This is only a preview of the March 1993 issue of Silicon Chip. You can view 44 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. Items relevant to "Low-Cost Audio Mixer For Camcorders":
Items relevant to "Test Yourself On The Reaction Trainer":
Articles in this series:
|
I
PRODUCT SHOWCASE
I
Digital storage
oscilloscopes
The 4164 and 4162 from Gould are
two new digital storage oscilloscopes
which combine high digitising speed
with long stores of 50K words per
channel. The extended store length
means that users can examine fine
detail within a stored waveform, while
.at the same time being able to look at
long-term trends. The long store also
means that the instruments are suited
for use in a "baby sitting" mode for
capturing random or intermittent signals.
·
The 4164 and 4162 are extensions
of the well-established Gould 4060
series of digital storage oscilloscopes
and feature 100 megasample/second
sampling, 150MHz equivalent realtime bandwidth, 8-bit resolution at
all input sensitivities, on-screen cursor based measurement functions , full
programmability and internal hardcopy capabilities.
The 4164 is a full 4-channel instrument, while on the 4162 two of the
channels have been optimised for electronic control signal acquisition. A
variety of display modes , including
conventional Y/T, X/Y, roll, persisted
and interpolated, allow acquisition
data to be presented in the most meaningful form to the user.
To allow detailed examination of
trace data, the 4164 and 4162 incorporate a variable "zoom" facility
which provides up to 1000:1 trace
Miniature fans for
microprocessors
Are you concerned at the relatively high temperature of the microprocessor in your PC? Or perhaps a critical component in a
power supply or other equipment
is running a shade too hot. The
remedy is to fit that red-in-theface component with its own personal cooling fan?
Don't laugh. These teensy little
fans do work and could be just
what's needed in a confined space
where the draught from a larger
fan would not penetrate. The larger of the two fans is 40mm in
diameter and produces quite a
draught. It runs quietly but is rated
at6.9 cfm (cubic feet per minute)
at 6000 RPM.
The smaller fan is 25mm in diameter and as you might expect,
66
SILICON CHIP
produces noticeably less movement of air. It is rated for 1.3 cfm at
10,000RPM.
No mounting hardware is available so you will need to contrive
your own installation. It should be
poss ible to mak e a mounting
bracket from a small piece of aluminium. The 40mm fan is priced
at $14.95 and the 25mm unit at
$19.95 from David Reid Electronics, 127 York St, Sydney NSW
2000. Phone (02) 267 1385.
expansion. This displays either the
actual acquired data points or in situations where less than 500 points
would be displayed, a linear interpolated trace. The user can select a combination of normal and zoomed traces,
which allows the fine detail of the
magnified trace to be viewed in conjunction with the overview.
The new oscilloscopes feature a
large (7-inch) display screen with an
electronically generated graticule.
Hard copy can be produced on an
optional internal thermal or 4-colour
plotter, and IEEE-488.2 and RS-423
interfaces are provided for interfacing
with external HP-GL plotters, computers or controllers.
For furth er information contact
Elmeasco Instruments Pty Ltd, PO Box
30, Concord, NSW 213 7. Phone (02)
736 2888.
Austel approved
power supplies
Alpha Kilo Services has released
two series of power supplies that have
been Austel approved. The UP0403A
series are 40 watt switching supplies
that have triple output voltages ranging from 5V to 24V with overvoltage
and short circuit protection. Efficiency
is claimed to be a m inimum of 70%
and operating temp erature range 1s
from zero to 70°C. The USUl00T Series are 100 watt supplies that also
have triple outputs ranging from -5V
to 24V with overvoltage and short cir-
cuit" protection and a VDE level "B"
input filter.
For further information contact Alpha Kilo Services, PO Box 180, Lane
Cove 2066. Phone (02) 428 3122.
New ferrite materials
with high saturation
Siemens Matsushita Components
has developed three new ferrite materials which. are mainly intended for
use in switched-mode power supplies.
The outstanding property of the new
N97 ferrite is its low core power loss
of 70mW/g under typical operating
conditions (lO0kHz, 200mT, 100°c),
which is approximately 18% less than
comparable materials.
N62 ferrite has a high saturation
inductance of510mT (at 2kHz, 1200A/
m, 20°C). It gives better DC biasing
compared with the previous.material;
not until current intensity reaches
values 10% higher does a 20% loss of
inductance occur. The new material
has an initial permeability of 1900
continued on page 72
EHT generator/low
cost laser
How many different ways can
you power a small laser tube? The
answer is quite a few and many of
these have been explored by Oatley
Electronics over the last few years.
