BURGLAR ALARM USING IC 555

ABSTRACT
In mid 1972, Philips Semiconductors introduced the 555 timer, a unique functional building block that
has enjoyed unprecedented popularity. The timers success can be attributed to several inherent
characteristics foremost of which are versatility, stability and low cost. There can be no doubt that the 555
timer has altered the course of the electronics industry with an impact not unlike that of the IC operational
amplifier.
The simplicity of the timer, in conjunction with its ability to produce long time delays in a variety of
applications, has lured many designers from mechanical timers, op amps, and various discrete circuits
into the ever increasing ranks of timer users.Using IC555 a project Burglar alarm which is usually

also called as theft alarming system is developed.

INTRODUCTION

The 555 timer consists of two voltage comparators, a bistable flip-flop, a discharge transistor,
and a resistor divider network. The resistive divider network is used to set the comparator levels.
Since all three resistors are of equal value, the threshold comparator is referenced internally at
2/3 of supply voltage level and the trigger comparator is referenced at 1/3 of supply voltage. The
outputs of the comparators are tied to the bistable flip-flop. When the trigger voltage is moved
below 1/3 of the supply, the comparator changes state and sets the flip-flop driving the output to
a high state. The threshold pin normally monitors the capacitor voltage of the RC timing
network. When the capacitor voltage exceeds 2/3 of the supply, the threshold comparator resets
the flip-flop which in turn drives the output to a low state. When the output is in a low state, the
discharge transistor is on, thereby discharging the external timing capacitor. Once the
capacitor is discharged, the timer will await another trigger pulse, the timing cycle having been
completed.
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
Components:1)12 V DC supply
2) Two timer IC 555
3)Switch
4) Speaker
The timer will operate over a guaranteed voltage range of 4.5V to 15VDC with 16VDC being
the absolute maximum rating. Most of the devices, however, will operate at voltage levels as low
as 3VDC. The timing interval is independent of supply voltage since the charge rate and
threshold level of the comparator are both directly proportional to supply. The supply voltage
may be provided by any number of sources, however, several precautions should be taken. The
most important, the one which provides the most headaches if not practiced, is good power
supply filtering and adequate bypassing. Ripple on the supply line can cause loss of timing

accuracy. The threshold level shifts, causing a change of charging current. This will cause a
timing error for that cycle.
Due to the nature of the output structure, a high power totem-pole design, the output of the timer
can exhibit large current spikes on the supply line. Bypassing is necessary to eliminate this
phenomenon. A capacitor across the VCC and ground, directly across the device, is necessary
and ideal. The size of a capacitor will depend on the
specific application. Values of capacitance from 0.01 F to 10 F are not uncommon, but note that
the bypass capacitor would be as close to the device as physically possible.
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM AND WORKING OF BURGLAR ALARM

A lot of electronic circuits using NE555 timer IC are already published here and this is just
another one.Here is the circuit diagram of a burglar alarm based on NE55 timer IC. The circuit
uses two NE555 timers ICs and each of them are wired as astable multivibrators.The circuit can
be powered from anything between 6 to 15V DC and is fairly loud.By connecting an additional
power amplifier at the output you can further increase the loudness.
IC1 is wired as a slow astable multivibrator operating at around 20Hz @ 50% duty cycle and IC2
is wired as fast astable multivibrator operating at around 600Hz.The output of first astable
mutivibrator is connected to the control voltage input (pin5) of IC2. This makes the output of
IC2 modulated by the output frequency of IC1, giving a siren effect. In simple words, the output
frequency of IC2 is controlled by the output of IC1.

EXPLANATION OF IC 555
The 555 timer IC is an integrated circuit (chip) used in a variety of timer, pulse generation and
oscillator applications. The 555 can be used to provide time delays, as an oscillator, and as a flipflop element. Derivatives provide up to four timing circuits in one package.
Modes
The 555 has three operating modes:

Monostable mode: in this mode, the 555 functions as a "one-shot" pulse generator.
Applications include timers, missing pulse detection, bouncefree switches, touch switches,
frequency divider, capacitance measurement, pulse-width modulation (PWM) and so on.
Astable: free running mode: the 555 can operate as an oscillator. Uses include LED and lamp
flashers, pulse generation, logic clocks, tone generation, security alarms, pulse position
modulation and so on. Selecting a thermistor as timing resistor allows the use of the 555 in a
temperature sensor: the period of the output pulse is determined by the temperature. The use
of a microprocessor based circuit can then convert the pulse period to temperature, linearize
it and even provide calibration means.
Bistable mode or Schmitt trigger: the 555 can operate as a flip-flop, if the DIS pin is not
connected and no capacitor is used. Uses include bounce-free latched switches.

WORKING OF TIMER IC 555

Comparator 1 has a threshold input (pin 6) and a control input (pin 5). In most applications, the
control input is not used, so that the control voltage equals +2/3 V CC. Output of this comparator

is applied to set (S) input of the flip-flop. Whenever the threshold voltage exceeds the control
voltage, comparator 1 will set the flip-flop and its output is high.
A high output from the flip-flop saturates the discharge transistor and discharge the capacitor
connected externally to pin 7. The complementary signal out of the flip-flop goes to pin 3, the
output. The output available at pin 3 is low. These conditions will prevail until comparator 2
triggers the flip-flop. Even if the voltage at the threshold input falls below 2/3 VCC, that is
comparator 1 cannot cause the flip-flop to change again. It means that the comparator 1 can only
force the flip-flops output high.
To change the output of flip-flop to low, the voltage at the trigger input must fall below + 1/3
Vcc. When this occurs, comparator 2 triggers the flip-flop, forcing its output low. The low output
from the flip-flop turns the discharge transistor off and forces the power amplifier to output a
high. These conditions will continue independent of the voltage on the trigger input. Comparator
2 can only cause the flip-flop to output low.
From the above discussion it is concluded that for the having low output from the timer 555, the
voltage on the threshold input must exceed the control voltage or + 2/3 VCC. They also turn the
discharge transistor on. To force the output from the timer high, the voltage on the trigger input
must drop below +1/3 VCC. This also turns the discharge transistor off.
A voltage may be applied to the control input to change the levels at which the switching occurs.
When not in use, a 0.01 nano Farad capacitor should be connected between pin 5 and ground to
prevent noise coupled onto this pin from causing false triggering.
Connecting the reset (pin 4) to a logic low will place a high on the output of flip-flop. The
discharge transistor will go on and the power amplifier will output a low. This condition will
continue until reset is taken high. This allows synchronization or resetting of the circuits
operation. When not in use, reset should be tied to +V CC.
REFERENCES
1.

Ward, Jack (2004). The 555 Timer IC An Interview with Hans Camenzind. The Semiconductor
Museum. Retrieved 2010-04-05
2. van Roon, Fig 3 & related text.
3. Scherz, Paul (2000) "Practical Electronics for Inventors", p. 589. McGraw-Hill/TAB Electronics.
ISBN 978-0-07-058078-7. Retrieved 2010-04-05.
4. Jung, Walter G. (1983) "IC Timer Cookbook, Second Edition", pp. 4041. Sams Technical
Publishing; 2nd ed. ISBN 978-0-672-21932-0. Retrieved 2010-04-05.