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555 timer — Parallax Forums

555 timer

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2004-07-17 12:16 in General Discussion
Do you really need a square wave? The basic astable uses 2 resistors and a
cap. Call the resistor to Vcc, Ra, and the one between Threshold and
Discharge, Rb. Duty cycle (output high/total cycle time) is

(Ra+Rb)/(Ra+2Rb)

So the 555 "likes" duty cycles greater than 50%. Getting 50% or less is the
problem. A diode across Rb (pointing away from Discharge) alters the duty
cycle to approximately

Ra/(Ra+Rb)

which allows very small duty cycles. The disadvantage is that the diode
will degrade temperature sensitivity. As Mike pointed out, the 555 is
reasonably stable when used with good resistors and caps.

Ray McArthur


>>It's been a while since I tried to use a 555 for anything serious (not
since Stamp 1, at least), but as I remember it, you can't get a square wave
from the usual two resistor-one capacitor configuration. The capacitor
charges through two resistors and discharges through only one. I think Don
Lancaster had a trick that used a diode across the pin 6 - pin 7 resistor
that allowed you to make it square, but the frequency tuning would then
require adjusting both resistors. I also recall that I quit using the
standard 555 in favor of the CMOS part (7555 or something like that). And
remember to put a cap on pin 5 for stabilization.
Just my $.02 worth and maybe only worth half of that!<<

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-12-08 03:10
    At 03:14 PM 12/7/00 -0500, Ray McArthur wrote:
    >Do you really need a square wave? The basic astable uses 2 resistors and a
    >cap. Call the resistor to Vcc, Ra, and the one between Threshold and
    >Discharge, Rb. Duty cycle (output high/total cycle time) is
    >
    >(Ra+Rb)/(Ra+2Rb)
    >
    >So the 555 "likes" duty cycles greater than 50%. Getting 50% or less is the
    >problem. A diode across Rb (pointing away from Discharge) alters the duty
    >cycle to approximately
    >
    >Ra/(Ra+Rb)
    >
    > which allows very small duty cycles. The disadvantage is that the diode
    >will degrade temperature sensitivity. As Mike pointed out, the 555 is
    >reasonably stable when used with good resistors and caps.

    You can get 50% duty cycle very easily if you use a CMOS 555 - and it takes
    fewer parts than the standard design. Build the oscillator as follows:
    pins 2&6 tied to the timing capacitor and connect the timing resistor from
    the timing cap to the output pin (pin 3). Voila! Equal HI and LO
    periods! Pin 7 is not used in this configuration and can be used if an
    open drain output is useful anywhere. And, of course, the usual output of
    pin 3 is also available.

    dwayne



    Dwayne Reid <dwayner@p...>
    Trinity Electronics Systems Ltd Edmonton, AB, CANADA
    (780) 489-3199 voice (780) 487-6397 fax

    Celebrating 16 years of Engineering Innovation (1984 - 2000)

    * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-12-08 05:10
    Great idea, Wayne. Shouldn't it also work with a standard (non-CMOS) part?

    Ray McArthur

    Original Message
    From: Dwayne Reid <dwayner@p...>
    To: <basicstamps@egroups.com>
    Sent: Thursday, December 07, 2000 10:10 PM
    Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] 555 timer
    > You can get 50% duty cycle very easily if you use a CMOS 555 - and it
    takes
    > fewer parts than the standard design. Build the oscillator as follows:
    > pins 2&6 tied to the timing capacitor and connect the timing resistor from
    > the timing cap to the output pin (pin 3). Voila! Equal HI and LO
    > periods! Pin 7 is not used in this configuration and can be used if an
    > open drain output is useful anywhere. And, of course, the usual output of
    > pin 3 is also available.
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-12-08 17:10
    Not worth a darn, Ray. The problem is that the bipolar part does not have
    symmetrical voltage swing because of the NPN transistor output
    stage. Typical output swing at 5V is 0.2V (LO) and 4V (HI). That would
    result in a 15% or so difference between HI and LO period. That's why
    Signetics designed in that pin 7 open collector output and came up with the
    standard configuration that everyone uses - it trades an uncertain 15% duty
    cycle error with a non-ideal but definable duty cycle. It was appropriate
    for the technology of the era.

