Just one item in today's postbag - the most fun I've had for £2.50 in a long time. This 555 and 4017 module had a strange sequence of red, white and blue flashing lights. I felt compelled to re-wire the diode matrix to create a UK traffic light simulator.
The item I bought:
Check out what I found. 2014 New CD4017 NE555 Detonation Flash Light Suite DIY Kit 12V http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/-/371112623689?roken=cUgayN via @eBay_UK
Otherwise, search eBay for "555 4017". Here are some results:
Check out what I found. NE555 + CD4017 Light Water Electronic suite DIY Kit Electronic Kit http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NE555-CD4017-Light-Water-Electronic-suite-DIY-Kit-Electronic-Kit-/271595019735?roken=cUgayN via @eBay_UK
Check out what I found. Electronic DIY Kit CD4017+NE555 Explosion-flashing LED Lamp Set l http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electronic-DIY-Kit-CD4017-NE555-Explosion-flashing-LED-Lamp-Set-l-/301122767880?roken=cUgayN via @eBay_UK
Check out what I found. 1PC New NE555+CD4017 Light Water Flowing Light LED Module DIY Kit http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1PC-New-NE555-CD4017-Light-Water-Flowing-Light-LED-Module-DIY-Kit-/121398698009?roken=cUgayN via @eBay_UK
Check out what I found. Hot NE555+CD4017 Light Water DIY Kits Electronic suite Components New http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hot-NE555-CD4017-Light-Water-DIY-Kits-Electronic-suite-Components-New-/351250717067?roken=cUgayN via @eBay_UK

By Julian

Youtuber, shed dweller, solar charge controller aficionado

14 thoughts on “Postbag #29: fun re-wiring a 555 and 4017 led module”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars James Bowen says:

    Looks like it emulating police car lights and it’s almost identical to police car here in New Zealand .

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars bestamerica says:

    hi J l…
    '
    i have one finish LED kits with 4 PCBs…
    can work with 6 LED speakers

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars John F says:

    Good god how much stuff have you got in your house!

    Has your wife noticed you are going 'slitty eyed'?

    🤣🤣🤣

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Ken Wathen says:

    Do you ever respond to question.

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Ray Lyford says:

    SOS on the First 2 Banks.

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Nothing\ says:

    I came across a lot of diagrams for circuits like this that use the 4017 when I was learning to use the 555 a few months ago.

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars dale nassar says:

    Why didn't you just short a couple of the higher V LED's to get enough voltage across the others in the row to see if they light?

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Boyd Bros. says:

    Where did you get that 12v (18650) power bank?

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars bestamerica says:

    '
    how about 5 boards of LED lights…..
    blue – green – red – white – yellow

  10. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Jerry Ericsson says:

    I have a set of these taking up space in my junk floppy disk box. I have disposed of all my old 3 1/2 inch floppy's and now use the plastic boxes to store my Arduino's and LED/LCD Screens as well as plain old junk projects such as this. I do play around with them around Christmas time in our RV since we spend the Winter months in the Mohave Desert in South Western Arizona, and will once again this year, if I can scrape up enough money to go once more. Very cool idea of delay and resetting them, not real sure what, if anything I will do with the set I have. Perhaps toss them in the back room that is filled with old computers and parts dating back to the mid 1990's. Anyone with a truck that would want to come and pick up a load? Wife says I need to get rid of it all, sad thing is that I sold my Ford Pickup truck last fall, and now all I have to haul anything is my Ford Edge SUV that I plan to use as a towed this winter for our RV.

  11. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Tyler Strosnider says:

    Police lights

  12. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars 2RevoWa says:

    So I love your Videos and I thought I would get a Kit and Solder one up. It to came with a Red, White and Blue. Same looking cables and after spending all the time it takes to Solder up 48 LEDs and the Control board. Again all 100% same looking setup as yours. I look over everything to make sure there was no shorts or any extra solder to bridge things. I connect it up and I get nothing. So i test the Wires and all the wires are no good. No damage that you can see by the eye. So I take my Bread board wires that I have extras of. Solder up some connections to the system. connect the wires to the Breadboard for power and I get a moment of Light. Then I look at my Power supply and see it climbing in AMPs when it gets to about 1.5amps I hit the dead man switch as I now also start to see smoke coming from the 4017. It is crazy. It cooked my 4017 and the 555 as well. Put in a good 555 and 4017 from one of my other projects turn it on and it worked just like yours.
    Then I thought I would look into fixing the wires. All 8 and this is Crazy ALL of them are DUST inside the Insulation. I haven't ever seen something like this. I took out the clip from the holder and you can see what looks like Copper wire at the end. However that is only place there is any trace of wire. The insulation from end to end was just DUST. I think there was maybe 1 that had 1 strand of 1/16" long, however it was also breaking down into dust. I touched the strand it and just fell apart. Another case of getting Bad China Fake chips for the control board it seems. In the last 2 months I must have gone through 12 China fakes that takes out the 4017 and the 555. Not sure why. It is sad really even buying from USA sellers can get Fakes Tried that too lol. When I say fake I can use my known good 555 and 4017 in all my projects at 12v for hours no issue. Fakes more then 5.5volts they blow up and some items don't even want to work with such low volts lol.

  13. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars 2RevoWa says:

    I have a few kits that was Solder your own, Even though I had them all done right, I did as your Video and blew both 555 and 4017. Looking at the 2 that didn't make it. I figured out that they are Fake chips and only can take a Max of 5 Volts. I have some real chips so I added them to the Kits and did confirm they were Soldered right because the good Chips worked just fine even over 9Volts. I have found that buying things form some Sellers in China isn't always Smart. Even one that you have bought from. I have 5 kits that are Missing. I have bought from other sellers in China since those packages have shown up. I do hate to wait lol.

  14. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars tardate says:

    Love the "re-programming! I had a closer look at this kit today, and I'm pretty convinced the S8050 transistors are "backwards" on the PCB: S8050 NPN usually have EBC pins, but these are connected like CBE NPN low-side drivers. still work, but probably exceeding max E-B voltage and not driving the LEDs optimally.

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