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47 projects to do with a 555!

last photo ←

These are a whole bunch of things to make with the 555 timer IC with a note for each picture.
I do not take credit for these schematics. * Unknown author

As you would probably think it took me a very long time to make this but it was night and i was wanting to waste some time so i hope you like it! *tell me if I have any twice

I have descriptions for each and every picture so feel free to ask questions!

58 comments

1-40 of 58

Aug 4, 2011. 11:01 AMaesquivel says:

Hi there, for the "Stun Gun", can I replace the 10nF capacitors for 100nF? these are the only ones I can get at 400V, also, can I replace the BD679 darlington for a TIP122?

Aug 4, 2011. 9:18 PMJimmy Proton (author) says:

Im not sure the 100nF capacitors will make much of a difference and yeah that should work, it seems to be the same things but with higher ratings.

Jan 23, 2012. 7:48 PM

Higgs Boson says:

could you use 10nf with 500v?

Jan 4, 2012. 10:34 AMEdDruino says:

please help! [nub]
at the tv remote Jammer project, the [5r6] is a 6 ohm resistor and 470r - 470 ohm R? and please...which is the transistor's code?

Jan 4, 2012. 1:54 PMJimmy Proton (author) says:

The R just stands for resistance, so the number next to it is ohms. And there is no specific code for the transistor, I assume that you could just use any general purpose NPN transistor.

Jan 5, 2012. 1:42 AMEdDruino says:

thnx for the quick reply!

Dec 8, 2011. 11:20 AMChu Guk says:

Hey, awesome circuits! I got this pack of 3 555's and am looking for something cool to do with them.
By the way, do the "Police lights" with the two 555's act different from the one with a 555 and a 4017? I mean, do the lights flash any different? Because from what I know the one with the 4017 flashes fast 3 times on each side, back and forth. I have 3 555's, so if the circuit flashes the same, I'd like to use that one.
Thanks! Awesome instructable. Simple, but useful :D

Nov 2, 2011. 2:34 PMnprikkel says:

Does anyone have an eagle file for the stun gun? this would be very helpful as i am new to schematic design

Oct 22, 2011. 3:47 PM

blinkyblinky says:

Collin Mitchell is the author.

Feb 9, 2011. 4:06 PMhubi says:

Hello,
Your 555 Amlifier is cool, it is kind of Class D PWM Amlifier, I think.
Yu could much better results if you use a second 555 as clock generator and feed the trigger of your amp with it. More improvement would be to charge the cap via costant current to get the ramp of the sawtooth more linear.
I have done all of this, and fed a flyback via Mosfet with this, gives a cool plasma tweeter.

Jul 15, 2011. 8:08 AMModscientist says:

This is true. Remember a lot of times as it sound that you are not new to this that with astale ckt using a mono stale 555 to triger it gives it a more stable Or accrate conrtole of the ckt. No disrepect you sound that you have exp 555 is a timer (not really a amp in 99% with applicatin goo old fastion electronics)

Jan 30, 2011. 7:20 PMmatstermind says:

whats the first one do?

Jan 31, 2011. 12:33 PMJimmy Proton (author) says:

This circuit drives a 3x3x3 cube consisting of 27 white LEDs. The 4020 IC is a 14 stage binary counter and we have used 9 outputs. Each output drives 3 white LEDs in series and we have omitted a dropper resistor as the chip can only deliver a maximum of 15mA per output. The 4020 produces 512 different patterns before the sequence repeats and you have to build the project to see the effects it produces on the 3D cube.

Apr 16, 2011. 9:28 AMObi-Wan14 says:

The 4020 IC is the CMOS 4020 IC right?

Jul 15, 2011. 7:39 AMModscientist says:

es jimmy proton is corret. There are a series of 40-- chips. Like stated by JP to expand with these ckt no mader what if the ckts are supported by outside components usally rc(resistor and capacitor ckt they can be changed to get different output result. Not always having to do with changeing resistor first or cap first .You juust have to experament. The cacitor is a storige device. Like a batt. A resistor controls how fast or slow the ckt releasethe signal. Like rubbing your feet on a rug your the cap. Then you touch a doorKnob resistor. ZAP! Thunder and Lightning.

Apr 16, 2011. 10:44 AMJimmy Proton (author) says:

I believe so.

