LM555 monostable multivibrator circuit.
Fig. 1 LM555 monostable multivibrator circuit.


LM555-NE555 One-Shot Multivibrator AC Power Control

by Lewis Loflin

The goal of this webpage is to teach electronics to my students across the web. This is not about a finished product. If using voltages higher than 24 volts AC do so at your own risk.

Here I will look into using a 555 timer as a one-shot multivibrator. A one-shot multivibrator produces an output whose on-time is based on a resistor-capacitor charge-discharge circuit. It exists in only two states - ON/OFF. Let us define terms.

The 555 has been manufactured by a number of companies. This is often known as the NE555 or LM555.

Here I will use the LM555 in its one-shot monostable mode. The goals are:

A: Discuss the operation of a LM555 circuit and timing.

B: Then I will use the LM555 with a zero-crossing circuit to demonstrate AC power control.

Fig. 1 illustrates a LM555 connected in its monostable mode. Pin 3 is the output while pin 2 is the trigger pulse input. Pin 2 is pulled HIGH by a 10,000 Ohm resistor connected to Vcc of 5-volts. Pin 3 output is normally a LOW or 0-volts output.

When switch SW1 is pressed trigger pin 2 goes LOW. Capacitor C1 is discharged, pin 3 goes HIGH, LED D2 turns on. C1 begins to charge through R1-R2 based on the formula t in seconds = C * R * 1.1. R is understood as R1 + R2

Example 1: R1 is adjusted to a total resistance of 50,000 Ohms while C1 is 100uF. What is the ON time (LED on) t?

t = R * C1 * 1.1 = 50,000 * .0001 Farads * 1.1 = 5.5 sec.

Example 2: What the maximum and minimum ON time for a 1000uF capacitor?

t max = 1000uF * 101,000 Ohms * 1.1 = 111.1 sec.

t min = 1000uF * 1000 Ohms * 1.1 = 1.1 sec.

Important note: while SW1 is pressed the output will remain HIGH even after time t has elapsed until released.

LM555 monostable circuit for 60Hz power control.
Fig. 2 LM555 monostable circuit for 60Hz power control.


Now we look as using the LM555 to control AC power. Fig. 2 illustrates the LM555 monostable circuit. C1 is 0.47uF capacitor and R1 is 20,000 Ohms. The timing range t from maximum to minimum of:

t max = 0.47uF * 21,000 * 1.1 = 10.9 milliseconds.

t min = 0.47uF * 1000 * 1.1 = 50 microseconds.

The negative going zero-crossing pulse is input on pin 2.

MOC30XX based AC power control.
Fig. 3 MOC30XX based AC power control.


A 60 Hertz period is 1 / 60 = 16.7 milliseconds. We have to control a triac circuit at the half-cycle which equals 8.33 milliseconds.

Fig. 3 illustrates a MOC3010 type opto-coupler connected to a triac, and a 24-volt lamp connected to a 24-colt AC supply.

When the LM555 pin 3 is LOW, its normal state, the triac circuit is turned on - the lamp is on.

The Q1 triac is a generic sensitive gate triac.

See my page Basic Triacs and SCRs.

Note I'll be using the pulsating DC at TP1 instead of AC but this works the same.

LM555 monostable trigger pulse versus output wave forms.
Fig. 4


Fig. 4 illustrates LM555 monostable trigger pulse versus output waveforms. When pin 2 goes LOW or zero volts output pin 3 goes HIGH or Ton. During Ton the triac circuit is turned off. The triac circuit is turned on only during Toff. The longer the delay for Ton to 8.33 milliseconds less energy is supplied to the load. By adjusting R1 thus Ton we control the lamp intensity.

Do not adjust R1 for a time period t greater than 8.3 milliseconds or control will be lost.

Zero-crossing detector circuit.
Fig. 5 Zero-crossing detector circuit.


Fig. 5 show one example of a zero-crossing circuits. Use connection A for this circuit.

See Improved AC Zero Crossing Detectors for Arduino

60 Hertz alternating voltage versus zero-crossing detector pulse.
Fig. 6 60 Hertz alternating voltage versus zero-crossing detector pulse.


Zero-crossing pulse versus LM555 monostable output pin 3.
Fig. 7 Zero-crossing pulse (B) versus LM555 monostable output pin 3.


Triac output versus pulsating direct current input.
Fig. 8 Triac output versus pulsating direct current input.


Fig. 8 illustrates the load voltage versus the pulsating input voltage at TP1 in Fig. 5.

Zero-crossing pulse versus load voltage.
Fig. 9 Zero-crossing pulse versus load voltage.



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