Silicon ChipArtificial candle is ‘ignited’ by a real flame - June 2022 SILICON CHIP
  1. Outer Front Cover
  2. Contents
  3. Publisher's Letter: Shutting down our old website
  4. Mailbag
  5. Feature: IC Fabrication, Part 1 by Dr David Maddison
  6. Project: Spectral Sound MIDI Synthesiser by Jeremy Leach
  7. Feature: Radar Coach Speed Detector by Allan Linton-Smith
  8. Project: Buck-Boost LED Driver by Tim Blythman
  9. Project: Arduino Programmable Load by Tim Blythman
  10. Project: 500W Power Amplifier, Part 3 by John Clarke
  11. Feature: MOS Air Quality Sensors by Jim Rowe
  12. Project: Revised Battery Charge Controller by John Clarke
  13. Review: Altium Designer 22 by Tim Blythman
  14. Circuit Notebook: RF burst power meter by George Mackiewicz
  15. Circuit Notebook: Artificial candle is ‘ignited’ by a real flame by Aarav Garg
  16. Circuit Notebook: Digital volume control using discrete logic by John Clarke & Raj. K. Gorkhali
  17. Circuit Notebook: An easy way to measure SMDs by Michael Harvey
  18. Serviceman's Log: Ion with the wind by Dave Thompson
  19. Vintage Radio: Admiral 19A11S TV by Dr Hugo Holden
  20. PartShop
  21. Ask Silicon Chip
  22. Market Centre
  23. Advertising Index
  24. Notes & Errata: 500W Power Amplifier pt2, May 2022; Model Railway Semaphore Signal, April 2022
  25. Outer Back Cover

This is only a preview of the June 2022 issue of Silicon Chip.

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Items relevant to "":
  • PIC16F88 migration document (PDF) (Software, Free)
Articles in this series:
  • IC Fabrication, Part 1 (June 2022)
  • IC Fabrication, Part 2 (July 2022)
Items relevant to "Spectral Sound MIDI Synthesiser":
  • Spectral Sound MIDI Synthesiser PCB [01106221] (AUD $7.50)
  • Short form kit for the Spectral Sound MIDI Synthesiser (Component, AUD $200.00)
  • Software, firmware & documentation for the Spectral Sound MIDI Synthesiser (Free)
  • Spectral Sound MIDI Synthesiser PCB pattern (PDF download) [01106221] (Free)
  • Front & lid panel labels and drilling diagram for the Spectal Sound MIDI Synthesiser (Panel Artwork, Free)
Items relevant to "Buck-Boost LED Driver":
  • High Power Buck-Boost LED Driver PCB [16103221] (AUD $5.00)
  • 70W COB LED panel - cool white (6000-6500K) (Component, AUD $19.50)
  • 70W COB LED panel - warm white (3000-3200K) (Component, AUD $19.50)
  • Complete kit for the High Power Buck-Boost LED Driver (Component, AUD $80.00)
  • High Power Buck-Boost LED Driver PCB pattern (PDF download) [16103221] (Free)
Items relevant to "Arduino Programmable Load":
  • Arduino Programmable Load PCB [04105221] (AUD $5.00)
  • Firmware for the Arduino-based Programmable Load (Software, Free)
  • Arduino Programmable Load PCB pattern (PDF download) [04105221] (Free)
Items relevant to "500W Power Amplifier, Part 3":
  • 500W Amplifier Module PCB [01107021 RevD] (AUD $25.00)
  • Hard-to-get parts for the 500W Amplifier (Component, AUD $200.00)
  • 500W Amplifier Module PCB pattern (PDF download) [01107021] (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • Fan Controller & Loudspeaker Protector (February 2022)
  • Amplifier Clipping Indicator (March 2022)
  • 500W Power Amplifier, Part 1 (April 2022)
  • 500W Power Amplifier, Part Two (May 2022)
  • 500W Power Amplifier, Part 3 (June 2022)
Items relevant to "MOS Air Quality Sensors":
  • Sample sketches for MOS Air Quality Sensors (Software, Free)
Articles in this series:
  • El Cheapo Modules From Asia - Part 1 (October 2016)
  • El Cheapo Modules From Asia - Part 2 (December 2016)
  • El Cheapo Modules From Asia - Part 3 (January 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules from Asia - Part 4 (February 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules, Part 5: LCD module with I²C (March 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules, Part 6: Direct Digital Synthesiser (April 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules, Part 7: LED Matrix displays (June 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules: Li-ion & LiPo Chargers (August 2017)
  • El Cheapo modules Part 9: AD9850 DDS module (September 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules Part 10: GPS receivers (October 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules 11: Pressure/Temperature Sensors (December 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules 12: 2.4GHz Wireless Data Modules (January 2018)
  • El Cheapo Modules 13: sensing motion and moisture (February 2018)
  • El Cheapo Modules 14: Logarithmic RF Detector (March 2018)
  • El Cheapo Modules 16: 35-4400MHz frequency generator (May 2018)
  • El Cheapo Modules 17: 4GHz digital attenuator (June 2018)
  • El Cheapo: 500MHz frequency counter and preamp (July 2018)
  • El Cheapo modules Part 19 – Arduino NFC Shield (September 2018)
  • El cheapo modules, part 20: two tiny compass modules (November 2018)
  • El cheapo modules, part 21: stamp-sized audio player (December 2018)
  • El Cheapo Modules 22: Stepper Motor Drivers (February 2019)
  • El Cheapo Modules 23: Galvanic Skin Response (March 2019)
  • El Cheapo Modules: Class D amplifier modules (May 2019)
  • El Cheapo Modules: Long Range (LoRa) Transceivers (June 2019)
  • El Cheapo Modules: AD584 Precision Voltage References (July 2019)
  • Three I-O Expanders to give you more control! (November 2019)
  • El Cheapo modules: “Intelligent” 8x8 RGB LED Matrix (January 2020)
  • El Cheapo modules: 8-channel USB Logic Analyser (February 2020)
  • New w-i-d-e-b-a-n-d RTL-SDR modules (May 2020)
  • New w-i-d-e-b-a-n-d RTL-SDR modules, Part 2 (June 2020)
  • El Cheapo Modules: Mini Digital Volt/Amp Panel Meters (December 2020)
  • El Cheapo Modules: Mini Digital AC Panel Meters (January 2021)
  • El Cheapo Modules: LCR-T4 Digital Multi-Tester (February 2021)
  • El Cheapo Modules: USB-PD chargers (July 2021)
  • El Cheapo Modules: USB-PD Triggers (August 2021)
  • El Cheapo Modules: 3.8GHz Digital Attenuator (October 2021)
  • El Cheapo Modules: 6GHz Digital Attenuator (November 2021)
  • El Cheapo Modules: 35MHz-4.4GHz Signal Generator (December 2021)
  • El Cheapo Modules: LTDZ Spectrum Analyser (January 2022)
  • Low-noise HF-UHF Amplifiers (February 2022)
  • A Gesture Recognition Module (March 2022)
  • Air Quality Sensors (May 2022)
  • MOS Air Quality Sensors (June 2022)
  • PAS CO2 Air Quality Sensor (July 2022)
Items relevant to "Revised Battery Charge Controller":
  • Revised Intelligent Battery Charge Controller PCB [14107192] (AUD $7.50)
  • PIC16F88-I/P programmed for the Universal Battery Charge Controller [1410719A.HEX] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $15.00)
  • Relay - EA2-5NU (Component, AUD $3.00)
  • IPP80P03P4L-07 high-current P-channel Mosfet (Component, AUD $2.50)
  • Firmware and source code for the Universal Battery Charge Controller [1410719A.HEX] (Software, Free)
  • Revised Battery Charge Controller PCB pattern (PDF download) [14107192] (Free)
  • Universal Battery Charge Controller front panel artwork (PDF download) (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • Have you got a dumb battery charger in your garage? (December 2019)
  • Revised Battery Charge Controller (June 2022)
Items relevant to "RF burst power meter":
  • Firmware for the RF burst power meter (Software, Free)
Items relevant to "Artificial candle is ‘ignited’ by a real flame":
  • Firmware for the Artificial candle using a real flame (Software, Free)

