The IC 555 is an extremely useful and versatile device which can be applied for configuring many useful circuits in the field of electronics. One very useful feature of this IC is its ability to generate PWM pulses which can be dimensioned or processed as per the needs of the application or the circuit.
What’s PWM
PWM stands for pulse width modulation, a process which involves the control of the pulse widths, or the ON/OFF periods or logical outputs that's generated from a particular source such as an oscillator circuit or microcontroller.
Basically PWM is used for dimensioning or trimming the output voltage or power of a particular load as per individual or application requirements.
It is a digital way of controlling power and is more effective than analogue or linear methods.
There are many examples which illustrates the effective use of PWM in controlling the given parameters.
It's used for controlling the speed of DC motors, in inverters for controlling the RMS of the output AC or for producing modified sine wave outputs.
It can be also seen in SMPS power supplies for controlling the output voltage to precise levels.
It's also applied in LED driver circuits for enabling LED dimming functioning.
It's extensively used in buck/boost topologies for deriving stepped down or stepped-up voltages without using bulky transformers.
So basically it may be used for tailoring an output parameter as per our own preferences.
With so many interesting application options, does it mean the method may be too complicated or expensive to configure??
The answer is definitely, no. In fact it can be very simply implemented using a single IC the LM555.
There are basically two methods through which the IC 555 can be used for generating pulse width modulation output. The first method is using only a single IC 555, and a few associated parts such as a diodes, a potentiometer and a capacitor. The second method is by using a standard monostable IC 555 configuration and using an external modulation signal.
IC 555 PWM using Diodes
The first method is the simplest and effective, which uses the configuration as shown below:
Video Demonstration
The working of the above shown two diode IC 555 PWM circuit is quite simple. It's in fact a standard astable multivibrator design with the exception of an independent ON/OFF period control of the output.
As we know that the ON time of the IC 555 PWM circuit is decided by the time taken by its capacitor to charge at the 2/3rd Vcc level through pin#7 resistor, and the OFF time is determined by the discharging time of the capacitor below 1/3rd Vcc through the pin#7 itself.
In the above simple PWM circuit, these two parameters can be independently set or fixed through a potentiometer and through a couple of bifurcating diodes.
The left side diode which has its cathode connected with pin#7 separates the OFF time, while the right side diode which has its anode connected to pin#7 separates the ON time of the IC output.
When the potentiometer slider arm is more towards the left side diode, it causes the discharge time to decrease, due to lower resistance across the discharging path of the capacitor. This results in an increase in the ON time, and decrease in the OFF time of the IC PWM.
Conversely, when the pot slider is more towards the right side diode, it causes the ON time to decrease due to lowering of the resistance of the pot on the charging path of the capacitor. This results in an increase in the OFF period, and decrease in the ON periods of the IC output PWMs.
You can replace the timing resistors with a single potentiometer if you want to alter the duty cycle while keeping the frequency constant, as depicted in the following figure.
The 555 circuit may be adjusted as illustrated below to change the frequency while keeping the duty constant at around 50%.
2) IC 555 PWM using External Modulation
The second method is slightly complex than the above, and requires an external varying DC on pin#5 (control input) of the IC for implementing the proportionately varying pulse width at the IC output.
Let's learn the following simple circuit configuration:
IC 555 Pinout
The diagram shows the IC 555 wired up in an easy monostable multivibrator mode. We know that in this mode the IC is able to generate a positive pulse at pin#3 in response to every single negative trigger at its pin#2.
The pulse at pin#3 sustains for some predetermined time period depending upon the values of Ra and C.We can also see the pin #2 and pin#5 assigned as clock and modulation inputs respectively.
The output is taken from the usual pin#3 of the chip.
In the above straightforward configuration the IC 555 is all set for generating the required PWM pulses, it just requires a square wave pulse or a clock input at its pin#2, which determines the output frequency, and a variable voltage input at pin#5 whose amplitude or the voltage level decides the pulse width dimensions at the output.
The pulses a pin#2 generates a correspondingly alternating triangle waves at pin#6/7 of the IC, whose width is determined by the RA and C timing components.
This triangle wave is compared with the instantaneous measure of voltage applied at pin#5 for dimensining the PWMs pulses at pin#3 output.
