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Contents Vol.24, No.2; February 2011 SILICON CHIP www.siliconchip.com.au Features 10 We Drive Mitsubishi’s i-MiEV Electric Car Mitsubishi’s i-MiEV compact hatchback is fully electric and has a range of about 100km on a full charge. So what’s it like to drive? – by Nicholas Vinen 16 The Greenline 33 Diesel/Electric Hybrid Power Boat Here’s a power boat with a difference – a hybrid design with a battery range of about 20 nautical miles at 5.5 knots. Even more impressive, it can run at 2.5 knots continuously under solar power alone. We went for a spin on Sydney’s Pittwater to bring you this report – by Leo Simpson Mitsubishi’s i-MiEV Electric Car – Page 10. 81 How Switchmode Controllers Work Ever wondered how switchmode regulator ICs work? Here’s everything you need to know but were afraid to ask – by Nicholas Vinen Pro jects To Build 24 LED Dazzler: A Driver Circuit For Really Bright LEDs These new 10W LEDs are so bright they will burn your eyeballs. Here’s a circuit to drive them and control their brightness – by Nicholas Vinen 38 Build A 12/24V 3-Stage Solar Charge Controller Looking for a controller to safely charge batteries from a solar panel? This one features MPPT (maximum power point tracking), 3-stage charging and support for 40-120W 12V panels or 80-240W 24V panels – by John Clarke 67 Simple, Cheap 433MHz Locator Transmitter This amazingly simple 433MHz transmitter is easy to build and makes a great model plane or model rocket locator/tracking beacon. Here’s how to build and program it – by Stan Swan LED Dazzler: Driver Circuit For Really Bright LEDs – Page 24. 76 Digital/Analog USB Data Logger, Pt.3 Final article describes the accompanying Windows host software which is used to edit, test and upload scripts to the logger and change its settings. Detailed information on writing scripts is on our website – by Mauro Grassi Special Columns 57 Serviceman’s Log Never, ever give up on a computer – conducted by the Serviceman 62 Circuit Notebook (1) PICAXE-Based Dual Frequency Counter; (2) Nicad/NiMH Battery Charge Controller Senses Temperature Rise; (3) PN Junction Acts As A Voltage Reference & Noise Source; (5) Wien Bridge Oscillator With Zener Stabilisation; (6) PICAXE Version Of Simon Says Game 88 Vintage Radio 12/24V 3-Stage Solar Charge Controller – Page 38. 38. Building the best 2-3 valve radio receiver – by Rodney Champness Departments   2   4 36 87 Publisher’s Letter Mailbag Product Showcase Order Form siliconchip.com.au 95 Ask Silicon Chip 99 Notes & Errata 102 Market Centre Simple, Cheap 433MHz Locator Transmitter/Beacon – Page 67. February 2011  1