LM555CN chip acting weird

[kayden]

I'm in high school computer engineering, and I'm experimenting with the 555 Timer chip on my own. I'm using the Electronic Experimenter Box.

Pin 8 is connected to +5V
Pin 1 connected to ground
LED1 is connected to Pin 3 and +5V
LED2 is connected to Pin 3 and ground
At first, LED1 is off and LED2 is on. When I connect pin 6 to +5V, LED1 turns on and LED2 turns off. When I connect pin 5 to +5V, LED1 turns off and LED2 turns on.

The weird thing is that when I touch pin 6 with only 1 end of a wire, it produces the same results as if I connected pin 6 to +5V. The other end isn't connected to anything either and I'm not touching any metallic part of the wire. What's going on here?
Ref: datasheet of the LM555CN: http://www.kynix.com/uploadfiles/pdf2286/LM555CN.pdf

 

[Ferrum Master]

Are you weird? No one does directly poke the threshold pin with direct voltage without at least pull down resistor or one in front of the pin. you will burn the critter.

Post the schematic of your current work and what are you trying to accomplish? Rail road lights? Some sort of multi-vibrator analogue.

 

[silentbogo]

The weird thing is that when I touch pin 6 with only 1 end of a wire, it produces the same results as if I connected pin 6 to +5V.

Is your Pin6 connected to discharge at all (Pin7)?
Also make sure that you are not touching anything, while connecting that open-ended wire (or simply use an antistatic wrist band).

Schematic also would be helpful.