In simple words we just need to supply a train of pulses at pin #2 and a varying voltage at pin #5 for achieving the required PWM pulses at pin#3 of the IC.
The amplitude of the voltage at pin#5 will be directly responsible in making the output PWM pulses stronger or weaker, or simply thicker or thinner.
The modulation voltage can be a very low current signal, yet it would give the intended results.
For example suppose we apply a 50 Hz square wave at pin#2 and a constant 12V at pin#5, the result at the output will show PWMs with an RMS of 12V and frequency of 50Hz.
For reducing the RMS we just need to lower the voltage at pin#5. If we vary it the resultant will be a varying PWM with varying RMS values.
If this varying RMS is applied to a mosfet driver stage at the output, any load that is supported by the mosfet will also respond with correspondingly varying high and low results.
If a motor is connected to the mosfet, it will respond with varying speeds, a lamp with varying light intensities while an inverter with modified sine wave equivalents.
The Output Waveform
The above discussion can be witnessed and verified from the given waveform illustration below:
The topmost waveform represents the modulation voltage at pin#5, the bulge in the waveform represents the rising voltage and vice versa.
The second waveform represents the uniform clock pulse applied at pin#2. It's just for enabling the IC to switch at a certain frequency, without which the IC wouldn't be able to work as a PWM generator device.
The third waveform depicts the actual PWM generation at pin#3, we can see that the width of the pulses is directly proportional to the top modulation signal.
The pulse widths corresponding to the "bulge" can be seen as much wider and closely spaced which proportionately becomes thinner and sparse with the fall in the modulation voltage level.
The above concept can be very easily and effectively applied in power control applications as discussed earlier in the above article.
How to Generate a Fixed 50% Duty Cycle from a IC 555 Circuit
The following figure shows a simple configuration which will provide you with a fixed 50% duty cycle PWMs across its pin#3. The idea was presented in one of the IC 555 datasheets, and this design looks very interesting and useful for applications which need a simple and quick 50% fixed duty cycle generator stage.
Mohsin Ali Shah says
Sir, in the first diagram where resistors are shown in orange color, connections on pin 7 (if I am not wrong) are looks wrong as variable resistor is looks short circuited.
I think R1 should not be connected to pin7 directly.
Swagatam says
Hello Mohsin,
I cannot see anything wrong in the first circuit. The circuit is a tested design, you can see it in the video.
Michael says
Thank you sir, pls I do not mean connecting the output pin 3 of spmw ICs
above directlyy to sg 3525 in the inverter. I will follow your directive to connect the pin to mosfet gates with individual diodes. What I mean sir is, is it safe or will it work if I use the first method of generating spmw explained in the above article in an sg3525 inverter. That’s an inverter that has sg3525 as it’s main IC Thanks.
Swagatam says
Michael, As already mentioned in my previous comment, the above circuits will not generate SPWM, they will only generate uniformly divided PWMs.
Please read the article carefully to understand its working.
You can use the second concept for generating SPWM by connecting pin#4 50 Hz output from SG3525 with pin#2 of the IC555, and then feeding pin#5 of the IC 555 with 300 Hz triangle waves, which can be obtained from another IC 555 astable circuit from right across its timing capacitor.
Michael says
Hello sir, pls under this explanation you did, which said by ” connecting the output pin 3 of the IC…….. pls there are many circuits here, is it under the first method which has a 555 IC with a pin 3 output connected to a red arrow and yellow stripes, also still under that circuit of the first method, there are two wires out tagged “9v” and “0v”, pls where do these wires go. Lastly still under this first method’s circuit, I want to use it in an sg3525 inverter, should I go on thanks.
Swagatam says
Hello Michael, all the diagrams above will generate a pwm controlled output at pin3 of the ICs, so you can use any one of them. Connecting to SG3525 will not help to get sine wave output because the above pwms are not SPWMs, they can be used only to control the RMS of the inverter output. The 0 and 9V can be connected to the battery of the inverter.
