Make a Really Simple Square Wave Generator

In this video, I go over the ins and outs of making a really simple, really cheap frequency generator using a 555 timer IC. Personally I sick of constantly building a new one from scratch every time I need one.
1:16 Prototyping
1:57 Relevant Equations
4:13 Comp. Values
4:29 A Small Electrical Fire
7:00 Demo
References:
555 Datasheet - www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/ne55...
Narrator/Editor:
Dayton Aardema - EE
Music:
Cody Aardema - Blueprint Theme(s)

[@ibraheemkhan5016]

You're legitimately the only KZbinr I actually decided to follow because I enjoyed the way the video was done, I genuinely learnt a lot. Thank you. You're awesome.

[@MrDuran9000]

Appreciate your videos. Wish I would have learned this 45 years ago. You are certainly blessed. Keep up the good work.

[@youssefdirani]

Never too late my friend

[@maxximumb]

A young ElectroBoom in the making.

[@BlueprintScience]

Why does everybody keep thinking I'm ElectroBoom!?!?

[@BASANTABHATTARAI]

because he is a benchmark of magic smoke..

[@rajlad4418]

his sparks were real though 😂

[@electronicguy4550]

You have a unibrow. Im soo sorry

[@AdamKDean]

Maxx B electropop it is

[@shanegibbens]

Just starting your channel, already subscribed, love your explanations and your humorous bits. Lol. Keep it up man!

[@SeattlePioneer]

Loved the fireworks display!

[@MichaelRusso]

Informative. I wish all videos were this good.

[@maxk4324]

quality video, I learned and laughed!

[@jonathoncreswell3191]

Great video man keep it up!

[@Tx_6969]

I just made one. Works GREAT!!!

[@e.h.lipton73]

If teacher's were as entertaining as you,, more kids would show up for class and actually learn something!

[@Magneticitist]

One thing lab supplies often lack which is so easy to add in a DIY supply is a separate switch to engage the + output lead!

[@cristianpopescu78]

Nice! Love that!

[@peteg400]

Love it! Thank you.

[@sidster64]

It's a great tutorial and yes the circuit works very well thanks

[@peteoselka5285]

Thanks so much for this video I made the circuit and it works!

[@BlueprintScience]

Cool. Use it wisely.

[@NatalyaandS]

You have a good laboratory💡like and subscribed

[@simpleguy9334]

Awesome bro

[@JPKB36]

Best time travel story ever. period

[@elmourhirbadreddine4555]

Hi dyton, Great work, please show me how did you connect the mosfet

[@LearnAgon]

This is so cool! thanks for your fun video...I will study it to see if I can build one myself to use on my Oscilloscope project on the Agon Light 2 microcomputer. I need to make sure I only use up to 3.3 volts as to not burn my Agon Light unit. Gracias

[@BlueprintScience]

¡De nada!

[@Akya2120]

What if I wanted to create mains voltage with a variable frequency? Should I just turn it into DC+ and DC- then use two of these to gate the DC signals into a variable frequency AC signal?

[@grzesiek1x]

another thing : do I really change the frequency when I turn my potentiometer? Or i change only the period of time when the signal is low or high ( but isn't it the change of the frequency as well because we calculate the frequency for for example 1 sec no) ? Maybe I just got confused ...

[@jimedgar6789]

Dude, you showed that datasheet who is who~! BAM !!!

[@ahmadalqudsi]

Hello, how do I use the xr2206 circuit to manufacture a metal detector or gold radar?

[@maxbursell3513]

Is it possible to have multiple of these circuits and have an arduino controlling the frequency of each circuit? So that it would be possible to generate more than one squarewave from one microcontroller?

[@charliemacpherson9879]

What was your max voltage output possible with the circuit as shn in the video?

[@robertlabarbera5546]

I died laughing when you talked about the rarity of potentiometers...yes, I am a nerd.

[@CodyAardema]

Sweet music.

[@MrWasim100100]

well explained with entertainment :)

[@grzesiek1x]

if we calculate the frequensy with potentiometer we add the whole "50k ohms" ? I mean with potetionmeter whatever is its actual setup it would be like 1.44 / (1000 + 50 000 + 50 000) * 0.00001 always right? (with 10 uF capasitor of course)

[@LamantinoElettronico]

Since this is basically PWM can you use it to control servo motors?

