Help with timer circuit and relay

[Grenge]

I am having some trouble with a electronic circuit that I have built and
wondering if anyone can help me.
I built a timer circuit from a Dick Smith kit "K-2813 555 Timer Circuits". I
made circuit #1 shown here
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~tizza/timercircuit.jpg I added extra
resistors in series with VR1 to extend the time.
When I finished it, I tested it with a lamp connected to the output and it
all worked fine. The timer ran for 17 seconds before switching off. Then I
connected a relay to the output, because the relay would then switch a
flasher circuit that is working in combination with it. With the relay
connected, the timer will turn the output on but it won't turn off. I have
tried disconnecting the relay and all works fine again so the relay must be
causing some problem. The relays number is KU1T-A
Is there any way I can get the timer circuit working with a relay?

Thanks
Grenge

 

[Lord Garth]

"Grenge" <Grengeis@thefootthatisbig.com> wrote in message
news:8lMce.537$sd7.13948@nnrp1.ozemail.com.au...

I am having some trouble with a electronic circuit that I have built and
wondering if anyone can help me.
I built a timer circuit from a Dick Smith kit "K-2813 555 Timer Circuits".
I
made circuit #1 shown here
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~tizza/timercircuit.jpg I added extra
resistors in series with VR1 to extend the time.
When I finished it, I tested it with a lamp connected to the output and it
all worked fine. The timer ran for 17 seconds before switching off. Then I
connected a relay to the output, because the relay would then switch a
flasher circuit that is working in combination with it. With the relay
connected, the timer will turn the output on but it won't turn off. I have
tried disconnecting the relay and all works fine again so the relay must
be
causing some problem. The relays number is KU1T-A
Is there any way I can get the timer circuit working with a relay?

Thanks
Grenge

What is the exact part number of the 555? I'm trying to determine if it is
a
CMOS version or if it is the standard version. The output might need a
transistor driver to work with the relay. You will need to place a diode
across the relay to protect the preceding circuitry from the inductive
'kick'
when the relay is switched off.

What voltage are you applying the timer / relay circuit and what is the
resistance
of the relay coil?

 

[Harvey]

Grenge wrote:

I am having some trouble with a electronic circuit that I have built and
wondering if anyone can help me.
I built a timer circuit from a Dick Smith kit "K-2813 555 Timer Circuits". I
made circuit #1 shown here
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~tizza/timercircuit.jpg I added extra
resistors in series with VR1 to extend the time.
When I finished it, I tested it with a lamp connected to the output and it
all worked fine. The timer ran for 17 seconds before switching off. Then I
connected a relay to the output, because the relay would then switch a
flasher circuit that is working in combination with it. With the relay
connected, the timer will turn the output on but it won't turn off. I have
tried disconnecting the relay and all works fine again so the relay must be
causing some problem. The relays number is KU1T-A
Is there any way I can get the timer circuit working with a relay?

Thanks
Grenge

The coil current of that relay seems to fall well within the output
specs of the 555 so it shouldn't be overloading the chip.
Have you fitted a diode (1N4148 signal diode) across the relay coil
(connected backwards) to protect the 555 from the voltage spike created
as the coil is switched off?

It is possible that your circuit is re-triggering itself as the coil is
switched off so it's a good idea to also connect another diode (1N4001
rectifier diode)in series with the coil.

You could also drive the relay via a transistor circuit.
http://www.eleinmec.com/article.asp?1

 

[Grenge]

"Harvey" <hnagila@iprimus.com.au> wrote in message
news:4273acff_1@news.iprimus.com.au...

The coil current of that relay seems to fall well within the output specs
of the 555 so it shouldn't be overloading the chip.
Have you fitted a diode (1N4148 signal diode) across the relay coil
(connected backwards) to protect the 555 from the voltage spike created as
the coil is switched off?

It is possible that your circuit is re-triggering itself as the coil is
switched off so it's a good idea to also connect another diode (1N4001
rectifier diode)in series with the coil.

You could also drive the relay via a transistor circuit.
http://www.eleinmec.com/article.asp?1

It was the two diodes that it needed.
Thanks

 

[Clifford Heath]

Grenge wrote:

It is possible that your circuit is re-triggering itself as the coil is
switched off so it's a good idea to also connect another diode (1N4001
rectifier diode)in series with the coil.
It was the two diodes that it needed.

Note that there is a right way and a wrong way of connecting these
two diodes. One diode must be connected directly across the coil,
in reverse (so it's off while the relay is activated), and should
be able to take the full coil current. It must not have the other
diode in the loop.

The other diode (if you need it - probably not) goes to the 555.

The reason for this is that the coil, like any inductance, resists
any change in current flow. When it's on, it has current flowing
down into the 555. When the 555 turns off, that current *doesn't*
stop straight away. Instead, the voltage at the bottom end of the
relay coil rises high enough that the current can keep flowing.
That is, it rises *above* the supply voltage, and often high enough
to push current through the 555 output, even though it's *off*.
This continues until the energy that was stored as a magnetic field
is dissipated, by which time the output transistor of your 555 may
well be toast. If not, well, the high voltage injected into its
output terminal has found another way home, possibly disrupting the
timing function of the circuit - as you found.

So now you see why the 2nd diode probably isn't needed. When the
555 turns off, the voltage rises until the relay is at one diode
drop above the supply rail. For some circuits, you might need an
additional diode to prevent this higher-than-supply voltage from
causing problems... but probably not in a 555 circuit.

If you only use the blocking (2nd) diode, and not the 1st one,
or if you put the 2nd one inside the loop, you provide no current
path and the voltage will rise high enough to destroy the diode.

Clifford Heath.