Silicon ChipAppliance safety is a concern - January 1992 SILICON CHIP
  1. Outer Front Cover
  2. Contents
  3. Publisher's Letter: Appliance safety is a concern
  4. Feature: The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.17 by Bryan Maher
  5. Project: Build A 4-Channel Guitar Mixer by Darren Yates
  6. Project: Automatic Controller For Car Headlights by Wally Hammer & Jeff Monegal
  7. Serviceman's Log: Same set, same symptoms, but... by The TV Serviceman
  8. Feature: Computer Bits by Jennifer Bonnitcha
  9. Feature: Experiments For Your Games Card by Darren Yates
  10. Project: Baby Room Monitor & FM Transmitter by John Clarke
  11. Vintage Radio: Restoring an AWA Radiolette receiver by John Hill
  12. Project: Adjustable 0-45V 8A Power Supply, Pt.1 by John Clarke
  13. Feature: Amateur Radio by Garry Cratt, VK2YBX
  14. Feature: Remote Control by Bob Young
  15. Order Form
  16. Feature: New Blood Steriliser Uses Microwaves by Leo Simpson
  17. Market Centre
  18. Advertising Index
  19. Outer Back Cover

This is only a preview of the January 1992 issue of Silicon Chip.

You can view 43 of the 96 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.

