Friday 21 January 2011

Simple Flashing LED Circuit using 555 Timer IC

Although not amazingly useful in itself wanted to see if I could build a simple flashing LED circuit with a controllable flash rate, to maybe make the LED part of a vactrol to then effect pitch or some other aspect of sound in one of my circuit bent keyboards.

So many tutorials and examples on youtube, it turned out quite easy, thanks to chilliqueen2007 for the easiest to follow though.

Next step to make it properly on a strip board.

After that may attempt to make a guitar pedal that uses the circuit to make an adjustable tremolo effect or whatever i can think of at the time.

Although very sad this was a great way to spend an evening, apart from the first attempt where i cooked the chip and burnt my finger!

Felt good to use my brain to do something outside of my comfort zone, can see me slowly becoming more interested in electronics and what not.

Also weirdly the flashing LED seems to be in time with the music I used from my old band Box Of Thumbs at some points in the video too. Coincidence? yes, yes of course.