06 May 2010

The TDA7377 IC from ST Microelectronics is the main component of this month's 12V Mini Stereo Amplifier. It's not a new chip – they've been making them since at least 1998 - but it is the first time we've used it so it deserves some elaboration. It comes in a 15-pin "Multiwatt" package similar to TO-218 and is available in both horizontal and vertical mounting packages.

04 May 2010

Need lighting away from a power source? Try this one: it's ideal for your garden, shed or even a camp site. With a 5W solar panel, a 12V SLA battery and a smart controller, it has 3-stage charging for the battery and Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) for the solar panel.

02 May 2010

Most offices, factories and shops waste a lot of money in power for lighting. How would you like to save up to 50% of your lighting power bill . . . and get even more light into the bargain? We show you how - and have the measurements to back it up!

23 April 2010

Last month, we described how the S/PDIF Digital Audio Signal Generator works. This month, we describe how to assemble the PC boards, mount them in the case and check that they are working correctly.

19 April 2010

Want to control something - anything - with commands from your PC? Perhaps turn sprinklers on and off to water your garden? Maybe read some sensors? Or even sequencing Christmas tree lights in time with music? (OK, so we're getting in early!) Making the computer output the correct information is one thing. Interfacing that data to control real-word devices is another. That's what this nifty little relay box is all about.

16 April 2010

The M3510A is a fast, accurate 6½ digit bench-top multimeter with 4-wire resistance measurement, thermocouple support and a USB interface. Its maximum ratings are 1000V DC and 10A and it can take up to 50,000 readings per second.

13 April 2010

Do you need to measure the EHT voltage in a CRT-based scope, computer monitor or TV receiver, or perhaps in a photocopier, laser printer or microwave oven? You'll need an EHT probe to suit your digital multimeter (DMM) to do this and you'll find they are pretty pricey. Not to worry though, because here's one you can build for less than $40.

11 April 2010

The Web Server In a Box (WIB) project has been very popular and lots of kits have been built. Here we collect a number of frequently asked questions that may help anyone experiencing difficulties in building and setting up the WIB. We also provide the answers to some common technical questions and feature requests.

09 April 2010

Here's a cut-down version of the Digital Capacitor Leakage Meter we described in December 2009. Instead of using a PIC microcontroller and an LCD panel to display the leakage current, this version connects to your DMM to provide the readout. It provides the same range of seven different standard test voltages (from 10V to 100V) and can measure leakage currents down to 100 nanoamps!

05 April 2010

The world of 3D television, photography, movies, scientific tools and prints is finally here. After primitive attempts at 3D for many, many years, top-quality three-dimensional imaging is now available for all.