Timer ciruit using 4060b and 555

Hello all! Let me first state that I am a noob to all this electrical stuff and I'm here just to learn and have fun with it, so please forgive my ignorance.

With that begin said, I decided to build the circuit that Bill designed (see below) and I don't know if my 555 timer is working correctly or anything for that matter. My led cycles on then off every ~2 min 40 sec (on ~1min 20 off ~ 1min 20). Is this correct? What exactly is the frequency of circuit? What is that measuring?

I have an old AC-DC power converter (power supply) that I was using to power this circuit, 12v @ 0.5amp. Is that enough power (amperage) to run this circuit?

Sorry for all the questions, but any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

I have basic electronic knowlege i.e. how to read a schematic, component types and how to use a MM.

Please reference the original thread posted by Chriswms17:
http://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/sh...ad.php?t=33015

 

Hello Clintb00,
There were a number of schematics posted in that thread.

Exactly which schematic did you build? It's a bit tough to guess without having a specific reference.

You tried to link to something, but it didn't post properly.

 

Hey Sgtwookie, thanks for the reply.

Hopefully this attachment will go through... Thanks!

 

Well, this is Bill Marsden's circuit.

Rather than me spending time analyzing it, he should be able to tell you right off what times/frequencies you should be seeing.

 

Yes, I would like the circuit to be off for ~ 8 hrs, and switch a relay for 45 seconds. The accuracy is not important. I would like to be able to adjust (increase or decrease) the cycle time. I'm assuming this can be done by installing a pot in the R3 position.

Are my cycle times for my LED correct ~1min 20 sec on & 1min 20 sec off?

Is the power supply that I'm using enought to trigger the relay and power this circuit?

What exactly is the Frequency measuring? From this equation and using the values for R2, R3, C1 and C9 as listed the frequency should be: 9.869e-2 Hz; is this correct? Is this counting the cycles / sec?

 

Yes, I thought that D1 was an LED. Is this not correct? Is there another LED in this circuit?

So, R3 is a rehostate. I will pick one of these and see if that helps. Thanks!

Just for future reference, when you hook up 2 capacitors in a series as shown in your schematic (C1 & C9) does the same formula apply even though they are wired with like poles; i.e. neg to neg Ct = 1/(1/C1+1/C2)? Is there any difference between wiring the circuit this way as opposed to neg to pos?

Thanks for your help Bill!

 

This is 0.09869 Hz (=cycles per second) ie. much slower than 1 cycle per second
To get the number of seconds for 1 cycle do:
1/0.09869 = 10.1 seconds.