Testing 555 Timer or 4017 Decade Counter Functionality Without a Circuit or Breadboard

I was wondering if there was any way of testing a 555 timer or a 4017 decade counter (to make sure something internal is not broken) without putting it into some kind of circuit. Like maybe something with a multimeter, or something, just as long as I don't need a circuit.

You want to test something W/O a circuit? Well there is a sub-standard way and it's called a parametric test where you test certain nodes for some parameter, but you will still need a test jig and by the way, it is sub-standard in the sense it catches big obvious things like shorts & opens, capacitance, resistance.

Most big companies use parametric test but they still test. For a 555 you may have some 10 parameters that you would need to test so that would need a jig, test sockets a DMM of some sort and someone who looks at the data and decides go, nogo.

So how would I do a parametric test?

Without a test jig you won't be succesfull.

Your look at nodes and these nodes are generally diodes so you measure them usually reverse. Some measurement are input to output in meg ohms. You can start with a 555 data sheet but it's your decision not to functional test, so you own the parameter test.

FYI the parameter test is as stated gross in the sense it won't catch latent defects (some yes, others no). Also as stated all big companies use parametric test to go from incoming test to stock shelves even, believe it or not, something that goes into space.

The difference is that the manufacturer assembles the device and then performs rigorous robust testing on the finished product.

All of this I am telling you from direct experience, not 2nd hand, even the space stuff.

Again you own the parameters so you have to decide.

Aaah the advantages of simple microchip !!
How the world has changed Simply write one tiny little bit of software , One tiny little timer interrupt and gosh would you believe it One 555 timer One 4017 decade counter all In one chip

Lovely say bye bye 555 Say bye bye 4017 Hello Microchip how easy!!

Yes that easy and to test even simpler write on standard test routine which tests all Blow the chip as many time as you like within reason and bingo Job done time to test = time to bow chip place this in a simple test circuit with a few led’s and a couple of switches Job Done !!

Yes forget 555 my friend wasting your time Know how it works = Yes Know how the 4017 works Excellent because that is all you need to know now
You won’t be using them soon

Yes I’m afraid gone are the days of the 555 pwm you can do this with microchip Timer set your frequency as you want even better than the 555 and 4017 well what is exactly this chip ? A divide by n clock interrupts

You want a one shot bitable you write software to do this now

What ever you can do with that 555 Now what you do is write software for it That’s how its done now

Yes I’m sorry to say yes this is what you should be studying and learning to do

If you want ultra precise timing you use an RTC clock NXP semiconductors right on this page right in front of you

You want motor control you use a pic micro or similar

You want microwave oven control, you write software for a processor to do this

You want internet control as well is micro

You want web server its micro chip technology or some other manufacturer RPI for example

You want Infra red control its microchip or some other manufacturer

You want Rf control its microchip or some other manufacturer All of which require that you must now be able to write software for that component

Even audio and video now Its software hardware orientated now

Even for working inside an office its imperative that you know how to write WebPages how to automate How to query databases , report writing , integration with office documents , spreadsheets , how to export results how to communicate across TCP IP and extranet technologies even mobile phones exactly the same

You don’t by a mobile phone now unless you know what you want to do with it same for email You need to know how to extract data , automate this filter this set up automatic replies iterate through lists

Messaging need to delay an appointment or contact several hundred customers its automated You wont be sitting there trying to desperately send one message after another via sms or email or phone call You write some software to do this for you one touch One button One multithreaded application Job done

Grabs data in database selects phone number , calls modem sends messages and emails Same for hardware

Its a tool and you must know how to write software for it

Why you need time to train people time to do jobs and time to sit back and take it easy Less stress less headaches and more of the must have to do work by hand or instruction

Thats why



Said this would come to you soon to most of you Ive tried to tell you this for years

Biga badda boom ! Biga badda boom !

Oh I get it now. No means no, and yes means Yes. The person is simply asking how to test without a functional circuit. I suppose if the person were testing many they would automate. On the othet hand tht's not how it's done the real process is to use process control to get the defects to within 200 ppm or so and except that as a number to live with.

Then for the rest don't even test them at all because the handling in of itself will introduce another 50 - 100 failures in ppm.

The function could be replaced as you have indicated but he is already gone, that ship has sailed.