Articles in this series:
  • The Technology Letters, Pt.2 (January 1989)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy (July 1990)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.2 (August 1990)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.3 (September 1990)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.4 (October 1990)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.5 (November 1990)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.6 (December 1990)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.7 (January 1991)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.8 (February 1991)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.9 (March 1991)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.10 (May 1991)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.11 (July 1991)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.12 (August 1991)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.13 (September 1991)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.14 (October 1991)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.15 (November 1991)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.16 (December 1991)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.17 (January 1992)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.18 (March 1992)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.19 (August 1992)
  • The Story of Electrical Energy; Pt.20 (September 1992)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.21 (November 1992)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.22 (January 1993)
  • The Story of Electrical Energy (April 1993)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.24 (May 1993)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.24 (June 1993)
Items relevant to "Build A 4-Channel Guitar Mixer":
  • Silicon Chip article scan, January 1992 - Low-Noise 4-Channel Guitar Mixer (AUD $10.00)
Articles in this series:
  • Computer Bits (July 1989)
  • Computer Bits (August 1989)
  • Computer Bits (September 1989)
  • Computer Bits (October 1989)
  • Computer Bits (November 1989)
  • Computer Bits (January 1990)
  • Computer Bits (April 1990)
  • Computer Bits (October 1990)
  • Computer Bits (November 1990)
  • Computer Bits (December 1990)
  • Computer Bits (January 1991)
  • Computer Bits (February 1991)
  • Computer Bits (March 1991)
  • Computer Bits (April 1991)
  • Computer Bits (May 1991)
  • Computer Bits (June 1991)
  • Computer Bits (July 1991)
  • Computer Bits (August 1991)
  • Computer Bits (September 1991)
  • Computer Bits (October 1991)
  • Computer Bits (November 1991)
  • Computer Bits (December 1991)
  • Computer Bits (January 1992)
  • Computer Bits (February 1992)
  • Computer Bits (March 1992)
  • Computer Bits (May 1992)
  • Computer Bits (June 1992)
  • Computer Bits (July 1992)
  • Computer Bits (September 1992)
  • Computer Bits (October 1992)
  • Computer Bits (November 1992)
  • Computer Bits (December 1992)
  • Computer Bits (February 1993)
  • Computer Bits (April 1993)
  • Computer Bits (May 1993)
  • Computer Bits (June 1993)
  • Computer Bits (October 1993)
  • Computer Bits (March 1994)
  • Computer Bits (May 1994)
  • Computer Bits (June 1994)
  • Computer Bits (July 1994)
  • Computer Bits (October 1994)
  • Computer Bits (November 1994)
  • Computer Bits (December 1994)
  • Computer Bits (January 1995)
  • Computer Bits (February 1995)
  • Computer Bits (March 1995)
  • Computer Bits (April 1995)
  • CMOS Memory Settings - What To Do When The Battery Goes Flat (May 1995)
  • Computer Bits (July 1995)
  • Computer Bits (September 1995)
  • Computer Bits: Connecting To The Internet With WIndows 95 (October 1995)
  • Computer Bits (December 1995)
  • Computer Bits (January 1996)
  • Computer Bits (February 1996)
  • Computer Bits (March 1996)
  • Computer Bits (May 1996)
  • Computer Bits (June 1996)
  • Computer Bits (July 1996)
  • Computer Bits (August 1996)
  • Computer Bits (January 1997)
  • Computer Bits (April 1997)
  • Windows 95: The Hardware That's Required (May 1997)
  • Turning Up Your Hard Disc Drive (June 1997)
  • Computer Bits (July 1997)
  • Computer Bits: The Ins & Outs Of Sound Cards (August 1997)
  • Computer Bits (September 1997)
  • Computer Bits (October 1997)
  • Computer Bits (November 1997)
  • Computer Bits (April 1998)
  • Computer Bits (June 1998)
  • Computer Bits (July 1998)
  • Computer Bits (November 1998)
  • Computer Bits (December 1998)
  • Control Your World Using Linux (July 2011)
Items relevant to "Experiments For Your Games Card":
  • Games Card Breakout PCB [07103941] (PCB Pattern, Free)
Articles in this series:
  • Experiments For Your Games Card (January 1992)
  • Computer Bits (November 1993)
  • Computer Bits (January 1994)
  • Computer Bits (February 1994)
  • Computer Bits (April 1994)
Articles in this series:
  • Adjustable 0-45V 8A Power Supply, Pt.1 (January 1992)
  • Adjustable 0-45V 8A Power Supply, Pt.2 (February 1992)
Articles in this series:
  • Amateur Radio (November 1987)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1987)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (April 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (April 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (April 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1990)
  • The "Tube" vs. The Microchip (August 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (April 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1995)
  • CB Radio Can Now Transmit Data (March 2001)
  • What's On Offer In "Walkie Talkies" (March 2001)
  • Stressless Wireless (October 2004)
  • “Degen” Synthesised HF Communications Receiver (January 2007)
  • WiNRADiO: Marrying A Radio Receiver To A PC (January 2007)
  • PICAXE-08M 433MHz Data Transceiver (October 2008)
  • Half-Duplex With HopeRF’s HM-TR UHF Transceivers (April 2009)
  • Dorji 433MHz Wireless Data Modules (January 2012)
Articles in this series:
  • Remote Control (December 1991)
  • Remote Control (January 1992)
  • Designing A Speed Controller For Electric Models (February 1992)
  • Remote Control (March 1992)
Publisher & Edit or-in-Chief Leo Simpson, B.Bus. Edit or Greg Swain, B.Sc.(Hons.) PUBLISHER'S LETTER Technical Staff John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.) Robert Flynn Darren Yates Reader Services Ann Jenkinson Sales & M ark eting Mgr. Angela Clarke, B.A.(Comm.) Phone (02) 979 5644 Mobile phone (018) 28 5532 Regular Contributors Brendan Akhurst Jennifer Bonnitcha, B.A. Garry Cratt, VK2YBX Marque Crozman John Hill Jim Lawler, MTETIA Bryan Maher, M.E., B.Sc. Jim Yalden , VK2YGY Bob Young Photography Stuart Bryce Edit orial Advisory Panel Philip Watson, MIREE, VK2ZPW Norman Marks Steve Payor, B.Sc. , B.E. SILICON CHIP is published 12 times a year by Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd . A.C.N. 003 205 490. All material copyright ©. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Printing: Magazine Printers Pty Ltd, Alexandria, NSW; Macquarie Print, Dubbo, NSW. Distribution: Network Distribution Company. Subscription rates: $42 per year in Australia. For overseas rates, see the subscription page in this issue . Liability : Devices or circuits described in SILICON CHIP may be covered by patents. SILICON CHIP disclaims any liability for the infringement of such patents by the manufacturing or selling of any such equipment. Editorial & advertising offices: Unit 1a/77-79 Bassett Street, Mona Vale, NSW 2103 . Postal address : PO Box 139, Collaroy Beach , NSW 2097. Phone (02) 979 5644. Fax (02) 979 6503 . ISSN 1030-2662 4 SILICON CHIP Appliance safety is a concern Are you concerned about the safety of your home appliances? Of course, you are. Everyone is. But you probably do not worry too much when buying a new appliance because most electrical appliances are subject to stringent approval testing by electricity authorities. In the past, such approval testing was (and still is) the bane of manufacturers and importers but most people would have felt that if it ensured appliance safety then it was a good thing. But now it turns out that electrical safety is not guaranteed by approval testing. For quite a few years now we have been concerned that the power cords and plugs of appliances such as heaters have not had adequate ratings. And we can point to one glaring example - the Mistral GyroAire range of fan heaters. In fact, a few years ago we had one of these in our lab to replace the power cord which was clearly inadequate. This was a 10-amp 2400 watt appliance and the power cord became very hot in normal operation. We replaced both the cord an d the plug. In fact, we even wrote it up as a 3-page story entitled "Making Your Electric Radiator Safe" in the October 1989 issue. We thought we had made a big enough issue of it at the time but it turns out that we should have made a big stink. Why? Because it turns out that the Mistral GyroAire GA12 and GA16 fan heaters (units made before 1979) have caused the deaths of two children and at least 100 fires! Furthermore, according to the coroner's report on the deaths of the two children, the company involved, Kemtron Pty Ltd (now in liquidation), knew the risks and engaged in a "cover-up" operation. So if you have one of these fans in your household, take a hammer to it and smash it u p. Clearly then , the present process of appliance testing does not stop all the crook on es going to market. Or perhaps it does not stop previously approved appliances from being downgraded by the manufacturers so that they become unsafe. How many other unsafe appliances are out there? Nobody knows. We think that the whole process of approval testing and standards should be reappraised. Perhaps there are too many appliances to be tested. Maybe the testing should be more rigorous for room heaters and hairdryers and less so for oth er appliances. Or do we just leave the system of testing as it is and say that two deaths an d 100 fires is not a bad result, given the present cost of testing? I don't think so. Leo Simpson