Silicon ChipMarket Centre - September 2016 SILICON CHIP
  1. Outer Front Cover
  2. Contents
  3. Publisher's Letter: Taiwan's booming electronics industry
  4. Feature: LUCAS: Bringing The Dead Back To Life by Ross Tester
  5. Feature: A Look At Military Robots by Dr David Maddison
  6. Project: Two 230VAC Mains Timers (Cyclic Pump Timer and Period Timer) by John Clarke
  7. Feature: Electronex: Electronics Design & Assembly Expo by Silicon Chip
  8. Feature: Taiwan’s Booming Electronics Industry by Leo Simpson
  9. Serviceman's Log: The unfit Fitbit that was made fit by Dave Thompson
  10. Project: 4-Input Automotive Fault Detector by Dr Hugo Holden & Greg Swain
  11. Project: Micromite Plus Explore 100 With Touchscreen, Pt.1 by Geoff Graham
  12. Project: Touchscreen Appliance Energy Meter, Pt.2 by Jim Rowe & Nicholas Vinen
  13. PartShop
  14. Vintage Radio: Astor’s M5/M6 5-transistor mantel sets by Ian Batty
  15. Market Centre
  16. Advertising Index

This is only a preview of the September 2016 issue of Silicon Chip.

You can view 54 of the 112 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 "Two 230VAC Mains Timers (Cyclic Pump Timer and Period Timer)":
  • Cyclic Timer / Mains Period Timer PCBs [10108161/2] (AUD $10.00)
  • PIC12F675-I/P programmed for the Cyclic Timer / Mains Period Timer [1010816A.HEX] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $10.00)
  • Talema AC1015 Current Transformer (Component, AUD $20.00)
  • Firmware (ASM and HEX) files for the Cyclic Timer / Mains Period Timer [1010816A.HEX] (Software, Free)
  • Cyclic Timer / Mains Period Timer PCB patterns (PDF download) [10108161/2] (Free)
  • Cyclic Timer / Mains Period Timer lid panel artwork and drilling templates (PDF download) (Free)
Items relevant to "4-Input Automotive Fault Detector":
  • Automotive Fault Detector PCB [05109161] (AUD $10.00)
  • Automotive Fault Detector PCB pattern (PDF download) [05109161] (Free)
Items relevant to "Micromite Plus Explore 100 With Touchscreen, Pt.1":
  • Micromite Plus Explore 100 PCB [07109161 RevC] (AUD $15.00)
  • PIC32MX470F512L-120/PF programmed for the Micromite Plus (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $25.00)
  • CP2102-based USB/TTL serial converter with microUSB socket and 6-pin right-angle header (Component, AUD $5.00)
  • CP2102-based USB/TTL serial converter with microUSB socket and 6-pin right-angle header (clone version) (Component, AUD $3.00)
  • DS3231-based Real Time Clock & Calendar module with mounting hardware (Component, AUD $6.00)
  • MCP120-270GI/TO Supply Supervisor IC (TO-92) (Component, AUD $2.00)
  • Short Form Kit for the Micromite Plus Explore 100 (Component, AUD $75.00)
  • Firmware (HEX) file and documents for the Micromite Mk.2 and Micromite Plus (Software, Free)
  • Micromite Plus Explore 100 PCB pattern (PDF download) [07109161 RevC] (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • Micromite Plus Explore 100 With Touchscreen, Pt.1 (September 2016)
  • Micromite Plus Explore 100 Module, Pt.2 (October 2016)
Items relevant to "Touchscreen Appliance Energy Meter, Pt.2":
  • Touchscreen Appliance Energy Meter PCB [04116061 RevI] (AUD $15.00)
  • PIC32MX170F256B-50I/SP programmed for the Micromite-based Touchscreen Energy Meter v1.01 [0411606A.hex] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $15.00)
  • CP2102-based USB/TTL serial converter with microUSB socket and 6-pin right-angle header (Component, AUD $5.00)
  • CP2102-based USB/TTL serial converter with microUSB socket and 6-pin right-angle header (clone version) (Component, AUD $3.00)
  • DS3231-based Real Time Clock & Calendar module with mounting hardware (Component, AUD $6.00)
  • ACS718 20A isolated current monitor (Component, AUD $15.00)
  • Firmware (HEX) file and BASIC source code for the Micromite-based Touchscreen Appliance Energy Meter [v1.01] (Software, Free)
  • Touchscreen Appliance Energy Meter PCB pettern (PDF download) [04116061 RevG] (PCB Pattern, Free)
  • Touchscreen Appliance Energy Meter lid panel artwork (PDF download) (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • Touchscreen-Controlled Energy Meter, Pt.1 (August 2016)
  • Touchscreen Appliance Energy Meter, Pt.2 (September 2016)
  • Touchscreen Appliance Energy Meter, Pt.3 (October 2016)

