How to make a blinking LED with a 555 timer IC

This Instructable will show you how to make a blinking LED with a 555 timer IC on a breadboard, view the attached video to see it in action.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJEputJvni0

Step 1: Materials

You will need:
1 Breadboard
1 9V battery
1 9V battery connector
1 LED
1 Capacitor, I am using a 47μF, the higher the number the slower it will blink, 47 works good.
2 resistors, a 10K and a 150Ω
1 +5V voltage regulator
1 555 timer IC
Assorted jumper wires
Space to work

Comments

[arshanmugam]

hi.. i want to blink 40 + LED's, for that what i have to do?...

if i Connects all the LED's in parallel and connect to ur given broad... it will works fine or not?... Please suggest the best way to achieve it...

[Techno Dude]

why do we need a 5v regulator

[Weldeon]

We are giving the circuit 9v, when the 555 is designed for 5.

[kevrack1999]

Sorry but I thought that I read somewhere that the 555 is a versatile 5-15v IC. Correct me if I'm wrong. Anyway, very nice Instructable!

[DadhieMJ]

i Think u can use LM317 as voltage regulator that gives 5v output :)

[Weldeon]

Huh, well dang, I had read everywhere that you should restrict it to 5, but my package says 18V max. Thanks for clearing that up. I'm just used to using a reg.

[taz99taz]

Pin 4 must be connected to pin 8 if u want to make a blinking LED :D

[ianlee74]

I'm very frustrated. I've tried yours as well as several similar examples on the internet and all my LED does is light up w/o ever blinking. Would could I be doing wrong? I didn't have a voltage regulator to use but my 555 says its rated for 18V so that couldn't be it, right? None of the other examples I've tried used the regulator. Any insight you might have would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Weldeon]

Mine did this at first as well, it was either the capacitor or the resistors. make sure you have the 150 Ohm resistor is connected to positive and not negative, that was a problem for me sometimes.
Also, sometimes the resistors and capacitors refused to connect in the breadboard well enough to register, which in turn caused it not to blink. Verify all connections, and if it still doesn't work, it is possible that your 555 is faulty, just letting electricity fly through, instead of doing it's job.

Best of luck
-DSMP

[Computothought]

By any chance do you have a schematic?

[Weldeon]

Just put one up for ya, if its not good enough, there are tons out on the internet you can find easily with google.

[Computothought]

Thank you.