- #31
Adder_Noir
- 239
- 0
Bugger, thought not.what said:
It is yes.what said:
Thanks for taking an interest
Building a Basic Square Wave Oscillator: A Beginner's Guide
- Thread starter Adder_Noir
- Start date
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- Tags
- Oscillator Square Square wave Wave
Click For Summary
Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around building a basic square wave oscillator, focusing on methods to create a square wave from a sine wave input. Participants explore various circuit designs, components, and safety considerations, particularly in the context of working with AC mains voltage.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory
- Technical explanation
- Debate/contested
- Mathematical reasoning
Main Points Raised
- One participant inquires about building a simple square wave oscillator and whether a differentiator is necessary for achieving straight vertical lines.
- Another participant suggests using a resonant circuit to produce a sine wave and then driving a digital inverter to obtain a square wave.
- Concerns are raised about the safety of working with mains voltage, with recommendations to use transformers or pre-made devices to reduce voltage levels.
- Participants discuss the use of a Schmitt trigger or J-K Flip Flop for converting a sine wave to a square wave, noting potential phase changes in the output.
- There is a suggestion to use a voltage divider to scale down the sine wave to a suitable level for the inverter, with discussions on the values of resistors needed.
- Questions arise regarding the role of capacitors in the circuit, with one participant speculating they may be used as filters.
- Clarifications are made about the need for a +5V DC power supply for the circuit to function correctly.
- Participants express uncertainty about the design's effectiveness and seek recommendations on resistor values for the voltage divider.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants generally agree on the basic approach to building the oscillator but express differing opinions on specific components and configurations. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the optimal design and safety measures.
Contextual Notes
Participants highlight the importance of ensuring the voltage levels are appropriate for the components used, particularly the 7400 chip, which has specific voltage tolerances. There is also mention of the need for careful consideration of current flow into the inverter and the implications of using high resistor values in the voltage divider.
Who May Find This Useful
This discussion may be useful for electronics enthusiasts, beginners in circuit design, and those interested in building oscillators or working with AC signals.
Thanks for taking an interest
- #32
Adder_Noir
- 239
- 0
I lied I think. Sorry I've looked at it again and it looks like there's a commutator there so it's probably DC I would guess. Not too sure. I think it's best this topic gets retired now while I do some more work. I'll open a new topic when I've got a bit further that's more relevantly titled, thanks to everyone who contributed.