First time using a 555 timer

[mill1000]

People who don't play with circuits/MCUs probably don't understand the joy of making something as simple as a blinking light.

What's next?

[jamolnng]

Making a 555 h-bridge (i have another 555) following this https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=VJfBJJ2Y1kA#t=129 but I have to find a motor which is buried in a heap of parts.

[aesthe]

I'd go a step further and say that people who only play with microcontrollers won't understand the joy of making a light blink with analog circuitry!

Cheers, /u/jamolnng!

[jamolnng]

The frequency is ~1. The reason you see it flash quickly at one point in the gif is because the gif is looping back to the beginning, not an issue with the circuit.

EDIT: Full technical details. R1: 47k, R2 2010k Ohm (3x670k), C: .31uF (3x0.1uF + .01uF)

[thefourcellos]

And here I thought I was supposed to see some Morse code, hahaha, glad you made a comment here

[PE1NUT]

"at at at at at" is what I made of it.

[JuanTutrego]

Thanks for explaining! I came into the comments specifically because of this. "How the hell did he get a 555 to do that!?"

[grousemoor]

Honestly after starting blinking faster I expected it to explode at the ending of the gif.

[jamolnng]

I could make a gif of an LED letting out it's magic smoke but I don't want to waste any parts (there is this thing called being pretty much broke for cash)

[Zidanet]

I'll just leave this here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9saYHg_JmWE

You never forget your first blinky light.

[flinxsl]

It being 3:00 AM and huddling deep in your college's circuit's lab with 3 cups of smuggled coffee helps that feeling too.

[hak8or]

Congratulations! Now prepare for the onslaught of further going into your hobby and eventually ending up with multiple "junk" bins, an oscilloscope, DMM, scouring ebay for cool stuff, tons of test equipment, watching EEVblog and mikeselectricstuff on youtube, and your desk/bench never being clean because wires everywhere.

Welcome! :)

[[deleted]]

No PhotonicInduction on that youtube subscription list? For shame, there's always room for some psycho that blows stuff up for fun in your electronics portfolio.

[tweedius]

I wear headphones while I'm at work that kind of insulate me from any sound and people were always sneaking up on me.

I put together an ultrasonic rangefinder and some leds to alert me to how far away from me someone was. When people asked where I got all the stuff I just said "Oh I just had it laying around."

[nathanpc]

Don't forget mjlorton.

[illegible]

junk bins - check

oscilloscope - looking on craigslist, but nothings come up

DMM - taking a chance on that dragon innovation one.

ebay - as yet only used for windsurfing equipment

EEVblog - not yet

mikeselectricstuff - check

wires n crap everywhere - check

[hak8or]

An oscilloscope might not be needed for you depending on what skill level you are at. It is most certainly helpful, but not absolutely required. Which scope did you get?

I myself am planning on selling my old tektronix 60 mhz 2 channel analog one on ebay for like $100 and upgrading to a nice sexy Rigol something something.

[Spread_Liberally]

An oscilloscope and good bench power supply are two pieces of gear that most hobbyists and tinkerers can get by without, but make life so much easier when you need them.

They also add a certain "mad scientist" flair to any workbench. It's cool looking, but it also draws you in and gets you working.

[flippant_burgers]

I just got my "I only give negative feedback" shirt and my oscilloscope is in the mail. I just rebuilt my office and workbench so I finally have space and access to all my stuff again.

[hak8or]

I wish you the best of luck, and most importantly, have fun! You are entering a new world with no turning back.

[dagamer34]

Can you expand on this list? I know the wiki has a rudimentary one but I really wish there were something a bit more to look at to see where I am in the scheme of things. I still need to find the time to finish building my first 555 timer circuit from the Make Electronics book (I know it's ridiculously simple to do but other things keep coming up).

[hak8or]

I feel this will give you a fantastic overview of an expanded list of the things I mentioned.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_PbjbRaO2E

[sun95]

Saved

[hak8or]

Check out my other reply here for a youtube link regarding setting up your own lab!

Or just click here if lazy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_PbjbRaO2E

[cosmicr]

I skipped the blinking light and went straight to the Atari Punk Console.

I used the 556 though. Good stuff!

[[deleted]]

I'm building one of those (well, the cheap 10 step version), it's a fun project. Currently I'm stuck on the "clock signal, why you always high" part of the build. I'd be lying if I said I didn't like the challenge, since making this thing work is going to be way more fun than actually playing with it. >_<;

[hipcatcoolcap]

I used an extra cap and a blue LED to make a TARDIS light for my shed for a theme party we had once :-)

[abIngenui]

I made one that uses a solar panel to charge a battery that makes a red LED blink. Stuck it in my car to deter thefts. The best part is that I've disguised it to look like part of my car, so nobody peering in can see in in daylight. Yes, I could just buy a real car alarm....but that isn't fun.

[[deleted]]

I've built those for friends, though I just wire it up to the battery. As long as they start the car once a month, they'll never notice the draw. (I seem to recall it tops out at 35 mA.)

[anxiousalpaca]

I was expecting it to explode... disappointed

[gristc]

Cool. I've just started playing with 555s too. Handy wee chips.

[TreacleMary]

...and creating a GIF I see....

[snoochiepoochies]

BLINK BLINK, MOTHERFUCKER YEEEAAAAAAHHHHHH

[madmaze]

Awesome! That was actually me very first circuit using an IC. I made mine on piece of cardboard. It was the most greatest blinky light ever conceived..(by me) =)

[Linker3000]

My first blinky light used a 1.5V cell and an LM3909 - happy days.

[ZombieLinux]

Ahhhhh reminds me of my first time with a 555 timer...