    The modern CMOS parts have symmetrical voltage swing which allows the
    output pin to be used as the feedback node for a nominal 50% duty cycle.

    dwayne


    At 12:10 AM 12/8/00 -0500, Ray McArthur wrote:
    >Great idea, Dwayne. Shouldn't it also work with a standard (non-CMOS) part?
    >
    >Ray McArthur
    >
    >
    Original Message
    >From: Dwayne Reid <dwayner@p...>
    >To: <basicstamps@egroups.com>
    >Sent: Thursday, December 07, 2000 10:10 PM
    >Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] 555 timer
    > > You can get 50% duty cycle very easily if you use a CMOS 555 - and it
    >takes
    > > fewer parts than the standard design. Build the oscillator as follows:
    > > pins 2&6 tied to the timing capacitor and connect the timing resistor from
    > > the timing cap to the output pin (pin 3). Voila! Equal HI and LO
    > > periods! Pin 7 is not used in this configuration and can be used if an
    > > open drain output is useful anywhere. And, of course, the usual output of
    > > pin 3 is also available.
    > >



    Dwayne Reid <dwayner@p...>
    Trinity Electronics Systems Ltd Edmonton, AB, CANADA
    (780) 489-3199 voice (780) 487-6397 fax

    Celebrating 16 years of Engineering Innovation (1984 - 2000)

    * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
    Do NOT send unsolicited commercial email to this email address.
    This message neither grants consent to receive unsolicited
    commercial email nor is intended to solicit commercial email.
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-12-09 13:05
    >> > You can get 50% duty cycle very easily if you use a CMOS 555 - and it
    >>takes
    >> > fewer parts than the standard design. Build the oscillator as follows:


    If a pure 50% duty cycle is required and one more part isn't a problem, then
    double
    the 555's frequency and clock a D flip-flip with it. Feed the _Q back into
    D and take
    your output from Q. Every time the clock input goes high, the flip-flip
    toggles. The
    555 duty cycle could be anything with this setup.
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-03-02 16:36
    hi,
    just a quick question on using the 555 timer as a monostable
    multivibrator with my basic stamp 2sx. im using an annemometer which
    trips a switch every rotation. the pulses can be of random duration
    and frequency depending on the wind speed. the stamp is reading the
    trips fine with just a resistor and capacitor in parallel but could i
    use a monostable multivibrator to give me constant pulse durations
    which might ensure greater reliablity for the stamp reading the trips.
    Thank you
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-03-02 16:56
    Yes, you can do that, it's a popular use of the 555. Just set it up as
    a one-shot and configure the RC components to get the pulse width you
    want. You could also use the Reset input of the 555 to clear an input
    once you've seen it (this requires a second pin from you BASIC Stamp).

    -- Jon Williams
    -- Parallax


    Original Message
    From: fearghaloconnor [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=IyVwtW2XlTBGa-azOgKE-a7jpLjGA0V0KMf3mz9jQ7fiuKsC6MCVhTHY0Ua4BZNROg85ZSQrA5Om32EgNuZbNBYoIbc]fearghaloconnor@y...[/url
    Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 2004 10:37 AM
    To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] 555 timer


    hi,
    just a quick question on using the 555 timer as a monostable
    multivibrator with my basic stamp 2sx. im using an annemometer which
    trips a switch every rotation. the pulses can be of random duration
    and frequency depending on the wind speed. the stamp is reading the
    trips fine with just a resistor and capacitor in parallel but could i
    use a monostable multivibrator to give me constant pulse durations
    which might ensure greater reliablity for the stamp reading the trips.
    Thank you
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-03-02 18:20
    Yes, wire the 555 as a one-shot. Any input pulse will generate a fixed
    length output pulse regardless of the width of the trigger pulse.
    jim
    http://www.geocities.com/jimforkin2003/


    Original Message
    From: fearghaloconnor [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=BKa2BNeJA2LVEV38is-HsUe701N0sM8zFqjdq87JcVjYOV0no3rVaeX-qdSTO31C0KSB5_zGZAfb3EckA-yQyqU]fearghaloconnor@y...[/url
    Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 2004 11:37 AM
    To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] 555 timer


    hi,
    just a quick question on using the 555 timer as a monostable
    multivibrator with my basic stamp 2sx. im using an annemometer which
    trips a switch every rotation. the pulses can be of random duration
    and frequency depending on the wind speed. the stamp is reading the
    trips fine with just a resistor and capacitor in parallel but could i
    use a monostable multivibrator to give me constant pulse durations
    which might ensure greater reliablity for the stamp reading the trips.
    Thank you



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  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-03-02 19:10
    > hi,
    > just a quick question on using the 555 timer as a monostable
    >multivibrator with my basic stamp 2sx. im using an annemometer which
    >trips a switch every rotation. the pulses can be of random duration
    >and frequency depending on the wind speed. the stamp is reading the
    >trips fine with just a resistor and capacitor in parallel but could i
    >use a monostable multivibrator to give me constant pulse durations
    >which might ensure greater reliablity for the stamp reading the trips.
    > Thank you

    Why tinker with it if it already works? The COUNT command--Is that
    what you're using?--does not care about the pulse width so long as it
    is longer than 2 microseconds on the 'sx. The problem for
    reliability with the reed switch in the anemometer is contact bounce,
    and the RC should take care of that.

