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Test Tools: A fairly simple 555 tester. Corrected and updated.

by Goodhart on October 13, 2008

Table of Contents
Test Tools: A fairly simple 555 tester. Corrected and updated. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Intro: Test Tools: A fairly simple 555 tester. Corrected and updated. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 1: Gathering the parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 2: Putting it all together . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 3: Solder it, then box it . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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http://www.instructables.com/id/A-fairly-simple-555-tester/

Author:Goodhart Feeling my age...

I am, most definitely older than 00010101 and to put it simply, still curious about nearly everything :-) I then tend to read and/or experiment in those areas when I have the time.. . My two "specialty hobbies" are electronics, and pyrography (burning pictures into wood). I have recently picked up a hobby
concerning genetics, finding ways to "do it at home" has been a fascinating journey......ibles forthcoming... . I also think we will harness Quantums one day as
we are starting to learn how to predict what was once thought to be random. ''Belief'' MUST be used carefully, and should never enter the realm of Sciene.

Intro: Test Tools: A fairly simple 555 tester. Corrected and updated.
Here I will give a small circuit that will test whether the 555 timer you just tried in another circuit (and it either heated up or didn't work at all) works or not.
Have you ever wondered if it was your circuit, or whether might have fried your 555? Well here is a way to test the little chip quickly and easily.

Image Notes
1. recycled 16 ohm speaker from the Radio Shack Voice recorder hack
2. 1 k potentiometer
3. 555 setting in the 8 pin IC socket.
4. An LED I later removed because it was interfering with the output. It was between power and ground with a 680 ohm resistor on one leg.

Step 1: Gathering the parts

Parts and cautions.
Depending on your hearing or what you find best as far as the sound produced by the output, you will need to figure out what resistors and capacitor you wish to use for
the timer section of the circuit.
This is an Astable multivibrator circuit. When the switch is closed, the output is a square wave at the frequency determined by C1, R1 and R2.
The needed calculations to find the values are as follows:
f = 1.44 / (R1 + 2R2) X C1
The period (time - t) of the circuit is found with: t = 1/f = 0.69(R1 +2R2) X C1
The high and low times of each pulse can be calculated also with:
High time = 0.69(R1 + R2) X C1
Low time = 0.69(R2 X C1)
Take note that it is practical to keep the values of R2 between 1K and 1M. To keep the duty cycle around 50%, use R1 = 1K.
So, once you have the frequency you wish to generate, and have figured out what R2 and C1 are to be, and you have gather those parts the only things you need yet are
One PC board
One 8 pin IC socket
One 555 timer
One 47u F capacitor (C1)
One 10 n F ceramic capacitor
One 10k to 100k Potentiometer
some wire
a soldering iron (or prototype board)
and your goggles.

http://www.instructables.com/id/A-fairly-simple-555-tester/

Step 2: Putting it all together

As I said, it is pretty straight forward. If you get one of the PC boards made to put the socket in the center column of the board, and has traces that go from the initial
solder point outwards and fan out a bit for easier soldering.
Solder in the parts and wires to connect the various parts as shown in the schematic.
Remember to solder pin 2 to pin 6. Solder the decoupling capacitor, C3 (not shown) between Power in and ground if you are not using a battery. If you wish to use the
optional frequency adjustment, add it in series with R1. Power goes to pin 4 (5-15 v DC). R2 is the connection from pin 6 to pin 7. Since we are not going to use pin 5, the
control voltage, we should decouple it to ground with a 10 n F capactor (C2 :-) .
Overview of the 555. Pin 1= ground
Pin 2=trigger
Pin 3=output
Pin 4=reset
Pin 5=control voltage
Pin 6=threshold
Pin 7=discharge
Pin 8=3-15 vdc

Step 3: Solder it, then box it

Once you have all the parts soldered in, and have tested the circuit. You can add the Pot. inline ie in series with, R1 or R2 (I used R1 so I could adjust the duty cycle as I
wished).
Find a decent box to put it in and remember to allow for a place to get to the socket so you can use this as a tester.
The entry point for the timer was altered and made so much more neater. I used an old gold colored aluminum card blank and cut the hole after measuring it for locationi.
Enjoy.

http://www.instructables.com/id/A-fairly-simple-555-tester/

Image Notes
1. Gold colored aluminum face plate.
2. 8 ohm speaker
3. Stainless steel plate around the Capacitor that had to stick it's head out the
door :-)
4. The capacitor.
5. momentary on button to test the 555.

