LED Counter

You can make an attractive LED counter that has various frequencies with a few simple electronic components.

Step 1 Place the Flasher IC

Position the LM3909N IC about three rows of holes from the left side of the solderless breadboard assembly. Also, make sure one-half of the IC is above and one-half is below the central depression in the solderless breadboard assembly. Press down on the IC to force the pins into the holes. All of the pins should be checked for ones that are bent or folded up. If the pins do not make good contact with the solderless breadboard, the circuit may not work.

Comments

[LastDevil]

Thank you mate, just what i needed to know on the cap's ;)

[NetReaper]

how do you read this? do the circles mean anything

[NoPegs]

Oof, the LM3909 was discontinued in early 1996. Stock has all but dried up by this point (I've seen them listed for upwards of $7 each.) 555s are cheaper even when you factor in the cost of the 2 or 3 extra resistors needed to perform the same function. And really, you don't need 3 single AAs in there. two of them will produce 3v and you can run all 3 555s off of it. Also, I, too, cry for the breadboards. That's like buying an ATV and parking it in the garage and never moving it. I do like the chassis design though. It makes up for the electronic shortcomings. 7 out of 10. :)

[frank26080115]

what a waste of a breadboard, try soldering it, breadboards are precious, and a cheap iron costs about as much as a large breadboard anyways

[HAL 9000]

I agree, beardboards are for sketching circuits, Once you have it all firgured out you should solder it up and use the breadboard for another project. Also, my 25W soldering iron was about $9 at Radio Shack, and it works fine. Ill maybe make an instructable about making a soldering workstation, but soldering is incredibly easy. Good work though, i like this instructable!

[DavidRobertson]

you can reuse breadboards though

[HAL 9000]

Wow, cool. I just might make this, im planning on getting a bunch of LEDs soon. Maybe you could wire in a bunch of switches to change the Capacitors.

[rchan928]

Hey J! good job on yours! I never got a chance to check your's out. Mines is lame since I got so many mean comments! LOL :) See you next semester? -Roger

[GorillazMiko]

cool instructable i guess, but i have to agree with frank26whatevernumbersgohere, it is quite a waste of breadboard. i dont even have a lot! i have... lets see. NONE at the moment.