Silicon ChipContents - December 2020 SILICON CHIP
  1. Outer Front Cover
  2. Contents
  3. Publisher's Letter: Saying goodbye to Adobe Flash
  4. Mailbag
  5. Feature: Automotive Electronics, Part 1 by Dr David Maddison
  6. Project: Power Supply for Battery-Powered Vintage Radios by Ken Kranz & Nicholas Vinen
  7. Subscriptions
  8. Feature: Making PCBs with a Laser Engraver or Cutter by Andrew Woodfield
  9. Project: Dual Battery Lifesaver by Nicholas Vinen
  10. Feature: A Closer Look at the RCWL-0516 3GHz Motion Module by Allan Linton-Smith
  11. Serviceman's Log: A brush with disaster by Dave Thompson
  12. Project: Balanced Input Attenuator for the USB SuperCodec, Part 2 by Phil Prosser
  13. Feature: El Cheapo Modules: Mini Digital Volt/Amp Panel Meters by Jim Rowe
  14. Circuit Notebook: Automated tyre inflator/deflator by Tom Croft
  15. Circuit Notebook: Infinite impedance AC source by Mauri Lampi
  16. Circuit Notebook: Controlling model railway points with a servo by George Ramsay
  17. Project: Flexible Digital Lighting Controller, part 3 by Tim Blythman
  18. PartShop
  19. Vintage Radio: 1928 RCA Radiola 60 superhet by Dennis Jackson
  20. Product Showcase
  21. Ask Silicon Chip
  22. Market Centre
  23. Advertising Index
  24. Notes & Errata: Flexible Digital Lighting Controller, November 2020; Tiny LED Christmas Ornaments, November 2020; 7-Band Audio Equalisers, April 2020
  25. Outer Back Cover

This is only a preview of the December 2020 issue of Silicon Chip.

You can view 0 of the 112 pages in the full issue.

For full access, purchase the issue for $10.00 or subscribe for access to the latest issues.

Articles in this series:
  • Automotive Electronics, Part 1 (December 2020)
  • Automotive Electronics, Part 2 (January 2021)
Items relevant to "Power Supply for Battery-Powered Vintage Radios":
  • Vintage Battery Radio Power Supply PCB [11111201] (AUD $7.50)
  • Pair of CSD18534KCS logic-level Mosfets (Component, AUD $6.00)
  • IPP80P03P4L04 high-current P-channel Mosfet (Component, AUD $5.00)
  • Vintage Battery Radio Power Supply PCB pattern (PDF download) [11111201] (Free)
Items relevant to "Dual Battery Lifesaver":
  • Dual Battery Lifesaver PCB [11111202] (AUD $2.50)
  • IPP80P03P4L04 high-current P-channel Mosfet (Component, AUD $5.00)
  • Dual Battery Lifesaver PCB pattern (PDF download) [11111202] (Free)
Items relevant to "A Closer Look at the RCWL-0516 3GHz Motion Module":
  • Sample audio for the RCWL-0516 radar module with frequency multiplier (Software, Free)
Items relevant to "Balanced Input Attenuator for the USB SuperCodec, Part 2":
  • USB SuperCodec PCB [01106201] (AUD $12.50)
  • USB SuperCodec Balanced Input Attenuator add-on PCB [01106202] (AUD $7.50)
  • Parts source grid for the USB SuperCodec (Software, Free)
  • USB SuperCodec PCB pattern (PDF download) [01106201] (Free)
  • USB SuperCodec Balanced Input Attenuator add-on PCB pattern (PDF download) [01106202] (Free)
  • USB SuperCodec front panel artwork (PDF download) (Free)
  • Drilling and cutting diagrams for the USB SuperCodec Balanced Input Attenuator (PDF download) (Panel Artwork, Free)
Articles in this series:
  • USB SuperCodec (August 2020)
  • USB SuperCodec – part two (September 2020)
  • USB SuperCodec – part three (October 2020)
  • Balanced Input Attenuator for the USB SuperCodec (November 2020)
  • Balanced Input Attenuator for the USB SuperCodec, Part 2 (December 2020)
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 Matix 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)
Items relevant to "Automated tyre inflator/deflator":
  • Firmware for the Automated Tyre Inflator/Deflator (Software, Free)
Items relevant to "Infinite impedance AC source":
  • Mathematical analysis of an infinite impedance AC source (Software, Free)
Items relevant to "Controlling model railway points with a servo":
  • Firmware for Controlling Model Railway Points with a Servo (Software, Free)
Items relevant to "Flexible Digital Lighting Controller, part 3":
  • Flexible Digital Lighting Controller main PCB [16110202] (AUD $20.00)
  • Flexible Digital Lighting Controller front panel PCB [16110203] (AUD $20.00)
  • Flexible Digital Lighting Controller Micromite Master PCB [16110201] (AUD $5.00)
  • Flexible Digital Lighting Controller CP2102 Adaptor [16110204] (PCB, AUD $2.50)
  • Flexible Digital Lighting Controller LED slave PCB [16110205] (AUD $5.00)
  • PIC16F1705-I/P programmed for the Flexible Digital Lighting Controller [1611020A.HEX] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $10.00)
  • PIC32MX170F256B-50I/SP programmed for the Flexible Digital Lighting Controller Micromite master [1611020B.hex] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $15.00)
  • Hard-to-get parts for the Flexible Digital Lighting Controller (Component, AUD $100.00)
  • Micromite LCD BackPack V3 complete kit (Component, AUD $75.00)
  • Si8751AB 2.5kV isolated Mosfet driver with integral power supply (Component, AUD $5.00)
  • Firmware and software for the Fiexible Digital Lighting Controller (Free)
  • Firmware and PC software for the Digital Lighting Controller [1611010A.HEX] (Free)
  • Flexible Digital Lighting Controller mains slave PCB patterns (PDF download) [16110202-3] (Free)
  • Flexible Digital Lighting Controller Master PCB patterns (PDF download) [16110201, 16110204] (Free)
  • Flexible Digital Lighting Controller LED slave PCB pattern (PDF download) [16110205] (Free)
  • Drilling and cutting diagrams for the Flexible Digital Lighting Controller Micromite master (PDF download) (Panel Artwork, Free)
  • Cutting diagram for the Flexible Digital Lighting Controller mains slave rear panel (PDF download) (Panel Artwork, Free)
  • Cutting diagrams and front panel artwork for the Flexible Digital Lighting Controller LED slave (PDF download) (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • Flexible Digital Lighting Controller, part 1 (October 2020)
  • Flexible Digital Lighting Controller, part 2 (November 2020)
  • Flexible Digital Lighting Controller, part 3 (December 2020)

