Small alarm system circuit analysis

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    Circuit Frequency
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the analysis of a small alarm system circuit using an LM555 timer IC, specifically focusing on calculating the minimum and maximum frequencies achievable with a potentiometer and understanding the circuit's operation intuitively. The context includes a lab report related to the circuit design.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks assistance in determining the maximum and minimum frequencies obtainable from the circuit and expresses a lack of understanding of how the circuit functions.
  • Some participants inquire whether the inquiry is homework-related and request information about the documentation provided to the original poster.
  • A participant mentions that the arrangement of components in the circuit corresponds to an astable configuration and reflects on the internal operation of the LM555, particularly regarding the capacitor discharging at 2/3 Vcc.
  • It is noted that frequencies can be calculated using formulas from the datasheet of the LM555 timer IC.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the need to refer to the datasheet for understanding the circuit's operation and calculations, but there is no consensus on the original poster's understanding of the circuit or the specific calculations required.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of the importance of reading the documentation thoroughly, particularly the "Applications" section of the datasheet, which may contain relevant explanations about the circuit's functionality.

simphys
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TL;DR Summary: Hey, I was hoping for some help on how I would be able to calculate the minimum and maximum frequency that can reached with the potentiometer and also how this circuit works intuitively, because I don't really understand it. Thanks in advance!

Hey,
The TL;DR sums it up. I don't really get how I can determine the maximum and minimum frequencies that can be obtained. I vaguely understand how the circuit works, but not how to determine the frequencies.
alarmcircuit.png
 
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Baluncore said:
Is this homework ?
What documentation have you been given ?
Do you know what is inside the LM555 package ?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/555_timer_IC
Yes I am sorry, I should have said this earlier but I figured it out.. It is a lab report. I didn't read the documentation through for this one. This comes down to the arrangement of an astable operator basically.
I was trying to understand why the components were arranged that way, and how the capacitor was discharging at 2/3 Vcc but that happens internally :'D.

As to the frequencies, those can be calculated with the formula from the datahseet.
 
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simphys said:
Yes I am sorry, I should have said this earlier but I figured it out.. It is a lab report.
Thread has been moved to the schoolwork forums now. Please take care to always post schoolwork questions in the Homework Help forums, and show lots of work. We do not do your schoolwork for you here at PF.

simphys said:
I didn't read the documentation through for this one.
Then do it. The datasheets for the 555 ICs generally have a long "Applications" section with lots of explanation about how they work. Please do that reading now, and come back here to this thread if you have specific questions.
 

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