Michael says
Thanks sir for your Swift response, pls I want to enquire, can I use the 12v d.c. from a normal or advanced car alternator rotating at it’s normal or highest possible rpm to power a 2k watt or at least a 1k watt Inverter. That is the inverter will only be powered by the current from the alternator in place of a battery. If it’s feasible, like how long can that arrangement last with little or no harm to the inverter or the alternator itself. If there are pros, pls let me know also through your reply. Thanks, will be waiting for your reply. Merry Christmas to you and your people ❤️
Swagatam says
Michael, an inverter just needs a DC supply to convert the DC into mains AC, it doesn’t matter from where the DC is coming. If you can convert the alternator AC to Dc to feed the inverter then the inverter will do its job normally, as it would do with any battery. However to operate a 1000 watt load the alternator output power will need to be much above this value.
Michael says
Pls sir under method one on how to create pmw circuits, can you apply it to all inverter circuits e.g inverter circuits with sg 3525, also sir pls still under that first method diagram what’s the output wires, also which place in my inverter will I connect the output wire to create the simulated sine wave. Then lastly sir still under that first diagram pls I don’t understand that yellow stripes connected with a red wire or outline to the third pin of the IC 555
Thanks for answering. God bless you.
Swagatam says
Michael, you can use the second 2) explanation for inducing sine pwms into any inverter, by connecting the output pin3 of the IC to the gate of the MOSFET through two separate 1N4148 diodes. The cathodes of both the diodes will connect with the pin#3 of the IC, and the anodes will go to the respective gates of the MOSFETs.
The yellow lines are rectangular waveform as seen on an oscilloscope, please see the video to understand the waveforms.
You can read the following article for more info:
Sine wave PWM (SPWM) Circuit using Opamp
Kenneth Graham says
Great circuit!
Thanks!
Ken
Swagatam says
Thank you, glad you liked it!
Paul England says
Swagatam,
I have used a crystal controlled oscillator and divided it down to give a very accurate 50Hz square wave which I have further cleaned up using Schmidt triggers. However, the duty cycle of the output pulses are too long causing the inverter I am using it with to draw too much current and produce too much voltage.
Would it be possible to use the square wave pulses to drive a PWM circuit and control the duty cycle using feedback from the output of the inverter?
I am assuming that opto-couplers could be used but given the high voltage on the secondary they would have to be carefully utilised.
If you have such a circuit available it would be much appreciated.
Swagatam says
You can chop the MOSFET gate with feedback voltage as explained in the following article:
Automatic Inverter Output Voltage Correction Circuit
Paul England says
Swagatam,
Thank you for that; presumably I need two of these circuits to handle the anti-phase outputs of my oscillator circuit?
Swagatam says
Sorry Paul, I cannot perfectly figure out the mentioned circuit.
Kamal Patidar says
At which point we have to connect led for blinkiy
Yusuf abdulazeez says
Hi engineer Swagatam, I have completed the circuit (3kva inverter using IC SG3525) It works. Thank you very much. Now, sir, I want AUTOMATIC battery charger/changeover circuit, overload cut off, Battery full cut off, Battery low cut off. When the light from grid comes it will automatically change to changing and vise vasal, to elongate the life span of the battery used. I will be looking forward to your prompt reply. Once again, I am very grateful.
Swagatam says
Thanks Yusuf, I am glad you could complete it successfully, you can try the second concept from this article to convert your design into an UPS
https://www.homemade-circuits.com/making-ups-tutorial/
abubakar says
hi good work sir
Ezekiel sanga says
Hi Swagatam
My name is Ezekiel
I want you to show me a schematic diagram of a soft start AC motor pump using a monostable 555 timer to
have automatic control of start up AC motor pump
Johan says
Dear Sir
Possible to explain to me how to use the 555 as a speed controller in PWM, to control a 48v DC fan draw 350mA.
Thank You
Swagatam says
Dear Johan, you can try the following simple design for implementing your application
https://www.homemade-circuits.com/2012/05/make-this-pwm-based-dc-motor-speed.html
make sure to step down the 48V to 12V for the IC section.
Sherwin Baptista says
Dear,
In the circuit diagram given by you, i see the 100K pot connected with the diodes.
Does this pot only change the duty cycle OR change both frequency and duty cycle?
Thanks
Swagatam says
Hi Sherwin, Only duty cycle is changed, not frequency.
Shankar says
Then how pwm frequency can be calculated?.
Is the standard formula will be used or something difference
Sherwin Baptista says
Dear Guru,
I have been through various circuits on the web regarding 50% duty cycle generator using IC555 timer where people have connected diodes in series with the timing components and proved to show that they are sucessful in doing so.
