Boring? Not at all! Chock full of electronic awesomeness. Random yet useful babble on mass electronics production, the 555 tutorial and best of all was the building block circuit theory explained very well. Might be boring for a veteran but ear candy to people that are interested in learning. I wish there were more teardowns that go into the circuit theory even if it were a simple toy or power supply.
Got a bunch of 555s awhile back. What projects do you recommend so I can get to know them better. I got about 20 of the little guys and they are not very happy just sitting in my toolbox.
Definitely NOT boring. It brings back memories of the days of 555s and 74xx TTL chips. Someone mentioned Arduino... you could probably do this on a $3 Arduino "Wun Hung Lo" Chicom clone board...
I was at school, building a valve (tube) radio and playing with 0c71/0c81/bc109 and 2n2926 transistors. Then a friend introduced me to the 555 timer. Now, 44 years later, I am retiring and still mess around with this chip. Amazing that one chip can span an entire working life.
Well yes but the 74xx logic family is obsolescent now. I dont think anyone would choose the 741 anymore as it is poor on almost every parameter compared with more modern op amps. Possibly the same for the lm324 maybe less so. The 78xx I give you but are certainly less popular and switchers are just as likely to be chosen, more so in battery portable operation. I would always use a switching circuit rather than throw battery life away as heat. I would argue that the 555 is unique in that there are not dozens of alternatives out there. The first design is still going strong and is 100% usable. If you tried to get backing for a modern revamp of the 555 I do not think you would get any support. The chip is cheap and just works.
After 30 years in Electronics and design and now developing software and websites I am delighted to be a Dave addict! He reminds me how much hands on Electronics development is. I did not think people still got this involved anymore!
***** But we have found a way to stop and "reverse" aging. Problem is due to chromosome telomere degradation we will get cancer. Hence why evolution gave/maintained ageing. :) Sorry for the randomness. Part of my anthropology course. Yup, part of my engineering degree.
No need for apologies. That's actually really interesting. I've heard of the idea that telomere degradation is linked to aging, but hadn't heard that it causes cancer. It's an idea I need to revisit. I haven't read/watched anything on anti-aging technology in some years. I got kinda bored with it after I realized Aubrey DeGrey was full of crap.
+Adam Harrington That's gonna be one big kit, but yeah, I agree with the idea. Would be nice if built on a chassis with point to point connection. I would likely replace the darlington pairs with single pentodes or beam tetrodes. The real challenge would be recreating it with double-catwhiskers as transistors. Spend a whole day setting the whiskers, then bump into the table where it's sitting and it's gone. Anyway, such a point conact device would be impractical, besides being a pain in the rear to use.
G'day all... I started watching this vblog almost 2 years ago. I remember myself having trouble understanding Dave's accent (I was born in Europe, in a post-soviet country). I had no Idea back then that I'd ever visit Australia in my life... Here I am in Sydney. Almost 3 months now. Crazy life...
the 555 timer held me back for 30 years i could never get them to work and it destroved my confidence as an electronics designer. With hindsight it was probably me and the cheap soldering iron that was either making crap soldering or frying the chip with leaking power. I ended up programing computers for 25 years, but in 2002 i discovered the basic stamp. That was my watershed moment. I now design my own shields around the arduino mega and have just got my first mojo fpga. By the way love your fpga video. wish i was young again when i was 18 they just launched the sinclair zx81 and i had one from the second batch. cant believe how far things have come already. Isaac Asimov would have swooned. Keep up the good work.
Im right there with ya! Dropped out of ee program in college... Couldn't handle the math, so I went into computers. Kinda wish I hadn't. The current crop of ICs and such are so cool. Btw my first computer was a cosmac elf.
Assembling of the kit is interesting in and of itself. The discussion and chat is also super informative. So it's not just the putting together of the kit I (we) like, it's the information, tips, techniques and other good information which makes this "not incredibly boring".
WOW, that's a huge tip to use on the soldering iron. What we did to remove the smoke from soldering was to use a small PC type fan (120mm) that was AC powered. We mounted it on stands, put grill guards on it and also put a power switch. That gave it plenty of air flow to remove the smoke. Did a great job.
I really enjoyed this video. I didn't even notice I had been watching it for an hour. It's like one of your EEVblabs but with you working on the subject at hand. Very entertaining and informative!
Wow man, I wish I had viewed this back when you published! Just found it today, and well there is no way I can afford to buy a kit now. You see, I was a cop for over 20 years, all those years in a squad car really messes up a fellows back, and mine blew out when I fell on my ass in an ice storm back in 1993 in a small North Dakota town, where I served as the Chief of Police. To make a long story short, 4 surgeries later left me totally disabled and on massive pain killers that i must take to this very day. A couple of weeks ago, a letter came to our old Motor Home that we have parked in a small RV Park in West Central Arizona. It began "Congratulations on your Retirement!" a nasty beginning from Workers Comp, and went on to tell me that since I had reached the age of 66 years, the "bureau" has determined that I am "presumed retired!" So my paycheck will be cut in half beginning in May, the month I reach 66. Nice of them to give me fair warning, as we will have to drive back to South Dakota, the State where I own my home, and see if there is any way I can continue to maintain my nomadic way of life, or give it up, sell the Motor Home and go back to having to find someone who is able to shovel all that damn snow that falls on the Dakota's in the winter (the reason for our flying south in the fall with the geese.) So all funds are suddenly frozen in our checkbook and held back for necessaries. Hate to say it, but no more kits, no more parts, no more Arduinos and Esp8266's. Just food, propane for the cook stove, and gas for the Jeep I guess. Ah well, it was nice while it lasted, and I will still have these videos to keep my mind young and alert. Oh and all the resistors, transistors, etc that I have collected over the year.
