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Multivibrator » Electronics » Basic Circuits » Multivibrator » Let's go... » Experiment 2 - Multivibrator (MV)

Experiment 2 - The General Multivibrator

Here you ask yourself the question of how to "cross-couple" or "mutually couple" two circuits. Take a look at the circuits shown.


General circuit diagram of an electronic switch.


General circuit diagram of a multivibrator.

In the circuit diagram shown on the left, the electronic switch is shown schematically. The circuit has two states. The transistor T blocks or switches through.

In the circuit diagram shown on the right, the electronic switches are cross-coupled by the coupling elements CE1 and CE2. In this way, the transistors are no longer independent. As a general rule...

  • If the transistor switches T1 through, the transistor T2 blocks.
  • If the transistor switches T2 through, the transistor T1 blocks.

The circuit thus switches between two states back and forth. This is a multivibrator.

But which coupling elements are used...?

CE1 CE2 Circuit
Resistor Resistor bistable Multivibrator
Resistor Capacitor monostable Multivibrator
Capacitor Capacitor astable Multivibrator

Multivibrators with different coupling elements (CE).

You are exploring these circuits in the following experiments...