Earl relax , make life easier not harder make a component re- usable , not throw away , develop with the modern world not against it , move with the times not against them , produce something that is within time of the world not past tense , move towards the future don’t get left behind

In other words earl train some one who is younger than you with a whole life to come and must work to be ever up to date with technology not left behind wasted , not knowing what to do , not being able to get a job

Not much fun having no money in your pocket , no pension , no where to bloody live a load of companies that ripp you off and take advantage of you because your not in a position to say anything because you don’t know how and haven’t kept up to date

Come on earl even i know this think about someone worse off than you my friend not exactly all their fault I know but at least lets attempt to try and undo what this lot have done

Im not having a go at you earl but times have changed time to move on You cant beat this anymore my friend You either work with this or be beaten

Thats why i dont sit and waste my time now Earl every spare minute Im lewrning something Im 50 years old now I dont have a choice either

Thanks for the advise, and yes all that you say is spot on. We need a different forum for this discussion. The one at hand that I am trying to contribute to for the moment is.

"Testing a 555,"

What shall we call it? Open it up and let's have at it!

I at the side of Colin, it is for 17 cents to cheap to spend time.
And yes i do not like to bin it when defect or suspected, it is just i prefer to repair say job solved and drink a beer.

You could analyse this another way couldnt you You could say lets move this into FPGA design then it would make sense to do this would it not Hence why we create simulators for micro chips and so forth Then it makes sense

For repair purposes Colin is right Peter is right replace the chip

For Future purposes change this into a 12F6XX, 16FXX or similar and only use one component plus a five volt supply

In other words write some software for this and make 12F675 with far fewer components than Collin and low and behold every time you want a 555 timer you simply blow a pic and if you want something else you blow the same chip with another bit of software

So for Collins expense account for four projects Collin here has spent( 99cents * 4 ) plus anotjher 5 * 10 cents another ic holder plus another pcb and another another variation which has cost five times as much and is still not reusable

I’ve only spent $1.20 unless you replace the Ic of course which is still only a fraction more expensive than a 555 and what’s more I can do at least 99 to 100 easy projects from one simple pic micro giving far wider range of functionality and far better meaning full purpose than Collin 555 timer projects why because I don’t need as many components

I only need one Ic a five volt regulator the rest is done internally and via software Free fro download from the net Internal RC osc which can be calibrated Internal port five outputs or inputs no crystals no caps and bang one bit of code and Job done for however many I want or how many times I want to use one single 555 timer making it cheaper more cost effective

If this goes wrong I attache an in ciurcuit debug tool and low and behold I have the fault and can tell this IC that IC or whatevere far easier You obviously didnt see Motorola's Software fault analyser which allows you to clamp over the Ic PLCC or what ever examine a picture of various wave forms and compare with working waveform on each pin of the IC in one shot

With a Multi processor board sometimes emplying some 6 , 7 maybe 8 processors how are you ever going to find the fault unless you can send messages or isolate the IC Surface mount are you going to be able to do this ?? I dont think so somehow

Imagine doing this via scope or test meter Crikey you be there for ever


Which solution will you choose as say a electronic Kit manufacturer

I know the answer to this, I know exactly how the manufactures will think and I know exactly what the environment people will think Build a re usable component

If you want to learn about 555 timers etc and shift registers and decade counters

This is what you do now Try this its free for download http://www.logiccircuit.org
Save yourself allot of money will you and spend it on something that will benefit you for now and years to come Go and buy and raspberry pi that would be far better or Amicus 18 board

You can create as many 555 timers as you like then with decade shift bit registers or gate and gates or multiplexers or what ever you need to do plus internet workings

Plus rs232 , , I2C , single wire , lcd or 7 14 segment displays bcd decoders

That’s your answer

Try it and see for yourselves Learn something different, new, exciting, and challenging and rewarding without the massive cost

This is how we do this... nah, na, na ,na, na

I would just replace the IC's, but I was stupid enough not to use IC holders, so it's just going to be a huge pain de-soldering.

Hmmmm , lesson number one learnt then

When constructing a project its always an idea to use IC holders plus its far neater and far easier to replace, what’s more its more professional

See designing for after sales service so to speak Now its making sense

That’s the difference between rushing to get a job done and taking your time ensuring you get professional results and are able to provide long lasting results ,after sales service unlike so many companies who don’t put a single thought into any of this at all anymore

Not good for anyone is it this !! hmmm still one day

If you have the electronic knowledge to understand a 555, plug it into a solderless breadboard with a few basic 555 circuits and observe the results.