DARKROOM TIMER
T
he timer circuit described here pro-
vides a pleasant musical tone in
your darkroom at 1-second inter-
vals. The circuit takes up very little space
and can be easily converted into a metro-
nome.
Unijunction transistor (UJT) T1 func-
tioning as a relaxation oscillator triggers
the phase-shift audio oscillator circuit
174 ELECTRONICS PROJECTS Vol. 22
built around transistor T2, turning it on sistor T2 is coupled to a small speaker
and off. As capacitor C1 is charged through a transistor-radio type output
through preset VR1 and resistor R1, the transformer.
emitter voltage of UJT rises toward the The 22-kilo-ohm value of resistor R3
supply voltage. represents a compromise between tone
When the emitter voltage becomes suf- duration and intensity. You can use re-
ficiently positive, the emitter becomes for- sistors having a value anywhere between
ward biased and discharges capacitor C1 10 kilo-ohms and 25 kilo-ohms for differ-
through the emitter-base 1 (B1) junction ent durations and intensities of the out-
and resistor R2. put signals.
The voltage drop Since the unijunction transistor is
across R2 forward functioning as the oscillator trigger,
biases transistor changing the values of one or more com-
T2 and turns it on. ponents in the UJT circuit will change
As capacitor C1 the rate of the tone burst. The tone fre-
becomes dis- quency can be varied by changing the
charged, the cur- value of any or more of capacitors C2
rent through re- through C4 and resistors R5 and R6 in
sistor R2 drops the phase-shift network.
and transistor T2 The primary winding of transformer
is cut off. X1 can be tuned for a slight increase in
A tone signal the output, using capacitor values between
is generated by 0.05 and 0.25 μF for C5 by trial-and-error
transistor T2 and method. Tone pulses should begin about
R-C coupled ten seconds after the unit is turned on.
phase-shift oscilla- After a minute or so, adjust preset VR1
tor. Part of the sig- for 1-second beats by comparing the tim-
nal taken from the ing of the beats with the seconds needle
collector of tran- on your wristwatch.