How do I build a short-range timer?

Smokin Moose

Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex Moderator
What follows?
Complete instructions (including photos) for making a cheap ($12-15) fully digital cyclestat, aKA Short-range timer, from parts commonly available at Radioshack or other online Electronics Surplus companies.

What is a cyclestat?
This is a repeat cycle timer, which features settable ON and OFF times. The
timer is capable of switching AC loads up to the limit of the relay (more later) you select. Common timing uses for a cyclestat are: CO2 gas injection, ozone, pumps or cycling exhaust fans.

What parts are needed and where can I buy them?
Most, if not all, are available at the Radioshack. However, I urge you to buy as many of these components as possible from SURPLUS (used) parts shops. One such Surplus shop is: All Electronics Corp - Parts, Supplies and Components
this will greatly reduce the cost of the timer you are building. You will save the most by NOT buying the breadboard or the Relay from Radioshack.

Parts List:
One solid-state relay (you choose the amperage to suit, I used 10 Amp / 120V, US$6.50 used).

A DC power supply (anything from 5 to 9V DC is fine, I used one from an old
"DiskMan").

One power-strip.

One "Bread Board" (We will build our little circuit on this, US $3 or less).

Four chips, some jumper wires of various lengths, one capacitor, and two
resistors. (See picture for specifics about US $3 or less).

Two wires approx 1' (use some cord from the DC power supply mentioned above).

This is going to be so easy, you won't believe it; they charge US$90 for these in many Grow shops!

Note that EXACT product codes are not important in selecting circuit parts. But, what IS important is for the numeric part of the code to match mine and for the number of pins to be the same. For example, if you found a 16PIN "TC4013BP" that would be fine even though the one I have says "TC4013BF". The capacitor can be any type, but if you get a polar one
like I did, make sure it goes in the proper direction. The resistors don't
matter so much, just get the res values correct.



Setting up the breadboard
The Breadboard has two sides, which are electrically insulated from each other.We will call the left side GROUND and the right side POWER. We supply power and ground to the board by plugging our DC Power supply leads into bottom of the board (as shown). I recommend soldering these connections to pieces of (more rigid) jumper wire. You must match the positive wire from the power supply to the positive (right) side of the breadboard, and the negative lead to the left side. Usually, the positive wire will look different (e.g. have a white stripe like mine). The outermost holes on each side of the board are used to distribute power and ground (respectively) to an entire row of the board (I have wired the
first row to both power and ground sides in the photo below to illustrate this).

The chips have either 8 or 16 pins each. The pins are numbered counter-clockwise (from bottom left of chip) as shown.



Building
You may connect the power and ground connections from the DC power supply anytime but DON'T PLUG IN BOARD DURING ASSEMBLY!

Note: When putting on the chips exact row positions don't really
matter, just as long as the chips go in the order specified and are "down
the middle" of board, with lettering READABLE FROM THE GROUND SIDE.

Install all the chips [refer to previous picture]:

Chip#1 is the 555 timer chip.
Chip#2 = 4020B counter chip.
Chip#3 = another 4020B chip.
Chip#4 = 4013BF dual D-type Flip Flop.

Note: We will only use one side of the "dual" F.F. I used a dual because it was available (and commonly found).



Wiring bottom chips
Note how pin8 on Chip#3 got its ground connection from a different row. You can get Power or Ground connections (respectively) from anywhere on the outer pin columns.

Note the optional LED's. The green taps into pin1 on chip#4. This LED will show when the timer is ON (helps check things). The Green LED's other leg plugs into the Ground (as shown). The Red LED will indicate when the timer is in the OFF state. It taps pin2 of Chip#4, and also needs to be grounded (as shown). NOTE: Make sure the LED's you use have built in resistors, or else add a little resistance in series with each LED.



The Relay
Now that the logic portion of the timer is done. Go ahead and plug the DC Power supply block into the wall. The green and red LED's should alternate 2 seconds green, 2 seconds red. This is the troubleshooting setting (we will adjust ON/OFF times later).

Connecting the relay:
The Solid State relay has two ends, the DC control end, and the AC power end. ***Caution*** AC current can kill you, so please be careful. Make sure the power strip is UNPLUGGED.

We begin by slicing through the outer plastic of the Power Strip's insulation, about a foot or so from the plug. Peel back the insulation to reveal three wires (white, green, and black). The black one is the POWER wire, the one we will splice into the AC side of the relay. Cut the black wire and cut and peel back some insulation from each cut end. Make a small loop on each cut end, and screw down these loops under the relay's screws (AC end). [See picture for details]

Connect two small (8-12") pieces of wire [see parts list] to the Relay's DC
power and ground screws. Tape up the entire relay (especially the AC end) with black electrical tape (or duct tape). This will prevent any contact shorts and improve safety.



Plug in the Negative (black) and Positive (red) wires from the relay to where the GREEN LED was before (as shown). Note that I have soldered the ends of these wires to pieces of jumper wires (again, for more rigid connections).

Note that I have replaced two key wires from previous pictures with the YELLOW and GREEN wires (for clarity). Leave these wires connected at chip #4.