Image Notes
1. Some ''shielding'' to make it look a wee bit nicer and to make the hole more
sturdy.
2. Capacitor that had to come through the hole was shielded too.
3. Tester's ON button. SPST momentary pushbutton.
4. You can see the 9v battery through the translucent case.

Image Notes
1. hole so upright cap doesn't interfere with closing the lid
2. Hole so I can reach the socket and remove or insert a 555 timer ic
3. 1 k Pot.
4. 555 timer in socket
5. Speaker on the outside of the lid
6. Where my 9 v batter will go.

Image Notes
1. Pot.
2. access through lid to Socket
3. speaker

http://www.instructables.com/id/A-fairly-simple-555-tester/

Image Notes
1. added a push button so I didn't have to keep disconnecting the battery snaps.

Image Notes
1. battery installed.
2. start button.
3. speaker
4. Case

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Comments
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view all 53 comments

xmitman says:

Mar 16, 2013. 9:56 AM REPLY

I'm looking to purchase issues of Electronics Handbook magazine where this circuit came from. Does anyone have some to sell or scanned copies? email
me:
info at chipencoders dot com

Goodhart says:

Mar 18, 2013. 4:34 PM REPLY

Do you mean like one of these?

xmitman says:

Mar 21, 2013. 9:12 AM REPLY

yes, just like that. as many issues as I can get. do you know of any sources?

Goodhart says:

Mar 21, 2013. 5:13 PM REPLY

Well, the one in the link above is one source....eBay may be anoter, and Amazon may have some for sale by some of the sellers there.

xmitman says:

Mar 30, 2013. 3:47 PM REPLY

Which Volume number of Electronics Handbook did this come from? how much do you want for it? Email me at xmitman@gmail.com

http://www.instructables.com/id/A-fairly-simple-555-tester/

Goodhart says:

Apr 1, 2013. 5:29 PM REPLY

I borrowed the picture from on line since I haven't much practice in using schematic rendering software. It was the same configuration as I
would have used (and have used in the past). It isn't a "hard and fast" design however. ANY configuration of the 555 that will produce a
decent sound can be used.
IF I recall correctly, I got it from this site or something ver much like it.

Phil B says:

Oct 14, 2008. 1:58 AM REPLY

Back a few years when you could still buy magazines featuring electronic circuits, I found a schematic for a capacitor tester based on a 555 timer. It worked
very well for capacitors 1 microfarad and larger. I did a quick search and found a capacitor tester using a 555 timer and another IC
at:http://uvasux.googlepages.com/capacitortestercircuit It runs off of a computer's serial port rather than a 9 volt battery, and its range goes much lower than
the tester I built. I found it very helpful to be able to test a capacitor and know if it is good.

Goodhart says:

Oct 14, 2008. 6:01 AM REPLY

Thanks, yes I have always wanted that function on my Multimeter, but that makes them quite pricey :-) BTW: Do you know if the magazine you referred
to was either Electronics Now, Popular Electronics, or Nuts 'n' Volts? I remember getting those and could kick myself for letting them get hauled away in
the trash I will look into your link then, thanks again.

