Contents
Vol.30, No.1; January 2017
SILICON
CHIP
www.siliconchip.com.au
Features
16 Pumped Storage Hydroelectricity
With the headlong rush of some Australian states to sacrifice anything to do with
fossil-fuelled power generation, Pumped Storage Hydroelectricity could possibly
overcome the intermittency of renewables – by Dr David Maddison
26 Viewing Radio Waves In Colour
Astro researchers at WA’s Murchison Square Kilometre Array are assigning
colours to radio waves from the deepest of deep space – by Ross Tester
Pumped Storage
Hydro Electricity – Page 16.
69 Using Breadboards – They Make Development Easy!
Using plug-in breadboards (or protoboards) to develop and debug circuits can
save a lot of tears! – by Ross Tester
82 Real-Time System Modelling
Using Arduino to model faults in servos in real time – by Karthik Srinivasan
86 Set-top Boxes Make Great (Cheap!) PVRs
Digital set-top boxes, intended to allow digital TV reception on analog TV sets,
also make great personal video recorders with a USB stick – by Jim Rowe
Projects To Build
28 New SC200 Audio Amplifier
This module replaces the venerable SC480 amp. It’s not only high performance
– 200W of grunt and very low noise and distortion – it’s also easy to build with
NO tiny SMD devices to worry about – by Nicholas Vinen and Leo Simpson
SC200
Audio Amplifier
– Page 28.
36 High Power DC Motor Speed Control
Want to accurately control the speed of a DC motor? Not only does this new
controller handle motors from 12 to 60V, at currents of up to 40A, it also caters
for both high side and low side switching – Design by John Clarke
62 Programming The ATtiny85 With An Arduino
Atmel’s ATtiny85 is cheap and easy to adapt to give your project a digital control.
But how do you program it? With an Arduino and a personal computer, it really
is child’s play! – by Lawrence Billson
12-60V, 40A DC Motor Speed
Controller – Page 36
72 El Cheapo Modules From Asia - Part 3
Several low-cost computer interface modules to play with! – by Jim Rowe
80 Giving The Ultrasonic Theremin A Volume Control
Last month we introduced you to the Theremin using an ultrasonic transmitter
and receiver to control pitch. Now we go one step further and give it volume
control, again using ultrasonics – by Bao Smith
Special Columns
More el-cheapo modules to play
with – Page 72
43 Serviceman’s Log
When spare parts aren’t around – by Dave Thompson
57 Circuit Notebook
(1) LoRa remote repeater for long-range digital communication (2) Two serial
multiplexers (3) Improved PICAXE Wireless Rain Alarm
90 Vintage Radio
Pye 1951 5-Valve Model APJ-Modified – by Associate Professor Graham Parslow
Departments
2 Publisher’s Letter
siliconchip.com.au
4 Mailbag
71 Product Showcase
95 Ask Silicon Chip
100
103
104
104
SC Online Shop
Market Centre
Advertising Index
Notes & Errata
Want a PVR? Use an STB!
– Page 86.
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January 2017 1
