Everyday Practical Electronics

84 Pages·2016·17.5 MB·English

ATTENUATOR FOR
AUDIO ANALYSERS
AND DIGITAL SCOPES
• Extend the capabilities of low-cost USB
test instruments
• Two channels with balanced/differential inputs
• Three attenuation/measurement ranges: 1:1, 10:1 and 100:1
4-OUTPUT UNIVERSAL
VOLTAGE REGULATOR
Adjustable positive/negative and fixed 5V/3.3V
APPLIANCE EARTH LEAKAGE TESTER
Check the safety of 230V-powered equipment
TEACH-IN 2016
WIN A
IPNarTt 4R: MOeDasUurCinIgN teGm pTeHraEtu rAe RDUINO 5MdVsI CCPRIACON3C-3LEHINVIP
Starter Kit
PLUS
PRACTICALLY SPEAKING, NET WORK, PIC n’ MIX,
MAY 2016 £4.40
COOL BEANS, CIRCUIT SURGERY, TECHNO TALK,
READOUT & ELECTRONIC BUILDING BLOCKS
MAY 2016 Cover .indd 1 22/03/2016 14:03
Make No Compromises
Increase Your Design’s Functionality with 8-bit PIC® MCUs
In embedded system design, reality demands that compromises are made at every
phase. Tradeoff s between performance, functionality and cost often prevent you from
bringing your best ideas to market. We believe there’s a better way. That’s why we’ve
architected our latest 8-bit PIC® microcontrollers (MCUs) with fl exible, “core independent”
blocks of hardware intelligence that react quickly, consume very little power and
are much more code-effi cient than a software-based approach. In essence, Core
Independent Peripherals help you easily combine many complex system functions onto
a single MCU, increasing speed and fl exibility, while reducing power consumption and
cost. Design with 8-bit PIC MCUs, and you won’t have to compromise.
Enable system functions with:
Maximum fl exibility Minimum latency Reduced cost
www.microchip.com/8-bit
The Microchip name and logo, the Microchip logo and PIC are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the U.S.A. and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their registered owners.
© 2015 Microchip Technology Inc. All rights reserved. DS30010101A. MEC2030Eng08/15
MAY 2016 Page IFC.indd 1 22/03/2016 10:36
ISSN 0262 3617
 PROJECTS  THEORY 
 NEWS  COMMENT 
INCORPORATING ELECTRONICS TODAY INTERNATIONAL
 POPULAR FEATURES 
VOL. 45. No 5 May 2016 www.epemag.com
Projects and Circuits
2-CHANNEL BALANCED INPUT ATTENUATOR FOR AUDIO 12
ANALYSERS AND DIGITAL SCOPES
by Jim Rowe
Extend the measurement capabilities of low-cost USB test instruments
APPLIANCE EARTH LEAKAGE TESTER 26
by John Clarke
Check the safety of earthed and double-insulated mains-powered equipment
4-OUTPUT UNIVERSAL VOLTAGE REGULATOR 38
by Jim Rowe and Nicholas Vinen
Super-flexible linear regulator board with four outputs: adjustable positive and
negative outputs and two fixed positive outputs of 5V and 3.3V
Series and Features
TECHNO TALK by Mark Nelson 11
May madness
TEACH-IN 2016 – EXPLORING THE ARDUINO 46
by Mike and Richard Tooley
Part 4: Measuring temperature
PRACTICALLY SPEAKING by Robert Penfold 54
Switches
NET WORK by Alan Winstanley 57
Power hungry... The power of PUE... Staying vigilant... Insecure feelings
PIC n’ MIX by Mike O’Keeffe 60
Choosing and using accelerometers – Part 2
CIRCUIT SURGERY by Ian Bell 64
Oversampling with ADCs
MAX’S COOL BEANS by Max The Magnificent 70
Cunning coding tips and tricks – Part 3... Increasingly sophisticated scenarios...
More rings... Mixing control approaches
ELECTRONIC BUILDING BLOCKS by Julian Edgar 76
Variable PWM power module
Regulars and Services
SUBSCRIBE TO EPE and save money 4
Teach-In 2016 EDITORIAL 7
Cheap as chips!... Be safe... ‘These go to 11’
NEWS – Barry Fox highlights technology’s leading edge 8
Plus everyday news from the world of electronics
Exploring the MICROCHIP READER OFFER 25
EPE Exclusive –Win a Microchip dsPIC33EV 5V CAN-LIN Starter Kit
Arduino EPE BACK ISSUES CD-ROM 37
READOUT – Matt Pulzer addresses general points arising 69
Part 4: Measuring Temperature CD-ROMS FOR ELECTRONICS 73
A wide range of CD-ROMs for hobbyists, students and engineers
EPE PCB SERVICE 78
PCBs for EPE projects
© Wimborne Publishing Ltd 2016. Copyright in all
drawings, photographs and articles published in ADVERTISERS INDEX 79
EVERYDAY PRACTICAL ELECTRONICS is fully NEXT MONTH! – Highlights of next month’s EPE 80
protected, and reproduction or imitations in whole or
in part are expressly forbidden.