Phil B says:

Oct 14, 2008. 6:22 AM REPLY

I still have the magazine. Its name is Electronics Handbook. I cannot find a month and year, but it was on the newsstands about 1989 or so. It does
say it is volume VI. It was published by C & E Hobby Handbooks of North Branch, NJ. Notes I made indicate I built the project in December 1989. I
think the magazine came out every couple of months. I got Popular Electronics for a couple of years and still have all of my copies. I did some work
to index the projects and circuits, but have seldom looked up anything. It is too easy to search the Internet for a particular circuit. An exception was
when I looked for information on battery powered electronic fly swatters and found none. I had to figure it out myself. Then I published an Instructable
on it. You may have seen it. Search under Phil B if you have not.

xmitman says:

Mar 30, 2013. 3:44 PM REPLY

Hi Phil,
Im a longtime electronics hobbyist. Im looking to purchase all original issues of Electronics Handbook magazine. Are you willing to part with
yours or do you know anyone that would be willing to sell them to me?

Phil B says:

Mar 30, 2013. 5:21 PM REPLY

We have moved to another state since I posted and I gave away my electronics magazines to a Habitat for Humanity Restore as a donation.

xmitman says:

Mar 31, 2013. 4:58 AM REPLY

Thanks anyway.

Goodhart says:

Oct 14, 2008. 7:21 AM REPLY

Oh ok, thanks. I never came across that one. The other three I was subscribed to until Electronics Now and the sister mag. Pop. Electronics,
merged. Nuts n Volts started getting TOO much into micro controllers and such and away from a lot of the practical stuff the DIY people were
more into (like me :-) I had some trouble finding many of the schematics that were a part of the "early" issues of Nuts n Volts on line. So I have
kind of missed not having the monster sized mag around.

geeklord says:

Dec 23, 2008. 5:19 PM REPLY

okay tryin to learn how to use 555 timers here, so correct me, PLEASE!
pin one-ground from power source
pin two- trigger,ahhhh put a current through it and it starts the sucker???
pin 3-output, too the LED/Speaker/Nuclear Detonator
pin 4- reset, kinda like the trigger connect it to the power source with a switch?
pin 5-offset, no idea
pin 6&7-discharge and threshold, connect the capacitor/resistor combo to these pins(positive of electrolytic caps going to which one?)
pin 8- 3-18v from power supply
If you could explain the ones that I got wrong and had questions on great, if you can teach me more great, if you can direct me to a super good guide
somewhere (once again) GREAT.
I feel so long winded....:D

Goodhart says:
pin two- trigger,ahhhh put a current through it and it starts the sucker???
Kind of, the trigger need only be a pulse.
pin 5-offset, no idea
Also labeled control voltage or Bypass.

http://www.instructables.com/id/A-fairly-simple-555-tester/

Dec 23, 2008. 6:15 PM REPLY

6 is "threshold" and 7 is discharge

Now, a little bit about the chip: 555s are configured as a multivibrator by adding a few components to the pins. This is a circuit that oscillates from one
state to another over time, in this case, creating a square wave. There are two basic forms of timers, both being multivibrators: monostable and astable.
The monostable is also called a one-shot. A single trigger creates a change in the output (either bringing it down to zero or turning it on). The astable
swings back and forth, from one state to the other and back again.
Instead of going into long explanations, maybe this will be of some assistance.....here is a site that has a bunch of schematics and explanations on it,
AND has a calculator to boot :-)
I am willing to help in any way you might need, but a few simple reads should get you up to speed.
There is a nice tutorial at this link here that should answer any questions you have for now. If not, myself or someone else here can help .
PS: if you wish to use an even LOWER powered chip that is otherwise the same as the 555, you can get the CMOS version, namely the 7555 as it is
capable to operate from 2.7v to 18v. At 5v, the 7555 will consume about 900 microwatts, making it ideally suitable for battery operated circuits. The
internal schematic of the 7555 is similar to the standard 555 but with current-spiking filtering, lower output drive capability, higher nodal impedances, and
better noise reduction system. The pinout is the same.

gmjhowe says:

Oct 14, 2008. 6:46 AM REPLY

wow! i made one of these in school a while back. (talking 5 years here)

Goodhart says:

Oct 14, 2008. 7:42 AM REPLY

Yeah, last time (before the current one) I made one was around 1988 or so.

gmjhowe says:

Oct 14, 2008. 9:29 AM REPLY

Contructive comment, the whole thing would be alot nicer in a neater case, one where you havnt clawed holes in it :P

Goodhart says:

Oct 14, 2008. 12:19 PM REPLY

Yeah, I was trying to figure a way to make the holes look nicer.....I am not as good at "pretty" as I should be :-)

gmjhowe says:

Oct 14, 2008. 2:00 PM REPLY

well, the words, drill, file, and knife, come to mind!

