5 Times Around Timing Circuit

[jprampolla]

Hi Folks,

I found this web page http://home.cogeco.ca/~rpaisley4/5Times.html on building a timing circuit and wonder if anyone has built such a circuit or perhaps located a similar or better design. There isn't a parts list and I was trying to figure correct part numbers. It is a circuit that allows a train to make 5 loops around the track before automatically stopping.

Thanks!
Take care, Joe.

[Anonymous]

Hello Joe;

There is nothing in the circuit diagram that would be hard to get. If you have a Radio Shack (or better yet an old fashioned electronics part distributor) with a reasonably informed staff, you should be able to walk in with that circuit diagram and get what you need. You should get sockets for the IC's (like the 556 timer) and be sure you know how the pins are numbered on the ICs. Get a low-wattage soldering iron, some resin core solder, and a piece of perf board to mount everything on.

Good Luck!

[jprampolla]

Hi Don,

Thanks for the reply! I was looking through a catalog trying to match the parts and couldn't find the LM393 comparator, only an LM311. And I didn't know what the part # 7808 was. Figure it is a voltage regulator. Thanks for the advice of using the sockets. I learned to solder about 14 years ago when I built the Peter J. Thorne HF AC lighting generator, my first electronics project and my beginner's luck gave me the confidence to carry on. I posted the question since sometimes the things you find on the net aren't good designs. I have wanted to get into some timing circuits and I figure this one might teach me some good lessons. Will post here when I get it finished, or perhaps sooner if I get into trouble. [:)] Thanks again!

Take care, Joe.

[Hudsonmike]

Thanks Joe
This is a site I can use and have been looking for for a long time.
Thanks Again
Mike

[jprampolla]

Hi Folks,      

     Well it has been a long time, but I finally got around to building a timing circuit, however it is not the circuit I was looking into 4 years ago.  I found this very simple circuit at: http://www.electronics-project-design.com/TimingLight.html   However, I used the following components:   

Q1 - TIP31C

R1 - 400K

R2 -  20K

C1 - 0.1uF

E1 -  1000 uF 35 V Electrolytic Polarized Cap, 2 in parallel

SW - 3 Amp / 125 V  All Electronics  PB- 155

D1  -  1N4003

RLY -  12 VDC 4PDT  All Electronics 4PRLY-12  

      It gives me approx 1.5 minutes of "on" time, about a minute and 25 seconds.  I eliminated R1 at first since it discharged the caps more quickly, but decided it was probably there for a good reason.  Without R1 you get about 5 more seconds.   I redrew it for us non-electrical types:  

 

  Take care, Joe.