Our June 2016 issue will be published on Readers’ Services • Editorial and Advertisement Departments 7
Thursday 5 May 2016, see page 80 for details.
Everyday Practical Electronics, May 2016 1
Contents (MP 1st & SK) – MAY 2016.indd 1 22/03/2016 19:17
All prices INCLUDE 20.0% VAT. Free UK delivery on orders over £50
Quasar Electronics Limited
Postage & Packing Options (Up to 0.5Kg gross weight): UK Standard 3-7 Day
PO Box 6935, Bishops Stortford Delivery - £3.95; UK Mainland Next Day Delivery - £8.95; Europe (EU) -
CM23 4WP, United Kingdom £12.95; Rest of World - £14.95 (up to 0.5Kg).
Tel: [phone] Order online for reduced price Postage (from just £1!)
Fax: [phone] Payment: We accept all major credit/debit cards. Make PO’s payable to
E-mail: [email protected] Quasar Electronics Limited.
Please visit our online shop now for full details of over 1000 electronic kits,
Web: www.quasarelectronics.co.uk projects, modules and publications. Discounts for bulk quantities.

Card
Sales Line
Solutions for Home, Education & Industry Since 1993
PIC Programmer & Experimenter Board 4-Ch DTMF Telephone Relay Switcher
PIC & ATMEL Programmers
PIC Programmer & Experi- Call your phone num-
menter Board with test ber using a DTMF
We have a wide range of low cost PIC and
buttons and LED indicators phone from anywhere
ATMEL Programmers. Complete range and
to carry out educational in the world and re-
documentation available from our web site.
experiments such as the motely turn on/off any

Programmer Accessories: supplied programming examples. Includes a of the 4 relays as de-
40-pin Wide ZIF socket (ZIF40W) £9.95 16F627 Flash Microcontroller that can be sired. User settable Security Password, Anti-
18Vdc Power supply (661.121) £25.95 reprogrammed up to 1000 times. Software to Tamper, Rings to Answer, Auto Hang-up and
Leads: Parallel (LDC136) £3.95 / Serial compile and program your source code is Lockout. Includes plastic case. 130 x 110 x
(LDC441) £3.95 / USB (LDC644) £2.95 included. Supply: 12-15Vdc. 30mm. Power: 12Vdc.
Kit Order Code: K8048 - £23.94 Kit Order Code: 3140KT - £79.95
Assembled Order Code: VM111 - £39.12 Assembled Order Code: AS3140 - £94.95
USB & Serial Port PIC Programmer
USB or Serial connection.
Header cable for ICSP. 8-Ch Serial Port Isolated I/O Relay Module
Free Windows software. Controllers & Loggers Computer controlled 8
See website for PICs sup- channel relay board. 5A
ported. ZIF Socket & USB Here are just a few of the controller and mains rated relay outputs
lead extra. 16-18Vdc. data acquisition and control units we have. and 4 opto-isolated digital
Kit Order Code: 3149EKT - £49.95 See website for full details. 12Vdc PSU for inputs (for monitoring
Assembled Order Code: AS3149E - £64.95 all units: Order Code 660.446UK £11.52 switch states, etc). Useful
Assembled with ZIF socket Order Code: in a variety of control and
AS3149EZIF - £74.95 sensing applications. Programmed via serial
USB Experiment port (use our new Windows interface, termi-
USB PIC Programmer and Tutor Board Interface Board nal emulator or batch files). Serial cable can
This tutorial project 5 digital input chan- be up to 35m long. Includes plastic case
board is all you need nels and 8 digital out- 130x100x30mm. Power: 12Vdc/500mA.
to take your first steps put channels plus two Kit Order Code: 3108KT - £74.95
into Microchip PIC analogue inputs and Assembled Order Code: AS3108 - £89.95
programming using a two analogue outputs with 8 bit resolution.
PIC16F882 (included). Later you can use it Kit Order Code: K8055N - £25.19 Infrared RC 12–Channel Relay Board
for more advanced programming. It programs Assembled Order Code: VM110N - £40.20 Control 12 onboard relays with
all the devices a Microchip PICKIT2® can! included infrared remote con-
You can use the free Microchip tools for the 2-Channel High Current UHF RC Set trol unit. Toggle or momentary.
PICKit2™ and the MPLAB® IDE environment. State-of-the-art high securi- 15m+ range. 112 x 122mm.
