CD4017BE (Decade Counter / Johnson Divider IC - 16-Pin DIP Package)

When you want to build a sequential LED light show—like the iconic sweeping scanner on the front of KITT from Knight Rider, or a flashing electronic roulette wheel—writing code for a microcontroller is often overkill. The CD4017 is the classic, hardware-only solution. It is a CMOS decade counter and Johnson divider housed in a 16-pin package. In simple terms: it has ten output pins (numbered 0 through 9). Every time the chip receives a rising voltage "tick" on its Clock input, it turns OFF the current pin and turns ON the very next pin in the sequence.

Because it operates entirely on hardware logic, the CD4017 is almost always paired with a simple clock generator, like the legendary NE555 Timer IC. The 555 sets the speed of the "ticks," and the 4017 distributes those ticks sequentially across its outputs. Beyond flashing LEDs, it is heavily used in analog synthesizer communities to build 10-step audio sequencers (like the famous "Baby10"). Operating anywhere from 3V up to 15V, it is incredibly forgiving and interfaces perfectly with a wide variety of hobbyist power supplies.

Key Features & Functional Advantages:

• 10 Decoded Outputs: Effortlessly shifts a single HIGH signal across ten sequential pins, making routing to LEDs, transistors, or relays incredibly simple.

• Easily Truncated Sequences: Features a dedicated "Reset" pin. If you only want a 4-step sequence instead of 10, simply wire the 5th output pin directly to the Reset pin. The chip will instantly loop back to zero when it hits step 5.

• Infinitely Cascadable: Includes a "Carry Out" pin (Pin 12) that pulses once every ten clock cycles. This allows you to daisy-chain multiple 4017 chips together to build massive 20, 30, or 100-step counters.

• Wide Operating Voltage: Built on rugged CD4000-series CMOS architecture, it operates flawlessly anywhere from 3V up to a massive 15V, completely eliminating the need for strict 5V regulators.

• Breadboard Native (16-DIP): The standard 0.1-inch (2.54mm) pin pitch drops perfectly into any solderless breadboard alongside standard 555 timers and logic gates.

Perfect For:

• LED Chasers & Visual Displays: The absolute standard silicon for building chasing LED strips, DIY electronic dice, and police strobe light effects.

• Analog Synthesizers (CV Sequencers): The core control chip for DIY "Baby 10" step sequencers, using potentiometers on each output to drive different audio pitch control voltages.

• Frequency Division: A highly reliable way to divide a fast incoming clock signal by any number from 2 up to 10.

• Keyboard Matrix Scanning: Historically used to sequentially scan rows and columns on custom synthesizer keyboards and button matrices.

Technical Specifications:

• Logic Family: CD4000 Series (CMOS)

• Logic Function: 5-Stage Johnson Decade Counter

• Operating Supply Voltage (Vdd): 3V to 15V DC

• Maximum Clock Frequency: ~5 MHz (at 10V)

• Number of Outputs: 10 Decoded Outputs + 1 Carry Out

• Maximum Output Current: ~10mA (Sufficient for standard indicator LEDs, but requires a transistor like a 2N2222 if driving heavy loads).

• Package / Case: 16-DIP (0.300", 7.62mm width)

• Mounting Type: Through-Hole (PTH)

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