NE555 IC Timer LED Chaser Board

Brief Introduction

This project is to build NE555 IC LED Chaser Board, incorporating the 555 timer IC and the CD4017 IC. This electronic circuit can create a visually appealing and attractive effect where multiple LEDs light is sequentially illuminated. The illumination happens one after each another repetitively. The actual purpose is to create an illusion of a running or chasing light effect where the illuminating LED follows a certain array. Such boards are commonly used in signage, decorations, festive lighting, and display panels.

The project is made possible by the use of the 555 timers and CD4017 IC. The CD4017 is a decade counter-integrated circuit. The purpose of the 555 timer IC is the generation of the clock pulses and the CD4017 serves the purpose of dividing the frequency that it receives and also driving the connected LEDs.

This project directs the reader on how to do a simple LED chaser circuit with two main components: the 555 timers and the CD4017 ICs.

Project Required Components

NE555 timer IC

10 LEDs

CD4017 Decade Counter IC

10K Resistor -1

220 ohms resistor -10

10k Pot -1

10nF Capacitor

10uF Capacitor

Breadboard if you want to assemble it at home

Jumper wires

9V Power supply or Battery

Design of the Project Circuit

The circuit uses the KiCAD EDA tool, open-source software.

The circuit makes use of the NE555 timer IC as its driving force plus the CD4017 decade IC. Pin 1 of the 555 timers is the ground that connects the timer to the negative of the power supply. Pin 2 is the TRIGGER which a negative pulse on the pin sets the flip flop from a low to a high state. Pin 3 is the output that is used to drive any TTL circuit. Pin 4 is for reset which serves the purpose of resetting the internal flip flop hence controlling the status of the output. Pin 5 is the control voltage and its purpose is to control the 555 timer timing by overriding the 2/3 VCC level of the connected voltage divider. Pin 6 is the threshold that is connected to the positive input of the comparator and it resets the flip-flop when the voltage applied exceeds 2/3 of VCC triggering the output to switch from high to low. Pin 7 is the Discharge pin which is connected to the collector of the internal NPN transistor that is used to discharge the timing capacitor when the output at pin 3 goes low. Finally, pin 8, Supply + VCC is the power supply pin.

The timer is the driving force behind our Circuit.

The PCB Layout

Below is the PCB layout done in KiCAD EDA.

3D Output From KiCAD EDA

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