ON-OFF Switch circuit using a 555 timer (PCB included)

This ON-OFF Switch circuit using a 555 timer is simple, useful and easy to implement. This circuit has many applications on places where it is necessary to activate and deactivate (connect and disconnect) an electrical or electronic device.

How the ON-OFF Switch circuit works?

This ON-OFF Switch circuit uses the well known 555 timer. The timer activates a relay through a bipolar transistor in order to connect or disconnect the device we want to control.

ON OFF switch circuit using 555 timer 

Manual activation is performed through two momentary contact switches. Switch 1 (SW1) is used to enable and Switch 2 (SW2) is used to disable the device.

When the circuit is operating, activation switch causes:

• The voltage on pin 2 of timer 555, change sharply from 12 V to 0 volts. (triggers the 555). The timer output (pin 3) passes to a nearby 12-volt voltage.
• The 12 volts, at the output of the 555, activates the relay through the transistor Q1 (the transistor enters the saturation region)
• To deactivate the relay (and disable the device we want to control) switch 2 (SW2) is pressed. When the switch 2 is pressed, the voltage on pin 6 of the 555 timer changes temporarily to 12 volts.
• The output of the 555 (pin 3) will have a voltage close to 0 volts, the transistor will be in its cutoff region, and the relay will be disabled.

The next two diagrams show the proposed PCB for this circuit and an image of what would be the finished circuit.

555 timer ON OFF switch PCB

On the last diagram, we see two connections made by the component side (blue). To see them well, you only need to expand a little of the diagram.

Note: The circuit works well in a range of 5 to 15 volts. You can use a 9 volt battery, so you have a portable circuit.

List of components for the ON-OFF Switch circuit

• 2 3.3 M resistors (R1, R2)
• 1 10 K resistor (R3)
• 1 1 K resistor (R4)
• 1 10nF capacitor (C1)
• 1 2N2222 NPN transistor or similar (Q1)
• 1 1N4148 rectifier diode or similar (D1)
• 1 red LED (D2)
• 1 555 timer (IC1)
• 1 relay (same voltage of power supply) (RL1)
• 2 NO (normally open) switches (SW1, SW2)
• 3 2 pin terminal blocks. Switches (CN1, CN2), battery (CN3)