I remember using 555s in college back in the 1970s. As for soldering: gotta love the smell of that rosin flux core. Do it "right" and rosin particles stick to your nose hairs and you can smell it for DAYS. Fortunately, it's a rather pleasant aroma...
This was not boring at all. I have a very basic understanding of electronics and you made this understandable. I would like to see more of this type of video. Great job!
Dave, thank you for making this video. I realize this is from years back, however, I just bought this kit (Jan 2021) and was a little hesitant about putting it together for whatever reason. After watching your excellent video I actually feel confident that I can do the job following your guidance, and be aware of the mistakes too, which also are good tools to be aware of. Thanks for the tutorial and no it wasn't boring for me to watch and I learned quite a bit about several things along the way.
It's been nearly 30 years since I looked at any of this stuff but I've learnt so much over the last few days it's great. Cheers Dave keep up the good work. Good on yer mate!!
I received my kit today! Dave and everyone, you will be happy to know that (in 2019) the silk screened Mfg. logo was moved to the bottom of the board, the legs are (clear) anodized aluminum (nice!) and the "notch" in the board has been machined out on the pin 1 end. Also, the hard wire connections (through hole barrels) for each of the eight lugs are now located "inboard". They are now on the side of the dotted line, not at the edge of the board as you see here. Some other refinements have been made, also. Unfortunately, no "Triple Five". Ah! You can't have everything. :-) Silk screening doesn't affect functionality! :-0 Love the "script" (or "cursive") Font.. Nice Mods! Thanks Evil Mad Scientist!!
The 555 was my first chip to tinker with. So,, when I saw Evil Mad Scientist produced this kit I was excited to jump on it. I haven't yet. Why? Because this cool kit is about the same price as a shiny new Raspberry Pi. You can almost feel my internal conflict. Anyway, your wonderfully fun to watch video has inspired me to look past price-point comparisons with other widgets. I'm getting this kit! Added bonus, the local parts store has a few in stock. Resistance is futile! Probing the discrete transistor based workings of this classic circuit is going to be epic good nerd fun for sure. Just so you know,, I'll be poking around the thing with my Rigol DS-1054Z quad-trace oscilloscope. Which I purchased without hesitation based on your recommendation. It's everything you raved about and more. Yes, I've modded it. So,, it's a full-tilt boogie 100MHz rig with all the bells-and-whistles.
Thats the issue. When one is as skilled as you are whats highly boring to you is highly educational to others. The trick is making something boring into something very interesting to nwwbies and you do that well. Teaching newbies will be your legacy so keep up the good work Dave.
Good to see all the non-polarised components (resistors etc), assembled in the same direction, even though electrically, it makes no difference. Nice wet soldering too. Top job man.
Thanks Dave for another great video! I've already learned a great deal watching your videos and the breadth of your content seems to never end. I'm so glad you enjoy doing this since it is a very generous contribution to the hobbyist electronics community!
Answer to your question at 10:10. For me I see the value of hearing you speak. Just getting acquainted with the lingo is important and you do such a great job at it. I appreciate all of your videos, though I have only seen a mere 30-40 so far! Cheers from San Jose California :)
Arduino be damned!!! - THIS is a kit I can get behind! By the way, if you really feel these real-time buildups are boring, I say not in the least!!! This is EXACTLY the type of video content I scour the Undernet for, and I'm sure I am not alone! Excellent work, Sir - WELL DONE!
Arduino is a good board, but the other things that come with it is just bloody disaster for hobbyists. Nobody is willing to learn anything anymore. They think attaching a shield to arduino and copying a sketch from the internet is learning electronics. I agree with Dave. Bloody Arduino!!
Tapio Hirvikorpi Yes, by "bloody Arduino" I of course mean that's it's fine for what it is, but it's just not the same as building circuits from your own chips and parts. But of course that's kinda stating the obvious, but Arduino fans will no doubt try and shoot me down!
Tapio Hirvikorpi Thats been my biggest problem with trying to learn electronics. When I first started, people told me to get an arduino, but I quickly got frustrated with it, because I wasn't actually learning how the damn thing worked! I've learned more about programming than I have about electronics with it. In fact, I've shelved it until I get a better grasp of the lower level stuff, and this video, while over my head a bit, is exactly what I want to be learning.
Dave, I didn't know anything about the 555 but now I do so you did great. I start solid state controls class next semester and these types of videos are getting me excited!!
I just ordered one of these. I LOVE the 555 Timer Chip! Now I can "See" what's inside. I also ordered two Tees with the 555 on the front. One just like the one you are wearing and the one with the block pin out diagram. Merry Christmas to ME!! Thanks Dave, for this exciting video. Yes, I said exciting!! I can watch circuit boards being assembled all day.
