EEVblog #555 - 555 Timer Kit

Dave celebrates the classic 555 timer IC by building the Evil Mad Scientist "three fives" discrete timer kit.
Some scope measurements and an explanation of the internal 555 timer circuitry follow.

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[linuxuser]

Its therapeutic for me to watch YouTube of people building stuff. You can build all the kits you want on video and I like many others will watch them.

[JuanSanchez-jmkd]

Boring? Not at all! Chock full of electronic awesomeness. Random yet useful babble on mass electronics production, the 555 tutorial and best of all was the building block circuit theory explained very well. Might be boring for a veteran but ear candy to people that are interested in learning.

I wish there were more teardowns that go into the circuit theory even if it were a simple toy or power supply.

[darrylmay]

Thank you! Not at all boring. I've used 555 timers in my entire electronics career and never bothered to learn how they work internally.

[MostFolkCallMeOrangeJoe]

Discrete components is OK but it needs to be taken further...

555 Made with vacuum tubes, now that is a kit I would pay for.

[mbaker]

I was at school, building a valve (tube) radio and playing with 0c71/0c81/bc109 and 2n2926 transistors. Then a friend introduced me to the 555 timer.  Now, 44 years later, I am retiring and still mess around with this chip. Amazing that one chip can span an entire working life.

[electronicsNmore]

Even though the 555 is an oldie, it sure is a very useful IC. I use it in many of my circuits. 

[bubblehead]

WOW, that's a huge tip to use on the soldering iron. What we did to remove the smoke from soldering was to use a small PC type fan (120mm) that was AC powered. We mounted it on stands, put grill guards on it and also put a power switch. That gave it plenty of air flow to remove the smoke. Did a great job.

[zaphhood]

To answer tour question. Watching these are therapeutic for us too. Thanks Dave.

[Rsslone]

Your "electrons falling out" joke never gets old.

[nxxxxzn]

G'day all... I started watching this vblog almost 2 years ago. I remember myself having trouble understanding Dave's accent (I was born in Europe, in a post-soviet country). I had no Idea back then that I'd ever visit Australia in my life... Here I am in Sydney. Almost 3 months now. Crazy life...

[ShonkyLegs]

"Every resistor is a winner" I don't know why this sentence pleased me so much.

[blogtodeath]

After 30 years in Electronics and design and now developing software and websites I am delighted to be a Dave addict! He reminds me how much hands on Electronics development is. I did not think people still got this involved anymore!

[mmilner]

Assembling of the kit is interesting in and of itself. The discussion and chat is also super informative. So it's not just the putting together of the kit I (we) like, it's the information, tips, techniques and other good information which makes this "not incredibly boring".

[ChaplainDaveSparks]

I remember using 555s in college back in the 1970s. As for soldering: gotta love the smell of that rosin flux core. Do it "right" and rosin particles stick to your nose hairs and you can smell it for DAYS. Fortunately, it's a rather pleasant aroma...

[forbinone]

the 555 timer held me back for 30 years i could never get them to work and it destroved my confidence as an electronics designer. With hindsight it was probably me and the cheap soldering iron that was either making crap soldering or frying the chip with leaking power. I ended up programing computers for 25 years, but in 2002 i discovered the basic stamp. That was my watershed moment. I now design my own shields around the arduino mega and have just got my first mojo fpga. By the way love your fpga video. wish i was young again when i was 18 they just launched the sinclair zx81 and i had one from the second batch. cant believe how far things have come already. Isaac Asimov would have swooned. Keep up the good work.

[BitBerlin]

Still with you Dave, after an Hour! Thx so much for this video. Loved it so much!

[calmarcalmar]

It was not boring -.... somehow the relaxing part of doing such sets came over.

[tzqtdq]

My dad gave me an option, $20- on an arduino or $20- of 555 timer chips. I had so much fun with the 555s, very versatile and fun

[williamculver]

I was wondering how many eevblog vids I have to watch before I hear the words 'Bloody arduino'. Now my life is complete :).

[Warndog]

I really enjoyed this video. I didn't even notice I had been watching it for an hour. It's like one of your EEVblabs but with you working on the subject at hand. Very entertaining and informative!