Goodhart says:

Oct 14, 2008. 2:27 PM REPLY

File.....soft plastic, knife....yeah, I will try not cut my finger off, drill....that is how I got the hole started....and I thought my nippers would
make clean cuts....I will work on that and update the pictures....when I am home and have a little time ;-)

gmjhowe says:

Oct 14, 2008. 4:03 PM REPLY

I think your best bet would be to melt a hole. Heat up a metal rod using a gas job or a blow torch, then slowly push it through!

Goodhart says:

Oct 17, 2008. 6:28 AM REPLY

I have updated the piece and added the picture. Is this any better ? (Last step)

gmjhowe says:

Oct 17, 2008. 6:52 AM REPLY

good job! see, doesn't that look alot nicer now?

Goodhart says:

Oct 17, 2008. 7:20 AM REPLY

My Title is sometimes Capt'n RushThroughItToGetItDone LOL

gmjhowe says:

Oct 17, 2008. 7:22 AM REPLY

haha! i used to be exactly the same, wanting to get the final thing done and in my hands, but as you probs know, the
longer you take, the more professional the final piece! I wouldnt have half my featured ibles i had rushed them all.

Goodhart says:
It's just that my time is so short as it is many times *sigh*

http://www.instructables.com/id/A-fairly-simple-555-tester/

Oct 17, 2008. 10:21 AM REPLY

gmjhowe says:

Oct 17, 2008. 10:51 AM REPLY

haha, i know that feeling. i only have a short amount of spare time, probably about 20 hours a week to work on
projects

Goodhart says:

Nov 24, 2008. 4:54 AM REPLY

My biggest problem is that I get a bunch of time, but it is only in 5 - 10 minute spurts :-)

Goodhart says:

Oct 14, 2008. 4:10 PM REPLY

My soldering iron made those after I drilled a small hole and failed to be able to use my nippers (luckily I don't have any smoke
alarms inside the computer room at home LOL).

Goodhart says:

Oct 21, 2008. 5:59 AM REPLY

If I can figure out how to cut a clean square hole in a piece of aluminum, that is about 1/8 thick, I have an even better "upgrade" to the
appearance....

gmjhowe says:

Oct 21, 2008. 7:24 AM REPLY

well, you can drill aluminium, so, draw your square, drill around the outside. Then pop it out, and file the edges.

Goodhart says:

Oct 21, 2008. 7:34 AM REPLY

:-) Now, if I can get TO my drill and vise, I will be in business ;-)

Gjdj3 says:

Oct 20, 2008. 6:25 PM REPLY

I like it! I use a lot of 555 timers so I think this would definitely be a good thing to make. Nice job!

Goodhart says:

Oct 20, 2008. 6:39 PM REPLY

Thank you. My next project (which I was starting to work on before this one) will also involve a 555 timer. I want to make MY version of the MAKE mag.
annoying whining thing. :-) (when I made it the first time, I thought I had fried the 555, so I had to make a tester to check it.....then I discovered I didn't
HAVE a 555 in the socket, but rather a 741 opamp *sigh* no wonder it was getting hot LOL

Gjdj3 says:

Oct 20, 2008. 6:46 PM REPLY

Haha, well I'm looking forward to your new project. I never saw the original annoying whining thing though. I think I should probably look it up.