@EEVblog You worried far too much if I didn't want to watch your video I wouldn't have. We can always fast forward anyway! Going to try to make a comparator from transistors so this video was just what I needed.
@ 37:50 Six years later and the legs are aluminum. And it is STILL only $35 (US). I can't wait to get this Kit. Thanks for letting us know about this, Dave. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year (The Roaring 20's!) to you Dave and Everyone reading this!! Solder On!! I will be sure to solder the resistors first ;-) and thanks for the heads up on the 100K. We don't want "disaster"! (Say that with Dave's Aussie accent). Take your shirt off, look at it, and you will know which is the ground pin. Number 1, Dave. :-0
556! Now I have to wrap my head around this twice? :-) I will get there. I can solder the board and I understand point A to point B. And the basic function of discrete components. Circuits baffle me. I am going to watch this video over and over until it "clicks" in my brain. I just can't get it. I think I am getting close. Thanks, Dave. You are an awesome instructor. BTW, I built robots for iRobot and designed the wiring for the B21R's. I didn't design the circuit boards. (Obviously). That was one aspect that always eluded me. It will click with me, one day. You have brought me one step closer.
This was great man! I know you don't think it was very exciting, but I'd watch this kind of stuff all day! Thank you so much! By the way, I'm loving my new EEVblog Bryan DMM!!
I'm glad to see you put all the resistor bands up the same way. I put one in "upside down" the other week. There's no good reason fro it doing my head in, but it did. ;)
I just want to thank you so much for aligning the resistor bands I was a bit worried at the start, if you started putting them in "wrong" (in my opinion) I would not have been able to watch the whole thing. I found it fascinating and as mentioned I am one of those that enjoys watching the show "how its made" so I was riveted to the screen while you built this 555.
I learned early on to read the directions for kits I was building, even simple ones with the silk-screen labeling everything, because there are almost ALWAYS some components where the silk-screen is shown or labeled backwards from the reality of some components included in the kit, and they added the correction info to the kit instructions.
Dave, thanks for the tour of the kit! By the way, regarding the gum on the resistor leads around 7:00, I had similar troubles until my dad taught me to instead use flush cutters to free the resistors themselves and leave the gummed up portions stuck in the tape (especially since they wouldn't be used anyway). For small strips you can also just start by cutting one tape away entirely to make it quick and easy to cut the resistors off as they're needed. :)
Thanks for 'all' of your very beautiful videos you have made Dave! Sitting here watching this 555-episode this evening/morning, (perhaps rather more listening to you babling away, its often joyful) ..though also parallel with setting up/improve-planning on own sort of electronic lab here. A psu (or a couple of psu's) -project is on the schedule for the moment. Going to use a (good condition/quality, including little after-reworking on it) older computer-12v psu for making some 5 - 7,5 - 9 and 12 volts outs. Ebay have sent some linear regulators and some fuse-holders to start first project. Later wish to make an 0-40v lab-supply. Have nice week to you and your surroundings. Again thanks. br, Rolf (norway)
Is anyone else bothered by the orientation of Q23? All the other 06 transistors are facing to the left... all the 04s are facing to the right... but Q23 is an 06 that faces to the right!
That is definitely smaller than what I thought it would be as well, and yeah I laughed when you said the board manufacturer putting their stuff on their pissed you off because while I agree completely! LOL this was really great video, I used to 555 all the time it's an awesome yep, I learned from Forrest Mims on I first started playing with them via the old Mini notebooks he made --- I actually JUST remembered the first thing I used it for when I learned about it -- a DC to AC inverter to drive my telescope that blew up, so designed and built a new one from scratch while using a center-tapped transformer, etc. Power transistors, etc. So a 12 volt DC to 120 volt AC, variable frequency (run it from your car when out in BFE, etc. 😊😊
In 505 episodes (sorry, started to follow you around 50's) it's the first time you really made me laugh... "Stevie Wonder Style", just so brilliant ! :D
Top video Dave I love how you went the distance explaining the circuit. One thing though your sticky note diagram of the set reset latch with NOR gates is actually OR gates. Great video keep up the great work.
Hi Dave. Really enjoyed your explanation of the circuit diagram, and probing of the signals inside the 555. I have so much to learn, and having typical design "bits" explained by a pro is so helful to enhance my electronics understanding. Thanks, and please do more of this.
As for "who might enjoy me assembling a kit", for example, I fired up my laptop and started writing some PIC code, while enjoying your speech about the kit in the background. (of course, I don't do that while watching your tutorials! ^^)
32:21 - Heating the joint first only works well if you have some experience and know how long you need to heat it for. If you don't, pressing the solder first (_before_ you start heating the joint) will give you a clear indication of when the joint is hot enough (i.e., it's when the solder melts). Since the kits is aimed at beginners, it makes sense to suggest that. On the other hand, pressing the solder against the cold joint only works well if you use thicker solder, because 0.5 mm diameter will bend very easily when you press it.
