TLC555I CMOS Timer IC DIP-8 — Low-Power, 2V–15V, Rail-to-Rail Output, Arduino

TLC555I CMOS Timer IC — Low-Power 555 Alternative, DIP-8

The TLC555I is a CMOS implementation of the classic 555 timer, offering the same monostable, astable, and bistable operating modes as the NE555 but with dramatically lower power consumption and a wider supply voltage range. Where the bipolar NE555 draws 6–15mA of supply current, the TLC555I draws as little as 170μA — making it the preferred choice for battery-powered timing circuits, sleep-mode wake timers, and any application where the 555 timer must run continuously from a limited power source.

The TLC555I also features rail-to-rail output swing and CMOS-compatible input thresholds, making it a direct drop-in replacement for the NE555 in most circuits while adding significant power savings.

Key Features

• CMOS low-power design — 170μA typical supply current (vs 6–15mA for NE555)
• Wide supply voltage: 2V–15V — operates from 2 × AA batteries to 12V supplies
• Rail-to-rail output — output swings close to VCC and GND
• CMOS-compatible inputs — works with 3.3V and 5V logic
• Same pinout as NE555 — direct drop-in replacement in most circuits
• Monostable, astable, and bistable modes
• DIP-8 package — breadboard and through-hole PCB compatible

Technical Specifications

Supply Voltage	2V – 15V
Supply Current (typical)	170μA @ 5V
Output Current (sink/source)	100mA
Max Frequency (astable)	~2MHz
Input Threshold	CMOS-compatible (VCC/3 and 2×VCC/3)
Output Swing	Rail-to-rail
Package	DIP-8 (through-hole)
Manufacturer	Texas Instruments

TLC555I vs NE555 — When to Choose Each

• NE555 (bipolar): 6–15mA supply current, 200mA output drive, 4.5–16V — best for high-output-current applications (relay drivers, buzzers)
• TLC555I (CMOS, this): 170μA supply current, 100mA output, 2–15V — best for battery-powered circuits, low-power timers, and 3.3V systems

Typical Applications

• Battery-powered LED flasher and blinker (ultra-low quiescent current)
• Sleep-mode wake timer for microcontroller power management
• Low-power PWM signal generator
• Precision delay timer in portable instruments
• Tone generator for battery-powered alarms
• 3.3V system timing circuits (CMOS-compatible thresholds)
• Drop-in NE555 replacement with power savings

Package Contents

• 1 × TLC555I CMOS Timer IC (DIP-8, Texas Instruments)

TLC555I Datasheet (Texas Instruments PDF)

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