EEVblog: The 555 Timer is 55 years old [video] • Hacker News Board

Re: EEVblog: The 555 Timer is 55 years old [video]

#21

Post by zephen » Tue, May 05, 2026, 6:12 PM UTC

FarmerPotato wrote: post #13

3form wrote: post #2

5:55 video released on May 5th, as per description :) For something feeling like a fairly specific IC, I remember seeing many projects that use it throughout the years in wacky ways - and seeing it makes me happy to know that the sentiment for this little piece is shared.

Two videos tomorrow at 5:56!

That's fine, but you know you have to concatenate them and sell them as one unit, right?

Re: EEVblog: The 555 Timer is 55 years old [video]

#22

Post by pryelluw » Tue, May 05, 2026, 6:15 PM UTC

Back when radio shack still existed I would buy a 555 timer during every visit. I live collecting them and still have a bunch somewhere stored. I continue to do it with the 328p arduino boards as well whenever I visit my local microcenter.

Re: EEVblog: The 555 Timer is 55 years old [video]

#23

Post by stevekemp » Tue, May 05, 2026, 6:26 PM UTC

SoleilAbsolu wrote: post #14

I still have the Forrest Mims III Radio Shack "555 Engineer's Mini-Notebook" somewhere in my basement. And rumor has it that Sammy Hagar can't drive 555 because his car just isn't fast enough!

I have a paper copy of "IC 555 projects" kicking around on my bookshelf still!

PDF version here https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Bernards-And-Babani/Babani/...

Re: EEVblog: The 555 Timer is 55 years old [video]

#24

Post by MisterTea » Tue, May 05, 2026, 6:26 PM UTC

SoleilAbsolu wrote: post #14

I still have the Forrest Mims III Radio Shack "555 Engineer's Mini-Notebook" somewhere in my basement. And rumor has it that Sammy Hagar can't drive 555 because his car just isn't fast enough!

The Mims books are fantastic. As a kid I collected every mini notebook and the green Radio Shack "Getting Started in Electronics." They were my intro to electronics along with the Radio Shack kits.

Re: EEVblog: The 555 Timer is 55 years old [video]

#25

Post by raverbashing » Tue, May 05, 2026, 6:29 PM UTC

Makes me wonder if we could have a 555 circuit with a trigger time of 55 yrs

Re: EEVblog: The 555 Timer is 55 years old [video]

#26

Post by megous » Tue, May 05, 2026, 6:30 PM UTC

amelius wrote: post #17

What component values do you need to time exactly 55 years? Maybe it could work if you used 5 timers?

I don't think you could do it. Not with the original BJT variant anyway. :)

Re: EEVblog: The 555 Timer is 55 years old [video]

#27

Post by darrinm » Tue, May 05, 2026, 6:51 PM UTC

As a kid I didn’t understand what the 555 timer chip on the Apple II disk controller was doing but I learned the hard way that when you misalign the pins on the drive connector cable and the 555 chip releases its blue smoke you can’t use the drive anymore :(

Re: EEVblog: The 555 Timer is 55 years old [video]

#28

Post by Etoro2024 » Tue, May 05, 2026, 6:54 PM UTC

I used to get exited about this. Hahaha I think I miss those days.

Re: EEVblog: The 555 Timer is 55 years old [video]

#29

Post by sho_hn » Tue, May 05, 2026, 7:04 PM UTC

I have a Displate of a decapped 555 hanging near my EE workbench:

https://displate.com/displate/2002057

Re: EEVblog: The 555 Timer is 55 years old [video]

#30

Post by ua709 » Tue, May 05, 2026, 7:04 PM UTC

amelius wrote: post #17

What component values do you need to time exactly 55 years? Maybe it could work if you used 5 timers?

How exactly is exactly? Can I make it measure 1 hour with an allowed tolerance of 55 years, plus or minus. :)