EEVblog #555 - 555 Timer Kit

[Frenchie]

But lead boils at over 3000°F so I am pretty sure lead does not vaporize at all at 650-700°F at sea level, even in an alloy.

Purely semantics but it will do, but the amount will be so small it's never going to be a problem (or even measureable for that matter).

[Stonent]

amature hobbiest whith no income

Well there's your problem! 

I have an income but most of my money is gone shortly after it comes in, after all my bills are paid I then do my best to make sure other family members are able to pay their bills. My mom's car just broke a connecting rod and I had to use my Christmas bonus towards getting her another car. So right now I try to keep about $20 or $40 a month for my hobby and beer.

[Bored@Work]

If you need to watch therapeutic videos, have a look at Bob Ross' "The Joy of Painting" TV series.

We don't make mistakes, we make happy little accidents.

[G7PSK]

Great idea with the 555 kit! You really hit the nail on the head this time 

By the way, the lead in the solder does actually vaporize when you are soldering, but it is not visible and the flux is more toxic (since you have much higher concentration of the flux vapors), the lead concentration in the air at soldering temperatures is around or below 1 ppm.

There would be no lead vapor at soldering temperature but there could well be a minute amount of lead aerosol caused by the flux boiling and ejecting some lead as it dose so. But even so it would normally be at such a low level that it would be of no health concern.

[Stonent]

If you need to watch therapeutic videos, have a look at Bob Ross' "The Joy of Painting" TV series.

We don't make mistakes, we make happy little accidents.

For anyone outside the US:

[miceuz]

Dave, I agree, the soldering part of the video was somewhat boring. An ok background for I was soldering some stuff too while watching, but not much content. But I would guess this is due to monotonic nature of the particular kit - what do you have - just resistors and transistors in same packages for a fixed design ages old - not much to comment on really.

I'd suggest you to try it once on another kit - the one that has more diversity in it - you'd have more to comment on and in my opinion it could make a great video. Say, the video about microscope ring light soldering - that was essentially a "putting a kit together" video and that one was not boring a single bit.

[amyk]

Not sure if this is a coincidence but here is a die photo of a CMOS version: http://www.bunniestudios.com/blog/?p=3542

[EEVblog]

And if someone were to remake another 555 discrete component board like this ideally cheaper, what would you imagine it having on it, featuring or looking like exactly?

Well whilst I liked the look of the board and thumb screws, practical wise it's just a PITA to wire up.
For practical use, I'd have one that plugs into an existing breadboard somehow.

[jancumps]

Maybe the market is ready for a gigantic breadboard

[ben_r_]

Ha, I forgot I wanted to buy one of these! Thanks for the reminder, just ordered one! $40 shipped.?

I went the cheap route and spend about $2.00 on the transistors and resistors and ordered some tinned protoboard. 

Ha yea that is the cheap route! I already have all the parts laying around as it was and I could have a circuit board made custom for myself for less as well. However I didnt buy it to use it for anything other than a conversation piece on my desk at work. I think its really cool looking and the fact that its functional makes it even better!

I am somewhat hoping someone makes another board from the schematic and releases it.

I noticed the terminal screws look almost exactly like VESA monitor mount thumb screws.

And if someone were to remake another 555 discrete component board like this ideally cheaper, what would you imagine it having on it, featuring or looking like exactly?

More or less a similar board, minus threaded holes, foam legs or parts.

Basically I really like this, but I can't justify $35 for it. If someone were to offer a functional equivalent bare board that I could use my own components, thumb screws and legs for under $10 I'd most likely buy it.

At that point I'd just use a bona fide 555.

The only reason to buy this kit is because of the novelty. To have it look like an overgrown IC, and to use discrete parts to make it functional, is what makes it interesting to some of us nerds. It's not bought because it's economical or has any real use.

I bought it for the same reason as well. However, if a design can be redone for a different or better reason, thats a whole different thing and reason to buy.

[ben_r_]

And if someone were to remake another 555 discrete component board like this ideally cheaper, what would you imagine it having on it, featuring or looking like exactly?

Well whilst I liked the look of the board and thumb screws, practical wise it's just a PITA to wire up.
For practical use, I'd have one that plugs into an existing breadboard somehow.

Good idea. Have to condense down the board quite a bit to fit it on a standard sized hobby breadboard, but it could probably be done.

Anybody have a good, detailed schematic of the 555 schematic like the one Dave used in the last part of his video? Or Dave could you post that one you printed out?

[Rodville]

Great video. I would like to see more videos of you soldering kits with the "pointless rambling". It is very interesting to hear some of your random thought as you are building a board. Believe it or not it is relaxing to watch, and watching you solder had helped my technique immensely.

[Stonent]

And if someone were to remake another 555 discrete component board like this ideally cheaper, what would you imagine it having on it, featuring or looking like exactly?

Well whilst I liked the look of the board and thumb screws, practical wise it's just a PITA to wire up.
For practical use, I'd have one that plugs into an existing breadboard somehow.

Good idea. Have to condense down the board quite a bit to fit it on a standard sized hobby breadboard, but it could probably be done.

Anybody have a good, detailed schematic of the 555 schematic like the one Dave used in the last part of his video? Or Dave could you post that one you printed out?

Someone posted it in the other 555 thread

[ben_r_]

And if someone were to remake another 555 discrete component board like this ideally cheaper, what would you imagine it having on it, featuring or looking like exactly?