Order Code: EDU10 - £55.96 ty. 2 channel. Momentary or Supply: 12Vdc/0.5A
latching relay output rated to Kit Order Code: 3142KT - £64.95
ATMEL 89xxxx Programmer switch up to 240Vac @ 10 Assembled Order Code: AS3142 - £74.95
Uses serial port and any Amps. Range up to 40m. Up
standard terminal comms to 15 Tx’s can be learnt by Audio DTMF Decoder and Display
program. 4 LED’s display one Rx (kit includes one Tx Detect DTMF tones from
the status. ZIF sockets but more available separately). 3 indicator tape recorders, receivers,
not included. 16Vdc. LEDs. Rx: PCB 88x60mm, supply 9-15Vdc. two-way radios, etc using
Kit Order Code: 3123KT - £28.95 Kit Order Code: 8157KT - £49.95 the built-in mic or direct
Assembled Order Code: AS3123 - £39.95 Assembled Order Code: AS8157 - £54.95 from the phone line. Char-
acters are displayed on a
Introduction to PIC Programming Computer Temperature Data Logger 16 character display as they are received and
Go from complete beginner Serial port 4-channel tem- up to 32 numbers can be displayed by scroll-
to burning a PIC and writing perature logger. °C or °F. ing the display. All data written to the LCD is
code in no time! Includes 49 Continuously logs up to 4 also sent to a serial output for connection to a
page step-by-step PDF separate sensors located computer. Supply: 9-12V DC (Order Code
Tutorial Manual + Program- 200m+ from board. Wide PSU375). Main PCB: 55x95mm.
ming Hardware (with LED range of free software applications for stor- Kit Order Code: 3153KT - £37.95
test section) + Windows Software (Program, ing/using data. PCB just 45x45mm. Powered Assembled Order Code: AS3153 - £49.95
Read, Verify & Erase) + a rewritable by PC. Includes one DS1820 sensor.
PIC16F84A. 4 detailed examples provided for Kit Order Code: 3145KT - £19.95 3x5Amp RGB LED Controller with RS232
you to learn from. PC parallel port. 12Vdc. Assembled Order Code: AS3145 - £26.95 3 independent high power
Kit Order Code: 3081KT - £16.95 Additional DS1820 Sensors - £4.95 each channels. Preprogrammed
Assembled Order Code: AS3081 - £24.95 or user-editable light se-
Remote Control Via GSM Mo- quences. Standalone op-
PIC Programmer bile Phone tion and 2-wire serial inter-
Board Place next to a mobile phone (not face for microcontroller or
Low cost PIC program- included). Allows toggle or auto- PC communication with simple command set.
mer board supporting timer control of 3A mains rated Suitable for common anode RGB LED strips,
a wide range of Micro- output relay from any location LEDs and incandescent bulbs. 56 x 39 x
chip® PIC™ microcon- 20mm. 12A total max. Supply: 12Vdc.
trollers. Serial port. Free Windows software. Most items are available in kit form (KT suffix) Kit Order Code: 8191KT - £29.95
Kit Order Code: K8076 - £29.94 or pre-assembled and ready for use (AS prefix). Assembled Order Code: AS8191 - £39.95
APRIL 2015.indd 1 16/02/2015 10:41:38
Hot New Products! Motor Speed Controllers
Here are a few of the most recent products
Here are just a few of our controller and
added to our range. See website or join our
driver modules for AC, DC, Unipolar/Bipolar
email Newsletter for all the latest news.
stepper motors and servo motors. See
website for full details.
4-Channel Serial Port Temperature
Monitor & Controller Relay Board DC Motor Speed Controller (100V/7.5A)
4 channel computer Control the speed of
serial port tempera- almost any common DC
ture monitor and motor rated up to
relay controller. 100V/7.5A. Pulse width
Four inputs for modulation output for The Electronic Kit Specialists Since 1993
Dallas DS18S20 or maximum motor torque
DS18B20 digital at all speeds. Supply: 5-15Vdc. Box supplied. Electronic Project Labs
thermometer sensors (£3.95 each). Four Dimensions (mm): 60Wx100Lx60H.
Great introduction to the world of electron-
5A rated relay outputs are independent of Kit Order Code: 3067KT - £19.95
ics. Ideal gift for budding electronics expert!
sensor channels allowing flexibility to setup Assembled Order Code: AS3067 - £27.95
the linkage in any way you choose. Simple
text string commands for reading tempera- Bidirectional DC Motor Speed Controller 130-in-1 Electronic Project Lab
ture and relay control via RS232 using a Control the speed of Get started on the
comms program like Windows HyperTermi- most common DC road to a great
nal or our free Windows application. motors (rated up to hobby or career in
Kit Order Code: 3190KT - £84.95 32Vdc/10A) in both the electronics. Con-
Assembled Order Code: AS3190 - £99.95 forward and reverse tains all the parts
direction. The range of and instructions to
40 Second Message Recorder control is from fully OFF to fully ON in both assemble 130 educational and fun experi-
Feature packed non- directions. The direction and speed are con- ments and circuits. Build a radio, AM broad-
volatile 40 second mul- trolled using a single potentiometer. Screw cast station, electronic organ, kitchen timer,
ti-message sound re- terminal block for connections. logic circuits and more. Built-in speaker, 7-
corder module using a Kit Order Code: 3166v2KT - £23.95 segment LED display, two integrated circuits
high quality Winbond Assembled Order Code: AS3166v2 - £33.95 and rotary controls. Manual has individual
sound recorder IC. circuit explanations, schematic and connec-
Standalone operation using just six Computer Controlled / Standalone Unipo- tion diagrams. Requires 6 x AA batteries (not
onboard buttons or use onboard SPI inter- lar Stepper Motor Driver included). Suitable for age 14+.