    -- Tracy
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-03-02 20:09
    I have been using a BS2sx to process, store and display windspeed data
    from a Davis Model 7911 Anemometer for several years. I use the COUNT
    command. The anemometer is designed such that 2.308 seconds of counts
    will translate directly to windspeed in MPH. The command line is:
    COUNT, InputPin, 5770, WindSpeed (5770 = 2.308 sec for BS2sx)

    I feed the output from the reed switch through a small RC filter then
    directly into the Stamp pin. It seems to work fine without any
    additional pulse-forming.

    Dave


    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "fearghaloconnor"
    <fearghaloconnor@y...> wrote:
    > hi,
    > just a quick question on using the 555 timer as a monostable
    > multivibrator with my basic stamp 2sx. im using an annemometer which
    > trips a switch every rotation. the pulses can be of random duration
    > and frequency depending on the wind speed. the stamp is reading the
    > trips fine with just a resistor and capacitor in parallel but could i
    > use a monostable multivibrator to give me constant pulse durations
    > which might ensure greater reliablity for the stamp reading the trips.
    > Thank you
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-07-15 17:46
    Does anyone know if it's possible to have the 555 delay for 55
    minutes in a monostable configuation with no additional IC's?

    Thanks,

    Chris
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-07-15 18:46
    In a message dated 7/15/2004 4:46:48 PM Eastern Standard Time,
    CHRIS@R... writes:
    Does anyone know if it's possible to have the 555 delay for 55
    minutes in a monostable configuation with no additional IC's?

    Thanks,

    Chris
    If it is, that would be some honker capacitors and resistors. I have never
    seen one configured for anywhere near that long.

    Randy Abernathy
    4626 Old Stilesboro Road
    Acworth, GA 30101
    Ph / Fax: 770-974-5295
    E-mail: cnc002@a...

    I furnish technical support, repair, and other related services for your
    industrial woodworking machinery. My background as Senior Service Engineer for the
    SCMI Group for nearly fifteen years with factory training, combines with my
    extensive background in electronics, mechanics, pneumatics, electrical and CNC
    machinery to offer you needed support for your machinery.


    [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-07-15 18:59
    The data sheet shows up to about 55 seconds as max. I suspect that any
    longer than that and fingerprints on the board and capacitor leakage become
    a problem. There are other ics that you can use that will do longer. Or
    write a timer loop in the basic stamp routine<G>.

    Original Message
    From: christopher41877 [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=IZSamnzM0n4mI8eXSHeAOyDqeuoNc5XB4sYqg1fUC-253qzhO3diRGsXhgL4cJae3-aVbyjIfH6Ka4Kw39e5cFtEaA0]CHRIS@R...[/url
    Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2004 12:46 PM
    To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] 555 Timer


    Does anyone know if it's possible to have the 555 delay for 55
    minutes in a monostable configuation with no additional IC's?

    Thanks,

    Chris



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  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-07-16 00:50
    I won't be able to use the stamp to do this timing function, does
    anyone have an idea to time 50 minutes?


    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, cnc002@a... wrote:
    > In a message dated 7/15/2004 4:46:48 PM Eastern Standard Time,
    > CHRIS@R... writes:
    > Does anyone know if it's possible to have the 555 delay for 55
    > minutes in a monostable configuation with no additional IC's?
    >
    > Thanks,
    >
    > Chris
    > If it is, that would be some honker capacitors and resistors. I
    have never
    > seen one configured for anywhere near that long.
    >
    > Randy Abernathy
    > 4626 Old Stilesboro Road
    > Acworth, GA 30101
    > Ph / Fax: 770-974-5295
    > E-mail: cnc002@a...
    >
    > I furnish technical support, repair, and other related services
    for your
    > industrial woodworking machinery. My background as Senior Service
    Engineer for the
    > SCMI Group for nearly fifteen years with factory training,
    combines with my
    > extensive background in electronics, mechanics, pneumatics,
    electrical and CNC
    > machinery to offer you needed support for your machinery.
    >
    >
    > [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-07-16 01:41
    Look at this cmos 555 timer from philips.
    http://www.semiconductors.philips.com/pip/XICM7555CCU.html

