Silicon ChipRIP Brendan James Akhurst, cartoonist extraordinaire - March 2022 SILICON CHIP
  1. Outer Front Cover
  2. Contents
  3. Publisher's Letter: RIP Brendan James Akhurst, cartoonist extraordinaire
  4. Mailbag
  5. Feature: The History of Transistors, part one by Ian Batty
  6. Project: Capacitor Discharge Welder, part one by Phil Prosser
  7. Project: Raspberry Pi Pico BackPack by Tim Blythman
  8. Feature: All About Batteries, part three by Dr David Maddison
  9. Serviceman's Log: The oven with a mind of its own by Dave Thompson
  10. Project: Amplifier Clipping Indicator by John Clarke
  11. Circuit Notebook: An alternative version of the Arduino Power Supply by Stephen Gordon
  12. Circuit Notebook: Illuminated doorbell press switch circuit by David Worboys
  13. Circuit Notebook: Reading three digital signals with a two-channel oscilloscope by John Rich
  14. Feature: Advances in Drone Technology by Bob Young
  15. Project: Dual Hybrid Power Supply, part two by Phil Prosser
  16. Feature: A Gesture Recognition Module by Jim Rowe
  17. Vintage Radio: Phenix Ultradyne L-2 by Dennis Jackson
  18. PartShop
  19. Ask Silicon Chip
  20. Market Centre
  21. Advertising Index
  22. Notes & Errata: Vintage Radio, February 2022; USB Cable Tester, November & December 2021
  23. Outer Back Cover

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

You can view 0 of the 112 pages in the full issue.

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Articles in this series:
  • The History of Transistors, part one (March 2022)
  • The History of Transistors, Pt2 (April 2022)
  • The History of Transistors, Pt3 (May 2022)
Items relevant to "Capacitor Discharge Welder, part one":
  • Capacitor Discharge Welder Power Supply PCB [29103221] (AUD $5.00)
  • Capacitor Discharge Welder Control PCB [29103222] (AUD $5.00)
  • Capacitor Discharge Welder Energy Storage Module PCB [29103223] (AUD $2.50)
  • IRFB7434(G)PBF‎ N-channel high-current Mosfet (Source component, AUD $5.00)
  • Hard-to-get parts & PCB for the Capacitor Discharge Welder Energy Storage Module (ESM) (Component, AUD $20.00)
  • Hard-to-get parts & PCB for the Capacitor Discharge Welder Power Supply (Component, AUD $25.00)
  • Validation spreadsheets for the CD Spot Welder (Software, Free)
  • Capacitor Discharge Welder PCB patterns (PDF download) [29103221-3] (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • Capacitor Discharge Welder, part one (March 2022)
  • Capacitor Discharge Welder, Pt2 (April 2022)
Items relevant to "Raspberry Pi Pico BackPack":
  • Raspberry Pi Pico BackPack PCB [07101221] (AUD $5.00)
  • DS3231MZ real-time clock IC (SOIC-8) (Component, AUD $10.00)
  • DS3231 real-time clock IC (SOIC-16) (Component, AUD $7.50)
  • 3.5-inch TFT Touchscreen LCD module with SD card socket (Component, AUD $35.00)
  • Raspberry Pi Pico BackPack kit (Component, AUD $80.00)
  • Matte/Gloss Black UB3 Lid for Advanced GPS Computer (BackPack V3) or Pico BackPack (PCB, AUD $5.00)
  • Matte/Gloss Black UB3 Lid for Micromite LCD BackPack V3 or Pico BackPack using 3.5in screen (PCB, AUD $5.00)
  • Raspberry Pi Pico BackPack software (Free)
  • Raspberry Pi Pico BackPack PCB pattern (PDF download) [07101221] (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • All About Batteries - Part 1 (January 2022)
  • All About Batteries – Part 2 (February 2022)
  • All About Batteries, part three (March 2022)
Items relevant to "Amplifier Clipping Indicator":
  • 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)
  • Amplifier Clipping Indicator PCB [01112211] (AUD $2.50)
  • Amplifier Clipping Indicator PCB pattern (PDF download) [01112211] (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 "Dual Hybrid Power Supply, part two":
  • Intelligent Dual Hybrid Power Supply PCB set (AUD $25.00)
  • Intelligent Dual Hybrid Power Supply regulator PCB [18107211] (AUD $7.50)
  • Intelligent Dual Hybrid Power Supply front panel control PCB [18107212] (AUD $2.50)
  • PIC32MZ2048EFH064-250I/PT programmed for the Intelligent Dual Hybrid Power Supply [0110619A.HEX] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $30.00)
  • 128x64 Blue LCD screen with KS0108-compatible controller (Component, AUD $30.00)
  • Hard-to-get parts for the Intelligent Dual Hybrid Power Supply regulator board (Component, AUD $125.00)
  • Hard-to-get parts for the Intelligent Dual Hybrid Power Supply CPU board (Component, AUD $60.00)
  • LCD panel bezel for the Dual Intelligent Hybrid Power Supply (PCB, AUD $5.00)
  • Intelligent Dual Hybrid Power Supply firmware [0110619A.HEX] (Software, Free)
  • Intelligent Dual Hybrid Power Supply PCB patterns [18107211/2] (Free)
  • DSP Active Crossover/DDS/Reflow Oven PCB patterns (PDF download) [01106191-6] (AUD $3.00)
Articles in this series:
  • Dual Hybrid Power Supply – Pt1 (February 2022)
  • Dual Hybrid Power Supply, part two (March 2022)
Items relevant to "A Gesture Recognition Module":
  • MMbasic software for the PAJ7620U2 gesture recognition module (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)

