Silicon ChipContents - February 2012 SILICON CHIP
  1. Outer Front Cover
  2. Contents
  3. Publisher's Letter: Loud television commercials will continue to be annoying
  4. Feature: Converting The F&P SmartDrive for Use As A . . . Motor by Nenad Stojadinovic
  5. Project: A Really Bright 10W LED Floodlight by Branko Justic & Ross Tester
  6. Project: Crystal DAC: A High-Performance Upgrade by Nicholas VInen
  7. Feature: DCC: Digital Command Control For Model Railways by Leo SImpson
  8. Project: SemTest: A Discrete Semiconductor Test Set; Pt.1 by Jim Rowe
  9. Project: Simple 1.2-20V 1.5A Switching Regulator by Nicholas Vinen
  10. Feature: Homebrew PCBs Via Toner Transfer by Alex Sum
  11. Vintage Radio: The 1930s Palmavox 5-valve superhet; Pt.1 by Maurie Findlay
  12. Summer Showcase
  13. PartShop
  14. Advertising Index
  15. Outer Back Cover

This is only a preview of the February 2012 issue of Silicon Chip.

You can view 24 of the 104 pages in the full issue, including the advertisments.

For full access, purchase the issue for $10.00 or subscribe for access to the latest issues.

Items relevant to "Crystal DAC: A High-Performance Upgrade":
  • Crystal DAC PCB [01102121] (AUD $15.00)
  • ATmega48 programmed for the Crystal DAC [0120212A.HEX] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $15.00)
  • Firmware and C source code for the Crystal DAC [0120212A] (Software, Free)
  • Crystal DAC PCB pattern (PDF download) [01102121] (Free)
Items relevant to "SemTest: A Discrete Semiconductor Test Set; Pt.1":
  • SemTest Upper PCB [04103122] (AUD $20.00)
  • SemTest Lower PCB [04103121] (AUD $20.00)
  • High Voltage Crowbar PCB [04105121] (AUD $7.50)
  • PIC16F877A-I/P programmed for the SemTest semiconductor test set [0410312B.HEX] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $20.00)
  • SemTest front panel [04103123] (PCB, AUD $50.00)
  • Firmware (ASM and HEX) files for the SemTest semiconductor test set [1410312B] (Software, Free)
  • High Voltage Crowbar PCB pattern (PDF download) [04105121] (Free)
  • SemTest Lower PCB pattern (PDF download) [04103121] (Free)
  • SemTest Upper PCB pattern (PDF download) [04103122] (Free)
  • SemTest front panel artwork and drilling template (PDF download) [04103123] (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • SemTest: A Discrete Semiconductor Test Set; Pt.1 (February 2012)
  • SemTest: A Discrete Semiconductor Test Set; Pt.1 (February 2012)
  • SemTest: A Discrete Semiconductor Test Set; Pt.2 (March 2012)
  • SemTest: A Discrete Semiconductor Test Set; Pt.2 (March 2012)
  • SemTest Discrete Semiconductor Test Set; Pt.3 (May 2012)
  • SemTest Discrete Semiconductor Test Set; Pt.3 (May 2012)
Items relevant to "Simple 1.2-20V 1.5A Switching Regulator":
  • MiniSwitcher PCB [18102121] (AUD $5.00)
  • MiniSwitcher PCB pattern (PDF download) [18102121] (Free)

Purchase a printed copy of this issue for $10.00.

Contents SILICON CHIP www.siliconchip.com.au Vol.25, No.2; February 2012 Features 14 Converting The F&P SmartDrive for Use As A . . . Motor Recycled smart drive washing machine motors can be found in wind turbines, water turbines and many other types of generators. Here’s how to use a Fisher & Paykel SmartDrive motor as . . . a motor – by Nenad Stojadinovic 36 DCC: Digital Command Control For Model Railways DCC is becoming increasingly popular. Here’s a quick rundown on how it works – by Leo Simpson 76 Homebrew PCBs Via Toner Transfer A Really Bright 10W LED Floodlight – Page 20. 20. Want to make good-quality PCBs at home? Here’s how to do it using a cheap laminator, a laser printer and a few low-cost materials – by Alex Sum Pro jects To Build 20 A Really Bright 10W LED Floodlight This bright LED floodlight rivals halogens but consumes much less power. It’s compact, efficient and easy to build – by Branko Justic & Ross Tester 24 Crystal DAC: A High-Performance Upgrade This new, high-end DAC board can be installed in our Hifi Stereo DAC project (Sept-Nov 09) without any major changes – by Nicholas Vinen 42 SemTest: A Discrete Semiconductor Test Set; Pt.1 Crystal DAC HighPerformance Upgrade Board – Page 24. Versatile unit can test LEDs, diodes, transistors, Mosfets, SCRs and PUTs for gain (if applicable), voltage breakdown and leakage. You can even test IGBTs and Triacs! – by Jim Rowe 64 Simple 1.2-20V 1.5A Switching Regulator It’s small, efficient and boasts a very low drop-out voltage, little heat generation and electronic shut-down – by Nicholas Vinen Special Columns 58 Serviceman’s Log You’ve got to have a good system in place – by the Serviceman 70 Circuit Notebook (1) Traffic Light Sequencer; (2) Electric Fence Tester; (3) How To Operate Multiple 433MHz UHF Remote Switches; (4) Quadrature Decoder For Motor Feedback; (5) Eye-Level Display For Bathroom Scales; (6) Guitar Practice Amplifier; (7) SudoMate For Sudoku Puzzles; (8) Rapid Fire Dexterity Game SemTest Discrete Semiconductor Test Set – Page 42. 86 Vintage Radio The 1930s Palmavox 5-valve superhet; Pt.1 – by Maurie Findlay Departments   2   4 57 91 Publisher’s Letter Mailbag Product Showcase Summer Showcase siliconchip.com.au 94 Ask Silicon Chip 98 Order Form 103 Market Centre 1.2-20V 1.5A Switching Regulator – Page 64. February 2012  1