8/12/2018 Astable Multivibrator Using 555 Timer

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Astable Multivibrator Using 555 Timer

JUNE 17, 2015 BY ADMINISTRATOR — 7 COMMENTS

Table of Contents 
1. Circuit and Operation
1.1. Operation
2. Duty Cycle
3. Applications of Astable Multivibrator
3.1. Square Wave Generation
3.2. Pulse Position Modulation
3.3. Pulse Train
3.4. Frequency Modulation using Astable Multivibrator

Circuit and Operation

Astable multivibrator is also called as Free Running Multivibrator. It has no stable states and
continuously switches between the two states without application of any external trigger. The
IC 555 can be made to work as an astable multivibrator with the addition of three external
components: two resistors (R1 and R2) and a capacitor (C). The schematic of the IC 555 as an
astable multivibrator along with the three external components is shown below.

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8/12/2018 Astable Multivibrator Using 555 Timer

The pins 2 and 6 are connected and hence there is no need for an external trigger pulse. It will
self trigger and act as a free running multivibrator. The rest of the connections are as follows:
pin 8 is connected to supply voltage (VCC). Pin 3 is the output terminal and hence the output is
available at this pin. Pin 4 is the external reset pin. A momentary low on this pin will reset the
timer. Hence when not in use, pin 4 is usually tied to VCC.

The control voltage applied at pin 5 will change the threshold voltage level. But for normal
use, pin 5 is connected to ground via a capacitor (usually 0.01µF), so the external noise from
the terminal is ltered out. Pin 1 is ground terminal. The timing circuit that determines the width
of the output pulse is made up of R1, R2 and C.

Operation
The following schematic depicts the internal circuit of the IC 555 operating in astable mode.
The RC timing circuit incorporates R1, R2 and C.

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8/12/2018 Astable Multivibrator Using 555 Timer

Initially, on power-up, the ip- op is RESET (and hence the output of the timer is low). As a
result, the discharge transistor is driven to saturation (as it is connected to Q’). The capacitor C
of the timing circuit is connected at Pin 7 of the IC 555 and will discharge through the
transistor. The output of the timer at this point is low. The voltage across the capacitor is
nothing but the trigger voltage. So while discharging, if the capacitor voltage becomes less
than 1/3 VCC, which is the reference voltage to trigger comparator (comparator 2), the output
of the comparator 2 will become high. This will SET the ip- op and hence the output of the
timer at pin 3 goes to HIGH.

This high output will turn OFF the transistor. As a result, the capacitor C starts charging through
the resistors R1 and R2. Now, the capacitor voltage is same as the threshold voltage (as pin 6 is
connected to the capacitor resistor junction). While charging, the capacitor voltage increases
exponentially towards VCC and the moment it crosses 2/3 VCC, which is the reference voltage
to threshold comparator (comparator 1), its output becomes high.

As a result, the ip- op is RESET. The output of the timer falls to LOW. This low output will
once again turn on the transistor which provides a discharge path to the capacitor. Hence the
capacitor C will discharge through the resistor R2. And hence the cycle continues.

Thus, when the capacitor is charging, the voltage across the capacitor rises exponentially and
the output voltage at pin 3 is high. Similarly, when the capacitor is discharging, the voltage
across the capacitor falls exponentially and the output voltage at pin 3 is low. The shape of the
output waveform is a train of rectangular pulses. The waveforms of capacitor voltage and the
output in the astable mode are shown below.

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8/12/2018 Astable Multivibrator Using 555 Timer

While charging, the capacitor charges through the resistors R1 and R2. Therefore the charging
time constant is (R1 + R2) C as the total resistance in the charging path is R1 + R2. While
discharging, the capacitor discharges through the resistor R2 only. Hence the discharge time
constant is R2C.