[@guitardoctorkharim]

An O2 Sensor generates .1 volts - .9 volts pulse wave per second. Can this work as a substitute for an O2 Sensor? Parameters of Oxygen Sensor: The output voltage of the oxygen sensor varies from 0.1V to 0.9V with the frequency of 1 Hz.

[@E-BikingAdventures]

That was helpful. Thanks Lee Van Cleef Jr.

[@maxximumb]

How do you initiate the time travel without the flux capacitor and 1.2 gigawatts of power?

[@BlueprintScience]

Very carefully... ... and with a dissolve transition

[@XPFTP]

555 timer circuit...

[@jeantsang4180]

Hello Blueprint , can you design a monophase rectangular generator of 30Hz at 1mS with a carrier frequency of 10khz ? Please let me know ASAP

[@e.h.lipton73]

You got career as a working stand-up comedy show!

[@youssefdirani]

His experiment and knowledge is so helpful

[@samerswedan5876]

Thank you very much

[@DIEmicrosoft]

Hey, what do you think of your scope? I just bought the 1202DL+ to learn electronics and radio with.

[@aloysiusstone731]

I wish you would make a video on DIY cellphone jammer.

[@Felipe-gy8gf]

what is the hertz range it emits?

[@noahd8673]

Hey, what should I do different if I want to make the frequency generator range to be 300 MHz to 400 MHz? And if i wanted to try jamming my garage door opener would i wpuld need lile a speaker right? Lile what kind of things would I need?

[@BlueprintScience]

Jamming a garage door signal, eh? Alright. First of all, I am unsure exactly what frequency they operate at, but if you knew that, you should operate around it as close as possible and with as much power as possible, otherwise the sensor will still interpret the correct signal. A dirt cheap 555 timer isn't going to get into the MHz range. You would need to find a crystal oscillator like the ones used in radios and run it through some high-pass amplifiers and out to an antenna (you can look up antenna designs to decide what jives with you). If you ask me, it's more trouble than it's worth.

[@sudheeshrv6011]

Sir u whatsapp no

[@marlocktamarack6600]

Actually... Do you think you could make a handheld one with an electromagnet?

[@halimabegum793]

can you make a variable frequency drive which can control both the frequency and voltage individually..??? means v/f= not constant

[@BlueprintScience]

This 555 circuit operates at a constant(ish) voltage except in extremely high ranges. If you want to control the voltage, you could put a buck converter on either the input or the output to vary the voltage.

[@eddeveloper2425]

thanks for the video, please introduce some good books about waves and circuit designs.

[@BlueprintScience]

Hey! Quick note to all, feel free to join our Blueprint Discord server! discord.gg/kUhsU4p

[@tojoeinstein5558]

how to make inverter with it?

[@Tx_6969]

I loved the way you say nonononono

[@jameselliott9397]

I hate acronyms when I’m trying to learn something. Where did you get that nice breadboard.

[@BlueprintScience]

SMH. I hate acronyms too! LOL. P.S. the breadboard is actually really cheap. I purchased it wholesale over the internet.

[@emmanueladebayo5774]

if this is a sermon am blessed if a prayer am healed if a sex i attain orgasm and if a lecture already got an A thank u sooo much love you keep it up

[@ElIsraelJijijiji]

Can this circuit control a Tesla Coil?

[@adelaidehulahoopers9286]

For a moment there...when you turned on the power...I thought you were emulating Electroboom!!

[@Tx_6969]

Can I use a 1k pot instead of fixed resistor? Please answer as soon as possible. I neeed it for my schools science project.

[@BlueprintScience]

Yes. Totally.

[@Tx_6969]

@@BlueprintScience Thank you for helping me. When will you upload your next video???

[@BlueprintScience]

@@Tx_6969 np. Been busy at work. Wednesday, I think will be next upload

[@jj74qformerlyjailbreak3]

I don’t care how many time I read the 555 DataSheets I just can’t seem to get it to throw sparks like yours. I thought maybe the P on mine stood for pyro. I

[@jenniezhan2660]

so if we cant find potentiometers, what can we use to replace it?

[@lj7862]

I need to make 400v 3 phase 250khz square wave 1amp induction heater supply at 50hz pony motor ,I've got these huge capacitors can you help me plz?

