{"product_id":"the-555se-discrete-555-timer","title":"The 555SE Discrete 555 Timer","description":"\u003cp\u003eSurface mount soldering kit: Re-create one of the most classic, popular, and all-around useful chips of all time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \"555SE\" Discrete 555 timer is a surface-mount soldering kit that lets you build a faithful and functional transistor-scale replica of the \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/555_timer_IC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eNE555\u003c\/a\u003e timer integrated circuit, one of the most classic, popular, and all-around useful chips of all time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLike its larger sibling the \"\u003ca href=\"\/en-eu\/products\/the-three-fives-kit-a-discrete-555-timer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eThree Fives\u003c\/a\u003e\" soldering kit, the 555SE is an easy soldering kit that results in a working 555 timer, styled like an integrated circuit. However, while the Three Fives kit is a traditional through-hole soldering kit styled like a \"DIP\" packaged (through-hole) integrated circuit, the 555SE is a surface mount soldering kit, styled to look like a smaller \"SOIC\" packaged (surface mount) integrated circuit. This particular kit is called the \"555SE\" because it is the \u003cb\u003eS\u003c\/b\u003eurface-mount \u003cb\u003eE\u003c\/b\u003edition, \u003cb\u003eS\u003c\/b\u003eOIC \u003cb\u003eE\u003c\/b\u003edition, \u003cb\u003eS\u003c\/b\u003eMD \u003cb\u003eE\u003c\/b\u003edition, and \u003cb\u003eS\u003c\/b\u003emall \u003cb\u003eE\u003c\/b\u003edition of the 555 soldering kit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 555SE kit was designed by \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/tubetime.us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eEric Schlaepfer\u003c\/a\u003e, working in collaboration with Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories. The kit is lovingly designed to resemble an (overgrown) integrated circuit, based around a black circuit board with clear solder mask so that you can see the wiring traces between the components. It comes complete with a beautiful aluminum display stand that gives the circuit board eight legs in the shape of SOIC-packaged integrated circuit pins. If you're familiar with our larger DIP-IC styled Three Fives kit, you'll find the 555SE to be smaller and built to the same scale, with half the lead pitch, and all surface-mount components. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBuilding the kit\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 555SE is an easy-to-build surface-mount soldering kit. It includes the circuit board, resistors, and transistors that make up the electrical circuit as well as printed assembly instructions. The kit also comes complete with the \"IC Leg\" stand, and 8 color coded thumbscrew terminal posts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo build the 555SE, basic electronic soldering skill and tools are required, but no additional knowledge of electronics is presumed or required. You provide standard surface-mount soldering tools: a soldering iron, solder (wire or paste), small metal tweezers, as well as a Phillips head screwdriver.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe kit features relatively large surface mount components (1206 and SOT-23), and is a great first surface-mount soldering kit if you're just getting started. However, if you are experienced at surface mount soldering and have tools like a hot air rework station or other equipment, you're welcome to use them for assembling this kit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you prefer a \"through-hole\" construction soldering kit, please take a look at the sibling kit, the \"\u003ca href=\"\/en-eu\/products\/the-three-fives-kit-a-discrete-555-timer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eThree Fives\u003c\/a\u003e\" kit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eUsing the 555SE Discrete 555 Timer\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 555SE circuit is a direct implementation of the \"equivalent circuit\" from the NE555 datasheet, built up using resistors and individual 2N3904 and 2N3906 transistors. It comes with terminal posts and solder points so that you can actually connect to it and build up any number of 555 timer and oscillator circuits. Using those terminal posts and solder points, you can hook up with with bare wires, lugs, alligator clips, and\/or solder joints-- however you see fit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd unlike the chip version, you can even hook up probes to monitor what goes on \u003ci\u003einside\u003c\/i\u003e the circuit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are a remarkably large number of excellent 555 example circuits available on the internet (for example, over 100 \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.talkingelectronics.com\/projects\/50%20-%20555%20Circuits\/50%20-%20555%20Circuits.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e), as well as on other sites across the internet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile the 555SE will work without modification in the majority of example circuits, some performance characteristics are different than those of 555 integrated circuits; please refer to the Absolute Maximum Ratings and Electrical Characteristics in the datasheet for additional details.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAdditional specifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eKit size\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe 555SE printed circuit board is 2.559 × 2.047 inches (6.5 × 5.2 cm) in area, and (nominally) 0.062\" (1.6 mm) thick.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIncluding the \"Integrated Circuit Legs\" stand and terminal posts, the overall size of the assembled kit is nominally 2.559 × 3.066 × 0.800 inches (6.5 × 7.8 × 2.0 cm).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMaterials and construction\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe decorative stand is smooth to the touch and made of anodized aluminum.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe circuit board in the kit is black, with gold plated contacts, a clear solder mask finish, and four countersunk mounting holes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEight 4-40 surface-mount threaded inserts for the terminal posts are included with the kit.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe included terminal post screws are stainless steel thumbscrews with color-coded plastic caps (1 red, 1 black, 6 gray).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAll materials (including the circuit board and stand) are RoHS complaint (lead free).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDownloads and additional resources\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdditional specifications are given in the kit's \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.evilmadscientist.com\/KitInstrux\/555\/555_datasheet_rev30d.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003edatasheet\u003c\/a\u003e (1.7 MB PDF file).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.evilmadscientist.com\/KitInstrux\/555\/555SE_assy_1.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eKit assembly instructions\u003c\/a\u003e (3.3 MB PDF file). \u003ci\u003ePrinted instructions are included with the kit.\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEvil Mad Scientist have written a detailed educational supplement for this kit, which goes into detail about how the circuit works: \"\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.evilmadscientist.com\/KitInstrux\/555\/555_principles_rev30.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003ePrinciples of Operation\u003c\/a\u003e\" (1 MB PDF)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe central documentation page for the kit is found \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/wiki.evilmadscientist.com\/555\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e on the documentation wiki.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Evil Mad Scientist","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31647082512467,"sku":"EMS-20555","price":32.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0174\/1800\/products\/1_2x_986dcca8-9462-4ec5-9ea6-8c9b47488e01.jpg?v=1586867218","url":"https:\/\/shop.pimoroni.com\/en-eu\/products\/the-555se-discrete-555-timer","provider":"Pimoroni Ltd","version":"1.0","type":"link"}