Now they have excelled themselves by releasing an EHT power
supply at a very low price. Based
on a TV flyback transformer and
high voltage transistor, the supply
is powered from 12V and will deliver a peak output of about 1 lkV.
The main application being promoted is as a low cost laser power
supply but the circuit could have
other applications such as high
voltage experiments (Jacob's Ladder, etc), replacement parts in TV
sets and computer monitors and
even for plasma displays such as
described in the August and November 1988 issues of SILICON CHIP
(copies are still available).
The EHT power supply kit includes a small PC board, all the ·
on-board components, and the circuit and wiring diagrams. It is
priced at only $23.00. Also available is a kit which adds a lm W red
Helium-Neon laser tube for a total
cost of $50. That is cheap.
Both kits are available from
Oatley Electronics, 5 Lansdowne
Parade, Oatley NSW 2223. Phone
(02) 579 4985.
YOU CAN .NOW AFFORD A
SATELLITE TV SYSTEM
$ 5
99
For many years you have probably looked at satellite TV
systems and thought "one day".
You can now purchase ihe following
K-band system for only:
Here's what you get:
• A 1.6 metre prime focus dish antenna,
complete with all the mounting hardware.
• One super low-noise LNB (1.4dB or better).
• One Ku-band feedhorn and a magnetic
signal polariser.
• 30 metres of low-loss coaxial cable with a
single pair control line.
• lnfrared remote control pre programmed
satellite receiver with selectable IF & audio
bandwidth, polarity & digital readout
Your receiver is pre-programmed to the popular
OPTUS transponders via the internal memory.
AV-COMM Pty Ltd, PO Box 225, Balgowlah NSW
2093. Ph: (02) 949 7417. Fax: (02) 949 7095.
All items are available separately. Ask about our C-band
LNBs, NTSC-to-P~L converters, video time date generators,
FM2 &EPAL &Pay TV hardware.
r - .- ------------· ~
I YES GARRY, please send me more information on K-band
I satellite systems.
I
Name _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
I Address: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
: - - - - - - - - ~ P'code: _ _ __
_ _ _ _ __
I Phone: _ _ _ _ _ __
I ACN 001174 478
10/91
Infrared remote
control switch
This fully assembled infrared
remote controlled kit will switch a
relay at distances up to 10 metres.
The remote control transmitter is
housed in a plastic case measuring 140 x 68 x 30mm and is powered by an internal 9V battery (not
supplied). The receiver PC measures 110 x 55mm and it can be
powered from a 9-12V supply. Current drain at 12V is 35mA on
and is suitable for frequencies up to
300kHz.
N59 ferrite material has been developed specifically for high frequencies up to 1MHz. Under conditions of
1MHz, 50mT and 1()0°C, it exhibits a
core power loss of only 110mW/g.
Saturation occurs at 480mT (20°C) and
the initial permeability is 900.
N59 ferrite is available now, while
N62 and N97 are available in sample
form only. For further details, contact
Malcom Evans, Siemens Ltd, Electronics Components Department, 544
Church St, Richmond 3121. Phone
(03) 420 7716.
Sanyo large screen
television receiver
Sanyo's new TEIOO large screen
television is an imposing piece of furniture in a glossy camphor wood design, with a 68cm screen.
72
SILICON CHIP
standby and 120mA when the relay operates.
Supplied with the kit is a 4-page
reprint which features the circuits,
wiring diagrams and explanatory
text. So if you want to get an IR
remote control system up and going with the minimum amount of
electronics assembly, this is the
way to go. The kit is priced at $44
and is available from A-One Electronics Pty Ltd, 432-434 Kent St,
Sydney, NSW 2000. Phone (02) 267
4819.
This low distortion, flat , square
screen has 750 lines horizontal resolution, a wide viewing angle and reduced glare. Fuzzy Logic picture control circuitry continuously monitors
the brightness of the room and the
viewing distance and adjusts the image brightness to minimise eye strain.
This means the set makes its own
adjustments to give a high definition
picture in a bright room, and a softer
picture in a dark room. The Fuzzy
Logic circuit also works to reduce picture noise.
Picture quality is enhanced by the
use of a shadow mask made from Invar,
an alloy of steel and nickel to eliminate picture distortion caused by the
tube's heat. A PAL/NTSC comb filter
eliminates colour and dot interference
for improved sharpness and definition.
