Silicon ChipContents - August 2026 SILICON CHIP
  1. Outer Front Cover
  2. Contents
  3. Publisher's Letter: Finally, some open standards!
  4. Feature: Beware: Fake Energy Savers by Nicholas Vinen
  5. Feature: Terahertz Waves by Dr David Maddison, VK3DSM
  6. Project: Adjustable Ultrasonic Cleaner, Part 2 by John Clarke
  7. Subscriptions
  8. Project: Phenomenal Pinball Machine, Part 3 by Phil Prosser
  9. Project: Destination Display by Tim Blythman
  10. Feature: Power Electronics, Part 8 by Andrew Levido
  11. Feature: GM805 Barcode Reader by Tim Blythman
  12. Project: Transceiver Test Set by Andrew Woodfield, ZL2PD
  13. Serviceman's Log: Repair and servicing stories from readers by Various
  14. Vintage Radio: Baby Beethoven 555 by Dr Hugo Holden
  15. PartShop
  16. Feature: Is this the end of the NE5532? by Nicholas Vinen
  17. Market Centre
  18. Advertising Index
  19. Outer Back Cover

This is only a preview of the August 2026 issue of Silicon Chip.

You can view 33 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 "Adjustable Ultrasonic Cleaner, Part 2":
  • Adjustable Ultrasonic Cleaner main PCB [04105261] (AUD $7.50)
  • Adjustable Ultrasonic Cleaner control panel PCB [04105262] (AUD $5.00)
  • PIC16F1459-I/P programmed for the Adjustable Ultrasonic Cleaner (0410526A.HEX) (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $10.00)
  • Adjustable Ultrasonic Cleaner PCB patterns (PDF download) [04105261-2] (Free)
  • Adjustable Ultrasonic Cleaner panel artwork and drilling diagrams (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • Adjustable Ultrasonic Cleaner (July 2026)
  • Adjustable Ultrasonic Cleaner, Part 2 (August 2026)
Items relevant to "Phenomenal Pinball Machine, Part 3":
  • Pinball Machine Control PCB [08107261] (AUD $25.00)
  • Pinball Machine Power Supply PCB [08107262] (AUD $7.50)
  • Pinball Machine Player LED PCB [08107263] (AUD $2.50)
  • Pinball Machine Score LED PCB [08107264] (AUD $5.00)
  • Pinball Machine LED Output PCB [08107265] (AUD $2.50)
  • Pinball Machine Bumper LED PCB [08107266] (AUD $5.00)
  • Pinball Machine Cascade LED PCB [08107267] (AUD $5.00)
  • Pinball Machine Switch Input PCB [08107268] (AUD $2.50)
  • Pinball Machine General Input PCB [08107269] (AUD $2.50)
  • Pinball Machine High Current Interface PCB [08107260] (AUD $2.50)
  • Pinball Machine Rollover Interface PCB [08117261] (AUD $2.50)
  • Pinball Machine Bumper Driver PCB [08117262] (AUD $5.00)
  • 5m of 10-way ribbon cable (Component, AUD $10.00)
  • Pinball Machine Control Board short-form kit (Component, AUD $150.00)
  • Pinball Machine Power Supply short-form kit (Component, AUD $50.00)
  • Pinball Machine cable and connector set (Component, AUD $65.00)
  • Software and 3D printing files for Phil Prosser's Pinball Machine (Free)
  • Phil's Phenomenal Pinball Machine PCB patterns (PDF download) [08107260-9, 08117261-2] (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • Phenomenal Pinball Machine, Part 1 (June 2026)
  • Phenomenal Pinball Machine, Part 2 (July 2026)
  • Phenomenal Pinball Machine, Part 3 (August 2026)
Items relevant to "Destination Display":
  • Destination Display PCB [09111252] (AUD $2.50)
  • Destination Display antenna flex PCB [06101233] (AUD $2.00)
  • PIC16F18115-I/SN programmed for the Destination Display [0911125D.HEX] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $10.00)
  • 0.32-inch white I2C OLED screen (60×32) (Component, AUD $5.00)
  • 0.50-inch white I2C OLED screen (88×48) (Component, AUD $6.50)
  • Model Railway Destination Display kit (Component, AUD $22.50)
  • Destination Display software (Free)
  • Destination Display PCB patterns (PDF download) [09111251-2] (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • DCC Decoder (December 2025)
  • How to use DCC (January 2026)
  • DCC Base Station (January 2026)
  • DCC Remote Controller (February 2026)
  • DCC Booster (March 2026)
  • DCC/DC Stepper Motor Driver (April 2026)
  • μDCC Decoder (May 2026)
  • I2C Controller (July 2026)
  • DCC Accessory Decoders (July 2026)
  • Destination Display (August 2026)
Articles in this series:
  • Power Electronics, Part 1 (November 2025)
  • Power Electronics, Part 2 (December 2025)
  • Power Electronics, Part 3 (January 2026)
  • Power Electronics, Part 4 (February 2026)
  • Power Electronics, Part 5 (March 2026)
  • Power Electronics, Part 6 (April 2026)
  • Power Electronics, Part 7 (May 2026)
  • Power Electronics, Part 8 (August 2026)
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)
  • Particulate Matter (PM) Sensors (November 2022)
  • Heart Rate Sensor Module (February 2023)
  • UVM-30A UV Light Sensor (May 2023)
  • VL6180X Rangefinding Module (July 2023)
  • pH Meter Module (September 2023)
  • 1.3in Monochrome OLED Display (October 2023)
  • 16-bit precision 4-input ADC (November 2023)
  • 1-24V USB Power Supply (October 2024)
  • 0.91-inch OLED Screen (November 2024)
  • TCS230 Colour Sensor (January 2025)
  • Low-cost electronic modules: 8×16 LED Matrix module (July 2025)
  • Modules: Thin-Film Pressure Sensor (August 2025)
  • Self-powered Wireless Switches (March 2026)
  • GM805 Barcode Reader (August 2026)
Items relevant to "Transceiver Test Set":
  • Transceiver Test Set main PCB [06104261] (AUD $5.00)
  • Transceiver Test Set VFO PCB [06104262] (AUD $5.00)
  • ATtiny85-20PU programmed for the Transceiver Test Set [0610426A.HEX] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $10.00)
  • Software, 3D-printing & laser-cutting files for the Transceiver Test Set (Free)
  • Transceiver Test Set PCB patterns (PDF download) [06104261-2] (Free)
Items relevant to "Is this the end of the NE5532?":
  • NJM5532DD ultra-low-noise, low-distortion dual op amp (Component, AUD $5.00)
  • NJM5532D low-noise, low-distortion dual op amp (Component, AUD $3.50)
  • NE5534P ultra-low-noise, low-distortion single op amp (Component, AUD $4.00)

