555 Low power Consumption Timer Circuit

555 Low power Consumption Timer Circuit

Normally 555 timer circuit even though the start push-button PB1 is not pressed, the timer keeps consuming power From the battery due to a potential divider formed by three 5kΩ  resistors within the IC. this power consumption known as the idling power consumption of the timer is about 3mA. This, if left connected to a battery for a long time can drain off the battery and may give unreliable operation.

To deviate this short coming, you may use the circuit given in the below. Which enables power to be drained from the battery only when timing action is ON. For the idling period, the power consumption is zero.

PARTS LIST
R1	10kΩ
R2	1kΩ
R3	100kΩ Preset
C1	100µF 16V
C2	0.01µF
D1	1N4001
D2	1N4001
RL1	12V Double Pole Relay
PB1	Push to ON Push-Button Switch
IC1	NE555

The circuit uses a double pole relay. One pole is used to energize the  load, the other pole is used to cut off the supply line when the timing action is over.

A push on the ‘Start’ switch energizes the relay RL1. A pair of contacts of the relay provides the supply voltage to the timer which get triggered. Oscillations start and when the output at pin 3 becomes HIGH, the diode D1 permits current to flow through the relay, thus “latching” it up. The frequency of the oscillations depends on the time constant given by T=1.1×C1×(R1+R3). After this time is over, the output at pin 3 goes LOW; the relay is released, and the load is de-energized.

Thus, so long as the start switch is not pressed, no supply voltage is provided to the IC and so, its “idling” power consumption is zero.

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