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 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

• NE555P Datasheet (PDF)
• NE556N Datasheet (PDF)