The CD4017 Decade Counter/Divider is one of the most popular and versatile ICs in the hobbyist world. At Electrapac, we consider this the "go-to" chip for creating sequential light effects, timers, and frequency dividers without needing any programming.

Product Overview

The CD4017 is a 5-stage Johnson counter with 10 decoded outputs. When a clock pulse is received at the input, the IC turns on its 10 outputs one by one in a sequence (from $Q0$ to $Q9$). After reaching the 10th output, it automatically resets and starts over from the first. It is widely famous for creating the "Chaser" or "Knight Rider" LED effect.

Key Features for Electrapac Customers

• Fully Decoded Outputs: Unlike binary counters, the 4017 gives you 10 separate pins that go "High" one at a time, making it incredibly easy to wire to LEDs or Relays.

• Wide Voltage Range: Runs perfectly on a 5V USB power supply or a standard 9V battery, making it compatible with all www.electrapac.com power modules.

• Cascadable (Carry Out): Includes a "Carry Out" pin (Pin 12) that completes one cycle for every 10 clock pulses, allowing you to connect multiple 4017s to count to 100, 1000, and beyond.

• Clock Inhibit (Pin 13): Allows you to "freeze" the counter at its current position by pulling this pin High.

• Reset Capability (Pin 15): Want to count only to 4 instead of 10? Simply connect the 5th output to the Reset pin, and the counter will loop back to zero after the 4th pulse.

  Primary Applications

  • LED Chaser Lights: Creating decorative running light displays for signs or models.

  • Binary Frequency Dividers: Dividing an input clock frequency by any integer from 2 to 10.

  • Electronic Dice: Using a high-speed clock and a stop button to "roll" a random number.

  • Remote Control Switching: Using a single button to toggle through different modes or devices.

  • Sequential Timers: Triggering different events in a specific order (e.g., a simple industrial automation line).

  Why Shop at Electrapac?

  We source our CD4017 ICs with high noise immunity and static protection to ensure they survive the rigors of student breadboarding. At www.electrapac.com, we provide the classic logic chips that make complex-looking projects simple to build.