Blinking Led Light(with Potentiometer to Adjust Blink Rate)

Author: Simon Merchan

Meant for: Any level

Material

-        Breadboard 

-        Wires

-        9v battery

-        9v battery strap

Compentents required

-        555 timer

-        Capacitor 100uf 25v

-        2 led lights (any color)

-        200k resistor 

-        10k resistor x2

-        Potentiometer (any K measurement) 

Anyone at any level can do this circuit IF you follow step by step with picture provided to visual assist. It also gives an idea on how it’s supposed to be. Give this circuit a shot now!

Set bread board on table. Then, place the 555 timer in the middle of the breadboard (should be connected inside both sides of dots)

Note: Make sure it's 555 timer or circuit will not work

First, connect pin 2 of left side to pin 3 of right side of 555 timer; Secondly, connect pin 4 of left side of 555 timer to pin 1 of right side 

Connect pin 2 of right side of 555 timer with a side of 200k resistor and other side to the positive aspect side of breadboard

Note: Anything less than 200k resistor will not work. It will only lead to the led lights turning on and not blink at all

Place potentiometer somewhere on bread board that is not next to 555 timer; afterwards, connect left side of potentiometer to 2^nd pin of right side of 555 timer; lastly, connect middle of potentiometer to 3^rd pin of right side of 555 timer

Connect 100uf with negative side to 2^nd pin and positive side to 1^st pin in the left side of 555 timer

Note: Black strip of capacitor is the negative aspect

Connect the 1st pin of the left side of 555 timer to negative power aspect of board and connect the 1st pin of right side to positive power aspect of board 

Place led light anywhere on board but with short side leg connected to the negative power aspect of board

Connect long side leg of led light to 3^rd pin of left side of 555 timer with 10k resistor(repeat this with other led light)

Note: Any resistor will do. Anything above 10k will increase blink rate and decrease brightness. Anything below 10k will decrease blink rate but increase brightness

Lastly connect battery to power aspect of board. It should turn on. If so, move potentiometer to adjust blink rate to your desire. If able to do so, circuit is up to standards!

Troubleshoot: 

If it does not turn on….

·       Check if wire is plugged in all the way

·       Try different battery 

·       Try different potentiometer

·       Try different led lights

If led lights turns on only….

·       Try different resistors above 200k

·       Check your wiring from previous steps and make sure it's on point 

·       Try different led lights

Go on and try other circuits found on my homepage such as how to build a circuit of brightness adjuster for led lights or how to build a circuit of led light chase using only a 555 timer and ic4017!!!