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Cranial Electrotherapy

Stimulator Current generated flows through clips placed on the

earlobes

Output current adjustable from 80 to 600

microAmperes

Circuit diagram: 

Parts: R1_____________1M5 1/4W ResistorR2____________15K 1/4W ResistorR3___________100K Linear PotentiometerR4_____________2K2 1/4W Resistor

C1___________330nF 63V Polyester CapaitorC2___________100!F 25V "letrolyti Capaitor

#1_____________3mm$ Re% L"#

&C1___________'555 or ()555C* CMos (imer &C&C2___________401' #ea%e o+nter ,it- 10 %eo%e% o+tp+ts &C

)W1___________)P)( )li%er ),it-

.1______________V PP3 .attery

Clip or PP3 .attery

(,o "arlips ,it- ,ires see notes

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Device purpose: 

Owing to the recent launching in Europe of Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES)

 portable sets, we have been "Electronically Stimulated" in designing a similar circuit for

the sake of obbyists! CES is the most popular techniue for electrically boosting brain

 power, and has long been prescribed by doctors, mainly in the #S$, for therapeuticreasons, including the treatment of an%iety, depression, insomnia, and chemical

dependency! CES units generate an ad&ustable current (' to micro$mperes) that

flows through clips placed on the earlobes! *he waveform of this device is a +

milliseconds positive pulse followed by a negative one of the same duration, then a

 pause of !- seconds! *he main freuency is !. /, i!e! a double pulse every - seconds!

Some people report that this kind of minute speciali/ed electrical impulses contributes

to achieve a rela%ed state that leaves the mind alert!

Obviousl we can!t claim or prove an therapeutic effectiveness for this device, but

if you are interested in trying it, the circuit is so cheap and so simple to build that an

attempt can be made with uite no harm!

Circuit operation: 

0C forms a narrow pulse, -!./ oscillator feeding 0C-! *his chip generates the various

timings for the output pulses! Output is taken at pins - 1 2 to easily obtain negative

going pulses also! Current output is limited to 3$ by 4- and can be regulated from

' to 3$ by means of 42! *he 5E6 flashes every - seconds signaling proper

operation and can also be used for setting purposes! 0t can be omitted together with 4+,

greatly increasing battery life!

"otes: 

• 0n order to obtain a more precise freuency setting take 478- and add a

.9 trimmer in series with it!

• 0n this case use a freuency meter to read -!./ at pin 2 of 0C, or an

oscilloscope to read +msec pulses at pins -, 2 or , ad&usting the added

trimmer!

• $ simpler setting can be made ad&usting the trimmer to count e%actly a 5E6

flash every - seconds!

• Earclips can be made with little plastic clips and cementing the end of the wire

in a position suited to make good contact with earlobes!• #ltra:simple earclips can be made using a thin copper foil with rounded corners

+ cm! long and !. cm! wide, soldering the wire end in the center, and then

folding the foil in two parts holding the earlobes!

• *o ensure a better current transfer, this kind of devices usually has felt pads

moistened with a conducting solution interposed between clips and skin!

• Commercial sets have freuently a built:in timer! *iming sessions last generally

- minutes to hour! ;or this purpose you can use the *imed