Me being young in the early 2000's, and being fascinated with electronics, I made a touch piano with (of course) with a 555 timer. and i soldered it and everything. i made the keys from paper and aluminum tape. I still have it, and it still works!!! (and with a few mods like a el light strips on it) but never the less it is a 555 timer piano.
"...orient the bands..." I have a friend who wires wall plates with the outer screws' flat-head slot horizontal... In the US we have 'vocational technical' schools, where you have regular classes (must keep good grades), along with a 'vocation' class. Automotive, plumbing, carpentry are all common. I went to electronics, and later an ET (electronic technician) in the US Navy. My instructor, Mr. Lehr, had an answer for questions about a tube's functionality: "Drop it. If it breaks-it was good."
Great video. I would like to see more videos of you soldering kits with the "pointless rambling". It is very interesting to hear some of your random thought as you are building a board. Believe it or not it is relaxing to watch, and watching you solder had helped my technique immensely.
I built the standard 555 circuit to pulse steppers but I put pots in place of the resistors so the freq was variable. I also put in a switch to choose various caps so not only the timing was variable but the on off period was variable, also.
The 555, in it's time was great, but if you use it for things beyond it's intended use, there are some serious limitations. The worst of which is input voltage ranges to the two internal comparators - much of which is left out of datasheets sadly, ...so you get a nasty surprise when you use it sometimes! But in spite of all that, the 555 is a legend, that can be had at a few cents in 100+ qty's! amazing! :)
It's funny that this exists. I've just been getting into electronics in the last few months and was waiting for some 555s to come in the mail during the holidays. In my impatience I started planning out a 555 circuit using discrete transistors, but the chips arrived the next day. Maybe one day I'll do it, but I have a feeling that it won't be very accurate given the tolerances of the parts I use. I'd probably use a mix of 3904s and 4401s.
Great video Dave. I have seen internal schematics of 555 before, but newer stopped to think about it really. Lots of stuff in it and some pretty clever tricks.
Boring? Not at all! Chock full of electronic awesomeness. Random yet useful babble on mass electronics production, the 555 tutorial and best of all was the building block circuit theory explained very well. Might be boring for a veteran but ear candy to people that are interested in learning.
I wish there were more teardowns that go into the circuit theory even if it were a simple toy or power supply.
Juan Sanchez Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.
+Juan Sanchez agreed
Got a bunch of 555s awhile back. What projects do you recommend so I can get to know them better. I got about 20 of the little guys and they are not very happy just sitting in my toolbox.
Try Google, there are loads of projects on the interwebs.
Definitely NOT boring. It brings back memories of the days of 555s and 74xx TTL chips. Someone mentioned Arduino... you could probably do this on a $3 Arduino "Wun Hung Lo" Chicom clone board...
Its therapeutic for me to watch TH-cam of people building stuff. You can build all the kits you want on video and I like many others will watch them.
I was at school, building a valve (tube) radio and playing with 0c71/0c81/bc109 and 2n2926 transistors. Then a friend introduced me to the 555 timer. Now, 44 years later, I am retiring and still mess around with this chip. Amazing that one chip can span an entire working life.
You mean "one chip" spanning a lifetime like the 74xx logic family, the 78xx voltage regulators and the 741 and LM324 op-amps?
Well yes but the 74xx logic family is obsolescent now. I dont think anyone would choose the 741 anymore as it is poor on almost every parameter compared with more modern op amps. Possibly the same for the lm324 maybe less so. The 78xx I give you but are certainly less popular and switchers are just as likely to be chosen, more so in battery portable operation. I would always use a switching circuit rather than throw battery life away as heat.
I would argue that the 555 is unique in that there are not dozens of alternatives out there. The first design is still going strong and is 100% usable. If you tried to get backing for a modern revamp of the 555 I do not think you would get any support. The chip is cheap and just works.
After 30 years in Electronics and design and now developing software and websites I am delighted to be a Dave addict! He reminds me how much hands on Electronics development is. I did not think people still got this involved anymore!
Even though the 555 is an oldie, it sure is a very useful IC. I use it in many of my circuits.
***** But we have found a way to stop and "reverse" aging. Problem is due to chromosome telomere degradation we will get cancer. Hence why evolution gave/maintained ageing. :)
Sorry for the randomness. Part of my anthropology course. Yup, part of my engineering degree.
No need for apologies. That's actually really interesting. I've heard of the idea that telomere degradation is linked to aging, but hadn't heard that it causes cancer. It's an idea I need to revisit. I haven't read/watched anything on anti-aging technology in some years. I got kinda bored with it after I realized Aubrey DeGrey was full of crap.
Discrete components is OK but it needs to be taken further...
555 Made with vacuum tubes, now that is a kit I would pay for.
+Adam Harrington Aside from thermal drift, that would be awesome!
+Adam Harrington That's gonna be one big kit, but yeah, I agree with the idea. Would be nice if built on a chassis with point to point connection. I would likely replace the darlington pairs with single pentodes or beam tetrodes.
The real challenge would be recreating it with double-catwhiskers as transistors. Spend a whole day setting the whiskers, then bump into the table where it's sitting and it's gone. Anyway, such a point conact device would be impractical, besides being a pain in the rear to use.
