Ministry of High Education and Scientific Research

Kufa University - Collage of Engineering

Department of Electronic and Communication Engineering

INTRODUCTION TO THE 555 INTEGRATED

CIRCUIT TIMER

By:
Saif Ali Abd Almonem
First Stage
BACKGROUND:

The 555 integrated circuit timer is a device used to generate accurate time
delays or oscillations. It is packaged in an 8-pin MINI-DIP with the pin
connections shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Package and pin outline for the 555 IC timer

“Under the Cover” of the 555 timer there’re more than 20 transistors, 15
resistors, and 2 diodes.

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It turns out that we can think of the 555 as a SPDT switch that provides an
output which is either a DC voltage (VCC) or 0 volts (GROUND).
The position of the switch is determined by the voltage at pin #6
(THRESHOLD). This is illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 2. A simplified representation of the 555 timer

555 Timer IC Pin Configurations:

GND Pin:
Pin-1 is a GND pin which is used to supply a zero voltage to the IC.

Trigger Pin:
Pin-2 is a trigger pin which is used to convert the FF from set to RST (reset).
The output of the timer depends on the amplitude of the external trigger
pulse that is applied to the trigger pin.

Output Pin:
Pin-3 is an output pin.

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Reset Pin:
Pin-4 is a RST pin. When the negative pulse is applied to this pin to disable or
reset, and false triggering can be neglected by connecting to VCC.

Control Voltage Pin:

Pin-5 is the control voltage pin used to control the pulse width of the output
waveform and also the levels of threshold and trigger. When an external
voltage is applied to this pin, then the output waveform will be modulated

Threshold Pin:
Pin-6 is the threshold pin, when the voltage is applied to threshold pin, then it
contrasts with a reference voltage. The set state of the FF can be depends on
the amplitude of this pin.

Discharge Pin:
Pin-7 is the discharge pin, when the output of the open collector discharges a
capacitor between the intervals, then it toggles the output from high to low.

Supply Terminal:
Pin-8 is the voltage supply pin which is used to supply the voltage to the IC
with respect to the ground terminal.

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Work Operation of 555 Timer:

1- Astable Mode Operation:

In this mode, the circuit of the IC 555 timer produces the continuous pulses with exact
frequency based on the value of the two resistors and capacitors.
Here the charging and discharging of the capacitors depends on a specific voltage. The
circuit diagram of the 555 timer in astable mode is shown below.
If the voltage is applied to the below circuit, the capacitors continuously gets charged
through two resistors and generates pulses continuously. In the following circuit pins
2 & 6 are shorted together for endless re-activate the circuit. If the o/p trigger pulse is
high, then capacitor in the circuit totally discharges. Long time delays are
accomplished by using the higher values of the resistors and capacitors.
The circuit illustrated in Figure 3.

Figure 3. A Astable mode circuit and it’s output

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 2- Monostable Mode Operation:

In this mode, the circuit generates only single pulse when the timer gets an indication
from i/p of the trigger button.

Pulse duration can be depends on the values of the resistor and capacitor If an
activating pulse is applied to the i/p of the circuit through a push button, then the
capacitor gets charge and the timer circuit extends a high pulse, then it remains high
until capacitor totally discharges.

If it is necessary to enhance the time delay, then higher rate of capacitor and resistor
are required.

The circuit illustrated in Figure 4.

Figure 4. A Monostable mode circuit and it’s output

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 3- Bistable Mode Operation:
A Bistable Mode or what is sometimes called a Schmitt Trigger, has two stable states,
high and low. Taking the Trigger input low makes the output of the circuit go into the
high state.
Taking the Reset input low makes the output of the circuit go into the low state. This
type of circuit is ideal for use in an automated model railway system where the train is
required to run back and forth over the same piece of track.
A push button (or reed switch with a magnet on the underside of the train) would be
placed at each end of the track so that when one is hit by the train, it will either trigger
or reset the bistable.

The output of the 555 would control a DPDT relay which would be wired as a reversing
switch to reverse the direction of current to the track, thereby reversing the direction
of the train.

The circuit illustrated in Figure 5.

Figure 5. A Bistable mode circuit and it’s output

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Application of 555 Timer:

1- Lamp Dimmer using NE555:

This project is about simple lamp dimmer project using NE555 timer IC. PWM method
is used for controlling the brightness of the lamp.

This method is very power efficient and low cost compared to linear power control
circuits. In PWM method the load is driven using a high frequency square wave and the
duty cycle of this square wave is varied for controlling the power delivered to the load.

The efficiency of this circuit was found to be 95.5% when tested in the lab. The same
circuit can be also used to control the speed of DC motors.

The circuit illustrated in Figure 6.

Figure 6. Lamp Dimmer using NE555

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2- Wiper Speed control using NE555:

This project is about a simple automobile wiper speed control.

The speed of the automobile wiper can be adjusted using a potentiometer using this
circuit.

The circuit operates from 12V DC and can be fitted to any automobile operating on 12V
electrical system.

With slight modification, the same circuit can be made to operate on 24V systems also.

The circuit illustrated in Figure 7.

Figure 7. Wiper Speed control using NE555

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3- Timer Switch using 555 and relay:

A simple circuit that powers a led strip when the momentary switch is pressed, then
shuts it down automatically after specified seconds.

There is a potentiometer to adjust the length of the delay but I need the light to be ON
for at least 30 seconds.

You can change the values of capacitor C1 and resistor R1 to what you need. A 100uF
capacitor and a 500K potentiometer should give an adjustable delay of near 0 seconds
to 55 seconds.

The circuit illustrated in Figure 8.

Figure 8. Timer Switch using 555 and relay

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4- IR Remote Control Switch:

This circuit is low cost and can be constructed easily.

By using this circuit, we can control any house hold appliance with the help
of remote. In this project, there are two parts – one is in transmitting section
and the other is in receiving section.

 This circuit can be used for switch ON or OFF the TV, radio, washing
machine and any electronic appliances.

 By using the relative relays, we can even switch ON or switch OFF the
motor appliances also.

Figure 9. Infrared Remote Control Switch circuit

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