Ishaan Thanekar

SE EXTC-1

60002190047.

Department of Electronic Telecommunication

Engineering Academic Year 2020-2021

Experiment No.

Astable Multivibrators Using 555 IC

Aim: To design and setup an Astable Multivibrators Using 555 IC, plot the waveforms, measure the
output.

Objectives: After completion of this experiment, student will be able to design and an Astable
Multivibrators Using 555 IC. He/she will acquire skill to design and implement an Astable
Multivibrators Using 555 IC
Equipment’s/Components:
Dual power supply +/- 15V , Function generator (0 - 1MHz ) , Oscilloscope , Bread board , IC 741C ,
Resistors , Probes and connecting wires As required.

Astable Multivibrators Using 555 IC

The versatile 555 Timer IC can be used in a variety of circuits like Time Delays, Oscillation, Pulse
Generation, Pulse Width Modulation etc. In this tutorial, we will learn about the Astable Multivibrator
Mode of 555 Timer IC. We will learn the circuit of Astable Multivibrator using 555 Timer IC, its
operation, calculate the duty cycle and also take a look at few important applications of Astable Mode of
555 Timer IC.
The following schematic depicts the internal circuit of the IC 555 operating in astable mode. The RC
timing circuit incorporates R1, R2 and C.
Initially, on power-up, the flip-flop 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 V CC, which is the reference voltage to trigger
comparator (comparator 2), the output of the comparator 2 will become high. This will SET the flip-flop
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 flip-flop 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.
The capacitor is charged and discharged between 2/3 Vcc and 1/3 Vcc, respectively.
The time during which the capacitor charges from 1/3Vcc to 2/3Vcc is equal to the time the output is high
and given by
tc   RB C
0.69RA

Where RA and RB is in ohm and C is in farads.

The time during which the capacitor discharges from 2/3Vcc to /3Vcc is equal to the time the output is
low and given by
t d  0.69 RB C

Where RB is in ohm and C is in farads

T  tc  td  0.69RA  2RB C
The total period of the output wave-form is

Output wave-form frequency of oscillation is 1

f   1.45 
R
T A  2RB C

The duty cycle is the ratio of the time tc during which the output is high to total time period T.

tc
% Duty Cycle D  100
T
RA  RB 
D (100)
RA  2RB 
For square wave oscillator:
Duty cycle =50%
tc  0.69RA  RB C
Means tc=td

t d  0.69 RB C
For astable multivibrator
For square RA=RB

Procedure
1. Check the components.
2. Setup the circuit on the breadboard and check the connections.
3. Switch on the power supply.
4. Give the inputs (DC).
5. Observe the waveform across capacitor and output.
6. Note down various values and draw the waveform across capacitor and output on the graph.
7. Verify the obtained (designed) values and simulated one.
 Fig.1 Astable multivibrator Output waveform

Fig.2 Square wave generator using 555 IC

Calculations:
Observations:

Circuit Diagram:

Waveform:

Conclusions:
1. Here we successfully implement an Astable multivibrator circuit using IC 555 timer chip.
2. We design this circuit for 50% duty cycle and the calculations for resistances are given for the same.