Blog

Frequency Synthesizer with only 555 Timers

2022-11-04T15:50:24Z

Unfortunately I'm a bit late for the 555 Timer Madness competition, but seeing another entry (555 frequency synthesizer) inspired me to try to build a frequency synthesizer only using 555 timers. As said in that article, the 555 can be used as a VCO ...(read more)

Winners Announcement: 555 Timer Madness in Honor of 50 Years of 555 Timers!

2022-11-01T16:29:00Z

Congratulations to robogary for Spooky Mailbox Skullies: Dusk to Dawn & dual PIR ->555 , Enables the Spook! You are the grand prize winner and you win a $200 shopping cart. Congratulations to dougw...(read more)

NE555: Ring counter, Color Chase, copper wires

2022-10-19T01:30:00Z

Commit to a hobby project was not as simple as I thought. My plan to Madness 555 was very simple: crafting a fun idea, using an abnormal way to implement it, sticking with the plan toward the finish line. Today is the deadline for the contest o...(read more)

How to use 555 timer IC for sensor interfacing: Part-2 Wireless transmission

2022-10-18T18:20:03Z

In my last blog How to use 555 timer IC for sensor interfacing: Converting the sensor output to frequency, I showed how to convert the themistor resistance into frequency using 555 timer IC so that it can be transmitted wirelessly. In this blog, I w...(read more)

Class D Amplifier TLC555 Timer Based PWM Audio Amp

2022-10-18T15:03:30Z

Recreating a 555 timer based Class D PWM amplifier I first built in the '80s. Using the TLC555, a CMOS based timer that is faster than the NE555 TTL based timer.This takes advantage of the comparators in the 555 timer and uses a constant current ...(read more)

Pulse Reverse Electroplating/Electroetching Using 555 Timers

2022-10-18T14:58:20Z

A simple pulse reverse electroplating/electroetching controller using the 555 timer. The Arduino of its day.Two 555 timers with control over forward pulse, reverse pulse, and zero current rest time by the artful use of steering diodes and potentiomet...(read more)

Dual TLC555 Capacitance Meter 0.1pF Resolution

2022-10-18T14:52:43Z

Two 555 timers turn capacitance into an analog voltage readable on a DMM. With a modern 600.00mV scale, that is readable to 10e-11F. I became an avid user of the 555 timer shortly after Radio Shack started carrying the first 555 timers in the '70...(read more)

555 timer Remote Capacitance Sensor - fluid level, body detector, touch sensor

2022-10-18T14:35:00Z

If you want to measure capacitance for a sensor some distance away, you can't do it at the end of long wires. Just temperature changes and nearby objects will make larger changes that can swamp what you are trying to measure.This was originall...(read more)

Lead battery regenerator using 555

2022-10-18T12:19:00Z

When trying to revive degraded lead-acid battery (that were left without charging for too long and entered deep undercharge condition) old wisdom (from the times when buying new car battery was near impossible so people have gone great lengths to res...(read more)

Spooky Mailbox Skullies: Dusk to Dawn & dual PIR ->555 , Enables the Spook

2022-10-18T01:16:00Z

Hello Boils and Ghouls What do you get with a photo resistor, qty 3 555 timer ICs, qty 2 SR-HC505 PIRs, and 3 of your favorite skully friends ? A SPOOKY SCARE AT THE MAILBOX awaits your neighbors and postman. Whats unique ? E...(read more)

A direct type ADC using 555 timer ICs.

2022-10-17T09:06:49Z

Not inspired by strb's blog. Expect setbacks and successes because I built my circuit and wrote this blog concurrently. The first thing that came to mind when I heard about creating something unusual using 555 timer ICs was a direct ADC, and...(read more)

Dawn detector with hysteresis using 555

2022-10-17T09:06:00Z

As most applications of 555 are generators/timing circuits, lets try something different. As we can see from block diagram of 555, we have two comparators (detecting voltages greater than 2/3 of Vcc or lower than 1/3 of Vcc) and R-S flip-flop. What w...(read more)

Jumbo Blue 555

2022-10-17T04:55:00Z

Intro This project started with designing a discrete bipolar transistor design that directly implements the internal circuitry of a classic NE555. After capturing the schematic I noticed other people had already built such projects, so I redesigned ...(read more)

Ludicrous 555

2022-10-09T01:09:00Z

So, the humble 555 timer started its live as a bipolar IC. Technology progressed and CMOS type 555 timer chips are available now. The fastest one I could find is the Microchip “IttyBitty” MIC1555. My quest is to find out how fast it can r...(read more)

Capacitance Meter Using 555 and Decade counter

2022-10-08T20:40:06Z

The 555 timers were the first ever Integrated Circuits I have used in my life and learned a lot while experimenting with them by blinking LED, creating sound alarms, and timer-based Outdoor lights. After this, I used 555 timers to generate PWM to cre...(read more)