Aim  

                                                                            

To simulate an astable multivibrator using IC 555.

Components

Name EDWin Components Description Number of components

Used required

RES RC05 Resistor 2

CAP CAP Capacitor 2

555 LM555 Timer 1

VDC VDC Dc voltage source 1

GND SPL0 Ground 3

Theory

 
The circuit diagram for the astable multivibrator using IC 555 is shown here. The astable multivibrator generates a
square wave, the period of which is determined by the circuit external to IC 555. The astable multivibrator does
not require any external trigger to change the state of the output. Hence the name free running oscillator. The time
during which the output is either high or low is determined by the two resistors and a capacitor which are
externally connected to the 555 timer.

The above figure shows the 555 timer connected as an astable multivibrator. Initially when the output is high
capacitor C starts charging towards Vcc through RA and RB.
However as soon as the voltage across the capacitor equals 2/3 V cc, comparator1 triggers the flip-flop and the
output switches to low state. Now capacitor C discharges through RB and the transistor Q1. When voltage across C
equals 1/3 Vcc, comparator 2’s output triggers the flip-flop and the output goes high. Then the cycle repeats.

The capacitor is periodically charged and discharged between 2/3 Vcc and 1/3 Vcc respectively. The time during
which the capacitor charges from 1/3 Vcc to 2/3 Vcc is equal to the time the output remains high and is given by

where RA and RB are in ohms and C is in Farads. Similarly the time during which the capacitor discharges from
2/3 Vcc to 1/3 Vcc is equal to the time the output is low and is given by

Thus the total time period of the output waveform is 

Therefore the frequency of oscillation 

The output frequency, f is independent of the supply voltage Vcc.

Procedure
EDWinXP -> Schematic Editor: The circuit diagram is drawn by loading components from the library. Wiring and
proper net assignment has been made. Values are assigned.

for relevant components.

EDWinXP -> Mixed Mode Simulator: The circuit is preprocessed. The waveform marker is placed at the output of
the circuit. GND net is set as the reference net. The Transient Analysis parameters are also set and the Transient
Analysis is executed. The output waveform is observed in the Waveform Viewer.

Result

The output waveform may be observed in the waveform viewer.