Steampunk 555
Nailed to an actual breadboard.
Nah, relays would be much better along with wirewound rezistors and wooden package.Make your 555 timer even in year 1850.
Your "electrons falling out" joke never gets old.
[reviewing PCB from viewer] "Be careful with these sharp corners, the electrons may fall out there. Hehe, some people will actually believe it"
@@TheHunChem ....I still do!
Yes it does!
@@TheHunChem truly never gets old
Thank you! Not at all boring. I've used 555 timers in my entire electronics career and never bothered to learn how they work internally.
I was wondering how many eevblog vids I have to watch before I hear the words 'Bloody arduino'. Now my life is complete :).
Look at your watch history.
I’ve Been Waiting To Hear “Bloody Pi” From Someone Who Isn’t A Satanist, Since I Quit Going To Secret Elitist Meetings At The Local Lodges.
G'day all... I started watching this vblog almost 2 years ago. I remember myself having trouble understanding Dave's accent (I was born in Europe, in a post-soviet country). I had no Idea back then that I'd ever visit Australia in my life... Here I am in Sydney. Almost 3 months now. Crazy life...
the 555 timer held me back for 30 years i could never get them to work and it destroved my confidence as an electronics designer. With hindsight it was probably me and the cheap soldering iron that was either making crap soldering or frying the chip with leaking power. I ended up programing computers for 25 years, but in 2002 i discovered the basic stamp. That was my watershed moment. I now design my own shields around the arduino mega and have just got my first mojo fpga. By the way love your fpga video. wish i was young again when i was 18 they just launched the sinclair zx81 and i had one from the second batch. cant believe how far things have come already. Isaac Asimov would have swooned. Keep up the good work.
Im right there with ya! Dropped out of ee program in college... Couldn't handle the math, so I went into computers. Kinda wish I hadn't. The current crop of ICs and such are so cool. Btw my first computer was a cosmac elf.
If only you had a breadboard...
Still with you Dave, after an Hour! Thx so much for this video. Loved it so much!
Assembling of the kit is interesting in and of itself. The discussion and chat is also super informative. So it's not just the putting together of the kit I (we) like, it's the information, tips, techniques and other good information which makes this "not incredibly boring".
To answer tour question. Watching these are therapeutic for us too. Thanks Dave.
WOW, that's a huge tip to use on the soldering iron. What we did to remove the smoke from soldering was to use a small PC type fan (120mm) that was AC powered. We mounted it on stands, put grill guards on it and also put a power switch. That gave it plenty of air flow to remove the smoke. Did a great job.
I really enjoyed this video. I didn't even notice I had been watching it for an hour. It's like one of your EEVblabs but with you working on the subject at hand. Very entertaining and informative!
"Every resistor is a winner" I don't know why this sentence pleased me so much.
Wow man, I wish I had viewed this back when you published! Just found it today, and well there is no way I can afford to buy a kit now. You see, I was a cop for over 20 years, all those years in a squad car really messes up a fellows back, and mine blew out when I fell on my ass in an ice storm back in 1993 in a small North Dakota town, where I served as the Chief of Police. To make a long story short, 4 surgeries later left me totally disabled and on massive pain killers that i must take to this very day. A couple of weeks ago, a letter came to our old Motor Home that we have parked in a small RV Park in West Central Arizona. It began "Congratulations on your Retirement!" a nasty beginning from Workers Comp, and went on to tell me that since I had reached the age of 66 years, the "bureau" has determined that I am "presumed retired!" So my paycheck will be cut in half beginning in May, the month I reach 66. Nice of them to give me fair warning, as we will have to drive back to South Dakota, the State where I own my home, and see if there is any way I can continue to maintain my nomadic way of life, or give it up, sell the Motor Home and go back to having to find someone who is able to shovel all that damn snow that falls on the Dakota's in the winter (the reason for our flying south in the fall with the geese.) So all funds are suddenly frozen in our checkbook and held back for necessaries. Hate to say it, but no more kits, no more parts, no more Arduinos and Esp8266's. Just food, propane for the cook stove, and gas for the Jeep I guess. Ah well, it was nice while it lasted, and I will still have these videos to keep my mind young and alert. Oh and all the resistors, transistors, etc that I have collected over the year.
I remember using 555s in college back in the 1970s. As for soldering: gotta love the smell of that rosin flux core. Do it "right" and rosin particles stick to your nose hairs and you can smell it for DAYS. Fortunately, it's a rather pleasant aroma...
and they stick to your lungs also...
My dad gave me an option, $20- on an arduino or $20- of 555 timer chips. I had so much fun with the 555s, very versatile and fun
This was not boring at all. I have a very basic understanding of electronics and you made this understandable. I would like to see more of this type of video. Great job!
Dave, thank you for making this video. I realize this is from years back, however, I just bought this kit (Jan 2021) and was a little hesitant about putting it together for whatever reason. After watching your excellent video I actually feel confident that I can do the job following your guidance, and be aware of the mistakes too, which also are good tools to be aware of. Thanks for the tutorial and no it wasn't boring for me to watch and I learned quite a bit about several things along the way.
Dave, glad you enjoyed the kit!
