Silicon ChipContents - February 2022 SILICON CHIP
  1. Outer Front Cover
  2. Contents
  3. Publisher's Letter: Be wary of devices that require apps to work
  4. Subscriptions
  5. Review: Radio Girl by Nicholas Vinen
  6. Feature: All About Batteries – Part 2 by Dr David Maddison
  7. Project: Dual Hybrid Power Supply – Pt1 by Phil Prosser
  8. Feature: Low-noise HF-UHF Amplifiers by Jim Rowe
  9. Project: Fan Controller & Loudspeaker Protector by John Clarke
  10. Product Showcase
  11. Project: Solid-State Tesla Coil by Flavio Spedalieri
  12. Review: TL866II Universal Programmer by Tim Blythman
  13. Project: Remote Gate Controller by Dr Hugo Holden
  14. Serviceman's Log: The accordion job by Dave Thompson
  15. Vintage Radio: Tasma 305 'rat radio' by Fred Lever
  16. PartShop
  17. Market Centre
  18. Advertising Index
  19. Outer Back Cover

This is only a preview of the February 2022 issue of Silicon Chip.

You can view 35 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.

Articles in this series:
  • All About Batteries - Part 1 (January 2022)
  • All About Batteries – Part 2 (February 2022)
  • All About Batteries, part three (March 2022)
Items relevant to "Dual Hybrid Power Supply – Pt1":
  • Intelligent Dual Hybrid Power Supply PCB set (AUD $25.00)
  • Intelligent Dual Hybrid Power Supply regulator PCB [18107211] (AUD $7.50)
  • Intelligent Dual Hybrid Power Supply front panel control PCB [18107212] (AUD $2.50)
  • PIC32MZ2048EFH064-250I/PT programmed for the Intelligent Dual Hybrid Power Supply [0110619A.HEX] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $30.00)
  • 128x64 Blue LCD screen with KS0108-compatible controller (Component, AUD $30.00)
  • Hard-to-get parts for the Intelligent Dual Hybrid Power Supply regulator board (Component, AUD $120.00)
  • Hard-to-get parts for the Intelligent Dual Hybrid Power Supply CPU board (Component, AUD $60.00)
  • LCD panel bezel for the Dual Intelligent Hybrid Power Supply (PCB, AUD $5.00)
  • Intelligent Dual Hybrid Power Supply firmware [0110619A.HEX] (Software, Free)
  • Intelligent Dual Hybrid Power Supply PCB patterns [18107211/2] (Free)
  • DSP Active Crossover/DDS/Reflow Oven PCB patterns (PDF download) [01106191-6] (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • Dual Hybrid Power Supply – Pt1 (February 2022)
  • Dual Hybrid Power Supply, part two (March 2022)
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)
Items relevant to "Fan Controller & Loudspeaker Protector":
  • 500W Amplifier Module PCB [01107021 RevD] (AUD $25.00)
  • Hard-to-get parts for the 500W Amplifier (Component, AUD $180.00-200.00)
  • Parts collection for the 500W Amplifier (Component, AUD $235.00-250.00)
  • 500W Amplifier Module PCB pattern (PDF download) [01107021] (Free)
  • Cooling Fan Controller & Loudspeaker Protector PCB [01102221] (AUD $5.00)
  • PIC16F1459-I/P programmed for the Cooling Fan Controller & Loudspeaker Protector [0110222A.HEX] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $10.00-15.00)
  • 4-pin PWM fan header (Component, AUD $1.20)
  • Cooling Fan Controller & Loudspeaker Protector firmware [0110222A.HEX] (Software, Free)
  • Cooling Fan Controller & Loudspeaker Protector PCB pattern (PDF download) [01111211] (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • Fan Controller & Loudspeaker Protector (February 2022)
  • Amplifier Clipping Indicator (March 2022)
  • 500W Power Amplifier, Part 1 (April 2022)
  • 500W Power Amplifier, Part 2 (May 2022)
  • 500W Power Amplifier, Part 3 (June 2022)
Items relevant to "Solid-State Tesla Coil":
  • Solid State Tesla Coil driver PCBs [26102221-2] (AUD $7.50)
  • Solid State Tesla Coil driver PCB patterns (PDF download) [26102221-2] (Free)
Items relevant to "Remote Gate Controller":
  • Driveway Gate Controller PCB [11009121] (AUD $20.00)
  • Remote Gate Controller PCB pattern (PDF download) [11009121] (Free)

Purchase a printed copy of this issue for $11.50.
Contents Vol.35, No.2 February 2022 11 Book Review: Radio Girl 24 David Dufty’s book is a biography of Violet McKenzie, Australia’s first female engineer and one of the founders of Wireless Weekly magazine. That magazine was eventually renamed to “Electronics Australia”. By Nicholas Vinen Review 12 All About Batteries – Part 2 The second article in our series on batteries covers upcoming technologies being researched, as well as detailing the ‘tried and true’ lead-acid battery and some other unusual battery types. By Dr David Maddison Science 44 41 Low-noise HF-UHF Amplifiers These three wideband HF-UHF amplifier modules are said to provide 20dB of gain with frequency ranges of 1MHz-3GHz, 5MHz-6GHz and 50MHz4GHz respectively. By Jim Rowe Low-cost electronic modules 70 70 TL866II Universal Programmer The TL866II can program over 16,000 parts, including many of the popular Atmel and Microchip microcontrollers. It is relatively inexpensive and will even program PLDs (programmable logic devices). By Tim Blythman Review 24 Dual Hybrid Power Supply – Pt1 This Supply has two separate outputs, which can deliver up to 25V DC at 5A. They can be connected in series and ganged up to form a dual-tracking supply. It uses an LCD screen, and rotary encoders/pushbuttons for control. By Phil Prosser Power supply project 44 Fan Controller & Loudspeaker Protector Controlling up to three fans, switching them on at preset temperatures and adjusting their speed via PWM is only part of what this project does. It also functions as a loudspeaker protector for mono or stereo amplifiers. By John Clarke Audio project 62 Solid-State Tesla Coil By generating extremely high voltages, this Tesla Coil will form a ‘flame’ discharge using only discrete components, making it easy to assemble and perfect to show off to your friends. By Flavio Spedalieri Home science project 76 Remote Gate Controller If the controller for your sliding or swinging electric gate fails, replace it with this very reliable Gate Controller. It can be triggered remotely or via a local button, and it even stops the gate if it encounters an obstacle. By Dr Hugo Holden Remote control project 2 Editorial Viewpoint 4 Mailbag 6 Subscriptions 61 Product Showcase 85 Serviceman’s Log 92 Vintage Radio 101 Tasma 305 ‘rat radio’ by Fred Lever Online Shop 102 Circuit Notebook 108 Ask Silicon Chip 1. Resistor-Mite auto-ranging ohmmeter 2. A capacitive soil moisture meter 3. Musical bicycle horn 111 Market Centre 112 Advertising Index