Purchase a printed copy of this issue for $14.00.
Contents Vol.39, No.08 August 2026 12 Beware: Fake Energy Savers Dodgy products are becoming increasingly common online, such as energysaving devices that are useless, fake pest repellers, battery scams etc. By Nicholas Vinen Fake and scam products 16 Terahertz Waves Laser imaging using terahertz electromagnetic waves (ranging from 0.1THz up to 30THz) is a new field that has applications in security, medicine and communications. By Dr David Maddison, VK3DSM Laser imaging Terahertz Waves Page 16 Part 2: p30 64 Power Electronics, Part 8 In this series of articles, we explore the principles of power electronics. In this final instalment we look at AC to AC converters, including cycloconverters. By Andrew Levido Electronic design 70 GM805 Barcode Reader This module can read linear (1D) barcodes, QR codes and other types of 2D codes via its integrated camera. By Tim Blythman Low-cost electronic modules 98 Is this the end of the NE5532? The NE5532, released in 1979, is the ‘classic’ audio op amp. Despite still being widely used today, it might be becoming obsolete. By Nicholas Vinen Electronic components 30 Adjustable Ultrasonic Cleaner Rated at up to 40W, our Ultrasonic Cleaner is fully adjustable for frequency, power and duration. In this final part, we cover all the construction details and how to test and tweak it. Part 2 by John Clarke Cleaning project 40 Phenomenal Pinball Machine This series explains how to design and build every part of your own Pinball Machine. This month we look at the deck and cabinet in detail, then start describing some of the 3D-printed parts required. Part 3 by Phil Prosser Gaming project 51 Destination Display This tiny display is small enough to fit onto a HO or N scale model train. It can be controlled with our microDCC Decoder, infrared remote control or by a serial port. It could also be used for station displays. Part 10 By Tim Blythman Model train project 74 Transceiver Test Set With a 9V rechargeable Li-ion battery, this Test Set is an all-in-one portable device for testing high frequency, ‘low power’ (QRP) single sideband (SSB) transceivers. By Andrew Woodfield, ZL2PD Test equipment project Adjustable Ultrasonic Cleaner The end of the venerable NE5532? Page 98 2 Editorial Viewpoint 4 Mailbag 39 Subscriptions 61 Circuit Notebook 82 Serviceman’s Log 88 Vintage Radio 96 Online Shop 101 Ask Silicon Chip 103 Market Centre 104 Advertising Index 1. Clap-operated switch 2. Auto-recharging battery backup 3. Router Watchdog enhancement 4. Safely measuring HV battery packs 5. Plugpack-powered Little Jim radio Baby Beethoven 555 by Dr Hugo Holden