instructables

Simple Flip Flop Circuit

by NEW PEW

In this Instructable I show you how to make a Flip Flop LED circuit. The special thing about this circuit is that it does not
use an IC (Integrated Circuit).

By using di erent resistors, capacitors and transistors, I succeeded in this project to make a circuit that lights the LED
lights one by one.

I will explain how the circuit works in the last step.

Video Tutorial

//www.youtube.com/embed/s55gyS9dLq4

Supplies:

2 LED lights (any color you want)

2 BC547 transistors
2 470 Ohm resistors
2 10K resistors
2 100 uF capacitors

Simple Flip Flop Circuit: Page 1

Simple Flip Flop Circuit: Page 2
Step 1: Prepare 470 Ohm Resistors

For this step you need 2 470 ohm resistors. Bend one pin of both resistors 90 degrees. Then solder the bent pins together.

It doesn't matter how a resistor is placed, it works the same in both directions.

Simple Flip Flop Circuit: Page 3

Step 2: Mount the 10K Resistors.

For this step you need the 2 10K resistors. Cut a piece o the pin on one side of both resistors. Then solder the resistors to
the 2 resistors from the previous step.

The resistors from this step do not necessarily have to be 10K. As long as they are anywhere between 10K and 50K it is ne.
(speed of changeover is therefore also di erent)

Simple Flip Flop Circuit: Page 4

Step 3: Mount the First Transistor

Bend the collector and emitter terminals of the BC547 transistor 90 degrees. Solder the Collector to the 470 Ohm resistor
and the Base to the 10K resistor.

The last image is the pinout of the BC547 transistor.

Simple Flip Flop Circuit: Page 5

Step 4: Mount the Second Transistor

Bend the collector and emitter terminals of the BC547 transistor 90 degrees. Solder the Collector to the 470 Ohm resistor
and the Base to the 10K resistor.

Simple Flip Flop Circuit: Page 6

Step 5: Mount the LED Lights

Bend the connectors of the LED lights so that they are at an angle of 90 degrees. Solder the anode (+) of the rst LED to
one of the pins that are still free from the BC547 transistors (emitter).

Then solder the anode of the second LED to the other transistor.

Connect the cathodes (-) of both LED lights together by soldering them.

Simple Flip Flop Circuit: Page 7

Simple Flip Flop Circuit: Page 8
Step 6: Mount the Capacitors

For this project I used 100 uF capacitors. Between 10 uF and Mount the second capacitor with the + connection
100 uF works in any case (interval of the LED lamps between "transistor 2 and the 470 Ohm resistor" and
changes with it) with the - connection between "transistor 1 and the 10K
resistor".
Mount the rst capacitor with the + connection between
"transistor 1 and the 470 Ohm resistor" and with the -
connection between "transistor 2 and the 10K resistor".

Simple Flip Flop Circuit: Page 9

Step 7: Mount the Power Supply

The circuit is nished so far. Only the power supply needs to be connected. I used a 9V battery for that.
Simple Flip Flop Circuit: Page 10
Connect the + connection of the battery clip to the connection of the 4 resistors.

Connect the - connection of the battery clip to the connection between the 2 LED lamps.

Connect the 9V battery to the connector.

Simple Flip Flop Circuit: Page 11

Step 8: Ready

The Flip Flop circuit is ready! gets activated. (Including the led connected to its
collector).
How it works
Video Tutorial
The base of both the transistors are connected to +
connection through resistor. Any one transistor will get
activated rst. (this is because no transistor is exactly
similar to other one). Lets assume transistor 1 turns on
//www.youtube.com/embed/s55gyS9dLq4
rst. When the transistor turns on the collector pin gets
grounded and led at its collector lights up. Also the
capacitor starts to charge through ground provided by
1st transistor and the 10k resistor at the base of 2nd
I am curious about your creations, comments and
transistor. Since the 1st capacitor is charging it is taking
additions!
current from the 10k resistor which is at the base of 2nd
transistor. The base of 2nd transistor has no current to
See you soon.
activate its led. At some point 1st capacitor will charge
up. And when it does so, there is no more current
New Pew
owing through it. Now there is enough current that can
ow through base of 2nd transistor. The 2nd transistor

Simple Flip Flop Circuit: Page 12

Really cool But looks Pretty fragile.

Simple Flip Flop Circuit: Page 13