LIGHT SENSITIVE TRIGGER Contrary to its normal use as an astable or monostable multivibrator the Type 555 IC inthis circuit

functions as a comparator. the operation of a 555 is normally as follows: the output goes high upon receipt of atrigger (start) pulse on input pin2. This pulse is a voltage whose level is lower than 1/3 of thesupply voltage. The output goes low again when the voltage at the second input, pin 6, has briefly exceeded 2/3 of the supply level. In the present design, the second input is not used, butthe output of the chip can none the less revert to the low state, since pin6 is connected direct tothe positive supply rail. This set up is accounted for by the accompanying table taken from the555s data sheets.In principle the supply voltage for the circuit must equal the coil voltage of the relay. Donot apply more than 16V however, as this may damage the 555. The current consumption of thecircuit is 4mA, exclusive of the relay, at a supply level of 12V. Components R2 and C1 ensure adelay of about 10s before the relay is energized, so that the circuit is rendered insensitive to rapidchanges in the light intensity.Basically, the circuit has no hysteresis effect. However, when the supply is not regulatedthe actuation of the relay will lower the supply level somewhat. This lowers the internalthreshold of the IC since the trigger point is defined as 2/3 of the hysteresis of the circuit can bedimensioned as required by fitting a resistor in series with the supply. It is also possible to fit aresistor between pins 5 & 7 of the 555, as shown in the circuit diagram. The amount of hysteresis is inversely proportional to the value of the resistor ,and 100k is reasonable starting point for the experiments

Reset(4) Low High High

Trigger Voltage(2) Irrelevent <1/3VDD >1/3VDD

Threshold Voltage(6) Irrelevent Irrelevent >2/3VDD

Output Low High Low

Discharge switch On Off On

List of Components Resistors: 1.R1 -33k ,R2 -1k ,.R3 -LDR , R4 - 10k C1 - 10pF D1 -1N 41482.,IC-555, 12V/1Co Relay