I have even searched the datasheet of the above timer regarding the duty cycle generation but in the features section it just says ADJUSTABLE DUTY CYCLE and it doesn't mention it like say 0-100% OR 50-100% or whatever.
Many other people have made the 555 oscillator and some say:
1. It is possible to trim down the duty cycle less than 50%.
2. It is not possible to bring the duty cycle less than 50%.
3. It is possible to generate 50% duty cycle.
All these people have shown diagrams and videos and proved the above.
There are questions from my side regarding the above:
A. Is it possible to generate a fixed 50% duty cycle at the output of 555 by connecting diodes?
B. Are we forcing a component to generate something more precise and accurate regarding to what it can in general output freely without stress.
The datasheet dosen't show any diodes connected in the 50% duty cycle schematic.
I need some clarification regarding this.
Thanks
Swagatam says
Hi Sherwin, It is good to see that you have reposted your comment, please refer to my reply as given in the above comment.
the 555 duty cycle and frequency together depend on its R/C component values, so while creating the 50% duty cycle we are basically adjusting the R/C components precisely to set the duty cycle
Swagatam says
you have removed the comment, that's not good…you must be patient getting the reply from me.
Swagatam says
Hi Sherwin,
It is possible to adjust and vary the duty cycle of a 555 IC circuit from 1% to 99% by using diodes in conjunction with the pot of the circuit as shown below
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L9gXRB3GcDc/Vvek1mJUGOI/AAAAAAAANZE/ocPbYVXjnQMDKpxwDB0sd2fu5uqlJkutw/s1600/pwm%2Bcircuit.PNG
fixed 50% is also possible, you can find a simple design updated just now by me in the above article
bhavin patel says
sir i need help in spwm technique for inverter using arduino
Swagatam says
bhavin, you can refer to the following article
https://www.homemade-circuits.com/2016/12/simple-arduino-sine-wave-inverter.html
kumar says
Hello sir,
I have a few queries could you please clarify that,
Is this possible to control the load of 24v using PWM if possible can you please send the circuit diagram.
my requirement is "on" and "off" the load depends on the time period like 2 minutes "on" and 1 minutes "off", and 3 minutes "on" and 1 minutes "off", the time duration for "on" and "off" is should variable.
Thanks in advance.
Swagatam says
Hello kumar, the above explained concept cannot be used for your application….a programmable timer referred below will be much suitable instead:
https://www.homemade-circuits.com/2012/04/how-to-make-simple-programmable-timer.html
Faris Ahamad Maleppattil says
Dear Swagatam Sir,
Is the circuit given alone capable of producing PWM signals?or should we take the output from pin 6(triangle wave) and compare it with the input signal using 741/311?
Swagatam says
Dear Faris, Pin#2 needs to be fed with a square wave pulse and pin5 with some constant DC voltage, that's all….the resultant will be a dimensioned constant PWM equivalent in RMS value to the DC input at pin#5…the PWM will vary as the pin#5 DC is varied, if it's in the form of a sinewave then the PWM will follow this and produce a equivalently varying PWM train at pin#3
Suman says
hello
swagatam i need a help from u pls
i want pwm ciruit diagram with specificitions 0-24v dc using 555ic and mosfet output upto 30amps using controling preset r variable can u help me pleace
Swagatam says
hello suman, you can try the following simple design:
https://www.homemade-circuits.com/2012/05/make-this-pwm-based-dc-motor-speed.html
Ahmed Farrag says
Hello,
Many thanks again.
Please do accept my apologies but electronics is not really my strength point and I struggle with some concepts.
I understood what you said with creating the PWM, however I don't see where can I input my own varying signal onto the IC-555? In addition, the second link gave me the page of a Tachometer, I didn't manage my way through to be honest 🙁
Swagatam says
It's just an idea that I have suggested, I am myself not sure if the idea would work.
The input will need to be applied at pin5 of IC2 in the referred first diagram.
In the tachometer, see only upto the transistor base, ignore the left side ignition system.
The PWMs from the first diagram could be applied to the base of this transistor for getting an equivalent sine wave across C8
Patrick says
Hello Sir ,
is this variable duty circle pwm train only enough to couple to mosfets for for high power inverter?