The set has a sub-woofer stereo
sound system with Sanyo's Cascade
Tuning Port system and speakers with
cones made from a polymer and pulp
sandwich material. Other features include inputs for S-Video and phono, a
camcorder input, mini headphone
jack and extension speaker terminals
plus Teletext facilities.
Sanyo's TEIOO model CPP2940TX
has a recommended retail price of
$2,999.00 and comes with a matching
stand. It is available from selected
retailers throughout Australia.
Emtek DCT-310
AC/DC clamp meter
If you are an electrician, an auto
electrician or you need to measure
very heavy currents without inserting
a meter in series, then this AC/DC
clamp meter is for you.
As an example of the capabilities of
this instrument, say you want to measure the current drawn by your car's
starter motor but without having to
disconnect any battery leads. With
the Emtek DCT-310 you just set it into
DC mode on the 400A range, snap the
tongs around the positive or negative
battery lead and then have someone
start the motor. As the reading comes
up on the display you can then switch
to "Peak Hold" and the reading will
be held until you switch it off.
Many older clamp meters cannot
measure DC current; they have a current transformer based on the laminated core of the tongs but this does
not work at DC. This unit can measure direct current because it uses a
Hall Effect device instead of a current
transformer.
Two AC and DC current ranges of
200A and 400A are provided, as well
as a temperature range reading from
-40°C +750°C using a type K thermocouple which is supplied with the
unit. There is also a resistance range
reading up to 2kQ and two voltage
ranges , 200V AC and DC and 2000V
DC or 750V AC.
A very good feature of the unit is
that it comes with a sturdy carry case
which will be invaluable in protecting the meter against the inevitable
knocks that it would otherwise get in
the average toolbox.
All told, the Emtek DCT-310 AC/
DC clamp meter is something of a
bargain at the price of $225 plus 20%
sales tax. For further information, contact Emona Instruments Pty Ltd, 86
Parramatta Rd, Camperdown, NSW
2050. Phone (02) 519 3933.
300 watt
power amplifier
This rugged power amplifier has an
interesting circuit based on a TL071
op amp and 13 transistors. The op
amp essentially provides the differential input stage and the circuit is
more or less conventional following
that. The four NPN output transistors
are arranged in quasi-complementary
symmetry, a fairly common approach
in high power amplifiers.
Two transistors provide overdrive
protection although it is not clear from
the circuit information whether this
is simple drive limiting or foldback
protection.
Rated power output is 300 watts at
.05% harmonic distortion while music power output is quoted at 540
watts. Both of these figures will depend on the voltage output and regu-
Low cost
answering
machine
This surprisingly
compact answering
machine is based on a
single microcassette.
This holds the answer message which you record
and all the messages which are left by callers.
As well as normal answering functions, the Hardie
AM100 also includes Memo, Call Screening and
Remote Access via telephone. Memo is a handy
feature whereby you can leave a voice message for
your family, to be played back when any other
messages are reviewed.
Call screening, as the name suggests, allows you
to screen a call before personally answering the
phone. You just let the machine answer the phone,
listen to the caller speak and if you want to take the
call, you just press the Stop button.
Remote access is another useful feature which
allows you to playback any messages over the phone.
To do this you must be using a tone dialling phone
or a DTMF encoder.
The unit comes with a plugpack supply and is
Austel approved. It is available for $89 from all Rod
Irving Electronics stores.
lation of the power supply which will
require a rating of about 500 watts if
the amplifier is to work at its maximum capability.
As is usual with these fully assembled modules from A-One Electronics, the unit appears to be well made
and uses readily available components. A-One can also supply suitable
Australian made transformers and
other power supply components, as
well as rack mounting cases.
The price of the 300W amplifier
module is $175. It is available from AOne Electronics Pty Ltd, 432-434 Kent
St, Sydney NSW 2000. Phone (02)
267 4819.
SC
ANTRIM
TOROIDAL TRANSFORMERS
• Now made in Australia.
• Standard range 15VA to 2kVA.
• Large ex-stock quantities available.
• Competitive pricing available for OEMs & resellers.
• Simply the best transformers all round.
HARBUCH ELECTRONICS PTY Lm
90 George Street, Hornsby NSW 2077.
Telephone (02) 476 5854. Fax (02) 476 3231.
MARCH
1993
73
|