Transistor astable multivibrator http://www.davidbridgen.com/astable.

htm

When power is applied to the circuit one might expect both transistors to switch on because both
of them have paths to their bases for current to flow (R2 & R3). If the supply voltage is not applied
quickly, i.e. it increases from zero slowly, this can in fact happen but there is a technique to
overcome this. However, in most cases the supply is established quickly enough and operation is
as follows.

Because of inevitable differences in nominally similar components, and in particular the

transistors, one of the transistors will conduct before, or more rapidly than, the other.

Unless stated otherwise any voltage mentioned in the following description implies that it is
measured with respect to the negative pole of the supply (0V) and therefore the transistor emitters.

Let’s suppose that TR1 conducts first.

It is held on by the current from the supply through R3 and its base-emitter junction.
The voltage at its collector will be around +100 mV. Since both capacitors will not have any
charge on them at switch on they will both have zero voltage across them.
With +100 mV at the left hand plate of C1 and zero volts across it there will also be +100 mV at its
right hand plate and therefore at the base of TR2. This is not sufficient to cause TR2 to conduct.

Since TR1 is conducting there will be +0.6V at its base. C2 has zero volts across it so TR2
collector will also be at +0.6V.

Two things now start to happen.

Both C1 and C2 start to charge. The right hand plate of C1 starts charging, through R2, from
+100mV towards +9V, and the right hand plate of C2, through R4, from +0.6V towards +9V.

The next significant thing which happens is when the voltage on the right hand plate of C1, and
therefore TR2’s base, approaches +0.6V.

1 of 3 8/20/2010 12:43 AM
Transistor astable multivibrator http://www.davidbridgen.com/astable.htm

TR2 begins to conduct.

The collector voltage of TR2, which by now will have increased in value as C2 started to charge
through R4, will fall and go down to +100mV.

The voltage across C2 can’t change instantaneously so when the voltage at its right hand plate
goes down the voltage at its left hand plate goes down by the same magnitude. If TR2’s collector
voltage had risen to, say, +3V, then when it reduces to +100mV (a negative-going change of 2.9V)
the left hand plate of C2, and the base of TR1, will also go 2.9V more negative, but starting from
+0.6V.

They will end up at –2.3V. This will cut TR1 off.

TR1’s collector voltage will rise towards +9V as C1 initially discharges (left hand plate rising from
+0.1V to +0.6V) and then charges (left hand plate rising to +9V while its right hand plate stays at
+0.6V).

C2, with its right hand plate at +0.1V and left hand plate initially at –2.3V, will now start to
discharge through R3. Its left hand plate rises from –2.3V towards +9V, its right hand plate being
held at 0.1V. It will discharge (+0.1V on each plate) and then charge as the voltage at its left hand
plate continues to rise.

When this voltage reaches +0.6V TR1 starts to conduct. TR1’s collector voltage then falls from
+9V to +100mV. As the voltage across C1 can’t change instantaneously, the same magnitude of
voltage change on its left hand plate will also appear on its right hand one. The voltage at TR2
base will therefore go from +0.6V to –8.3V cutting TR2 off.

TR2’s collector voltage rises to +9V as C2 charges through R4. C2’s left hand plate staying at
+0.6V.

C1 will now begin to discharge through R2, the voltage at its right hand plate rising from –8.3V
towards +9V, reaching +0.1V (C1 discharged), continuing to rise (C1 charging) until it reaches
+0.6V. At this point TR2 starts to conduct again.

By this time the operation should begin to sound familiar to you. From now on, however, the
negative excursions of voltage at both bases will be to –8.3V.

The above sequence repeats. As each collector voltage alternately changes from +9V to about
0V, the other transistor's base voltage changes from about 0V (+0.6V) to about -9V.

******** Note ********

The above is all very well for the purposes of explaining circuit operation, but it has one serious
flaw.
The max reverse base-emitter voltage of most transistors is around 5 to7. Which means that
operating it with a 9V supply in the circuit as shown isn't a very clever thing to do.

In order to preserve the life of the transistors if the supply is greater than 5V we need to put a
diode, a common or garden signal variety is adequate, in series with the base of each transistor,
i.e. between C1/R2 junction and TR2 base and between C2/R3 and TR1 base.

2 of 3 8/20/2010 12:43 AM
Transistor astable multivibrator http://www.davidbridgen.com/astable.htm

**********************

In applications where the supply voltage rises slowly at switch-on the following modification will
ensure correct operation without lock-up.

Top

3 of 3 8/20/2010 12:43 AM