It was not boring -.... somehow the relaxing part of doing such sets came over.
It's been nearly 30 years since I looked at any of this stuff but I've learnt so much over the last few days it's great. Cheers Dave keep up the good work. Good on yer mate!!
I received my kit today! Dave and everyone, you will be happy to know that (in 2019) the silk screened Mfg. logo was moved to the bottom of the board, the legs are (clear) anodized aluminum (nice!) and the "notch" in the board has been machined out on the pin 1 end. Also, the hard wire connections (through hole barrels) for each of the eight lugs are now located "inboard". They are now on the side of the dotted line, not at the edge of the board as you see here. Some other refinements have been made, also. Unfortunately, no "Triple Five". Ah! You can't have everything. :-) Silk screening doesn't affect functionality! :-0 Love the "script" (or "cursive") Font.. Nice Mods! Thanks Evil Mad Scientist!!
Holy shit! I'm not the only person who saves the offcuts for jumpers & such? Nice one Dave. ;^)
***** They are. And you can't argue with the price. ;^)
I also use offcuts as jumper wires.
Julian Ilett is a deep proponent of saving leads. Maybe he got that from Dave? No. I think the pros just do that.
It's not boring for youngsters like myself! also, i screamed at my monitor when you kept putting the transistors in backwards
The 555 was my first chip to tinker with. So,, when I saw Evil Mad Scientist produced this kit I was excited to jump on it. I haven't yet. Why? Because this cool kit is about the same price as a shiny new Raspberry Pi. You can almost feel my internal conflict.
Anyway, your wonderfully fun to watch video has inspired me to look past price-point comparisons with other widgets. I'm getting this kit! Added bonus, the local parts store has a few in stock. Resistance is futile!
Probing the discrete transistor based workings of this classic circuit is going to be epic good nerd fun for sure. Just so you know,, I'll be poking around the thing with my Rigol DS-1054Z quad-trace oscilloscope. Which I purchased without hesitation based on your recommendation. It's everything you raved about and more. Yes, I've modded it. So,, it's a full-tilt boogie 100MHz rig with all the bells-and-whistles.
Thats the issue. When one is as skilled as you are whats highly boring to you is highly educational to others. The trick is making something boring into something very interesting to nwwbies and you do that well. Teaching newbies will be your legacy so keep up the good work Dave.
Good to see all the non-polarised components (resistors etc), assembled in the same direction, even though electrically, it makes no difference. Nice wet soldering too. Top job man.
Thanks Dave for another great video! I've already learned a great deal watching your videos and the breadth of your content seems to never end. I'm so glad you enjoy doing this since it is a very generous contribution to the hobbyist electronics community!
The way you talk when your soldering reminds me of my dentist when he works on my teeth.
Answer to your question at 10:10. For me I see the value of hearing you speak. Just getting acquainted with the lingo is important and you do such a great job at it. I appreciate all of your videos, though I have only seen a mere 30-40 so far! Cheers from San Jose California :)
Thank you for the timestamps Dave!
I really enjoyed getting to know the inner workings of the triple five timer
Arduino be damned!!! - THIS is a kit I can get behind! By the way, if you really feel these real-time buildups are boring, I say not in the least!!! This is EXACTLY the type of video content I scour the Undernet for, and I'm sure I am not alone! Excellent work, Sir - WELL DONE!
"... now it's a blady arduino..." - You're getting old Dave ;-)
Arduino is a good board, but the other things that come with it is just bloody disaster for hobbyists. Nobody is willing to learn anything anymore. They think attaching a shield to arduino and copying a sketch from the internet is learning electronics. I agree with Dave. Bloody Arduino!!
Tapio Hirvikorpi Yes, by "bloody Arduino" I of course mean that's it's fine for what it is, but it's just not the same as building circuits from your own chips and parts. But of course that's kinda stating the obvious, but Arduino fans will no doubt try and shoot me down!
EEVblog I wasn't being critical, the comment just made me chuckle.
Tapio Hirvikorpi Thats been my biggest problem with trying to learn electronics. When I first started, people told me to get an arduino, but I quickly got frustrated with it, because I wasn't actually learning how the damn thing worked! I've learned more about programming than I have about electronics with it. In fact, I've shelved it until I get a better grasp of the lower level stuff, and this video, while over my head a bit, is exactly what I want to be learning.
EEVblog I remember me messing around with a 555 timer before I ever even known about arduino. I'm 18 now and that was back when I was 13.
A superb video Dave, fitting tribute to the classic chip, and what a brilliant kit!
Why didn''t they show/print all the traces on the board? If your'e going to this much trouble you also want to see how it really works..
I really enjoy on how you broke down the 555 timer to its basic components. I've learned more from you than school. Thanks alot!
Dave, it's because we love hearing you talk.
Dave, I didn't know anything about the 555 but now I do so you did great. I start solid state controls class next semester and these types of videos are getting me excited!!
7:52 "I have to align the bands all the same way, otherwise the electrons will fall out."
Nice. :P
I just ordered one of these. I LOVE the 555 Timer Chip! Now I can "See" what's inside. I also ordered two Tees with the 555 on the front. One just like the one you are wearing and the one with the block pin out diagram. Merry Christmas to ME!! Thanks Dave, for this exciting video. Yes, I said exciting!! I can watch circuit boards being assembled all day.
