25 August 2010

Got a bunch of old electrolytic capacitors you'd like to use . . . but don't know if they are any good? Or do you need to re-form the electrolytics in an old valve amplifier or vintage radio set? This Electrolytic Capacitor Reformer and Tester will do the job for you, at any of 11 different standard voltages from 10V to 630V.

17 August 2010

Most readers would know that you can obtain small ultrasonic cleaners for jewellery and similar small items. So why not a much larger version? It would be great for cleaning automotive and other mechanical parts, fabrics which cannot be machine washed, ornate bric-a-brac and a host of other hard-to-clean items.

15 August 2010

This remote-controlled digital timer has a bright 20mm-high 7-segment red LED display & can count up or down from one second to 100 hours in 1-second steps. Its timing period can either be set and controlled using the remote control or it can be automatically controlled via external trigger/reset inputs. An internal relay and buzzer activate when the unit times out.

07 August 2010

Here's a 12-32V 30A speed controller that's easy to build. It's available in two versions – reversible and non-reversible – and features soft start, relay switching of motor direction and PWM speed control.

22 July 2010

Last month, we introduced our new Dual Tracking ±19V Power Supply and explained how it works. This month, we show you how to build the PC boards, install them in a case, wire it up and get it going. Both the mains-powered and plugpack-powered versions are covered.

18 July 2010

No, this is not some kind of fancy digital volume control for hifi systems. Instead, it's a low-cost digital programmable voltage divider. It's used to provide an accurate adjustable output from a precision voltage reference for meter calibration and other tasks.

10 July 2010

With the abundance of microprocessor/microcontroller variations available these days it is no small wonder that many of the designs produced by electronic enthusiasts use one type or another of these components. And most commercial equipment these days has a micro controlling it. But how do you get from an idea to a working design?

04 July 2010

Does your computer make more noise than it should? It's probably mostly fan noise! Slowing the fans down will reduce the noise but if you go too far, you could end up with fricassee of CPU!

23 June 2010

Last month we described the operation of our new off-grid lighting system, featuring free power courtesy of the sun! Now we move on to the fun part: building it!

21 June 2010

Think all your double-insulated power tools are safe, just because they are double insulated? As many have found to their ultimate cost, wear and tear on tools can mean that they become decidedly unsafe. Here's a meter that will give you back your peace-of-mind – on tools and many other electrical and electronic devices.