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Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Leo Simpson, B.Bus., FAICD Editor Greg Swain, B.Sc.(Hons.) Technical Staff John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.) Robert Flynn Rick Walters Reader Services Ann Jenkinson Advertising Manager Christopher Wilson Phone (02) 9979 5644 Mobile 0419 23 9375 Regular Contributors Brendan Akhurst Garry Cratt, VK2YBX Julian Edgar, Dip.T.(Sec.), B.Ed John Hill Mike Sheriff, B.Sc, VK2YFK Philip Watson, MIREE, VK2ZPW Bob Young Photography Stuart Bryce SILICON CHIP is published 12 times a year by Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd. A.C.N. 003 205 490. All material copyright ©. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Printing: Macquarie Print, Dubbo, NSW. Distribution: Network Distribution Company. Subscription rates: $54 per year in Australia. For overseas rates, see the subscription page in this issue. Editorial & advertising offices: Unit 34, 1-3 Jubilee Avenue, Warrie­ wood, NSW 2102. Postal address: PO Box 139, Collaroy Beach, NSW 2097. Phone (02) 9979 5644. Fax (02) 9979 6503. PUBLISHER'S LETTER Appliance repairs are still worthwhile Is your VCR or TV on the blink? Thinking of giving it the flick for a new one? Then think again – you will probably save money. This question often arises in the SILICON CHIP offices as we are asked by readers and friends whether a particular ap­pliance is worth repairing. Thankfully we have not yet reached the situation in the USA where virtually nothing is repaired. It’s a matter of “if it stops working, toss it out and get a new one”. The problem is that this mentality is taking hold in Aus­tralia and I know of several recent instances where people have had TVs, microwave ovens or VCRs fail and they have replaced the items without even thinking about having them repaired. And I’m not talking about old appliances either; in each case, the items junked were less than five years old. Frankly, this attitude gives me the horrors – it is just so wasteful. Most appliances of this age can be repaired economical­ly and they can then be expected, on the balance of probabili­ties, to give another five or ten years of operation. Having talked to our writer of the “Serviceman” pages in this magazine, it appears that an average TV, VCR or microwave oven repair is around $100 to $150 or so. That might make repair of a small microwave oven not worthwhile, depending on the actual job, but it probably makes repairing most TVs and VCRs a good proposition. Think of the advantages. First, you save money by repairing instead of replacing the appliance. Second, you help keep your local repairman in business and off the dole queue. Third, you do your bit to keep Australia’s import bill low. Another point to consider is that you will be helping to maintain electronics repair skills in Australia. And if that isn’t enough, you avoid sending several kilo­grams of workable electronics to your local tip. Call me old-fashioned if you will but this is the approach that I always follow if I possibly can. I have just had my ten-year old Philips 63cm TV set repaired and its performance is still very good; not up to the standard of a 1996 set but per­fectly satisfactory nonetheless. I have also had my VCR and convection/ microwave oven repaired in the last two years or so and they are as good as they ever have been. Perhaps my approach leans too heavily to the “repair rather than replace” approach but surely, if the cost of repair is less than half the replacement cost of the equivalent brand and model appliance, and the item is less than five years old, then the repair should go ahead. Clearly, older appliances are often not worth repairing because parts are unobtainable or too expensive. But most serv­iceman will give a rough quote and then you can make a decision whether to repair or replace the item. Think before you buy when an electronic appliance fails. Your decision will have many consequences. Leo Simpson ISSN 1030-2662 WARNING! SILICON CHIP magazine regularly describes projects which employ a mains power supply or produce high voltage. All such projects should be considered dangerous or even lethal if not used safely. Readers are warned that high voltage wiring should be carried out according to the instructions in the articles. When working on these projects use extreme care to ensure that you do not accidentally come into contact with mains AC voltages or high voltage DC. If you are not confident about working with projects employing mains voltages or other high voltages, you are advised not to attempt work on them. Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd disclaims any liability for damages should anyone be killed or injured while working on a project or circuit described in any issue of SILICON CHIP magazine. Devices or circuits described in SILICON CHIP may be covered by patents. SILICON CHIP disclaims any liability for the infringement of such patents by the manufacturing or selling of any such equipment. SILICON CHIP also disclaims any liability for projects which are used in such a way as to infringe relevant government regulations and by-laws. Advertisers are warned that they are responsible for the content of all advertisements and that they must conform to the Trade Practices Act 1974 or as subsequently amended and to any governmental regulations which are applicable. 2  Silicon Chip