards.
All the ebay ones I have purchased lately are crap.
Warped, bad contacts. These have the mounting screw
holes I see, so at least they lie flat. Where can one get
boards like these?
Im not sure, but i think that with a little bit of work using capacitors and transistors you can manage 555 to work as a flip-flop
That's the right idea there. Basically, you can use a PNP transistor to convert a negative signal to positive, and a NPN transistor to convert a positive signal to negative. They can be used as a one way inverter if you want.
That's also how you can massively amplify a signal, negative input to PNP gives positive output that inputs to a NPN and gives a much larger negative output. The second transistor (NPN) is generally larger the the PNP preamp. Very common in simple class A amplifiers.
Julian, I enjoy your videos and find them interesting although I know very little about electronics could you tell me what vcc means?
Some indicate that VCC means Voltage at the Common Collector. My take on it is that VC indicates the voltage at the collector of a bipolar transistor with respect to ground. VCC indicated the power supply voltage to power the transistor stage/s. It all comes from transistor references. VB, base voltage, VBB base power supply voltage. So double scripting with the same letter indicates supply voltages. Another example VD drain voltage of a FET transistor and VDD the power supply voltage for the FET transistor stage. Others may have a better answer but hope this helps.
encyclobeamia.solarbotics.net/articles/vxx.html
Thanks will have a read up
It's a strange chip. I suppose you could use it as a 15kOhm resistor also. Seems rather wasteful, these alternative uses.
One could say the same about an FPGA though. Having an over-spec'd component is far better than not having a part to do something, IMNSHO. :D
Aww, bless Jeri Ellsworth!
what battery are you using?
What about your opto isolator logic?
+Luke Den Hartog I seem to remember it was a bit bonkers!
Julian Ilett Thats half the fun :)
It would seem more prudent to simply use the data sheet (instead of picking a diagram on google images). Also, if you print it out, it would look better. It's hard to see when you film your screen. Oh and if a box in a diagram has SR inputs and no clock input, that means it's an SR flop (as opposed to a JK or D flop).
Just to satisfy me: Can you please use more blue LEDs next time? :D
Schematics?
Hey Julian, could you make a video about the step down converters on ebay that have the enable pin. It would be interesting to see what current the diffrent modules pull when "disabled" and so on. Example here that i recently ordered, im going to use it to maximise the battery life when the arduino is "sleeping"(i have no free interrupt pins so im making the arduino power off itself, and when i press a button, the arduino will pull the enable pin online, so the energy lost when powered down will be absolutely minimal. - www.ebay.com/itm/401180305767?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
I find a quad 2 input nand Schmitt to be a much more flexible device than a 555.
Interesting that the 555 has 3 5k resistors!
Some people also call it the triple nickel.
Either way, that's where it got it's name. :D
@oH well,lord!
Or he's like me and has a crippling addiction to doing things in multiples of 5. I really don't know why I like that number so much.
I love your post bag video. u have so many components. can u pls give me some UNO .pls.I am currently studying ece engineering and I also like technology very much.
Shubham Kumar just buy it ...*shaking myhead*
forestbird ,if not at come up with good reply. I was expecting these kind of reply.
What is "UNO" and why do you need it?
555s are thicc
Would not the manufacturer's Data Sheet be a much better factual source!
People still play with these things?
Lol; yes!
I recently found out the 555 seems to occupy approximately the same place in school electronics teaching as it did about 30 years ago, and tbh it wasn't exactly cutting edge even then. Just a really cute circuit I suppose - which is why so many people love playing with it.
:o
The LED is like making a pattern! Like if you agree..