Purchase a printed copy of this issue for $10.00.

Contents Vol.33, No.12 December 2020 SILICON CHIP www.siliconchip.com.au Features & Reviews 12 Automotive Electronics, Part 1 Cars have improved drastically over the last few decades. Much of this improvement is due to the expansion and integration of electronics such as the engine control unit, infotainment, cruise control etc – by Dr David Maddison 36 Making PCBs with a Laser Engraver or Cutter PCB prototypes are pretty cheap to order online, apart from postage, but it’s a long wait if you only want one or two boards. Using a laser cutter can be an inexpensive way to etch your own boards – by Andrew Woodfield 48 A Closer Look at the RCWL-0516 3GHz Motion Module Leading on from the short introduction we did on this module in February 2018, we take a more detailed look about the operation of this device and what modifications you can make to it – by Allan Linton-Smith Cars are constantly becoming more advanced and complex due to the inclusion of electronic systems. Let’s take a look at the various electronic systems that are used today – Page 12 76 El Cheapo Modules: Mini Digital Volt/Amp Panel Meters A surprising number of low-cost miniature panel meters have come onto the market lately. They display voltage and current (and sometimes more), with this article focusing on the DC variants – by Jim Rowe Constructional Projects 26 Power Supply for Battery-Powered Vintage Radios For most vintage radios, A & B batteries are extremely difficult to obtain. This power supply lets you use common Li-ion or LiPo cells to provide the A & B supplies for battery valve sets with HT in the range of 24-135V and LT of 1.22.5V – by Ken Kranz & Nicholas Vinen 44 Dual Battery Lifesaver This simple project helps protect rechargeable batteries from being drained if a device is left switched on. It works with devices that run from a single battery, or two separate batteries like our Supply above – by Nicholas Vinen This Power Supply makes it easy to modernise your battery-powered vintage radio sets. It uses Li-ion or LiPo cells and supplies a wide-range of high tension (HT) and low tension (LT) voltages – Page 26 68 Balanced Input Attenuator for the USB SuperCodec Pt2 Following on from the description of how the Input Attenuator add-on for our USB SuperCodec works, here’s how to assemble and test it – by Phil Prosser 90 Flexible Digital Lighting Controller – part three In the next part of the series, we’ll show you how to use RGB LEDs with the Lighting Controller and in conjunction with mains lighting – by Tim Blythman Your Favourite Columns 61 Serviceman’s Log A brush with disaster – by Dave Thompson Here’s a low-cost and relatively simple way to make your own PCBs using a laser engraver or cutter – Page 36 85 Circuit Notebook (1) Automatic tyre inflator/deflator (2) ‘Infinite’ impedance AC source (3) Controlling model railway points with a servo 100 Vintage Radio 1928 RCA Radiola 60 superhet – by Dennis Jackson Everything Else 2 Editorial Viewpoint 4 Mailbag – Your Feedback 98 Silicon Chip Online Shop siliconchip.com.au 106 Product Showcase 107 Ask Silicon Chip 111 Market Centre 112 Noteselectronics and Errata Australia’s magazine 112 Advertising Index Our new Dual Battery Lifesaver can be used to protect two separate batteries from being drained by wayward devices – Page 44 December 2020  1 www.facebook.com/siliconchipmagazine