Goodhart says:

Oct 20, 2008. 6:57 PM REPLY

yeah, annoying whining or beeping or something.....thing :-) They didn't have a schematic out for it at first, and then when I complained they put
one out without any values to the parts....grrrrr....but it is out there now with the values they used.....I have a trick up my sleeve to make it even
more annoying though :-)

peguiono says:

Oct 13, 2008. 7:44 PM REPLY

Very nice :] as I am a newbie in electronics I have 2 questions. OK lol, what is a potentiometer? and I'm guessing it makes a sound to verify whether it is fried
or not, but how do you interpret the sound

Goodhart says:

Oct 14, 2008. 5:49 AM REPLY

First, thank you. :-)

And Alex is correct about the Potentiometer.
Alex is also correct concerning the interpretation. In the case of my crude tester, it only verifies that does function and not so much whether it is
functioning perfectly.
With or without the potentiometer, there will be a sound / i.e. a kind of whine that comes from the speaker if the 555 can oscillate. A fried one (damaged
by being overheated in the soldering process or a shorted joint or whatever may occur) will not oscillate....and no sound will come from the speaker.

Goodhart says:

Oct 17, 2008. 6:27 AM REPLY

In short, a potentiometer is a rheostat. :-)

digital0129 says:

Oct 14, 2008. 4:31 PM REPLY

A potentiometer is a device that allows you to manipulate the resistance by turning a dial. By changing the resistance in this circuit, you can change the
speed of the beeps produced by the speaker.

http://www.instructables.com/id/A-fairly-simple-555-tester/

Sandisk1duo says:

Oct 13, 2008. 9:31 PM REPLY

Potentiometer; pot for short is a variable resistor You can interpret the sound as how fast the 555 is oscillating, low tones for slow oscillation, high tones
for faster oscillation

Plasmana says:

Oct 14, 2008. 2:40 PM REPLY

Hmm, I could really use this as my 555 timer chips often get exposed to high voltage spikes...

Plasmana says:

Oct 14, 2008. 2:40 PM REPLY

Oh, and 5 stars!

Goodhart says:

Oct 14, 2008. 3:32 PM REPLY

Well thank you :-) My original circuit whined pretty loudly, but when I asked my wife if she could hear it, she said no. So I had to slow the frequency
down a bit, so people over 40 could hear it (I have an odd sense of hearing, and hear more if the upper ranges then many others my age). I am glad
you can use this. I have been building simple testers like this for quite a few years now....I guess I should get some of them out and reverse engineer
them (since I have long since lost schematics and such :-)

inventorjack says:

Oct 14, 2008. 12:16 AM REPLY

I like this Instructable a lot! This is the sort of thing we need more of. Practical, fun projects. Not sure if this helps or hinders, but I rendered your schematic in
Eagle. The chip layout was somewhat different than in your drawing. I'm still new at Eagle, so perhaps there's a way to rearrange the pins, but I haven't
found it yet. Anyway, thanks for posting your project.

Goodhart says:

Oct 14, 2008. 5:57 AM REPLY

Thank you very much. The pin labeling is the same however (I just compared them ;-) so whichever is most clear to a person, I would say go with it. I
have to fiddle more with the little program I have for this kind of thing....Paint is just SOOOO crude when trying to make a decent looking schematic. Bur
there is a little learning curve, and I normally have so little time. Thanks again.

amk503 says:

Oct 13, 2008. 10:17 PM REPLY

This is the kind of thing I love seeing on instructables! I built a similar device as an extension of the typical 555 hello world blinking LED thing. Nice post
Goodhart. Good on the details. As a side note, I've seen weird 555 pin specifications in the EAGLE library that don't match what you've posted, a data entry
error perhaps, as the 555s I've used personally do match your data.

Goodhart says:

Oct 14, 2008. 5:52 AM REPLY

Thank you for your kind words...I was kind of afraid to post this since I have had the feeling that, if it doesn't make loud noises, have bright flashing lights,
turn water into fuel, or blow something up, it might be boring.

Sandisk1duo says:
Make a port for capacitors, so that you can get an even wider range of frequencies

view all 53 comments

http://www.instructables.com/id/A-fairly-simple-555-tester/

Oct 13, 2008. 9:28 PM REPLY