Mini Project Report

SRM INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

College of Engineering and Technology

Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering

21ECC211L / Devices and Digital IC Lab

III Semester, 2024- 25 (Odd Semester)

Lab code & Title : 21ECC211L / Devices and Digital IC Lab

Year & Semester : 2nd Year&3rd Semester

Project Title : Digital Stopwatch using IC 555 and IC 4026

Lab Supervisor : Dr. Diwakar Marur

Team Members Registration No & Name: RA2311004010136 Aryan Dwivedi

RA2311004010149 Harsh Kumar Maurya
RA2311004010159 Abhradeep Maity

Reg. No & Name RA2311004010136 RA2311004010149 RA2311004010159

Mark split up Aryan Dwivedi Harsh Kumar Maurya Abhradeep Maity

Novelty of the project

(1 mark)
Level of understanding of
the Project (2 marks)
Contribution of the
Project Work (1 mark)
Project Report
(1 Mark)

Total ( 5 Marks)

REPORT VERIFICATION

Date: Signature of Lab Supervisor

 Mini Project Title Digital Stopwatch using IC 555 and IC 4026

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the Digital Stopwatch project using IC 555 and IC 4026 is to design a functional
stopwatch without a microcontroller that accurately generates clock pulses for counting time,
displays the elapsed time on 7-segment displays, and offers user control with start, stop, and reset
buttons. Additionally, it allows cascading counters to track higher time units, such as seconds and
minutes.

ABSTRACT

This project builds a digital stopwatch using IC 555 and IC 4026 to measure elapsed time on 7-
segment displays. The IC 555 operates in astable mode, generating 1-second clock pulses fed into
the IC 4026 to increment and display the count. Start, stop, and reset controls are implemented
with an IC 7408 AND gate, and a reset button clears the display. This simple, microcontroller-
free design is ideal for learning digital electronics, with potential for future expansion to track
additional time units like minutes or hours.

INTRODUCTION

The Digital Stopwatch project aims to create a precise timing device using basic electronic
components, specifically the IC 555 timer and the IC 4026 decade counter. This project serves as
an educational exploration into digital electronics and circuit design without relying on
microcontrollers. The IC 555 timer is configured in astable mode to generate accurate clock
pulses, which are essential for counting elapsed time. These clock pulses are fed into the IC 4026,
which functions as both a decade counter and a driver for 7-segment displays, allowing for clear
visual representation of the elapsed time.

In addition to its core functionality, the stopwatch features user-friendly controls, including start,
stop, and reset buttons, enabling manual operation and ease of use. The design further supports
cascading counters, allowing the stopwatch to track higher time units, such as tens of seconds and
minutes, thereby enhancing its versatility for various applications. This project not only provides
hands-on experience with electronic components but also highlights the significance of precise
timekeeping in everyday life, from sporting events to scientific experiments. By building this
digital stopwatch, users can gain valuable insights into the principles of timing circuits and the
interaction of fundamental electronic components.

SOFTWARE & HARDWARE REQUIREMENT/DESCRIPTION

o IC 555 Timer: Used to generate clock pulses for time measurement.
o IC 4026 Decade Counter with 7-segment Display Driver: Counts the clock pulses and
drives the 7-segment displays.
o 7-segment Displays (Common Cathode): Displays the time counted by the IC 4026.
o IC 7408 AND Gate: Controls the start/stop function by enabling or disabling the clock
pulse to the IC 4026.
o Push-buttons: Used for start, stop, and reset operations.
o Start Button
o Stop Button
o Reset Button
o Resistors: (10kΩ, 1kΩ, 330Ω) for setting time intervals and protecting the 7-segment
display LEDs.
o Capacitors: (10µF, 100nF) for timing and noise filtering in the IC 555 timer.
o Power Supply (5V): Provides the necessary voltage for the ICs and display.
o Breadboard and Jumper Wires: For building and testing the circuit.
o LEDs (optional): For status indication.

