How to make 555 timer PWM motor speed controller project

In Previous articles we have discussed three modes of 555 timer IC, these are a-stable, bi-stable & mono-stable. These modes have different application like with a stable mode we can make mosquito repellent, door bell with bi-stable etc. In this article we are going to learn about PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) with 555 timer IC. For this circuit we need a-stable mode

How to make 555 timer PWM motor speed controller project
How to make 555 timer PWM motor speed controller project

555 timer:

Pin 1. Ground: it is connected to the negative terminal of battery.

Pin 2. TRIGGER:  Trigger pin is input pin or trigger pin if this pin is high the out put pin will always be high.

Pin 3. OUTPUT: This provides output voltage.

Pin 4. Reset: There is reset pin in this circuit this is connected to the Vcc as to auto-reset the function of IC.

Pin 5. Control Pin:  This pin will be connected to the ground through a capacitor to avoid unwanted noise interference.  This pin controls the output waveform width and also decides the level of thresh hold and triggering.

Pin 6. THRESHOLD: This pin decides the reset timing of the IC.

Pin 7. DISCHARGE: This pin toggles output from high to low when collector gets discharged.

Pin 8. Power or VCC:  It is main supply pin of IC. It voltage ranges from 3.5 to 16 volts.

What is Pulse width Modulation:

This method of signaling is used to control analog type devices with digital form of output. In this method we use a pulsating output frequency to control device motion or it’s outcome strength. Like we can control motor speed or create vibrating or increase or decrease light intensity etc. It is like an on and off sequence of power supply for running a device like motor in controlled manner. We generally use voltage variation for controlling motor speed but this method reduces it torque with voltage. In PWM method we can achieve different speeds with same torque or power. For understanding PWM better we should know about duty cycle also.

Duty cycle:

Duty cycle is the time interval of  pulse when the output of circuit is high or it is giving output voltage. For example the graph given below is showing 50% of duty cycle and below this graph two more graphs are showing 75% and 100 % duty cycle. This percent of duty cycle results in output speed of motor. If motor is required to run on full speed it should be given 100% duty cycle or it is required to run on half speed it will be given 50% duty cycle.

Circuit diagram:

ckt diagram

Bread board diagram

Component required:

  • NE555 IC
  • RESISTORS R2= 1K
  • CAPACITOR C1 = 100 nf
  • Variable Resistor VR1 = 100 K Ohm  
  • LED
  • 9v batterywith cap

Working:

In above circuit we have used 555 timer A-stable mode here we are using pulsating output in a different manner as we know the pulse on and off time depends on the resistors and capacitors we are using, one component of it has to be variable. Capacitor and one resistor R2 is fixed and second resistor is variable.this variable resistor will control the duty cycle of output. For indication we are connecting motor on the output we can also use led for this purpose. As we increase the resistance between pin 6 and pin 7 the speed of motor gets increased due to increment in duty cycle and decreases when resistance is reduced.

Application:.

  • Electric bicycles
  • RC motor cars toys
  • Volume meter of radio or music system