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SILICON SILIC CHIP www.siliconchip.com.au Publisher/Editor Nicholas Vinen Technical Editor John Clarke – B.E.(Elec.) Technical Staff Jim Rowe – B.A., B.Sc. Bao Smith – B.Sc. Tim Blythman – B.E., B.Sc. Nicolas Hannekum – Dip.Elec.Tech. Advertising Enquiries Glyn Smith Mobile 0431 792 293 glyn<at>siliconchip.com.au Regular Contributors Allan Linton-Smith Dave Thompson David Maddison – B.App.Sc. (Hons 1), PhD, Grad.Dip.Entr.Innov. Geoff Graham Associate Professor Graham Parslow Dr Hugo Holden – B.H.B, MB.ChB., FRANZCO Ian Batty Phil Prosser – B.Sc., B.E.(Elec.) Cartoonist Louis Decrevel www.louisdecrevel.com Former Cartoonist Brendan Akhurst Founding Editor (retired) Leo Simpson – B.Bus., FAICD Silicon Chip is published 12 times a year by Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd. ACN 626 922 870. ABN 20 880 526 923. All material is copyright ©. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Editorial Viewpoint RIP Brendan James Akhurst, cartoonist extraordinaire I was very sad when I heard that Brendan had passed away recently, aged 73. That isn’t just because he was a great cartoonist who worked with us for 34 years (and for Electronics Australia before that), but also because he was a great person and a friend. I think I became his friend the day I bought my Ford Falcon. Brendan was definitely a ‘petrolhead’. While he liked cars in general, his last car was a Tickford Falcon that I know he loved driving. His fondness for cars was also reflected in his work for magazines like “Street Machine”. I was quite surprised when I found out how old he was. Based on the way he spoke and behaved, I thought he was barely in his early 60s, possibly even younger than that. Brendan was a passionate and active man to the end and certainly did not seem ‘old’ to me! I hope I can ‘stay young’ like Brendan did, if not in body, then at least in spirit. I think most Silicon Chip readers would agree that he was a very talented artist who produced magnificent work. Some of the cartoons he drew in his prime were utterly hilarious, and I couldn’t help but burst out laughing when I first saw them. It wasn’t just that he could draw, he was also very creative in coming up with the ideas for cartoons. Brendan wasn’t just a talented artist. He worked for many years as a police diver; an occupation not for the faint-of-heart. He also helped to raise three fine sons. We at Silicon Chip are going to miss him. When you read the Serviceman’s Log column this month, you will see that we have a new cartoonist who is also very talented. I am sure he will bring something unique and individual to those pages over the coming months and years. The last cartoon Brendan ever drew is reproduced below. It reflects his affinity for animals, especially the charity “Wombatised” that rescues sick, injured, or orphaned Wombats. If you’d like to donate to them in his memory, you can contact them via www.facebook.com/wombatised/ Editorial by Nicholas Vinen Subscription rates (Australia only) 6 issues (6 months): $65 12 issues (1 year): $120 24 issues (2 years): $230 Online subscription (Worldwide) 6 issues (6 months): $50 12 issues (1 year): $95 For overseas rates, see our website or email silicon<at>siliconchip.com.au Recommended & maximum price only. Editorial office: Unit 1 (up ramp), 234 Harbord Rd, Brookvale, NSW 2100. Postal address: PO Box 139, Collaroy Beach, NSW 2097. Phone: (02) 9939 3295. ISSN: 1030-2662 Printing and Distribution: 24-26 Lilian Fowler Pl, Marrickville 2204 2 Silicon Chip Australia's electronics magazine siliconchip.com.au