To Set ON/OFF times:

Chip #3 controls OFF time.
Chip #2 controls ON time.

To change these times, simply plug the Yellow or Green wires into other pins (on Chips 2 and 3) as follows:

The following times are valid for chip 2 (ON time) and chip 3 (OFF time):

Pin # Schematic Pin Delay Time

9 Q1 2 sec
7 Q4 16 sec
5 Q5 32 sec
4 Q6 ~ 1 min
6 Q7 ~2 min
13 Q8 ~ 4 min
12 Q9 ~ 8 min
14 Q10 ~ 17 min
15 Q11 ~34 min
1 Q12 ~ 68 min
2 Q13 ~ 2 hr 15 min
3 Q14 ~4 hr 30 min

***Remember that the pins are numbered from 1-16 and arranged counter clockwise from bottom left of chip. Do not plug into any other pins besides those listed in table above!***

Sample time setting:

To set 64 sec. ON / 256 sec. OFF, plug the Yellow wire at chip #2 into pin#4, plug the Green wire at chip #3 into pin#13.



The board and relay could be fastened inside of a small plastic case with holes cut for the power strip cord ends. Make sure to keep components from touching though. Simply plug in your appliance into a spot on the power strip, plug in the strip and DC power supply, and set the ON/OFF times.

Here's the schematic of the completed cyclestat.



Be sure to add a filter capacitor as the schematic indicates (not shown in photos) to ensure proper timer functioning.

TIMER IMPROVEMENT
Below is the updated timer layout, featuring an "automatic on" function that restarts the timer in the ON position when power is applied. The resistance/capacitance values on the RC circuit are subject to what works. (The stated values worked for me, It's all about resetting the chips for long enough time intervals when power up occurs -- play around to find what works best for your timer.)

Shown Values:
Res. at bottom (added RC circuit) = 1K ohm
Res at middle = 10K ohm
Cap. at bottom (RC circuit) 68 uF.
 
Where are the pictures and schematics?

I've seen these instructions posted elsewhere and they are also missing their schematics
 
Where are the pictures and schematics?

I've seen these instructions posted elsewhere and they are also missing their schematics
 
I'm interested in seeing the pictures and schematics too. I've seen these instructions posted elsewhere but also missing the schematics needed to actually figure out how to hook it all together.

I've managed to wire up a simple 555 timer before that could pulse for .5 - 5 seconds and pause between 2 - 60 seconds. I would really like to wire up something that can pulse briefly every 15 minutes or so though.
 
Sorry about the double post there. Seems to have locked up and I didn't think it posted at all then boom three posts were there.

I realize it is an old thread and I wanted to PM the original author to see if they could provide a link to the missing pictures and schematics but apparently I'm not allowed to PM people until I reach a certain post count so I simply had to post to the thread.

I've seen these instructions copied on other forums but they are also missing the needed details and at least one of the other forums hasn't bothered to send me the activation e-mail so I can't even post there yet.

Ah well, I've found an electronics forum to go post questions on so perhaps I'll get more help there.

Thanks,
TCLynx
:peace:
 
I did go and get a kit to build a simple little 555 repeat cycle timer.
Perhaps I could share the info on that one. However it only turns on for short pulses .5 - 5 seconds and then off for between 2 and 60 seconds.

Hum, I don't see an easy way to attach a picture or file to the post?
means I would need to host the image somewhere else
 
bump again.......

......it would be real cool to see a pic of one of these with a schematic!

Anybody know where it's at??

gman


TCLynx: do you have pic in a gallery here at 420?? That's the easiest way, imo.... Go click the 'Photo Gallery' button at the top of page, then click 'my photos', then there should be upload buttons/info for you........
 
Well I have the diagram that came with the little kit I got bu the kit only does a very short cycle (.5-5 seconds on and 2-60 seconds off.)

Now I just need to get my scanner to talk to my computer again.

Actually for the really simple 555 timer like the kit has, there are millions of diagrams out there. It is little more than a 555 chip, some diodes to help keep the power to the chip clean, some capacitors, some resistors, a couple adjustable pots, a led, a power supply and a relay.

I believe I've seen similar kits online. I should probably just order one of these kits.
60 Minute Adjustable On/Off Cyclic Timer - Cana Kit

timer4.jpg
 
Thanks a lot, TCLynx! Yeah, now I confirm with myself why I dont diy electrical: That's all completely Greek to me... I should get one of those science kits things and learn the basics(might be fun??:rollit:). I look at that thing and, where's the plug in at??:geek: That price is sure right and I am sure you could get creative and make similar things, controllers, etc......

:allgood:Thanks again!!:headbanger:

gman:peace:
 
It has little screw terminals where you could attach a DC control voltage (like from a 12 vdc wall wart, you will want to know how to use a multi-meter to check the polarity so you don't wire it in backwards.) Then you would use another power supply hooked to what ever you are wanting to turn on and off and the outputs from the relay (kinda like the original poster mentioned about wiring the relay to the power strip.)

If you don't understand what I'm saying here, you will want to find a geeky friend who has a multi-meter and knows a little about wiring to help you so you don't risk killing yourself.
 
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