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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. 18 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 Subscribe to Practical Electronics and save money NEW! Practical Electronics back issues DOWNLOADS – 2022 now available! 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 2 4 6 7 7 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. Practical Electronics | March | 2024 9 26 27 65 68 71 72 1