[@BlueprintScience]

L J I can help. The circuit you want needs two components: an oscillator (like the one I made here) and a power switch. Since you need high frequency, silicon is the way to go. MOSFETs or IGBTs are good choices and can be switched on and off by the oscillator. Solid state relays may also support your frequency- not sure though. Hopefully those avenues lead to a working induction heater for you. Good luck

[@lj7862]

@@BlueprintScience can you make one on a video and then send me it free plz I brought a $700 induction heater but haven't managed to get it going in 2 years I'd love to use a home made rotary phase converter to supply the 360 - 440 voltage and 50 hz pony motor 2 amps but need your help with the square wave part can you make one that function square wave dial able like yours please . I'm amature electronic at best show me a circuit and prove it can be done 50 hz upto 250 kHz max 360 v upto 440 v

[@jj74qformerlyjailbreak3]

Do you need a custodian?

[@Pedritox0953]

4:40 best moment lol!!

[@e.h.lipton73]

Good morning Dayton, I really appreciate your replies. And your tutorials. I have a question; short of experimental purposes; in testing or trouble shooting a for instance; Stereo amplifier, could you show us the best way to trace a short circuit with a signal or wave form through a populated circuit board? I have built PWM's of different degrees along with other boards. I have test equipment like old school; Tektronix scope and a couple of wave Tek function gens and home built units as well. But my applicable use for testing and repairing TVs and stereo amplifier equipment I cannot find understandable videos on. I as before appreciate your knowledge and ability to simplify in explanation to us lower level intellectual individual's with, "LIBERTY and JUSTICE for ALL, Amen" Hallelujah,, Hallelujah Hallelujah hall-e-lujah ! Thanks

[@BlueprintScience]

Well, as far as I know, there is not guaranteed way to detect a short circuit. If a multi-meter can't do it, my next choice would be a thermal camera to see which component heats up the most - those components are the problem child. I am only a little familiar with with power amplifiers, though I have used them on occasion. If your amps are having problems, I'd inject a test signal and follow the traces to see where the signal terminates, that is most likely the issue. If it's a power supply problem, bring up the voltage slowly and test for voltages.

[@e.h.lipton73]

Blueprint thanks,,, not the answer I was looking for, but thanks. I have no clue how to hook up my Wave Tek to any Stereo to trace. Nor from the Stereo,,out I will guess, to the CRT. I got an idea, but I don't want to break good equipment fixing broken stuff. So I thought since you did a video on a frequency generator build, you might want to do one on real world applications of use for it. So much for "THOUGHTING"! Lol!

[@e.h.lipton73]

4:55, oops,, LMAO!

[@ELRYANK]

you remind me of my brother. keep it up

[@BlueprintScience]

Well, I don't know anything about your brother... but he sounds quite handsome

[@Tx_6969]

@@BlueprintScience , That means that you are handsome. Correct?

[@VoidHalo]

You should take this a step further and make an atari punk console and do an episode about them.

[@sidster64]

It's a great video a little bit more detail's not the math but physical wiring soldering would have made it top notch thanks.

[@neodiy]

Gosh you still playing with 555 timer i am looking for 3 Ghz frequency generator

[@youssefdirani]

When you find one tell me... Btw can't we do it with an LC circuit ?

[@haroldvonhelms8304]

i need to jam a hidden camera, a bug in my home, and an auto tracker any ideas thank you

[@BlueprintScience]

harold vonhelms, dollars to donuts that camera is connected over wifi. You can track the signal to its source or jam it with a number of consumer models sold online

[@haroldvonhelms8304]

@@BlueprintScience the name of the jammer ? thank you have a good evening

[@BlueprintScience]

harold vonhelms, don’t know. I’ve never used one. I just know that they exist. Shouldn’t be too hard to find :)

[@ChickenPermissionOG]

What about saw tooth and sine wave?

[@BlueprintScience]

Ah, this can not do those (unless if you used a capacitor to smooth the wave a lot). If you need those, there is a circuit that I know of that uses 2 op-amps (lm741) and is decently variable. Would you like the schematic?

[@mikelunsford2587]

@@BlueprintScience yes

[@ChickenPermissionOG]

@@BlueprintScience Yes, sorry never got back to you youtube has the habit of not showing me some comments.

[@CraftAero]

Time travel during a 555 video... pretty punny.

[@tyhnbgtyhnbgt]

You and the thorium fission reactor guy look and act alike.. you 2 can save the world.. why isn't there a super team of guys like you trying to give the world free energy.. or at least home generated power.. for home and cars.. at set of powerpacks..

[@youssefdirani]

Super

[@tyhnbgtyhnbgt]

I was hoping to see you make electricity from the ambient sound of the world.. aka free energy.. sound ocsalates a pendulum and the pendulum creates electricity.. a self revolving door. Powered by it's own generation.

