SEMAFORO

Traffic Lights Project

HOW IT WORKS

The 555 timer IC is connected for Astable Operation, the clock pulses are fed to the
4017 IC via the 10K resistor. The 4017 is a 10 stage counter, therefore the sequence of
the traffic lights is spread over 10 clock pulses, 4on red, 1 on red & amber, 4 on green
and 1 on amber.
We need red on for 5 pulses, so we connect the red LED to pin 12 which is on for the
first 5 stages of the counter. The green and yellow LEDs are connected to the nescessary
counter outputs, as both LEDs need to be on for more than one count, we use diodes to
avoid a short circuit situation between outputs.
The capacitor and resistor on pin 15 of the 4017 are used to reset the counter to zero
(red LED on) at initial power up.

PARTS LIST

ICs DIODES RESISTORS CAPACITORS

1* NE555 6* 1N4148 3* 1K 1* 47uF
1* 4017B 1* Red LED 1* 10K 1* 0.01uF
- 1* Yellow LED 2* 22K 1* 6.8nF
- 1* Green LED 1* 100K -
 Electronic Dice Project

The letters under each LED relate to where they should be positioned on the
dice.

Connect all the arrows on the transistors to the positive supply rail.

HOW IT WORKS

The 555 timer IC is connected for Astable Operation, the clock pulses are fed to the 4017 IC via
the 10K resistor. The 4017 is a 10 stage counter, output 6 (pin 5) is connected to RESET (pin
15), thus giving us a 6 stage counter , outputs 0 to 5.
6 of the LEDs are connected as 3 pairs, thus requiring 4 different signals, these signals come
from the 4 transistors, which in turn are connected to the nescessary outputs of the 4017.
Where a transistor is operated from more than one output, diodes are used to avoid a short
circuit situation between outputs.
Pin 13 of the 4017 (INHIBIT) is connected to +ve via a 100K resistor to stop the counter from
advancing, however pressing the ROLL button will connect pin 13 to -ve and allow the counter
to advance, hence, throwing the dice.

PARTS LIST

ICs DIODES TRANSISTORS RESISTORS CAPACITORS OTHER

1* NE555 6* 1N4148 4* BC109 7* 1K 1* 22uF 1* NO push switch

1* 4017B 7* LED - 5* 10K 1* 0.01uF -

- - - 2* 2.2K - -

- - - 1* 100K - -

Knight Rider Lights Project

Circuit diagram for standard LED output.

You can use 12V Alternative output driver for 12V bulbs.
bulbs for the
output, simply
substitute the IC
for the LEDs, the
bulbs are then
connected to the
IC's outputs.

This set up is ideal

for running off a
car battery.

HOW IT WORKS
The 555 timer IC is connected for Astable Operation, the clock pulses are fed to the 4017 IC via
the 10K resistor. The 4017 is a 10 stage counter, each of the outputs is connected to the
appropriate LED, as some LEDs need to be on for more than one count, we use diodes to avoid
a short circuit situation between outputs.
The capacitor and resistor on pin 15 of the 4017 are used to reset the counter to zero at initial
power up.
The ULN2001N used on the bulb version is a seven channel Darlington Driver IC, a small signal
on one of the inputs is enough to drive the bulb on the output.

PARTS LIST
(Maplin part numbers are show in brackets)

ICs DIODES BULBS RESISTORS CAPACITORS

1*NE555 8* 1N4148 6* 1K 1* 10uF

(QH66W) (QL80B) (M1K) (FB22Y)
 
1* 4017B 1* 3.3K 1* 0.01uF
 
(QX09K) (M3K3) (WX77J)

1* 8.2K 1* 6.8nF
LED Version
(M8K2) (RA43W)
 6* LED 1* 10K
   
(QW96E ) (M10K)

1* 100K
Bulb Version
(M100K)
 

1* ULN2001N 6* 12V/2.2W
 
(AD91Y ) (WL81C )
 

Plus 6* suitable Bulb Holders.

555 Timer, Operation.

Astable Operation The output at pin 3 produces a square wave

output, oscillating at a frequency determined by
Oscillator 2 resistors and a capacitor.

Astable Operation (Oscilator)

Monostable Operation The output at pin 3 produces a pulse every time

a push button is operated, the duration of the
One-Shot pulse is determined by a resistor and a capacitor.

Monostable Operation (One-Shot)

Monostable Operation The output at pin 3 goes high after a set delay,
the duration of the delay is determined by a
Delay On resistor and a capacitor.

Monostable Operation (Delay On)