face. Record using built-in microphone or Drives any 5-35Vdc 5, 6 Order Code EPL130 - £55.95
external line in. 8-24Vdc powered. Change or 8-lead unipolar stepper Also available: 30-in-1 £24.95, 50-in-1
a resistor for different recording dura- motor rated up to 6 Amps. £33.95, 75-in-1 £45.95, 200-in-1 £65.95, 300-
tion/sound quality. Sampling frequency 4- Provides speed and direc- in-1 £89.95, 500-in-1 £199.95
12 kHz. (120 second version also available) tion control. Operates in stand-alone or PC-
Kit Order Code: 3188KT - £29.95 controlled mode for CNC use. Connect up to
Assembled Order Code: AS3188 - £37.95 six 3179 driver boards to a single parallel Tools & Test Equipment
port. Board supply: 9Vdc. PCB: 80x50mm.
We stock an extensive range of soldering
Bipolar Stepper Motor Chopper Driver Kit Order Code: 3179KT - £17.95
tools, test equipment, power supplies,
Get better performance from your stepper Assembled Order Code: AS3179 - £24.95
inverters & much more - please visit web-
motors with this dual full
site to see our full range of products.
bridge motor driver based Computer Controlled Bi-Polar Stepper
on SGS Thompson chips Motor Driver

L297 & L298. Motor cur- Drive any 5-50Vdc, 5 Amp Advanced Personal Scope 2 x 240MS/s
rent for each phase set bi-polar stepper motor using Features 2 input chan-
using on-board potentiom- externally supplied 5V lev- nels - high contrast LCD
eter. Rated to handle els for STEP and DIREC- with white backlight - full
motor winding currents up to 2 Amps per TION control. Opto-isolated auto set-up for volt/div
phase. Operates on 9-36Vdc supply volt- inputs make it ideal for CNC applications and time/div - recorder
age. Provides all basic motor controls in- using a PC running suitable software. Board roll mode, up to 170h per
cluding full or half stepping of bipolar step- supply: 8-30Vdc. PCB: 75x85mm. screen - trigger mode:
pers and direction control. Allows multiple Kit Order Code: 3158KT - £24.95 run - normal - once - roll ... - adjustable trig-
driver synchronisation. Perfect for desktop Assembled Order Code: AS3158 - £34.95 ger level and slope and much more.
CNC applications. Order Code: APS230 - £374.95 £249.95
Kit Order Code: 3187KT - £39.95 AC Motor Speed Controller (600W)
Assembled Order Code: AS3187 - £49.95 Reliable and simple to Handheld Personal Scope with USB
install project that allows Designed by electronics enthusiasts for elec-
Video Signal Cleaner you to adjust the speed of tronics enthusiasts! Powerful,
Digitally cleans the video an electric drill or 230V AC compact and USB connectivity,
signal and removes un- single phase induction this sums up the features of this
wanted distortion in video motor rated up to 600 oscilloscope.
signal. In addition it stabi- Watts. Simply turn the potentiometer to adjust 40 MHz sampling rate, 12 MHz
lises picture quality and the motors RPM. PCB: 48x65mm. Not suita- analog bandwith, 0.1 mV sensitivity, 5mV to
luminance fluctuations. ble for use with brushless AC motors. 20V/div in 12 steps, 50ns to 1 hour/div time
You will also benefit from Kit Order Code: 1074KT - £15.95 base in 34 steps, ultra fast full auto set up
improved picture quality on LCD monitors Assembled Order Code: AS1074 - £23.95 option, adjustable trigger level, X and Y posi-
or projectors. tion signal shift, DVM readout and more...
Kit Order Code: K8036 - £24.70 See website for lots more DC, AC Order Code: HPS50 - £289.96 £203.95
Assembled Order Code: VM106 - £36.53 and stepper motor drivers! See website for more super deals!

Secure Online Ordering Facilities ● Full Product Listing, Descriptions & Photos ● Kit Documentation & Software Downloads
APRIL 2015.indd 2 16/02/2015 10:41:52
UK readers you can SAVE 81p on every
issue of EPE
How would you like to pay £3.59 instead of £4.40 for your copy of EPE ?
