Description
This simple Touch Switch is developed by using 555 timer IC operated as a MONOSTABLE vibrator. Here the stable stage is LOW, so the timer outputs low after the trigger is removed. Basically in this circuit we will have a LED which turns ON when we touch a pin of timer. The LED will be ON for the time during which the trigger is present. Once the trigger is removed the LED turns OFF.
Components
• IC-555
• 330 Ohms Resistor
• 9Volt Battery and it’s clip
• Few Jumper Wires
• Touch metal plate
• Led
• Breadboard
Working
As shown in the below video, the touch switch circuit is connected on the breadboard as per the schematic diagram, and power is turned ON. Now the LED will not turn on as the trigger is not given. The trigger pin in the timer is a high impedance one and is very sensitive. This pin can merely be pulled high by human body potential. This trigger determines the output of 555. This trigger pin SETS the flip-flop inside the 555 TIMER. When this pin is high the output will be high and when this pin is low the output is low. As said earlier since this pin is very sensitive it will pull the 555 output high by touch.
So on touch the trigger pin forces the internal flip-flop to SET mode and so the output goes high. However this high stage can’t be retained for long once the trigger is removed. Once the touch is removed the high stage of output merely depends on the charging time of the capacitor connected between pin6 and pin1.
The capacitor, once reaches a voltage level it discharges through the THRESHOLD pin (pin6) of 555. The trick is, the Threshold pin is set up internally to reset the flip-flop. So on capacitor discharge the threshold pin goes high resetting the flip-flop which is set HIGH by the trigger pin and so the output also goes low with it. Hence the LED turns off at capacitor discharge.
So once the trigger is given the turn on time of the LED depends on the charging time of the capacitor. This turn on time can be increased by connecting a high value capacitor. With enough capacitance this circuit can put up a turn on time of minutes.
YouTube