@EEVblog You worried far too much if I didn't want to watch your video I wouldn't have. We can always fast forward anyway!
Going to try to make a comparator from transistors so this video was just what I needed.
@ 37:50 Six years later and the legs are aluminum. And it is STILL only $35 (US). I can't wait to get this Kit. Thanks for letting us know about this, Dave. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year (The Roaring 20's!) to you Dave and Everyone reading this!! Solder On!! I will be sure to solder the resistors first ;-) and thanks for the heads up on the 100K. We don't want "disaster"! (Say that with Dave's Aussie accent). Take your shirt off, look at it, and you will know which is the ground pin. Number 1, Dave. :-0
One of your best vids Dave, might just be the nostalgia and xmas on the way, but I really enjoyed that. Humility and everything !
556! Now I have to wrap my head around this twice? :-) I will get there. I can solder the board and I understand point A to point B. And the basic function of discrete components. Circuits baffle me. I am going to watch this video over and over until it "clicks" in my brain. I just can't get it. I think I am getting close. Thanks, Dave. You are an awesome instructor. BTW, I built robots for iRobot and designed the wiring for the B21R's. I didn't design the circuit boards. (Obviously). That was one aspect that always eluded me. It will click with me, one day. You have brought me one step closer.
I can't find the #741 video ... which should be the Evil Mad Scientist 741 OpAmp Kit video explaining OpAmps! Where is it?!
This was great man! I know you don't think it was very exciting, but I'd watch this kind of stuff all day! Thank you so much! By the way, I'm loving my new EEVblog Bryan DMM!!
EEVblog, you are truly expert on differential amps. Salute!
Watching you assembling a kit is therapeutic ;)
I enjoy watching you construct kits Dave! It's relaxing for us to watch to I think, and I can pick up on some tips and tricks for myself! Thanks!
I'm glad to see you put all the resistor bands up the same way. I put one in "upside down" the other week. There's no good reason fro it doing my head in, but it did. ;)
This gave me an idea: A talk show where Dave interviews people while building kits would be amazing
555 To rule the world! Its amazing that the designer did it by hand and him self. I love making blinkers and Atari sound punk circuits with em.
I just want to thank you so much for aligning the resistor bands I was a bit worried at the start, if you started putting them in "wrong" (in my opinion) I would not have been able to watch the whole thing. I found it fascinating and as mentioned I am one of those that enjoys watching the show "how its made" so I was riveted to the screen while you built this 555.
An AWESOME 555th episode, couldn't expect more. Well done!
I hope there is something like this too for the #741 ;)
I learned early on to read the directions for kits I was building, even simple ones with the silk-screen labeling everything, because there are almost ALWAYS some components where the silk-screen is shown or labeled backwards from the reality of some components included in the kit, and they added the correction info to the kit instructions.
Love the way the circuit is explained. Just on a piece of paper loaded with interesting stuff.
Thanks Dave for the video. Now I understand the 555 a lot better.
Love the video! Very fun to watch you solder. I would like to second the earlier idea of the kit building rants!
Dave, thanks for the tour of the kit!
By the way, regarding the gum on the resistor leads around 7:00, I had similar troubles until my dad taught me to instead use flush cutters to free the resistors themselves and leave the gummed up portions stuck in the tape (especially since they wouldn't be used anyway). For small strips you can also just start by cutting one tape away entirely to make it quick and easy to cut the resistors off as they're needed. :)
Thanks for 'all' of your very beautiful videos you have made Dave!
Sitting here watching this 555-episode this evening/morning, (perhaps rather more listening to you babling away, its often joyful)
..though also parallel with setting up/improve-planning on own sort of electronic lab here.
A psu (or a couple of psu's) -project is on the schedule for the moment.
Going to use a (good condition/quality, including little after-reworking on it) older computer-12v psu for making some 5 - 7,5 - 9 and 12 volts outs.
Ebay have sent some linear regulators and some fuse-holders to start first project.
Later wish to make an 0-40v lab-supply.
Have nice week to you and your surroundings.
Again thanks.
br,
Rolf
(norway)
Great, love it! I love the theory part - learnt a lot from this video so thanks =)
I take it you are doing the 556 for the next video =D
Still shows up on TH-cam Dave and it does not get old.
I enjoy watch the assemble process. And its also nice to watch at work when I can't build my own projects.
Is anyone else bothered by the orientation of Q23? All the other 06 transistors are facing to the left... all the 04s are facing to the right... but Q23 is an 06 that faces to the right!
The Thai word for the number 5 is 'ha'. 555 then becomes "hahaha". OK. I am not funny. I better leave now. :)
That's why I call it Thaimer 555
Dexxter, that was Excellent! Don't leave! flightisallright, thai can't believe you wrote that. You must be an old "Thaimer". ;-)
I can relate as a Thai person but this isn’t the best in the book mate.