C4Su8UpeVrRb DdReUsAigAnW fLorO PmNicHroGAphN oVnTeAsO aLnMdV pE rPe aOAmp MW l i• fi eEPS• r tsL• eR L or•Eew I aRoSF sd e2yiUmI -sxtEtoo oP1-trRb0etmPSWu iMcoTTDiAoOl LnOEdpRnT UMMY eaOTtdCOInrrECReH o WdRcRB s ClS hO OIKinNOoEgaCAIo NTNpAnnHR iSTt Wsn IDiRPIoNeeI OT nGlHL TVTOF HF a HA• DuO SI lP• tGL ER rCRfiE• eV n nHc C•CId aDEi LosiPWbn-meU lgOLoEe AE mprswROkaNN uMRicsttlRiho StbGwEi mF-tPlAeisiCmtpLRO phLwlWeaO eEa-irGIttdRlkehFlo PO mFamYm2MIcE-EaNaiOst xjiitonSMotARrGu Rrnor re kiN egU fl e nce CaiocLtntimooTdEmnb 4I ue t--rsCtsirStgtyirogAoPnekrReA s eiSRgnngaiKnlse sCDDIE CMVBOUEOIWCFLRAR OIITNROOPH DSOCMRSINHTEEYEINEP T HCPIVF• Sa O• OOrDI t bOG T• 2 s IhRL •M– erHL FTerLaA veoxAOs-OAe iwsEvm eaTo SGRcmunNltomIdabC sNE Egl Pmytwe IaR aeG oELdPnnaridGdksRv LR uiiieHnsnrYFOagiesOos I t OiAnaysMSGl CBolrtaRoal CtHamU niEuotMgiasOnoL e iennsATs P:v I5soN-E0altS0faCeS,g lP1yeE0 A10 .,C4 R1k0AVKR S DEEMVXEIPCLKLWROOITOIPNRCM EAHER IN P8T • NT I N•H E E aPT• Wr• rRdMo ACwgOi corSaraCmDromEemcU m–oRHu CnlineIntIirEa-gcNor aISnl–lGt Ne ipa:or obsnTwo s–Hu e2 –utrE ncfc066uo do0lAne -msi1nnrDR cpsetoet6oDcIaogntGnUl re tdwaonII t iNtcePtTshodC O na GsdRntP readoSvEn l ce daoilTcr opoccpRetuuhmrriaetaOestrcin yoA tn NrsdsyuIsiXtneoImsE CLOCK
PROGRAMMABLE MAINS TIMER Part 2 – PCB assembly and chassis wiring THE CURRAWONG SPARK ENERGY METER
Versatile switch to control power as and when you need it STEREO 10W VALVE AMPLIFIER Measure the energy delivered to spark plugs
Electronic Building Blocks Part 3 – Set up and volume remote control
PTCTEEILRACCUCHUHNSI-OTI N ST UA20LR1KG5,E ,H RPOYR,TA N CBETETIA CWNASOL RL&YK P ,S IAPCUE nDA’ KIMOINI OXG U, T , NOV 2015 £4.40 INCEPNLOELTETOECU LWRT SFBORAEOR CAKNEN,I, C SAC ,UB ITRDUECIIOCLUDH IOTINNU SOGTU , T BRPALIGLCOEK CnR A’KY MN,S D IX , DEC 2015 £4.40 PCTPERIRLCACHUCUNTSIIOTC SATUALLLRYKG SE&PR EEYL,A EAKCUINTDRGIOO, NNOEIUCTT B,W CUOOILRODKLI,N BPGEIC AB nNL’OS M,C IKXS, JAN 2016 £4.40 ICEPCCNLIoRTLGnEEnCCUeRAUTcFSItR- TAatO n CSoNcEUi-eI,VCRn NtG G BEcEoUTARm IWLYp ,DuV OAtIeNRIUrDsKGD t, IEo BOP mLOI OCOod UCnCeTK’r ,nM OST V IEGXNCA, H VHmNOEoOnTRi tBToTrAEsLAEKNR S&, PDIMeFPCEvIlDBCeaW Elt2RofM0oOIpN1r mCm6L A Hae £ bn I4P t.I 4 I 0
NOV 2015 Cover .indd 1 16/09/2015 14:15 DEC 2015 Cover .indd 1 13/10/2015 09:25 JAN 2016 Cover .indd 1 17/11/2015 14:49 FEB 2016 Cover .indd 1 16/12/2015 15:27
Well you can – just take out a one year subscription and save 81p an issue, or £9.80 over the year.
You can even save £1.08 an issue if you subscribe for two years – a total saving of £26.10.

Overseas rates also represent exceptional value.
You also:
• Avoid any cover price increase for the duration of your subscription
• Get your magazine delivered to your door each month
• Ensure your copy, even if the newsagents sell out
Order by phone or fax with a credit card or by post with a cheque or postal order, or buy online from www.
epemag.com (go to the Online Shop).
SUBSCRIPTION ORDER
FORM
 6 Months: UK £23.50, Europe £27.00 (Airmail), Rest Of The
World £37.00 (Airmail)
 1 Year: UK £43.00, Europe £50.00 (Airmail), Rest Of The
World £70.00 (Airmail)
SUBSCRIPTION PRICES  2 Years: UK £79.50, Europe £95.00 (Airmail), Rest Of The
World £135.00 (Airmail)
Subscriptions for delivery direct to any address in To: Everyday Practical Electronics,
Wimborne Publishing Ltd., 113 Lynwood Drive, Merley,
the UK: 6 months £23.50, 12 months £43.00, two
Wimborne, Dorset BH21 1UU
years £79.50; Europe Airmail: 6 months £27.00,
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
12 months £50.00, 24 months £95.00; Rest Of The
E-mail: [email protected]
World Airmail: 6 months £37.00, 12 months £70.00,
24 months £135.00. I enclose payment of £ .............. (cheque/PO in £ sterling
only), payable to Everyday Practical Electronics
Cheques or bank drafts (in £ sterling only) payable
to Everyday Practical Electronics and sent to  Please charge my Visa/Mastercard/Maestro
EPE Subs. Dept., Wimborne Publishing Ltd., 113
My card number is: .......................................................................
