Practical
Electronics
Volume 53. No. 10
October 2024
ISSN 2632 573X
Contents
Projects and Circuits
500W Monoblock Class-D Amplifier by Phil Prosser
8
If you need a serious amount of audio power, are on a budget, and are not after ‘high
fidelity’, this is for you! It uses two prebuilt modules and not much else, mounted in a
compact metal chassis, to deliver heaps of audio power all day long.
28
TQFP Programming Adaptors by Nicholas Vinen
Our new Programming Adaptor, described last month, can program chips in DIP and
many SMD packages. But what about those in SOT-23-6 or QFP? We show how to
program such devices out-of-circuit with several reconfigurable programming jigs.
58
2m VHF FM Test Signal Generator by Andrew Woodfield
This Test Oscillator uses an AD9834 DDS chip in a somewhat unusual way, producing
signals in the 2m band (144-148MHz), well above its 80MHz oscillator frequency. It can
produce a CW signal and optionally add frequency modulation.
Series, Features and Columns
Techno Talk by Max The Magnificent
Sticking the landing – a big win for a high-school rocket scientist
3
Net Work by Alan Winstanley
This month’s Net Work checks out what low-cost smart watches can offer, including
ideas for devices that help to monitor an individual’s health and fitness.
4
The Fox Report by Barry Fox
Hypergram hype
7
Circuit Surgery by Ian Bell
Topics in digital signal processing – digital-to-analog converter (DAC) outputs
22
Audio Out by Jake Rothman
Audio switching Part 5 – real electronic switching, continued
36
Using Electronic Modules – ADS1115 4-channel, 16-bit ADC by Jim Rowe
42
This small and inexpensive module adds up to four high-speed 16-bit analog-todigital conversion (ADC) channels to almost any microcontroller via an I2C serial bus.
Max’s Cool Beans by Max The Magnificent
Gray codes and more on BCD to 7-segment decoders
46
Linshang LS172 Colorimeter review by Allan Linton-Smith
If you want to find a paint colour that matches your existing paint, this device is
perfect. It’s relatively inexpensive, very accurate and quite easy to use.
54
Teach-In 2024 – Learn electronics with the ESP32 by Mike Tooley
Part 8 – Where Am I? (GPS/GNSS)
68
Regulars and Services
Made in Australia & the UK.
Written in Britain, Australia,
the USA and Ireland.
Read everywhere.
© Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd 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 November 2024 issue of Practical Electronics will be
published on Thursday, 3rd of October 2024 (see page 80).
Practical Electronics | October | 2024
Editorial
Updates on kits and the magazine
Reader services – Editorial and Advertising Departments
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Practical Electronics PCB Service
PCBs for Practical Electronics projects
Classified ads and Advertiser index
Next month! – highlights of our next issue of Practical Electronics
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