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Duty Cycle
The charging and discharging time constants depends on the values of the resistors R1 and
R2. Generally, the charging time constant is more than the discharging time constant. Hence
the HIGH output remains longer than the LOW output and therefore the output waveform is
not symmetric. Duty cycle is the mathematical parameter that forms a relation between the
high output and the low output. Duty Cycle is de ned as the ratio of time of HIGH output i.e.
the ON time to the total time of a cycle.

If TON is the time for high output and T is the time period of one cycle, then the duty cycle D is
given by

D = TON/ T

Therefore, percentage Duty Cycle is given by

%D = (TON / T) * 100

T is sum of TON (charge time) and TOFF (discharge time).

The value of TON or the charge time (for high output) TC is given by

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 TC = 0.693 * (R1 + R2) C
8/12/2018 Astable Multivibrator Using 555 Timer

The value of TOFF or the discharge time (for low output) TD is given by

TD = 0.693 * R2C

Therefore, the time period for one cycle T is given by

T = TON + TOFF = TC + TD

T = 0.693 * (R1 + R2) C + 0.693 * R2C

T = 0.693 * (R1 + 2R2) C

Therefore, %D = (TON/ T) * 100

%D = (0.693 * (R1 + R2) C)/(0.693 * (R1 + 2R2) C) * 100

%D = ((R1 + 2R2))/((R1 + 2R2)) * 100

If T = 0.693 * (R1 + R2) C, then the frequency f is given by

f = 1 / T = 1 / 0.693 * (R1 + 2R2) C

f = 1.44/( (R1 + 2R2) C) Hz

Selection  R1, R2 and C1 for di erent ferquency range are as follow:

R1 and R2 should be in the range 1k to 1M . It is best to Choose C1 rst (because capacitors are
available in just a few values)  as per the frequency range  from the following table.

Choose R2 to give the frequency (f) you require.

R2 = 0.7 /(f × C1)

Choose R1 to be about a tenth of R2 (1k min.)

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8/12/2018 Astable Multivibrator Using 555 Timer

Back to top

Applications of Astable Multivibrator

Square Wave Generation
The duty cycle of an astable multivibrator is always greater than 50%. A square wave is
obtained as the output of an astable multivibrator when the duty cycle is 50% exactly. Duty
cycle of 50% or anything less than that is not possible with the IC 555 as an astable
multivibrator mentioned above. Some modi cations are to be made to the circuit.

The modi cation is to add two diodes. one diode in parallel to the resistor R2 with cathode
facing the capacitor and another diode in series with the resistor R2 with anode facing the
capacitor. By adjusting the values of the resistors R1 and R2, a duty cycle in the range of 5% to
95% can be obtained including the square wave output. The circuit for square wave generation
is shown below.

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 In this circuit, while charging, the capacitor charges through R1 and D1 by passing R2. While
8/12/2018 Astable Multivibrator Using 555 Timer
discharging, it discharges through D2 and R2.

Therefore, the charging time constant is TON = TC and is given by

TON = 0.693 * R1C  and

the discharging time constant TOFF = TD is given by

TOFF = 0.693 * R2C.

Therefore, the duty cycle D is given by

D = R1/(R1+R2)

In order to get a square wave, the duty cycle can be made 50% by making the values of R1 and
R2 equal. The waveforms of the square wave generator are shown below.

A duty cycle of less than 50% is achieved when the resistance of R1 is less than that of R2.
Generally, this can be achieved by using potentiometers in place of R1 and R2. Another circuit
of square wave generator can be constructed from the astable multivibrator without using any
diodes. By placing the resistor R2 between pins 3 and 2 i.e. output terminal and trigger
terminal. The circuit is shown below

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8/12/2018 Astable Multivibrator Using 555 Timer

In this circuit, both the charging and discharging operations occur through the resistor R2 only.
The resistor R1 should be high enough not to interfere with the capacitor while charging. It is
also used to ensure that the capacitor charges to the maximum limit (VCC).

