Contents
Vol.31, No.3; March 2018
Features & Reviews
22 Generation IV Nuclear Power – making their own fuel
The new generation of Nuclear Reactors promise many advantages over
existing designs, including safety – and even today’s power plants are orders
of magnitude safer than any other form of power generation. And the new
generation don’t have a waste problem: they use it all – by David Maddison
73 El Cheapo Modules 14: Logarithmic RF Detector
Another one from Banggood, this gives a DC output voltage which varies
linearly with the RF input power level, over a super-wide bandwidth of 1MHz to
8GHz, and a range of 60dB. It’s suitable for a wide variety of RF measurement
equipment – by Jim Rowe
Constructional Projects
14 Arduino-based Earthquake Early Warning Alarm
Everyone knows the first warning you get of an earthquake is when the building
shakes, right? Not quite – there are certain waves which arrive first and can
give you quite a bit of warning. This Arduino-based detector can detect these
early waves – by Allan Linton-Smith and Nicholas Vinen
34 Full Wave, 230V Universal Motor Speed Controller
You’ll be amazed at the performance of this controller. Because it’s full wave
(Triac-based) you get excellent speed control from near zero to maximum while
maintaining torque. Perfect for drills and small hand tools with “universal” motors
– by John Clarke
64 An AM Radio Transmitter to build
Every kid’s dream: become a DJ, transmitting music around the home. But this
also has other uses too – vintage radio enthusiasts can transmit programming
to their restored (AM) radio receivers. And you can re-transmit DAB+ programs
so other AM receivers are in sync! – by Nicholas Vinen & Jim Rowe
SILICON
CHIP
www.siliconchip.com.au
Using a simple 3-axis
accelerometer, this
Arduinobased
detector
could give
you precious minutes early warning
of an impeding earthquake – Page 14
Gen IV Nuclear
Power Stations
are now being
built all around
the world . . .
except for
a notable
exception. Why?
– Page 22
Triac-based so it
gives full-wave
control, our
new motor
speed control
is just what every
workshop needs! – Page 34
1MHz to 8GHz RF
measurement was
never so easy, nor
so inexpensive! –
Page 73
80 Analog Audio/Video Modulator for Vintage TV sets
Restoring old/vintage TV sets is becoming quite popular. But now that analog
TV has gone, what can you display on them? This modulator cleans up virtually
any analog TV signal (eg, from a tape, a DVD/Blu-Ray disc and even off-air
programs from a digital STB!) to suit old TV sets – by Ian Robertson
Your Favourite Columns
58 Serviceman’s Log
Squeezing an elephant through the eye of a needle – by Dave Thompson
45 Circuit Notebook
(1) Drift-free induction balance metal detector
(2) Colour slideshow with alarm clock using an ESP32
91 Vintage Radio
Philips 1953 portable 5-valve model 148C radio – by Graham Parslow
Everything Else!
4 Editorial Viewpoint
6 Mailbag – Your Feedback
57 Product Showcase
96 SILICON CHIP Online Shop
98 Ask SILICON CHIP
103 Market Centre
104 Advertising Index
104 Notes and Errata
Our new AM Radio Transmitter will
take input from
a variety of
sources and
transmit to
any AM radio
set. And best
of all, it’s
completely legal! – Page 64
Into vintage TV restoration? What
do you display on them? This audio/
video modulator lets you use any
modern source
and feeds the
required
signal to
any analog
TV receiver
– Page 80
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