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PUBLISHER’S LETTER www.siliconchip.com.au Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Leo Simpson, B.Bus., FAICD Production Manager Greg Swain, B.Sc.(Hons.) Technical Staff John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.) Peter Smith Ross Tester Jim Rowe, B.A., B.Sc, VK2ZLO Rick Walters Reader Services Ann Jenkinson Advertising Enquiries Leo Simpson Phone (02) 9979 5644 Fax (02) 9979 6503 Regular Contributors Brendan Akhurst Rodney Champness, VK3UG Julian Edgar, Dip.T.(Sec.), B.Ed Mike Sheriff, B.Sc, VK2YFK Philip Watson, MIREE, VK2ZPW Bob Young SILICON CHIP is published 12 times a year by Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd. ACN 003 205 490. ABN 49 003 205 490 All material copyright ©. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Printing: Hannanprint, Noble Park, Victoria. Distribution: Network Distribution Company. Subscription rates: $69.50 per year in Australia. For overseas rates, see the subscription page in this issue. Editorial & advertising offices: Unit 8, 101 Darley St, Mona Vale, NSW 2103. Postal address: PO Box 139, Collaroy Beach, NSW 2097. Phone (02) 9979 5644. Fax (02) 9979 6503. E-mail: silchip<at>siliconchip.com.au ISSN 1030-2662 * Recommended and maximum price only. 2  Silicon Chip LED lighting for cars – it’s about time This month we feature a major article on using high bright­ness LEDs in cars. We have wanted to do this for some time but it is only recently that really bright LEDs have become available at reasonably cheap prices. In this article, we have majored on the Centre High Mount Stop Lamp (CHMSL) and stop lights, plus the so-called festoon lamps used for vehicle interiors. We would have liked to have taken the concept much further but you have to stop somewhere if you are ever going to publish. Fairly obviously, the bayonet lamp assembly could be modified to make a bayonet stop/tail light assembly and the smaller festoon LED assembly could be fitted with high-brightness amber LEDs to be fitted into traffic indica­tor repeater lights on the sides of cars. However, the broad thrust of the article is rear end colli­sion avoidance. The extra stopping time given by LED stop lights could mean the difference between a severe collision with major damage and injuries and maybe no accident at all - just some fevered breathing afterwards. If you do nothing else, you prob­ably should convert your own car’s centre high mount stop lamp to LED operation – it could save a life. Victoria to stop DIY mains wiring? This issue just won’t go away. A recent issue of the Mel­bourne Herald-Sun notes that “Electrical goods such as cabling, power points and safety switches will be banned from public sale under proposals to be presented to the State Government this week.” “Electricians, tired of having their lives endangered by “dodgy” cabling installed illegally by home handymen, have called for a new code of practice that would restrict the sale of ca­bling and switches to licensed operators”. In fact, the proposed code of practice is already part of a new Enterprise Agreement between the Victorian branch of the ETU and the National Electrical Contractors association. Isn’t that nice and cosy? This has nothing to do with safety. Electricians aren’t in danger from DIY wiring. Check the website of the Office of Chief Inspector: www.ocei.vic.gov.au and click on “incidents”. Not only does it show that fatalities over the last 10 years have been very low, it also shows that members of the public have very low fatalities. We doubt whether any electrician has ever been killed by DIY wiring. If an electrician is in danger, he shouldn’t be practising – he is not competent. In fact, I have seen plenty of dodgy wiring done by li­censed contractors installing kitchens, dishwashers, air-condi­tioners and hot-water systems. DIY wiring is not a safety issue. In fact, if sales of cables, switches, etc are banned, safety will be prejudiced. Whereas before, if a power point or wall switch failed, the competent handyman would just replace it, now it is likely to be left in an unsafe state. And if an appliance cord frays, it will be left unsafe; if you can’t buy the cord, you can’t do the repair. And will all lighting stores close their doors? After all, most light fittings are fitted by home handymen, aren’t they? So if you have been quietly and happily doing your own 240VAC wiring up till now, you can forget it. We did mount a campaign to make it legal but apathy got in the way. Once again, if you’re not happy about this revolting development, contact your local MP and make a lot of noise. Finally, in an encouraging development, a group is being formed in Queensland to have the Electrical Safety Act changed or repealed. If you are a technician repairing anything from air-conditioners to sewing machines, computers or anything else powered by 240VAC, contact the AETA (All Electronic Technicians Association) by fax on 07 4093 9700 or email: cairnscomms<at>ipri­mus.com.au Leo Simpson www.siliconchip.com.au