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Pulse Position Modulation

In pulse position modulation, the position of the pulse varies according to the modulating
signal while the amplitude and the width of the pulse are kept constant. The position of the
each pulse changes according to the instantaneous samples voltage of the modulating signal.
In order to achieve Pulse Position Modulation, two 555 timer IC’s are used in which one
operates in astable mode and the other in monostable mode.

The modulating signal is applied at the Pin 5 of the rst IC 555 that is operating in astable
mode. The output of this IC 555 is a pulse width modulated wave. This PWM signal is applied
as the trigger input to the second IC 555 which is operating in monostable mode. The position
of the output pulses of the second IC 555 changes according to the PWM signal which is again
dependent on the modulating signal.

The schematic of the Pulse Position Modulator using two 555 timer IC’s is shown below.

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8/12/2018 Astable Multivibrator Using 555 Timer

The threshold voltage for the rst IC 555, which is determined by the control voltage
(modulating signal), is changed to UTL (Upper Threshold Level) and is given by

UTL = 2/3 VCC + VMOD

As the threshold voltage changes with respect to the applied modulating signal, the width of
the pulse changes and the hence the time delay is varied. As this pulse width modulated
signal is applied to the trigger of the second IC, there will be no change in either amplitude or
width of the output pulse but only the position of the pulse is changed.
The waveforms of the pulse position modulated signals are shown below.

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8/12/2018 Astable Multivibrator Using 555 Timer

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Pulse Train
We know that astable multivibrator will generate continuous stream of pulses. By using a
potentiometer in place of R1, a train of pulses can be generated di erent widths. The circuit
pulse train generator using astable mode of operation of the IC 555 is shown below.

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Frequency Modulation using Astable Multivibrator

Astable multivibrator can be used to generate frequency modulated signals. A modulating
signal is given to the pin 5 (control voltage). The circuit of Frequency Modulation using astable
mode of operation of the IC 555 is shown below.

A diode is connected in parallel to the resistor R2 in order to generate a pulse output with duty
cycle ≈ 50%. The modulation signal is applied at pin 5 through a high pass lter consisting of a
capacitor and a resistor. According to the modulating signal applied at pin 5, the output will be
frequency modulated. If the voltage of the modulating signal is high, the time period of the

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 output signal is high and if the voltage of the modulating signal is low, the time period is low.
8/12/2018 Astable Multivibrator Using 555 Timer
The waveforms of the modulation signal and the frequency modulated signal are shown
below.

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FILED UNDER: 555 TIMER

Comments

v Eswar says
DECEMBER 11, 2017 AT 1:17 AM

good satisfactory information for a beginner.

thanks

Reply

Swapnaj says
DECEMBER 17, 2017 AT 12:56 PM

This is the best Web…

Reply

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8/12/2018 Astable Multivibrator Using 555 Timer
Sai rebel says
FEBRUARY 23, 2018 AT 9:16 PM

Sir actually the capacitor blocks dc and allows a.c. whenever we are connected it in series,
but according to the operation mentioned above it allows dc how Sir??

Reply

Anonymous says
MARCH 10, 2018 AT 1:41 PM

I am also a student so my answer might be completely right…

What i know is capacitor blocks dc current but according to capacitor working a
potential di erence is created across the plates during charging of a capacitor. This is
all what is needed in ic 555 because its the potential at pins 2 and pins 6 which causes
the changing in states of comparators. Their is no question of current here. And
capacitor blocks dc current i.e one direction ow of electrons but not potential
di erence. When a capacitor charges potential di erence across the plates do change
without any ow of current till certain stage..
Hope this helped you

Reply

SALIM KUMAR says

MARCH 17, 2018 AT 1:05 PM

555 IC is explained in a systematic way.. Very useful information..

Reply

Sindhukavi says
APRIL 23, 2018 AT 12:05 AM

Very useful to me…..

Reply

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8/12/2018 Astable Multivibrator Using 555 Timer

Tasmiya Mujawar says

JULY 5, 2018 AT 9:37 PM

Very bene cial for me!!!!!!!!!!!

And all the concept has explained in detail.
Thank you

Reply

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