Feb 23, 2011. 10:10 AMmeevenson says:

I have built this circuit and I can not get it to work. Depending on the voltage I apply and the resistor I swap out I can get about five seconds of flashing on half of the cube and then it dies out and does nothing. Any ideas?

Jul 15, 2011. 7:55 AMModscientist says:

The capcitor is what stores the voltage.the resistor controlls how fast or slow it is released. Alway remember check all ground. Voltage take the least resistant to ground(eath neg - ) Alwaways double check your wiring . Even experience tech can get one wire come lose or miss something. Always remember the notch is the to or referance for the chip Check the diagram on the package or tech info on how chip I/O (inputsput/ Outsputs are located At notch or dot were pin 1 2 3 4 are and were they are located.

Feb 23, 2011. 12:30 PMmatstermind says:

try a different type of 555 timer (TLC/NE instead of a SE). switching it helped for the touch plate circuit

Feb 23, 2011. 3:40 PMmeevenson says:

Tried that already. Tried switching the cap, the voltage, the resistor, and switching around the wires. The most I can get out of it is one row to stay lit up and a few others to blink for a couple of seconds and then it dies out and does not start over. I left it on for 15 minutes just to see if it was running through a process and nothing happened.

May 31, 2011. 11:39 PM2010wow says:

what a nice projects ......
but could explain how the circuit of 555 amplifier work plz

thnx :)

Jul 15, 2011. 7:23 AMModscientist says:

The 555 is not a amp. This ckt is most popular even to this day as a timer (clock) to stables a ckt and like a heartbeat. It is actually what thay call a flip flop ckt. The chip is a config of transistor ect. The output is a pulse usally a square wave. It deppends on the rc ( resistor And capacitor) configuration and applcation Eg. Flashig Light; Test at certaian freq for speaker and timmig for compters (To simlify). And a seacret not a seacret for x-box controllers shhhhhhhh. (Not) Which i am Redsigning alegitly.

Jul 13, 2011. 8:17 AMnewwarhammer2 says:

For the reaction timer, can I use a 7447 7 segment driver instead?

Jul 13, 2011. 9:17 AMJimmy Proton (author) says:

I'm not sure, you would have to look at some datasheet's.

Jun 28, 2011. 11:33 AMbaven says:

Must be the cmos IC programmed or he is pre programmed

Mar 27, 2011. 12:35 PMphevtron says:

ammm the music box ? what does it do ?

Mar 27, 2011. 12:46 PMJimmy Proton (author) says:

It produces 10 different tones and by selecting suitable values to change the voltage on pin 5. The two unused outputs of the 4017 produce a tone equal to that produced by the 555 when pin 5 has no external control voltage.

Mar 28, 2011. 5:00 AMphevtron says:

cool,,hmm

Jan 25, 2011. 2:36 PMmightywombat says:

is there any way you can add a list of the projects to the text of the instructable? Just a numbered list would be more than sufficient. I'm just ridiculously curious about the projects that aren't labeled!

Jan 25, 2011. 3:26 PMJimmy Proton (author) says:

I could add an Image Note.

Jan 25, 2011. 6:35 PMmightywombat says:

That would be super duper helpful! Thanks!

Jan 26, 2011. 12:34 PMJimmy Proton (author) says:

your welcome.

Dec 26, 2010. 10:22 PMrandomness72.5 says:

do 555s need a programmer to work like every other IC im new at this

Dec 26, 2010. 10:36 PMJimmy Proton (author) says:

No, 555's are pre-programed like most ICs.

Jan 7, 2011. 8:32 PM

spark light says:

I wouldn't say that an analog ic is programmed...

Jan 15, 2011. 12:05 AMaliyevzaur1989 says:

Yeah.I agree.555 is an analog circuit.not digital.so it's not gonna be programmed

Jan 20, 2011. 3:13 PMnando_41 says:

555 is really a digital circuit, but it comes preconfigured as a timer. the only way to change the way it operated(within specs) is by the components that you add to it

Jan 20, 2011. 4:13 PM

spark light says:

no, it is a mix between an analog circuit. there are op amps as well as a voltage divider in the standard 555.

Jan 21, 2011. 9:41 AMnando_41 says:

i satand corrected, thanks, never really considered what they were categorized at, i just use them

Jan 21, 2011. 11:04 PM

spark light says:

As long as it works! :D

1-40 of 58