Lynwood Drive, Merley, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 Please print clearly, and check that you have the number correct
1UU. Tel: [phone]. Fax: [phone].
Email: [email protected]. Also via the Web at: Signature ......................................................................................
www.epemag.com.
Card Security Code .................. Valid From Date........................
Subscriptions start with the next available issue.
(The last 3 digits on or just under the signature strip)
We accept MasterCard, Maestro or Visa. (For past
issues see the Back Issues page.) Card Ex. Date ...................................Maestro Issue No. ..............
Name ............................................................................................
ONLINE SUBSCRIPTIONS
Address ........................................................................................
Online subscriptions, for reading the magazine via
the Internet, £19.99 for one year, visit www.epemag.
Post code .................................. Tel. ...........................................
com for more details.
Subscriptions can only start with
the next available issue.
4 Everyday Practical Electronics, May 2016
Subs page.indd 4 21/03/2016 21:59
PEAK – MARCH 2016.indd 1 19/01/2016 16:05
Arduino Starter Kit
£69.90
Genuine Arduino Starter kit which comprises of a 170 page instruction manual,
Arduino UNO Board, Breadboard, components & more. Inc Delivery* & VAT
The kit walks you through the Arduino programming and basic electronics in
a hands on way. You will be able to build 15 projects using the components
supplied. They allow you to control the physical world through different kinds
of sensors and actuators. Once you have mastered this knowledge, you will
have the ability and circuits to create something beautiful, and make someone
smile with what you invent. So build, hack and share!
Teach-In 2016
The Arduino Starter kit is the ideal partner for anyone following the Teach-In 2016
Exploring the
which started in the February 2016 issue of EPE Everyday Practical Electronics.
Arduino
This Starter kit is supplied with a Wood base, USB & Interconnect leads, Electric motor, Piezo sounder, Movement
and Temperature sensors, Switches, LCD, Breadboard & Servo motor. The kit also includes over 100 electronic com-
ponents:- Diodes, Transistors, Capacitors, h-Bridge, Resistors, LED's, Switches and Trimmers. Quote: EPEARDSK
Offical Arduino Dealer HPG1 Function Generator
A complete pocket function generator.
Genuine Arduino UNO R3 Now you can take test signals on the
from £18.98+p&p move, 3 waveforms can be selected. Set
the output voltage or frequency and se-
Wide range of Boards,Shields & Accessories
lect signal waveform using the on the
screen menu. A powerful sweep function
HPS140i Oscilloscope
is also included.
The HPS140i Oscilloscope packs al lot of power in
a tiny box. Now you can really take a powerful os-
* Frequency range: 1Hz to 1.000.000Hz
cilloscope everywhere. These features make the
* Frequency steps: 1Hz, 10Hz, 100Hz,
HPS140 indispensable to the professional user,
1kHz and 10kHz
service centres and even to the hobbyist. Supplied
* Sine, square and triangle wave forms
with a probe.
* Runs on NiMH rechargeable battery
* 40Mhz real time sample rate pack (includeed) £ £££166809971...996.90005
* BNC Lead and Charger Included.
* Full auto range option IIIInnnncccc DDDDeeeelllliiiivvvveeeerrrryyyy**** &&&& VVVVAAAATTTT
Quote: EPEHPG
* Hold & store function
* Operates up to 6 hours on
22..44GGHHzz FFrreeqquueennccyy CCoouunntteerr
one charge
00..0011HHzz ttoo 22..44GGHHzz
* Scope Lead and Charger
88 DDiiggiitt LLEEDD DDiissppllaayy
Supplied
GGaattee TTiimmee:: 110000mmss ttoo 1100ss
22 CChhaannnneell OOppeerraattiinngg mmooddee
Quote: EPEHPS
PPoowweerr SSuuppppllyy:: 111100--222200VVaacc 55WW
££6999..9600 QQuuoottee:: EEPPEE2244GG
£81.00
IInncc DDeelliivveerryy** && VVAATT
Inc Delivery* & VAT
30V 5A Programmable PSU Build your own Oscilloscope
Dual LED (Voltage & Current) Displays A new self assembly kit, ideal for education and way to visualise sig-
Course & Fine Voltage /Current Adjustment nals. Features: Markers, Frequency, dB, True RMS readouts
Volatge or Current Limiting. Timebase range:
* 5 Memories 10µs-500ms/division (15 steps)
* PC Link via USB Input sensitvity:
or RS232 100mV-5V/division (6 steps)
*Output: Max Input voltage: 30Vpp
0-30Vdc Max Sample Rate:
0-5A 1ms/s repetitive signal,
100ks/s real time signal
Dim: 80 x 115 x 40mm
Quote: EPEPSU 07/11 £99.90 £49.99
Inc Delivery* & VAT Quote: EPESCOPE Inc Delivery* & VAT
10/15Tel: [phone] ESR EleScttraotniioc nC oRmopaodne,nts Ltd *PDreiclievesrIyN toC aLnUyD UEK DMealiivnelarnyd* &ad VdAreTs.s,
Fax: [phone] please call for delivery options for
Cullercoats, Tyne & Highland & Island, Northern Ireland,
www.esr.co.uk [email protected] Wear. NE30 4PQ Ireland, Isle of Man, Isle of Wight &
Channel Islands
ESR – MARCH 2016.indd 1 19/01/2016 16:01
EDITORIAL
VOL. 45 No. 05 MAY 2016
Editorial Offices:
EVERYDAY PRACTICAL ELECTRONICS
EDITORIAL Wimborne Publishing Ltd., 113 Lynwood
Drive, Merley, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 1UU
Phone: [phone]. Fax: [phone].
