Practical
Electronics
Volume 52. No. 1
January 2023
ISSN 2632 573X
Editorial
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Matt Pulzer
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Louisa Pulzer
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Alan Winstanley
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Matt Pulzer
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Technical enquiries
We regret technical enquiries cannot be answered over the
telephone. We are unable to offer any advice on the use, purchase,
repair or modification of commercial equipment or the incorporation
or modification of designs published in the magazine. We cannot
provide data or answer queries on articles or projects that are
more than five years old.
Questions about articles or projects should be sent to the editor
by email: pe<at>electronpublishing.com
Projects and circuits
All reasonable precautions are taken to ensure that the advice and
data given to readers is reliable. We cannot, however, guarantee
it and we cannot accept legal responsibility for it.
A number of projects and circuits published in Practical Electronics
employ voltages that can be lethal. You should not build, test,
modify or renovate any item of mains-powered equipment unless
you fully understand the safety aspects involved and you use an
RCD (GFCI) adaptor.
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We do not supply electronic components or kits for building the
projects featured, these can be supplied by advertisers. We
advise readers to check that all parts are still available before
commencing any project in a back-dated issue.
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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.
Practical Electronics | January | 2023
SMD tips and tricks
I hope you enjoyed last month’s article and project on soldering
SMDs. As a follow up, I was pleased to hear from reader Mike
Cowlishaw, who emailed me with a very neat SMD soldering tip.
Like all great ideas it’s completely obvious – but only after you’ve
seen it! Mike wrote:
‘I have been using SMD devices
since the 1980s. I often made my
own SMDs from through-hole
devices by bending the leads 90°
and snipping them off at surface
level; this saved much holedrilling! I was surprised, however,
to read (on p.43) that “Fine-tipped
tweezers are ideal” for holding
SMD parts in place while soldering.
I have the regulation two hands, but
two hands are not enough to hold
the device, the solder, and the iron
in the right places at the same time.
‘Accordingly (mid-1980s, I think) I came up with the simple device
shown. The spring arm (a piece of wire from a coat hanger, or
similar) holds the device to the circuit board and the board to the
wooden base while you tweak the device’s position, and it then
holds it there while soldering (and helps ensure the device doesn’t
get too hot). This leaves both hands free for soldering, cleanup and
inspection. I’ve used one of these for well over 30 years and found it
makes the process easier, faster and more precise.’
Thank you, PE writers!
Another year, another 12 issues – I’ve said it before, and I’ll say
it again, Practical Electronics is nothing without its loyal band of
fantastic writers. They work very hard every month to bring you
original content that makes electronics accessible and inspiring. So,
in no particular order – a huge 2022 ‘thank you’ to Alan Winstanley,
Mike Tooley, Ian Bell, Mark Nelson, Mike Hibbett, Clive ‘Max’
Maxfield, Phil Boyce, Julian Edgar, Barry Fox and Jake Rothman.
Also, many thanks go to the hard-working ‘back-office boys’, Stewart
Kearn, Alan Winstanley and Kris Thain, who keep the shop and
website running smoothly... most of the time!
Just what I wanted!
‘What can I get you for Christmas?’ It’s no one’s favourite question,
but for PE readers the answer is easy – ‘I just want a subscription
to my favourite magazine.’ You can choose paper or online, and
as a subscriber you can be sure that you will never miss a copy (or
endure any price rises over the year). If you are already subscribed
then we have a huge stock of PCBs for projects suitable for all levels
of skill, ability and experience.
From all of us at PE, thank you for your support over 2022, have a
very happy Christmas, and a healthy and peaceful 2023.
Matt Pulzer
Publisher
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