Purchase a printed copy of this issue for $8.50.

Artificial candle is ‘ignited’ by a real flame This 3D-printed artificial candle is not turned on using a switch; instead, it is ignited using the flame of a real matchstick or lighter, just like an ordinary candle. When a flame is brought near the tip of the artificial candle, the LED bulbs magically light up. They also flicker like a real candle. The trick here is simple: a hidden flame sensor is installed at the top of the candle. This signals an Arduino Nano board inside the candle to turn on the LEDs. It uses two yellow LEDs and one red LED to produce the flickering effect. They are switched off in a pattern, one after another, to create the flickering effect. These features make our artificial candle look almost real. It is powered by a small 3V coin cell for portability. I've also added a small slide switch at the bottom of the candle to switch it off. The plan is to eliminate this in a future version of this project where you can blow on it to turn it off! But until then, it has to be manually switched off. Note that a few slightly different IR flame sensor modules are available, but they all work similarly. If using another type, check the pinout and adjust the wiring as necessary. The body of the candle is 3D printed. I designed the model in Tinkercad. It siliconchip.com.au comprises four main pieces: the cylinder, base, top and flame cover. The main cylinder is hollow, and it houses all the electronics. The top and bottom pieces are designed to be a snapfit onto the main cylinder. The bottom piece has a small rectangular opening for the USB port of the Arduino Nano board. There are four small holes in the top part: three for the LEDs and one for the flame sensor's IR diode. The flame cover acts as a cap and diffuses the light from the three LEDs. It needs to be printed in white plastic, and it has very thin walls so that it is translucent. You can download all the 3D printing files from www.tinkercad. com/things/4iuOdy6Wpmp After printing these pieces, insert the LEDs in the central holes in the top piece in no particular order. Also insert the flame sensor's IR diode halfway through the remaining outer hole, then fix the module to the underside using hot melt glue, silicone or another adhesive. You can now connect the wires from the LEDs and the flame sensor to the Arduino Nano board, then wire up the button cell via the slide switch. Insert the circuitry into the candle body, then push the top piece onto the main cylinder. Australia's electronics magazine The bottom piece has a small rectangular opening to accommodate the small slider of our mini DPDT power switch. Insert the slide switch from the inside of the bottom part, aligning it such that the slider can properly be moved from the outside, then fix it in place using hot glue/silicone etc. Once that’s solid, push the bottom piece into the main cylinder. Add the flame cover to the top, and the candle is ready for programming. The Arduino sketch required is relatively short, but we don’t have space for it here, so download the file “Artificial candle.ino” from siliconchip.com. au/Shop/6/6478 Fire up the Arduino IDE, open this file, select the Nano board from the menu and set up your COM port, then choose Upload. Check that you get a success message in the window at the bottom of the IDE. Ensure the slide switch is on, then bring a flame near the top of the candle and check that it switches on and then flickers. When finished, switch off the slide switch in the base. You can use the same principle to light up any other shaped lamp. You could also use different coloured LEDs in the candle to get different effects. Aarav Garg, Hyderabad, India. ($120) June 2022  89