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.epemag.com Cheap as chips!
See notes on Readers’ Technical Enquiries below There’s an interesting ‘tension’ between last month’s Techno Talk article
– we regret technical enquiries cannot be answered
and our ongoing Electronic Building Blocks series. Mark pointed out quite
over the telephone.
correctly that in electronics, as with anything else, ‘you get what you pay
Advertisement Offices:
Everyday Practical Electronics Advertisements for’. And yet, even a casual user of eBay or Amazon will be aware that you
113 Lynwood Drive, Merley, Wimborne, Dorset, can buy surprisingly sophisticated and well-made circuits for less than a
BH21 1UU cup of (admittedly overpriced) high street coffee. Julian Edgar has been
Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected] writing a very nice column based precisely on these online bargains and I
hope you have been enjoying it as much as I have. Quite how the prices are
Editor: MATT PULZER as low as they are, not to mention the free delivery, is as much a mystery
Subscriptions: MARILYN GOLDBERG
to me as anyone else, but they definitely represent new opportunities
General Manager: FAY KEARN
Graphic Design: RYAN HAWKINS for hobbyists. I do understand that for some, there is a slight feeling that
Editorial/Admin: 01202 880299 using such circuits is ‘cheating’ – where is the pleasure in design and
Advertising and
construction? (I suspect some dedicated analogue designers felt equally
Business Manager: STEWART KEARN
01202 880299 suspicious when cheap op amps first appeared – ‘I’ve spent years honing
On-line Editor: ALAN WINSTANLEY my transistor skills and now that’s all been replaced with a 741 that anyone
can use’ – they (possibly) lamented.) I exaggerate, but it may well be that
Publisher: MIKE KENWARD
cheap, easy-to-use electronic sub-systems are just the next stage in our
READERS’ TECHNICAL ENQUIRIES
hobby, along with the all the other silicon beasts in the electronic zoo.
Email: [email protected]
We are unable to offer any advice on the use, purchase,
repair or modification of commercial equipment or the
Be safe
incorporation or modification of designs published
in the magazine. We regret that we cannot provide This month’s Appliance Earth Leakage Tester and last month’s Appliance
data or answer queries on articles or projects that are Insulation Tester are both excellent projects and well worth a thorough
more than five years’ old. Letters requiring a personal read – even if you don’t intend to build them. Keeping you safe is a priority
reply must be accompanied by a stamped self-
addressed envelope or a self-addressed envelope and for us, so please do bear in mind that these projects are very definitely
international reply coupons. We are not able to answer intended for experienced constructors only. If you have any doubts about
technical queries on the phone. your understanding of the project, then do seek out the support, advice and
PROJECTS AND CIRCUITS guidance of someone who is competent in ensuring these projects are not
All reasonable precautions are taken to ensure that only built, but also used correctly and safely.
the advice and data given to readers is reliable. We
cannot, however, guarantee it and we cannot accept
legal responsibility for it. ‘These go to 11’
A number of projects and circuits published in
It’s an old joke, but a good
EPE employ voltages that can be lethal. You should
not build, test, modify or renovate any item of mains- one, and space considerations
powered equipment unless you fully understand the meant I couldn’t include
safety aspects involved and you use an RCD adaptor.
Jake Rothman’s Spinal Tap
COMPONENT SUPPLIES reference in last month’s
We do not supply electronic components or kits for
Audio Out. As you can see
building the projects featured, these can be supplied
by advertisers. from the accompanying
We advise readers to check that all parts are still photograph, his active volume
available before commencing any project in a back- control is not just better,
dated issue.
but also louder since the
ADVERTISEMENTS volume can ‘go to 15’ – see:
Although the proprietors and staff of EVERYDAY
https://youtu.be/4xgx4k83zzc for the original source for this technical
PRACTICAL ELECTRONICS take reasonable
precautions to protect the interests of readers by breakthrough. (Do readers know any better electronics-themed jokes?!)
ensuring as far as practicable that advertisements are
bona fide, the magazine and its publishers cannot give
any undertakings in respect of statements or claims
made by advertisers, whether these advertisements
are printed as part of the magazine, or in inserts.
