i am using a 5.6pf cap on pin 5 as it is the only one i have around that small.
Replacing C1 with a 100µF cap makes the cap charge faster ( according to multimeter, but it still won't trigger.
I have treble checked the breadboard and even completely removed the circuit and started again a few times to see if it was just an error i couldn't see.
I have tried several of the 555's that i have around - is it possible they are a faulty batch?
hi,
Your circuit, if wired as per your sketch should work.
Couple of questions,, are you 100% sure that you have identified pin 1 as top left of the 555, with the small notch at the top and the pins pointing away from you.??
Also that you are counting the pins from pin#1 anticlockwise around the 555, the last pin being pin #8.
What is the value of the resistor in series with the LED.??
EDIT:
using your voltmeter, check and post the voltages on ALL the 555 pins.
thank you so much, i have realised where my mistake was, i was numbering the pins wrong, i had mistakenly gone 1( at the dot) down to 4, then started from the top for pin 5 instead on continuing anticlockwise.
An advice, everytime you make a project always read the specifications of the components, at least the absolute maximum ratings and the connection diagram, you need them unless you know the chip very well.