tap
added to the journal ago
Sooo, I messed up big time!!
Footprints
I accidentally used an SMD footprint for the CD4017, but had the through-hole chip. I fixed it by wiring each pin manually. This took me like 3 hrs because I tried to solder the pins to the smd footprint but alas I just used wires to manually connect them.
Wiring:
After that nightmare I ran into one of the strangest debugging problems I’ve ever faced while building my 555 timer and CD4017 LED chaser circuit!! The LEDs behaved unpredictably sometimes nothing happened, but when I brought my hand, my soldering iron near the circuit, it started working! At first it felt like the circuit was haunted or cursed.
After experimenting for a while i realized the problem was caused by floating inputs on the CD4017. These chips are extremely sensitive, and if a pin isn’t connected properly it can pick up tiny inputs from the environment. My body and the soldering iron were acting like mini caps.
To fix the issue, I stabilized the inputs and resoldered the wiring. Once the relevant control pins were properly connected and the circuit had a stable path, the LEDs started stepping correctly without needing any " wizard touch.” It was a real frustrating process, but it has taught me a lot about timers electrical noise, and why and how proper grounding and decoupling are important. Debugging it felt chaotic and crazy at first but solving it was stimulating.
This took me another 3hrs to figure out!
but still 2 or so leds dont work!!
Video:
kkJre4Pb
tap
added to the journal ago
Changed the design!
So I found out that the current PCB i had wasn't fit for fabrication. So I made a new design and I think it looks pretty cool!! It has a few references to things I like!!
CAN ⚡🚀
approved Blinky ago
Thanks for adding a readme. Hopefully they can fabricate this.
tap
submitted Blinky for ship review ago
m0.hid ⚡
requested changes for Blinky ago
Hey! Great work on this so far but it looks like you're missing a readme for your project. Take a look at https://blueprint.hackclub.com/about/submission-guidelines for more info!
tap
submitted Blinky for ship review ago
tap
started Blinky ago
2/14/2026 - Changed the design!
So I found out that the current PCB i had wasn't fit for fabrication. So I made a new design and I think it looks pretty cool!! It has a few references to things I like!!
3/10/2026 - Sooo, I messed up big time!!
Footprints
I accidentally used an SMD footprint for the CD4017, but had the through-hole chip. I fixed it by wiring each pin manually. This took me like 3 hrs because I tried to solder the pins to the smd footprint but alas I just used wires to manually connect them.
Wiring:
After that nightmare I ran into one of the strangest debugging problems I’ve ever faced while building my 555 timer and CD4017 LED chaser circuit!! The LEDs behaved unpredictably sometimes nothing happened, but when I brought my hand, my soldering iron near the circuit, it started working! At first it felt like the circuit was haunted or cursed.
After experimenting for a while i realized the problem was caused by floating inputs on the CD4017. These chips are extremely sensitive, and if a pin isn’t connected properly it can pick up tiny inputs from the environment. My body and the soldering iron were acting like mini caps.
To fix the issue, I stabilized the inputs and resoldered the wiring. Once the relevant control pins were properly connected and the circuit had a stable path, the LEDs started stepping correctly without needing any " wizard touch.” It was a real frustrating process, but it has taught me a lot about timers electrical noise, and why and how proper grounding and decoupling are important. Debugging it felt chaotic and crazy at first but solving it was stimulating.
This took me another 3hrs to figure out!
but still 2 or so leds dont work!!
Video:
kkJre4Pb