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Electronics: LED flasher

I am looking to build an led flasher of sorts. (led hooked to a 74164). Problem is the 164 powers up w/ d0-d7 low and I don't want all leds on on startup-
| 164 |
|-------|------| DON'T want this
|
/\ led
|-------- r1---+5v

Thought your not suppose to drive LED's directly even though HCT devices can drive 20ma.
| 164 |
|-------|------| DON'T want this
|
\/ led
|-------- r1---gnd

thought about using:
| 164 |
|------|------|
|---r1---+5
\/ led
|--------gnd

when 164 powers on +5v goes thru r1 to 164 ground, led powers up off, Questions is what happens when 164 goes to 5v won't it go thru the LED. what the best (proper!) way to wire this??? wiring diagram + explanation would be great!

bculver

ASKER

Edited text of question

RoadWarrior

*smiling* hard to read your diagram, wish they allowed non-prop text here, i think from how i see it, you need another resistor in series with the LED, 220 0r 330 ohms should do *smile*

Regards

Road Warrior

mark2150

Stick an inverter (7404) on the output of the counter. Tie the LED to the +5 rail via a resistor. Figure for 10mA or about 330 ohms. TTL logic *sinks* current rather than sources current. Thus trying to use the high state to feed an LED to ground generally won't work. The low state can sink about 20mA, but if you drive *all* to 20mA you'll overheat as you'll exceed total draw.

M

bculver

ASKER

mark2150: Was not looking to add extra active parts (IC's). Passive components ok (resistors etc.). If inverting the output with ic's is the only answer, let me know and i'll give you the points anyways. Thanks.

RoadWarrior: Glad you liked my schematics! A pictures worth a thousand words right?:}
I believe that adding a resistor in series with the led brings me back to the original problem of driving the led with the IC. thanks though!

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

mark2150

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