Practical
Electronics
Volume 53. No. 3
March 2024
ISSN 2632 573X
Contents
Projects and Circuits
Digital Volume Control Potentiometer by Phil Prosser
We got tired of volume control potentiometers going scratchy after just a few years,
and very poor balance at low volumes. This drop-in replacement uses a digital IC,
so it tracks exceptionally well and will give top performance for decades.
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Advanced SMD Test Tweezers – Part 2 by Tim Blythman
28
This new design adds many features to the SMD Test Tweezers concept. No longer
only for testing passive components, the new Tweezers can also act as a voltmeter,
logic probe, basic oscilloscope, square wave generator and serial protocol analyser.
This concluding article has all the construction and usage details.
Active Mains Soft Starter – Part 2 by John Clarke
36
Our Active Mains Soft Starter is ideal for eliminating the switch-on kick from power
tools rated up to 750W. You can also use it to avoid high inrush currents for stationary
equipment that can trip circuit breakers or wear out switches. This month, we cover
the assembly, testing, adjustment and calibration of this new Soft Starter.
Series, Features and Columns
Techno Talk by Max The Magnificent
The Wibbly-Wobbly World of Quantum
8
Net Work by Alan Winstanley
Reports on how the role of cookies is changing and the headaches they are
giving the publishing sector; an update on the rollout of Windows Copilot; and a
roundup of the latest moonshot news.
10
The Fox Report by Barry Fox
The very best way to buy online
16
NEW SERIES!
Teach-In 2024 – Learn electronics with the ESP32 by Mike Tooley
Part 1 – Getting started
42
Circuit Surgery by Ian Bell
LTspice 17.1 and Frequency Response Analysis – Part 1
52
Max’s Cool Beans by Max The Magnificent
Arduino Bootcamp – Part 15
56
Audio Out by Jake Rothman
Back to the buffers – Part 2
62
Wireless for the Warrior
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Reader services – Editorial and Advertising Departments
Editorial
Teach-In 2024… 70s project still going strong
Exclusive Microchip reader offer
Win a Microchip PIC32MK MCJ Curiosity Pro Development Board
PE Teach-In 9
Teach-In bundle – what a bargain!
PE Teach-In 8
PCBs for Practical Electronics projects
Practical Electronics PCB Service
Classified ads and Advertiser index
Next month! – highlights of our next issue of Practical Electronics
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Regulars and Services
Made in the UK.
Written in Britain, Australia,
the US and Ireland.
Read everywhere.
© Electron Publishing Limited 2024
Copyright in all drawings, photographs, articles,
technical designs, software and intellectual property
published in Practical Electronics is fully protected,
and reproduction or imitation in whole or in part are
expressly forbidden.
The April 2024 issue of Practical Electronics will be
published on Thursday, 1 March 2024 – see page 72.
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