#084 RouletteKit

Build and examine the workings of a commercial 555 Roulette kit

Here’s a quick video of it in action:

Notes

Julian Ilett really does excellent videos on YouTube, even when he’s just building a dinky electronic kit like this 555 Roulette.

So I got myself one of the kits too - mine was all of USD1.11 with free shipping from aliexpress. Dang, now it is only USD1.05!!

And surprise, surprise - mine also came with surface mount components despite the product info online that clearly details DIPs and through-the-hole parts. No mind, a chance to steady my hand for a bit of surface-mount soldering. The IC pin pitch is not too fine, but you definitely need tweezers to get deal with the MELFs.

I must say I was also a little surprised when the unit worked first go - I was sure there would be at least one dry solder joint or bridged connection somewhere.

So how does it work? Basically like this I think:

• pressing the switch charges the R1/C1 network and turns on the Q1 NPN
• Q1 will remain on while C1 discharges through R1 with time constant (𝛕) of 22s.
• Q1 activates the 555 in astable configuration, with a decaying frequency governed by the discharge of C2 through R3 when Q1 turns off.
• pulse stream from 555 pin 3 feeds the CD4017 pin 14 clock signal
• the CD4017 will enable its 10 output pins in sequence, lighting the attached LED, until the pulse stream stops

Construction

Credits and References

• Basic Electronics: Surface Mount Components Kit - 555 Roulette - excellent tutorial by Julian Ilett building the same kit
• 1Pcs Electronic Lucky Rotary Suite DIY Kits Production Parts And Components New - seller page on aliexpress
• CD4017 datasheet
• LM555 datasheet