Using 555 Timer Voltage Controlled Switch

In this circuit the 555 timer is used in a novel way, as a voltage controlled switch.The old and omnipresent NE555 can be very good at something it was not meant for: driving relays or other loads up to 200 mA. The picture shows an example circuit: if the input level rises over 2/3 of the supply voltage - it will turn on the relay, and the relay will stay on until the level at the input