I'm learning electronics and trying to build a simple astable multivibrator circuit as an oscillator which will eventually drive a couple of small 3V DC motors for a slithering snake toy. I've also used this project as an opportunity to start learning EAGLE and also to etch my first circuit board for fun.
To test the oscillator, I've just hooked up the motor connectors to a couple of LEDs / resistors on a breadboard (instead of the 3V DC motors). I expected to see the LEDs flash back and forth.
Unfortunately, the built circuit doesn't work as expected - when I first power it, I get what looks to be brief flickering of the two LEDs and then they both stay lit up. I'm at wits end trying to debug this. I can't find any issue with my board or components. I've even played around with simulating it in LTSpice to see if I can recreate the behaviour I'm observing but the simulation has it oscillating as expected.
Grateful if anyone can see an obvious mistake I am making or perhaps suggest an effective troubleshooting process. Below is the LTSPICE circuit / simulation & the EAGLE board that I built.
Thanks!
To test the oscillator, I've just hooked up the motor connectors to a couple of LEDs / resistors on a breadboard (instead of the 3V DC motors). I expected to see the LEDs flash back and forth.
Unfortunately, the built circuit doesn't work as expected - when I first power it, I get what looks to be brief flickering of the two LEDs and then they both stay lit up. I'm at wits end trying to debug this. I can't find any issue with my board or components. I've even played around with simulating it in LTSpice to see if I can recreate the behaviour I'm observing but the simulation has it oscillating as expected.
Grateful if anyone can see an obvious mistake I am making or perhaps suggest an effective troubleshooting process. Below is the LTSPICE circuit / simulation & the EAGLE board that I built.
Thanks!