Pimoroni
555/556 Timer - NE555P
The NE555 is one of the most iconic and widely used integrated circuits in electronics history. Designed in 1971 by Hans Camenzind, it provides configurable ...
The NE555 is one of the most iconic and widely used integrated circuits in electronics history. Designed in 1971 by Hans Camenzind, it provides configurable timing and oscillation using just a few external resistors and capacitors. Available here in both single (555, PDIP-8) and dual (556, PDIP-14) packages.
In time delay (monostable) mode, the output pulse duration is set by one external resistor and capacitor. In oscillator (astable) mode, the frequency and duty cycle are controlled with two resistors and one capacitor. The DIP package drops straight into breadboards and perfboards for easy prototyping.
Key Features
- Multiple Operating Modes – Astable (oscillator), monostable (one-shot), bistable (flip-flop), and inverting buffer
- Wide Supply Range – 4.5V to 16V operation
- High Output Current – Up to 200mA source/sink (555) or 150mA (556)
- Breadboard Friendly – Standard DIP package for easy prototyping
- Dual Package Available – 556 contains two independent 555 timers sharing power pins
Operating Modes
- Astable – Generates a square wave of configurable frequency
- Monostable – Produces a single pulse of configurable duration on trigger
- Bistable – Output depends on two input states (flip-flop)
- Inverting Buffer – Output is the inverse of the input
Specifications
- Supply Voltage: 4.5–16V
- Max Frequency: 100kHz
- Supply Current: 2mA (555) / 4mA (556)
- Output Current: 200mA source/sink (555) / 150mA (556)
- 555 Package: PDIP-8
- 556 Package: PDIP-14
Ideal For
- LED flasher and blinking circuits
- Tone and sound generation
- PWM motor speed control
- Timing delays and pulse generation
- Learning analogue electronics fundamentals
Resources
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- duty cycle
- The fraction of time a signal or light source is switched on during a repeating cycle. On a proximity sensor, changing the duty cycle can affect detection range, response speed, accuracy and power use.
- LED
- A light-emitting diode is a small electronic component that lights up when current flows through it in the correct direction. In this kit, LEDs create the flashing effect, so polarity and correct soldering matter for the project to work.
- PWM
- Pulse Width Modulation is a way for a digital pin to simulate variable output power by switching on and off very quickly. It matters for controlling things like LED brightness, motor speed, or servo-style signals from a microcontroller pin.
Find this product in
Ne555
Datasheet · 1.5 MB · Click any page to view full size
Ne556
Datasheet · 834.7 KB · Click any page to view full size
Related Tutorials
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