That is definitely smaller than what I thought it would be as well, and yeah I laughed when you said the board manufacturer putting their stuff on their pissed you off because while I agree completely! LOL this was really great video, I used to 555 all the time it's an awesome yep, I learned from Forrest Mims on I first started playing with them via the old Mini notebooks he made --- I actually JUST remembered the first thing I used it for when I learned about it -- a DC to AC inverter to drive my telescope that blew up, so designed and built a new one from scratch while using a center-tapped transformer, etc. Power transistors, etc. So a 12 volt DC to 120 volt AC, variable frequency (run it from your car when out in BFE, etc. 😊😊
Nice video Dave on our old friend the triple 5. I've used them for years and still love them.
In 505 episodes (sorry, started to follow you around 50's) it's the first time you really made me laugh... "Stevie Wonder Style", just so brilliant ! :D
When you're OCD and have to index the resistors with the color bands all in the same direction. Nice to know I'm not alone, good on ya Dave!
I'm a beginner, this kit looks awesome. Great videos mate, I don't understand very much but I learn more and more every time I watch.
Top video Dave I love how you went the distance explaining the circuit. One thing though your sticky note diagram of the set reset latch with NOR gates is actually OR gates.
Great video keep up the great work.
Hi Dave. Really enjoyed your explanation of the circuit diagram, and probing of the signals inside the 555. I have so much to learn, and having typical design "bits" explained by a pro is so helful to enhance my electronics understanding. Thanks, and please do more of this.
"Now it's a bloody arduino", I enjoyed that "bloody" part more than I should have had. Long Live 555!!!!!!!!
The value of watching someone do it, is just that, some people learn by watching.
I quite like the in-depth analysis on the circuit. Great video!
Thanks to this video, we recorded our video!
"Of course I have to orient the bands around all the right way otherwise the electrons would fall out"
As for "who might enjoy me assembling a kit", for example, I fired up my laptop and started writing some PIC code, while enjoying your speech about the kit in the background. (of course, I don't do that while watching your tutorials! ^^)
Ha, I forgot I wanted to buy one of these! Thanks for the reminder, just ordered one! $40 shipped.
32:21 - Heating the joint first only works well if you have some experience and know how long you need to heat it for. If you don't, pressing the solder first (_before_ you start heating the joint) will give you a clear indication of when the joint is hot enough (i.e., it's when the solder melts). Since the kits is aimed at beginners, it makes sense to suggest that.
On the other hand, pressing the solder against the cold joint only works well if you use thicker solder, because 0.5 mm diameter will bend very easily when you press it.
Me being young in the early 2000's, and being fascinated with electronics, I made a touch piano with (of course) with a 555 timer. and i soldered it and everything. i made the keys from paper and aluminum tape. I still have it, and it still works!!! (and with a few mods like a el light strips on it) but never the less it is a 555 timer piano.
"...orient the bands..." I have a friend who wires wall plates with the outer screws' flat-head slot horizontal... In the US we have 'vocational technical' schools, where you have regular classes (must keep good grades), along with a 'vocation' class. Automotive, plumbing, carpentry are all common. I went to electronics, and later an ET (electronic technician) in the US Navy. My instructor, Mr. Lehr, had an answer for questions about a tube's functionality: "Drop it. If it breaks-it was good."
Planning on building the op-amp kit for your 741st video?
Yes I think you are undervaluing seeing a pro assemble a kit. Its just boring to somone as advanced as you.
true
true
This kit was too amature. A electronic fan sgould able to read only schematic and soldering on a perfboard and wiring with wire.
OldePak That isn't a kit
OldePak lol i took your comment as sarcasm, and it made me laugh. Good job!
Great video. I would like to see more videos of you soldering kits with the "pointless rambling". It is very interesting to hear some of your random thought as you are building a board. Believe it or not it is relaxing to watch, and watching you solder had helped my technique immensely.
I built the standard 555 circuit to pulse steppers but I put pots in place of the resistors so the freq was variable. I also put in a switch to choose various caps so not only the timing was variable but the on off period was variable, also.
The 555, in it's time was great, but if you use it for things beyond it's intended use, there are some serious limitations. The worst of which is input voltage ranges to the two internal comparators - much of which is left out of datasheets sadly, ...so you get a nasty surprise when you use it sometimes! But in spite of all that, the 555 is a legend, that can be had at a few cents in 100+ qty's! amazing! :)
It's funny that this exists. I've just been getting into electronics in the last few months and was waiting for some 555s to come in the mail during the holidays. In my impatience I started planning out a 555 circuit using discrete transistors, but the chips arrived the next day. Maybe one day I'll do it, but I have a feeling that it won't be very accurate given the tolerances of the parts I use. I'd probably use a mix of 3904s and 4401s.
Over 1h with Dave assembling and explaining a kit. Is it Christmas already?
That's an awesome kit!
The legs are a nice touch.
Great video Dave. I have seen internal schematics of 555 before, but newer stopped to think about it really. Lots of stuff in it and some pretty clever tricks.
I enjoyed watching the build, hope you do more. Now I want one of these kits...
"Murphy'll get you everytime" - my new favourite saying
I love this, you are so cool Sir. Australians are so loveable and this guy is so full of info. Fab!
You crack me up.... Scratching for stuff to talk about so you talk about your posture :-)