Purchase a printed copy of this issue for $10.00.
MARKET CENTRE Cash in your surplus gear. Advertise it here in SILICON CHIP Where do you get those HARD-TO-GET PARTS? FOR SALE tronixlabs.com - Australia’s best value for hobbyist and enthusiast electronics from adafruit, DFRobot, Freetronics, Raspberry Pi, Genuino and more, with same-day shipping. Where possible, the SILICON CHIP On-Line Shop stocks hard-to-get project parts, along with PCBs, programmed micros, panels and all the other bits and pieces to enable you to complete your SILICON CHIP project. SILICON CHIP PCBs MADE, ONE OR MANY. Any format, hobbyists welcome. Sesame Electronics Phone 0434 781 191. sesame<at>sesame.com.au www.sesame.com.au LEDs, BRAND NAME and generic LEDs. Heatsinks, fans, LED drivers, power supplies, LED ribbon, kits, components, hardware, EL wire. www. ledsales.com.au PCB MANUFACTURE: single to multi­ layer. Bare board tested. One-offs to any quantity. 48 hour service. Artwork design. Excellent prices. Check out our specials: www.ldelectronics.com.au PCBs & Micros: SILICON CHIP Publications can supply PCBs, programmed microcontrollers and other specialised parts for all recent projects and some not so recent projects. Visit the Online Shop at www.siliconchip.com.au for On-Line SHOP www.siliconchip.com.au/shop details and to place your order, or phone (02) 9939 3295. KIT ASSEMBLY & REPAIR KEITH RIPPON KIT ASSEMBLY & REPAIR: * Australia & New Zealand; * Small production runs. Phone Keith 0409 662 794. keith.rippon<at>gmail.com DAVE THOMPSON (the Serviceman from SILICON CHIP) is available to help you with kit assembly, project troubleshooting, general electronics and custom design work. No job too small. Based in Christchurch, NZ but service available Australia/NZ wide. Phone NZ (+64 3) 366 6588 or email dave<at> davethompson.co.nz VINTAGE RADIO REPAIRS: electrical mechanical fitter with 36 years ex­ perience and extensive knowledge of valve and transistor radios. Professional and reliable repairs. All workmanship guaranteed. $10 inspection fee plus charges for parts and labour as required. Labour fees $35 p/h. Pensioner discounts available on application. Contact Alan on 0425 122 415 or email bigal radioshack<at>gmail.com ADVERTISING IN MARKET CENTRE Classified Ad Rates: $32.00 for up to 20 words plus 95 cents for each additional word. Display ads in Market Centre (minimum 2cm deep, maximum 10cm deep): $82.50 per column centimetre per insertion. All prices include GST. Closing date: 5 weeks prior to month of sale. To book, email the text to silicon<at>siliconchip.com.au and include your name, address & credit card details, or phone Glyn (02) 9939 3295 or 0431 792 293. Ask SILICON CHIP . . . continued from page 110 since the Spacewriter was designed. You could still program it if you obtain a parallel printer port to USB converter. Jaycar sell these (www.jaycar. com.au/usb-to-parallel-bi-directionalcable/p/XC4847) and there are plenty of other suppliers if you do a search for parallel printer port to USB converter. siliconchip.com.au Why Jacob’s Ladder must be battery-powered I’m currently building Jaycar’s Jacob’s ladder kit of your February 2013 design and I’m very curious as to why I shouldn’t run this off the 230VAC mains. I’m thinking of using a 12V DC plugpack with a 56,000µF capacitor bank. Is it an issue of spikes getting back onto the mains? Or rather of high voltage (230VAC) being in the kit? (R. R., NZ.) • Running from the mains could reduce safety should the circuit 0V be connected to Earth, or due to a breakdown in the mains transformer or isolation failure in a switchmode supply. The high-tension voltage generated could spark back through the mains through such a fault or via a low impedance path (eg, water), . . . continued on page 112 September 2016  111