Practical
Electronics
Volume 52. No. 2
February 2023
ISSN 2632 573X
Contents
Projects and Circuits
Tesla Coil by Flavio Spedalieri
16
This simple device generates extremely high voltages, enough to form a ‘flame
discharge’ resembling a flame. It can also demonstrate wireless power transmission.
Cooling Fan Controller & Loudspeaker Protector by John Clarke
This board controls up to three cooling fans, switching them on at a preset
temperature and ramping their speed. It also protects speakers from damage.
24
Driveway Gate Remote Control by Dr Hugo Holden
Sliding/swinging gate controllers inevitably fail after some years of service.
The solution is to replace the controller with this much more robust design.
32
Geekcreit’s LTDZ V5.0 Spectrum Analyser by Jim Rowe
40
This compact unit is low in cost but can perform spectral analysis from 35MHz to
4.4GHz, controlled from a PC using a very impressive free application.
Series, Features and Columns
Techno Talk by Mark Nelson
A thousand words
8
The Fox Report by Barry Fox
Paying the price for not buying a TV licence
10
Net Work by Alan Winstanley
12
This month’s Net Work looks at backup software and ICT hardware that promised
much but failed to deliver. Plus, how Alexa has become a money-sink for Amazon.
KickStart by Mike Tooley
Part 11: Sensing the environment – introducing the BME280 sensor
46
Make it with Micromite by Phil Boyce
Part 44: A PicoMite Fingerprint Reader – Part 2
50
Circuit Surgery by Ian Bell
Electronically controlled resistance – Part 6
56
Max’s Cool Beans by Max The Magnificent
Arduino Bootcamp – Part 2
62
Wireless for the Warrior
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Next month! – highlights of our next issue of Practical Electronics
2
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7
7
Regulars and Services
Made in the UK.
Written in Britain, Australia,
the US and Ireland.
9
23
45
55
68
71
72
Read everywhere.
© Electron Publishing Limited 2023
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 March 2023 issue of Practical Electronics will be
published on Thursday, 2 February 2023 – see page 72.
Practical Electronics | February | 2023
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