Swagatam says
Hello Patrick, it can be applied alternately. When one set of SPWM is applied on one MOSFET gate, it should switch OFF and move to the next MOSFET and repeat the set. This must go on alternately across the two MOSET gates.
Ahmed Farrag says
Hello Mr Swagatam,
Many thanks for your prompt reply.
I didn't quite understand what you meant by connecting pin-2 to a square wave source, is it the feedback connected back from pin-3 through a resistor? This is how I have designed my circuit:
Pins 2 and 6 are connected together and joining a capacitor to the ground, pin-2 is connected through a resistor to pin-3 to have the same charge and discharge path through same resistor and by this way I can obtain 50% duty cycle.
My input to pin-5 is actually an analog signal with a voltage range that I choose (between 2 –> 8 Volts), if I do understand correctly then the lower the control voltage on pin-5 the higher the output frequency and vice versa, true?
In addition, some experimental studies referred to the usage of electrolytic capacitors on pin-3 to generate an average sine wave, what do you think?
Swagatam says
Hello Ahmed,
My idea is to convert the input varying signal into varying PWMs and then convert these PWMs into a proportionately varying sinewave
referring to the diagram as given below, see only the IC1/IC2 stages, ignore the BC547 section, here if a varying voltage (from 0 to supply level) is fed will generate a correspondingly varying PWM on pin3 of IC2:
2.bp.blogspot.com/-9KJbHVJRM50/VEi8zi9XYFI/AAAAAAAAIfM/NVyjPFtj7ho/s1600/treadmill%2Bcontroler%2Bcircuit.png
Next these PWM can be fed to the base of the transistor T2 of an integrator as shown below, and the waveform can be analyzed across C8
easy-electronic-circuits.blogspot.in/2014/02/simple-tachometer-circuit-or-revolution.html
Ahmed Farrag says
Hello Mr Swagatam,
Many thanks for your article which I came across because I am looking to construct a very basic VCO which has an analog input variable voltage that should be converted to an alternating sine wave corresponding to the input voltage.
I was thinking of using the 555 to generate a square wave corresponding to my varing voltage and convert it to a sine wave, what do you think?
Many thanks in advance.
Swagatam says
Hello Ahmad,
Yes it's possible, first the varying may be applied at pin5 of the IC 555 (pin2 connected with a square wave source) for generating a correspondingly varying PWMs, and then these PWMs may be fed to another 555 IC integrator circuit for converting them into correspondingly varying sine pulses…..wider the PWMs higher the amplitude of the sinewaves and vice vera.
David Argent says
Hi Swagatam,
This is a great post, with some inspiring information. I have a question if I may. I have a SMPS converting 230vAC down to 24vDC @ 40A. I need to control the output voltage from 0-24v. I'm looking into using PWM and so would the 555 be the right solution? i'm not an electrical engineer but I need to have a clue about whats possible before I try and commission the product.
Many thanks.
David
Swagatam says
Hi David,
Yes it can be done. Pease reer to the following diagram. The upper section is what you need to make, ignore the lower IC/mosfet section its not required. Pin3 of IC2 555 will produce the required PWMs
The above output can be configured to a mosfet stage for controlling the load, the PWMs then may be adjusted by varying the 10k RMS pot or preset.
Swagatam says
…sorry here's the link:
1.bp.blogspot.com/-M-7Ep_6ceTg/UeOHwdVvZeI/AAAAAAAAE1A/OKN0F_jVmkw/s1600/pure%20sine%20wave%20inverter%20circuit.png
Charlie C says
Hi Swagatam,
I was wondering if you could help me with my project. I need a pwm motor speed controller for my 12V, 3A motor and I want to run it 1 minute ON and ~5 minutes off to save battery power. I have a 4060 ic that can be used on the timer part but not sure if you can use it for PWM?? Thanks in advance.
Swagatam says
Hi Charlie,
For PWM control you can try the last circuit shown in this article:
https://www.homemade-circuits.com/2013/02/how-to-make-simple-220v-transformerless.html
ignore the 4 diode bridge circuit, simply connect your motor across the positive and the mosfet drain.
The 10k preset can be used for controlling the motor speed.
Swagatam says
correction: the above link is not the correct one, please refer to this link:
https://www.homemade-circuits.com/2013/09/simple-electronic-load-controller-elc.html