square waveform (555)

Jul 16, 2006 6 Replies

Hello everyone,



Just liek to know if it is a normal thing that at LOW frequencies ( 15-25 Hz) that the output of a 555 timer is not exactly a square wave. At higher frequencies I get a perfect square wave (say between 50 and 300Hz). But at lower frequencies, the voltage when get to high, slowly decreases until the output of the 555 turns off. So usinf a 6v supply, instead of getting 6v high 0v low. I get 6v high,



5.99v, 5.98 ... 5.89, (there is a small slope at the high) then it goes low to 0v. I am using 50% duty cycle.

I hope I was clear enough thank you,



ken


5.89V counts as damned close to 6V if you ask me. You're lucky to get that much with silicon, a 0.6V drop is more typical (and you'll find it under a stiffer load).

I don't know why it would drop. It could be real, some effect internal to the 555, a power supply issue (is +V varying by 0.1V as well?), or something with your meter, or how you're measuring it.

Tim

Deep Fryer: a very philosophical monk. Website: http://webpages.charter.net/dawill/tmoranwms

Ok I put up a web page to show what I get on the scope:

formatting link

Everything is supplied by a 12v battery

I am using this cicuit:

formatting link
except for the resisitor to change the frequency.

Ken

Its staring you in the face right in the photo. Put the scope into DC coupling and check back.

GG

oook , thank you I feel dumb enough now

K

Sometimes the hardest things to spot are the most obvious ones.

maybe your caps in your supply is not holding charge. test your supply voltage.

Real Programmers Do things like this. http://webpages.charter.net/jamie_5

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