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM AND DESCRIPTION

The circuit diagram for the Digital Stopwatch comprises several key components: the IC
555 timer, the IC 4026 decade counter, and the 7-segment displays, along with user control
buttons. Here’s a breakdown of the circuit:

The IC 555 timer is configured in astable mode to generate a continuous square wave
output. Pins 1 (GND) and 8 (Vcc) are connected to ground and the positive power supply (5V),
respectively. Pins 2 (Trigger) and 6 (Threshold) are connected together and to the timing
capacitor (10µF), which determines the frequency of the output clock pulses at Pin 3 (Output). A
resistor (10kΩ) connects Pin 6 to Pin 7 (Discharge), while another resistor (1kΩ) connects Pin 7
to Vcc, controlling the charge and discharge times of the capacitor. Pin 5 (Control Voltage) is
connected to ground through a capacitor (100nF) to stabilize the voltage.

IC 4026 Decade Counter pin description is as follows. The output from Pin 3 of the IC 555 is fed
into Pin 1 (Clock) of the IC 4026, which counts the clock pulses and increments the displayed
time.
Pins 2, 5, 11, and 12 are connected to ground, while Pin 15 (Reset) is connected to a push-button
switch, allowing the user to reset the counter to zero.The 7-segment display is connected to Pins
10 through 3, which correspond to the segments (a, b, c, d, e, f, g) of the display, showing the
counted time.

Figure 1. Circuit Diagram of Digital Stopwatch

Three push-buttons are used for user interaction. The Start Button connects to the clock
input of the IC 4026, allowing the counting to begin. The Stop Button connects to an additional
control mechanism (such as an AND gate if included), enabling the user to pause the counting.
The Reset Button connects directly to the reset pin of the IC 4026, clearing the displayed count.

A 9V battery is used as the power source, regulated to 5V for the ICs using a 7405 voltage
regulator. This ensures stable operation of the entire circuit. Overall, the circuit diagram
integrates these components to create a functional digital stopwatch, effectively demonstrating
the interplay between timers, counters, and display drivers while providing an interactive user
experience.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The Digital Stopwatch project successfully demonstrated a fully functional timing device using
the IC 555 timer and IC 4026 decade counter, achieving accurate time measurement through
stable clock pulse generation. User control features, including start, stop, and reset buttons,
allowed for intuitive manual operation.

Figure 2. Implementation of Digital Stopwatch

The cascading counter design enabled tracking of higher time units, such as seconds and
minutes, with clear outputs displayed on 7-segment displays. Overall, the project provided
valuable insights into digital electronics, illustrating the interaction of fundamental components
while proving to be reliable and effective in timekeeping applications.

CONCLUSION

The Digital Stopwatch using IC 555 and IC 4026 demonstrates simple, effective
timekeeping with a hardware-only design, eliminating the need for a microcontroller. The IC 555
provides a stable clock, while the IC 4026 drives 7-segment displays, offering start, stop, and
reset functions. This project is an excellent hands-on tool for learning about timers and counters
in digital electronics, with potential for expansion to include features like lap timing or extended
time ranges.

REFERENCES

[1] Texas Instruments, NE555 Timer Datasheet, 2020. [Online] Available:

https://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/ne555.pdf
[2] Fairchild Semiconductor, CD4026 Decade Counter Datasheet, 2013. [Online].
Available: https://www.onsemi.com/pub/Collateral/MC14026B-D.PDF
[3] Electronics Hub, "Digital Stopwatch using 555 Timer and CD4026," 2020. [Online].
Available: https://www.electronicshub.org/digital-stopwatch-using-555-timer-and-cd4026/
[4] Circuit Basics, "How to Use a 555 Timer," 2021. [Online].
Available: https://www.circuitbasics.com/how-to-use-a-555-timer/
[5] P. Horowitz and W. Hill, The Art of Electronics, 3rd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press, 2015.