Simple Oscillator Circuit?

ryangobie · Post by **ryangobie** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 2:27 pm

Hey, I need a simple oscillator circuit for this art project I did but never finished...and well I have a portfolio review soon and figure I should get it up and running soon...555 timing chip maybe? I don't know...Thanks!

Skipwave · Post by **Skipwave** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 4:33 pm

This looks really cool and useful:

http://sound.westhost.com/project86.htm

More involved, but even more useful:

http://sound.westhost.com/project22.htm

NewYorkDave · Post by **NewYorkDave** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 6:51 pm

What waveform? Which frequency? What output level?

Just saying "oscillator" tells us next to nothing.

ryangobie · Post by **ryangobie** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 10:21 am

waveform doesn't really matter so long as it's a low frequency...something that can drive a speaker i gutted out of a computer subwoofer would be good

Phiz · Post by **Phiz** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 11:05 am

a 555 chip is probably the easiest way to get something working. Another easy way is an inverter ring - an odd number of inverters connected in a ring configuration will oscillate. You can alter the frequency by adding parallel RCs to ground at the output of each inverter.

ryangobie · Post by **ryangobie** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 11:25 am

tried the 555 twice and it just refuses to work for me...might try the inverter ring next

Phiz · Post by **Phiz** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 11:37 am

Did you get the 555 to oscillate at all, or is it just not working in your application. Have you looked at application white sheets from the manufacturer? They often show completely worked out simple designs, which are great for getting things initally working.

ryangobie · Post by **ryangobie** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 2:51 pm

haha well the first time i was just really messy about it and the second time i managed to wire it upside down heh...so i fixed it and it's going now...just gotta fuss with the frequency a bit and drop the output a bit...i put a trimpot in where one resistor would go so it has some control to it...i'ma put another one at the output to tame it down a lil bit...dumb mistakes are always the ones to get me

ryangobie · Post by **ryangobie** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 3:09 pm

also, anyone have any idea how long one of these lil buggers will run on a 9volt?

Phiz · Post by **Phiz** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 3:17 pm

A 9 volt battery should give you 500 milliamphours. So if you have an amp meter, you can stick it between your battery and circuit and get a total current draw. Divide 500 by the number of mA drawn, and you'll get a rough guess at how many hours it can run.

If you don't have an ampmeter you can try to calculate the current usage by hand. The manufacturer probably lists a maximum current draw on some spec sheet too.

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Simple Oscillator Circuit?

Simple Oscillator Circuit?

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