EXPERIMENT NO.

Study of Astable Multivibrator circuit using 555 timer IC

OBJECTIVE:
1. To study the working principle of 555 timer.
2. To study an astable multivibrator circuit using 555 timer.

EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP:
Accessories:
Power Supply +5V
CRO
Bread Board, connecting wires, Signal generator

Components:
IC555
Resistors RA, RB. Cr= 0.01 F /0.1pF (ceramic capacitor)

-+5V

NE 555 Output

C 0.01pF
CT=0.1pF-

Fig.1 Experimental Circuit Diagram of Astble multivibrator using NE555 Timer IC

THEORY:
The 555 is an IC timing circuit that can produce time delays or oscillations. The 55 Timer
IC is available as an 8-pin metal can, an 8-pin mini DIP (dual-in-package) or a 14-pin DIP.
The pin configuration is shown in the fig.2.
 GROGHO N VCC

OiBCHANG
TRIGOE

THRESHOL
oUTPUT

O
RESET OLTAC

Timer
Fig.2 Pin Configuration of 555

Reset

Threshold
Control

1/8 V
Trigger

Discharge
Output

i n Ground

IC
Fig 3 .Basic Block Diagram of 555 timer

is shown in the fig.3. A 555 timer has two comparators,

The block diagram of a 555 timer resistive network.
two transistors and a
which are basically 2 op-amps), an R-S flip-flop,
acts voltage divider.
Resistive network consists of three equal
resistors and as a
+ 2/3 Vcc volts.
with a
reference voltage
Comparator I compares threshold voltage + 1/3 Vcc volts.
2 the trigger vo ltage with a reference voltage
compares
Comparator

Astable Multivibrator:
generating circuit. The time during which the
An astable multivibrator is a rectangular-wave which are
or LOW is determined by
two resistors and a capacitor
output is either HIGH
connected to the 555 timer. This
circuit does not require an external trigger to
externally
 oscillator. I he detaiis
Change the state of the output, hence it is called free running relaxation
of the astable multivibrator circuit are given below.

Voc

TIME
WACITOR TOR
CHARGES
oiSCHARGEs
"

29Voc

Capacitor and Output Voltage Waveforma

Internal Circuitry Wth External Connection
Astable Operation

voltage wavefroms of Astable

Fig.4 Circuit Diagram and capacitor and output
Multivibrator with Internal circuitry of 555 timer

transistor is cut-off and the

4, when Q is low or high, the discharging
output VouT is
In figure and R3. Because of this, the
charging toward Vcc through resistances RA
capacitor Cr begins the
+ Ra) CT. Eventually, the
threshold voltage exceeds +2/3 Vcc,
charging time constant is (Ra and the timer output
the flip-flop so that its Q is high
I has a output and triggers
high
comparator saturates and grounds so that the capacitor CT
pin 7
is low. With Q high, the discharge transistor
With the discharging
resistance R with a discharging time constant Rs Cr.
discharges through 2 decreases. When it drops below
of capacitor, trigger voltage
at inverting input of comparator
the flip-flop so that Q is low and the
2 goes high and this reset
1/3Vcc, the output of comparator from low to high and then to low
the auto-transition in output
timer output is high. This proves
as, illustrated
in figure. Thus the cycle repeats.

THEORETICAL VALUE:
x 100 %
Duty cycle (D)
=
Ton/ (ToN +ToFF)

=0.693(RatRs) CT sec
ToN

ToFF 0.693 RgCT. sec

 D = AtR x 100 %
2RA+RB
If, R=R» then D= 66.67 %

RA=R 10KK CT-0.1uF

ToN 693x (10K+10K) x (0.1x10 F) sec = 1.386x10 sec

ToFF .693x (10K) x

(0.1x10° F) sec 0.693x10
= sec

Observation Table of Astable Operation:

RA Re ToN= ToFF 0.69(Rs)Cr| D D
0.69(RatRu)Cr
TheoretiPractica
Theoretical Practi(Practical(Theoretic

cal Value) al value)

cal I Value value
value Value

PROCEDURE:

the circuit diagram.

1. Make the connections as per
to time duration required.
2. Select RA, RB & C according
3. Take the output on CRO. low, Total time period,
the time the output is
4. Calculate the the time the output high,
is
frequency and % duty cycle.

CONCLUSION:
multivibrator using 555 timer.
In this way we have designed astable