    RR

    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "christopher41877" <CHRIS@R...>
    wrote:
    > I won't be able to use the stamp to do this timing function, does
    > anyone have an idea to time 50 minutes?
    >
    >
    > --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, cnc002@a... wrote:
    > > In a message dated 7/15/2004 4:46:48 PM Eastern Standard Time,
    > > CHRIS@R... writes:
    > > Does anyone know if it's possible to have the 555 delay for 55
    > > minutes in a monostable configuation with no additional IC's?
    > >
    > > Thanks,
    > >
    > > Chris
    > > If it is, that would be some honker capacitors and resistors. I
    > have never
    > > seen one configured for anywhere near that long.
    > >
    > > Randy Abernathy
    > > 4626 Old Stilesboro Road
    > > Acworth, GA 30101
    > > Ph / Fax: 770-974-5295
    > > E-mail: cnc002@a...
    > >
    > > I furnish technical support, repair, and other related services
    > for your
    > > industrial woodworking machinery. My background as Senior Service
    > Engineer for the
    > > SCMI Group for nearly fifteen years with factory training,
    > combines with my
    > > extensive background in electronics, mechanics, pneumatics,
    > electrical and CNC
    > > machinery to offer you needed support for your machinery.
    > >
    > >
    > > [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-07-16 04:37
    At 02:46 PM 7/15/2004, you wrote:

    >Does anyone know if it's possible to have the 555 delay for 55
    >minutes in a monostable configuation with no additional IC's?

    Sure, with a CMOS 555 and top quality R/C parts, time delays
    of several hours are easily possible with a 555. BTDT decades ago...
    You need GOOD quality low leakage caps and the highest value
    timing resistor your 555 will allow.

    The problem isn't delay time... it's stability. Especially over
    temperature.... the leakage of the large capacitor is likely to
    vary quite a bit with temperature, and make your timing drift
    all over.
    If you can operate in a temperature controlled environment you'll
    have a *big *advantage.
    If you really need to hit 55 minutes ACCURATELY and
    CONSISTENTLY, a 555 isn't the way. If you need approximately
    55 minutes, and 52 or 61 would be acceptable, with an average
    of 55 minutes then that's easily doable... Again, top quality R/C parts
    are the key... you ain't gonna get 1% accuracy with 10% tolerance
    parts... especially over any kind of temperature variation....

    Did you know the 555 was first introduced in 1971?
    The little sucker has been in production for 33 years now. Amazing!

    Steve D. - 555 user since 1974...


    [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-07-17 12:16
    You might want to look also at:

    http://home.cogeco.ca/~rpaisley4/LM555.html

    It has a lot of examples and a handy MONOSTABLE OSCILLATOR CALCULATOR


    >From: laurasdog@w...
    >Reply-To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    >To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    >Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] 555 Timer
    >Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2004 20:37:53 -0700
    >
    >At 02:46 PM 7/15/2004, you wrote:
    >
    > >Does anyone know if it's possible to have the 555 delay for 55
    > >minutes in a monostable configuation with no additional IC's?
    >
    >Sure, with a CMOS 555 and top quality R/C parts, time delays
    >of several hours are easily possible with a 555. BTDT decades ago...
    >You need GOOD quality low leakage caps and the highest value
    >timing resistor your 555 will allow.
    >
    >The problem isn't delay time... it's stability. Especially over
    >temperature.... the leakage of the large capacitor is likely to
    >vary quite a bit with temperature, and make your timing drift
    >all over.
    >If you can operate in a temperature controlled environment you'll
    >have a *big *advantage.
    >If you really need to hit 55 minutes ACCURATELY and
    >CONSISTENTLY, a 555 isn't the way. If you need approximately
    >55 minutes, and 52 or 61 would be acceptable, with an average
    >of 55 minutes then that's easily doable... Again, top quality R/C parts
    >are the key... you ain't gonna get 1% accuracy with 10% tolerance
    >parts... especially over any kind of temperature variation....
    >
    >Did you know the 555 was first introduced in 1971?
    >The little sucker has been in production for 33 years now. Amazing!
    >
    >Steve D. - 555 user since 1974...
    >
    >
    >[noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
    >
    >
    >
    >To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    >from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    >Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >Yahoo! Groups Links
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >

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