"James Sweet" wrote in message
news:q5lId.13625$IP6.12567@trnddc05...

"Martik" wrote in message
news:X43Id.133364$KO5.56248@clgrps13...
Problem is I have to keep changing the stop time, I've seen timers that
have
fixed times like 1 2 3 hours but they are $25

"Alan Harriman" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 21 Jan 2005 03:06:24 GMT, "Martik" wrote:

I want to build a timer, limited to 5 hrs, for my NiCad charger which
runs
on 120VAC. I understand that a 555 IC and a properly sized capacitor
and
resistor will provide the timing. How do I connect this to AC? Relay?
Anyone
have a schematic? Maybe it would be easier to build a decent charger
that
won't damage the batteries?

Why not just use an appliance timer? Not the most high tech, but quite
effective. See Red Scholefield's "R/C Battery Clinic" for lots of great
info on
batteries and charging.

http://www.rcbatteryclinic.com

Alan Harriman



Wiring a 555 timer circuit to a relay is trivial, just use a small
transistor like a 2N2222 and connect the output of the 555 through a
resistor to the base, ground the emitter, connect the collector to one
side
of the relay coil and connect the other side of the coil to the power
supply
for the timer. A diode backwards across the coil to absorb spikes is a
good
idea too. You can also get solid state relays that you should be able to
drive directly from the output pin of a 555.

Thanks, I'll check it out