Well whilst I liked the look of the board and thumb screws, practical wise it's just a PITA to wire up.
For practical use, I'd have one that plugs into an existing breadboard somehow.

Good idea. Have to condense down the board quite a bit to fit it on a standard sized hobby breadboard, but it could probably be done.

Anybody have a good, detailed schematic of the 555 schematic like the one Dave used in the last part of his video? Or Dave could you post that one you printed out?

Someone posted it in the other 555 thread

Havent seen any other 555 threads, but Ill take a look.

[Ronald1962]

It's a nice idea.

I just wanted to order one, but...

This thing cost 35 US $.

Not cheap but o.k.

The cheapest shipping rate to Germany is another 35 US $

And that is redicculous!

So no kit...

Great video!

[Slothie]

Great idea with the 555 kit! You really hit the nail on the head this time 

By the way, the lead in the solder does actually vaporize when you are soldering, but it is not visible and the flux is more toxic (since you have much higher concentration of the flux vapors), the lead concentration in the air at soldering temperatures is around or below 1 ppm.

There would be no lead vapor at soldering temperature but there could well be a minute amount of lead aerosol caused by the flux boiling and ejecting some lead as it dose so. But even so it would normally be at such a low level that it would be of no health concern.

Wrong!

Boiling point is just the point that the vapour pressure in the liquid reached ambient. Water boils at 100 degC but will happily evaporate at much lower temperatures. Likewise liquid lead will evaporate at much lower temperatures than it boils at.

However, the amount of lead evaporating during soldering will be tiny and of no concern. Youre in more danger from holding the solder. The fumes are bad because of the smoke contains complex chemicals which are corrosive (after all, thats its job!) and possibly carcinogenic. But blowing gently as you solder is all the effort needed to prevent inhaling it, unless your doing a marathon session in a small room, in which case fume extraction is a good idea, as it is if you do it all day every day.

[ben_r_]

Just got mine built. They are local in my state so shipping was very fast. Took me about a half hour. Awesome little kit, but yes a bit pricey. Oh well, itll make a great conversation piece for my desk at work and thats what I wanted it for.

[Bored@Work]

Wrong!

Boiling point is just the point that the vapour pressure in the liquid reached ambient. Water boils at 100 degC but will happily evaporate at much lower temperatures. Likewise liquid lead will evaporate at much lower temperatures than it boils at.

However, the amount of lead evaporating during soldering will be tiny and of no concern.

The serious measurements (measurements, not theoretical speculations), could not detect any lead, using the most sensitive detection methods. That's good enough for me and I don't care if some made-up theory says there could be some lead vapor.

[SArepairman]

I think that kit is trash! I absolutely LOATHE the black solder mask on this board, a demonstration board should have the traces shown, so you can get an idea of how the parts are wired, this is WAY too interesting of a detail to miss, its like a picture of a strip tease vs a dildo video.


I just cannot forgive this board. It looks like satan made it.

The wiring is ultra important to me in the case of a 555. A god damn block diagram tells you more then a glance at that board. 

[EEVblog]

Good idea. Have to condense down the board quite a bit to fit it on a standard sized hobby breadboard, but it could probably be done.
Anybody have a good, detailed schematic of the 555 schematic like the one Dave used in the last part of his video? Or Dave could you post that one you printed out?

It's on the EMSL web site.
A board using SMD parts and test pads would probably allow a size that plugs into a breadboard.

[DL8RI]

Hi,

I think that kit is trash!

Why so heated up?
It is made to look like a Chip. Therefore black color is essential.

I think it looks nice, and the stuff isn't that complicated... the schematics are sufficient.

If you want such a thing as "training", build it on a breadbord or free-flying-solder w. GND-Plane. The kit is a nice geek-gimmick, but otherwise quite useless

[Stonent]

And if someone were to remake another 555 discrete component board like this ideally cheaper, what would you imagine it having on it, featuring or looking like exactly?

Well whilst I liked the look of the board and thumb screws, practical wise it's just a PITA to wire up.
For practical use, I'd have one that plugs into an existing breadboard somehow.

Good idea. Have to condense down the board quite a bit to fit it on a standard sized hobby breadboard, but it could probably be done.

Anybody have a good, detailed schematic of the 555 schematic like the one Dave used in the last part of his video? Or Dave could you post that one you printed out?

Here ya go!

http://shop.emscdn.com/catalog/emskits/555/kit/555_datasheet_RevA3.pdf

[SeanB]

BTW the writing Dave was muttering about on the PCB is the Underwriters Association registration number, issued to the manufacturer as a certification of conformity to a standard. Nice having that on a kit.

Myself i like the kit idea, a nice thing to see there, with a modicum of care and thought put into the layout and design.

Must look at getting the die photo of the 555 printed on a canvas sheet and frame it.

[Phroon]

Well whilst I liked the look of the board and thumb screws, practical wise it's just a PITA to wire up.
For practical use, I'd have one that plugs into an existing breadboard somehow.

Something like this?
http://www.evilmadscientist.com/2013/555-ice/

[ben_r_]

Well whilst I liked the look of the board and thumb screws, practical wise it's just a PITA to wire up.
For practical use, I'd have one that plugs into an existing breadboard somehow.

Something like this?
http://www.evilmadscientist.com/2013/555-ice/

Ha ha Wow! Yea thats one way to do it! There are also the little pads with holes next to each of the thumb screws along the edge of the board that Im sure either pin headers or at least wire leads could be soldered to for tapping into the legs.