[@BlueprintScience]

Why don't you lobby congress to change the laws of thermodynamics?

[@tyhnbgtyhnbgt]

@@BlueprintScience isn't the earth itself a perpetual motion machine and or the sun.. ?

[@tyhnbgtyhnbgt]

@@BlueprintScience,,ah the law,,, then why are men getting smarter while everything else is reducing.. due to the law,, shouldn't we be getting dumber?

[@BlueprintScience]

Don't worry, I won't let people get any dumber. That's why I'm here.

[@youssefdirani]

I like it... Free energy is everywhere but the will is missing

[@vernonbosshard9317]

Dang, that 555 is gonna cost 5 cents to replace.

[@science0074]

0:46 for the first time 🤣🤣🤣🤣👍🏻

[@CharlesStreicker]

I would like to build a pemf mat. I have a huge following on tiktok and would be interested in promoting your work. Would you be interested in doing a build?

[@grzesiek1x]

btw I have had the same idea with a bread board :D

[@e.h.lipton73]

At my late age, I realize I only became a contract Constitution plumber because my teachers failed to create a desire of interest in me, so I did what my dad did,, I went to work at a under valued labor trade.

[@youssefdirani]

But it's not a bad choice. Never to regret. Just so the valleys can flow up to their capacities

[@JosephBCotton]

Fails the smoke test at 4:45

[@tsaltslinger3268]

Hilarious!🤣

[@THOMASTHESAILOR]

Nice Video, but, Your shop needs a couple fire extinguishers. . Sorry, i had to say it !

[@BlueprintScience]

I'll have you know that I only start electrical fires about once a month, hater!

[@zolatanaffa87]

You look like Emmett Brown !:-))

[@greennights2388]

expose salt water to 13.56 MHz radio waves and light a match. Hydrogen separates from the water mixture and burns for as long as it's exposed to the frequency. why I wanted to built a generator.

[@youssefdirani]

By water electrolysis you would achieve the same result, but it won't burn alone. Maybe you want to save electrical energy ? Such an interesting experiment ! So salt water will start to boil I guess on this frequency ? Chemically the salt turns into something different ? What about the temperature of the water ? Is it warmer ? How safe is it to burn hydrogen? Share your experiment please if it's fine

[@MrBademy]

Young Rick, Is that you ? :D can i be your Morty

[@serdarxxx1073]

4:41 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@karlknudson9249]

could you build me a square wave generator that produces 500 watts and would run a 12 volt plasma light or even a 110 volt plasma light i could send you money for parts and pay you money for labor and shiping?????? oh and i need frequencyyyy to run from 100 hertz to a 100 mega hertz i would pay you whatever

[@Scarabola]

IS THE POTENTIOMETER LINEAR OR LOGARITHMIC??????

[@BlueprintScience]

No need to yell. All potentiometers are linear.

[@julienbertrant4983]

Without i see 555

[@darthvader5701]

You can do this way easier with a bc337.

[@BlueprintScience]

With an NPN transistor? Do tell.

[@darthvader5701]

@@BlueprintScience www.kerrywong.com/2014/03/19/bjt-in-reverse-avalanche-mode/

[@youssefdirani]

@@darthvader5701 so interesting I only looked at images. I wonder how high the frequency may reach

[@darthvader5701]

​@@youssefdiranitry different caps and potentiometers

[@youssefdirani]

@@darthvader5701 Max value ?

[@blackholehole459]

aahha you so funny :D nice channel

[@Tx_6969]

I made one and works best.

[@AveOpenmic]

Dull

[@jamesshelburn5825]

You talk faster than my ears can hear your mind must race, feasible to 555 timers instead of spark gap on DIY tin foil laser?

[@haywoodyoudome]

Pwetty useful fwequency info.

[@sargismartirosyan9946]

So Mr beast went back in time and changed career?😅 You look so like Mr beast

[@zzanzak]

Trump 2020

[@BenchmarkRadio]

*DIY WARNING* watch the video at double speed before “try along” * ⚠️ flash 🎇/⚡ spark warning❕ (fire 🔥 hazard) until you comprehend [to use case!]

[@BlueprintScience]

Um??? No. What are you on about? 🤷‍♂️

[@BenchmarkRadio]

@@BlueprintScience if I copy pause for pause - I’ll get the same discharge sparks (no?)

[@AM-vj1bf]

not funny

[@BlueprintScience]

What a relief that humor Is subjective :) But, between you and me, I agree