If you happen to’ve labored with germanium transistors, you’ll know that a lot of them have a disappointingly low most frequency of operation. This has extra to do with among the standard ones courting from the earliest years of the transistor age than it does to germanium being inherently a low frequency semiconductor, however it’s honest to say you received’t be utilizing an OC71 in a excessive frequency RF utility. It’s clear that [Ken Yap]’s venture is taking no possibilities although, as a result of he’s utilizing a classic germanium transistor at a really low frequency — 1 Hz, to be precise.
The circuit is a straightforward sufficient section shift oscillator that flashes a white LED, by which a two transistor amplifier feeds again on itself by means of an RC section shift community. The germanium half is a CV7001, whereas the opposite transistor is extra trendy however nonetheless fairly previous lately silicon half, a BC109. The section shift community has a better worth resistor than you may count on at 1.8 MOhms, due to the low frequency of operation. Energy in the meantime comes from a pair of AA cells.
We like this venture not least for its use of very interval passive parts and stripboard to accompany the classic semiconductor elements. Maybe it received’t met atomic requirements for timing, however that’s hardly the purpose.
This venture is an entry within the 2025 One Hertz Problem. Why not enter your personal second-accurate venture?
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