The Publishers regret that under no circumstances
will the magazine accept liability for non-receipt of
goods ordered, or for late delivery, or for faults in
manufacture.
TRANSMITTERS/BUGS/TELEPHONE
EQUIPMENT
We advise readers that certain items of radio
transmitting and telephone equipment which may
be advertised in our pages cannot be legally used in
the UK. Readers should check the law before buying
any transmitting or telephone equipment, as a fine,
confiscation of equipment and/or imprisonment can
result from illegal use or ownership. The laws vary from
country to country; readers should check local laws.
7
EPE Editorial_100144WP.indd 7 21/03/2016 11:35
N E W S
A roundup of the latest Everyday News
from the world of
electronics
Filling in the fact gaps – report by Barry Fox
The terms ‘High Dynamic Range’ have deeper blacks – which is why the ITU in 1990. New Rec. 2020
and ‘Wide Colour Gamut’ look LG demonstrates in dark corners. (also known as BT.2020) coding was
likely to become more important to designed for 10-bit 4K coding.
TV than ‘4K resolution’. HDR and Moving on from a 1930s standard
WCG are easier to demonstrate – just The existing EOTF standard which Colour fidelity
like colour over black and white. gives standard dynamic range con- P3, a colour coding system agreed
Disney is believed to be keen on trast is called ‘gamma’. It’s a non- in 2007 for digital cinema by the
releasing Blu-ray discs with HDR and linear curve that uses less bit depth SMPTE, can reproduce more de-
WGC, but in 1080p rather than 4K for bright highlights and more for manding shades like the red of a
resolution. The BBC is working on an subtle shadows. But gamma is London bus, fire engine or Coca
HD broadcast system with HDR. based on measurements made in Cola label, or the green of an Ameri-
But format wars are looming and the 1930s with CRT screens (al- can road sign or Pacific ocean view.
the industry has done a very poor though it was not enshrined in an Consumer TV sets can’t currently
job of explaining its new technol- ITU standard, BT.1886, until 2011.) handle P3, but future sets will.
ogy… herewith the es- In practice, P3 con-
sentials. tent will be carried by
a UHD BD using a BT.
Blu-ray update 2020 container for-
The new standard for mat. The new ‘Ultra
UHD Blu-ray was set HD Premium’ mark-
last August and runs ing scheme recently
to 1200 pages. It de- announced by the
crees that video will UHD Alliance requires
be compressed using BT.2020 colour han-
Another television standard/marketing strategy for selling TV upgrades, or a welcome
MPEG HEVC/H.265, dling with ‘more than
attempt to improve quality? – time will tell
(high-efficiency video 90% of P3 colour’. It
coding) which is the latest MPEG The new EOTF ST 2084, recently leaves the HDR system as optional
compression system (sometimes created by the Society of Motion but requires the use of SMPTE ST
incorrectly referred to as MPEG-5). Picture and Television Engineers, 2084 EOTF with a combination of
BBC tests have now shown this to be combines non-linear and logarith- peak brightness and black level that
nearly 60% more efficient than the mic coding for HDR. is either more than 1000 nits peak
current MPEG-4 AVC/H.264. Coding The open and mandatory HDR brightness and less than 0.05 nits
is in 10-bit digital words, rather than standard, called HDR10, uses ST black level, or (to cater for OLEDs)
8-bit words for current Blu-ray. 2084 and static metadata to match more than 540 nits peak brightness
the source material to the display and less than 0.0005 nits black level.
Modern screens capability. The proprietary and op- How the industry will test and po-
The new standard gives a choice of tional HDR systems from Dolby Vi- lice the Premium mark with such
EOTF (electro-optical transfer func- sion and Philips HDR add dynamic precision remains to be seen.
tion) and colour coding, to cater for metadata, which adjust the display
modern screens. scene by scene. Dolby Vision needs
EOTF defines how a TV set turns far more metadata than Philips (up
electric signals (volts) into light on to 25% on top of the video, com-
a screen, measured in candelas per pared to a few kilobits for Philips).
square meter (cdm–2) more common- Current 8-bit Blu-ray discs code co-
If you have some breaking news you
ly called ‘nits’. ‘Ordinary’ TVs muster lour with the Rec. 709 (also known
would like to share with our readers,
between 100 and 400 nits. New HDR as BT.709) colour space system
then please email:
TVs range from around 500 nits up which was standardised for wides-
[email protected]
to 1000 nits. OLEDs currently deliver creen (16:9) high-definition televi-
more than a few hundred nits, but sion by international standards body
8 Everyday Practical Electronics, May 2016
News (MP 1st) – May 2016.indd 8 22/03/2016 18:11