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PRODUCT SHOWCASE Easy-start battery charger from Altronics This clever device should largely eliminate the need to carry jumper cables to start your car or somebody else’s. Called the “Easy-Start” it is an in-cable battery charger which plugs into the cigarette lighter sockets of both cars. The Easy-Start draws current from the car with the good battery, steps up the voltage a little and feeds it to the cigarette lighter socket of the car with the dead battery. After being connected for five minutes, the manufacturer claims that most cars with dead batteries should have received enough charge to be able to start. Whether that is true or not in most cases, we like the concept because it eliminates the use of jumper cables. Jumper cables are potentially damaging to any car with an engine management computer and most car makers warn against their use. Using jumper cables also brings the possibili­ ty of battery explosions and serious damage to the cars con­cerned. Our examination of the Easy-Start reveals that it employs a switchmode step-up circuit and probably charges at somewhere in the region of five amps, based on the appearance of the Fluke 36 clamp meter The Fluke 36 measures true RMS current and voltage, DC current and voltage, resistance and continuity and shows readings on a 2000 count liquid crystal display. Ranges are 0-600A AC, 0-1000A DC, 600V and 0-200Ω. The continuity beeper function oper­ates for resistances of less than 30Ω. The Fluke 36 has a maximum reading hold function for checking inrush currents on motors or the maximum load on a circuit. Designed to UL, CSA and TUV, the Fluke complies with IEC 1010 safety standards. It comes with Fluke Hard Point test leads, a protective soft carrying case, a 9V battery and is covered by a one-year warranty. 80  Silicon Chip For more information, contact Obiat Pty Ltd, 129 Queen Street, Beacons­ field, NSW 2014. Phone (02) 9698 4111; fax (02) 9699 9170. compon­ents and the gauge of the connecting cables. No performance data is given on the packaging. When the Easy-Start is first connected, a green LED is lit and then when it is charging the dead battery, three red LEDs light in sequence. The overall cable length is 5.5 metres. The whole package is much easier and safer to use than jumper cables and should be very popular, particularly with drivers who have a second vehicle which is not driven often and therefore prone to the occasional dead battery. The Easy Start is available from Altronics in Perth or any Altronics reseller. It is presently available at an introductory price of $39.95. (Cat A-0295). Low cost handheld programmer Stag Programmers has launched the P301, a full-featured handheld portable programmer which includes a PC Windows and DOS software package for full control via a PC. The Stag P301 also has wireless communication with a host PC through an infrared IrDA interface, as well as an RS232 port. The P301 provides programming for up to 32-bit structures based on 8-bit devices through a single wide blade socket capable of accommodating 8, 24, 28 and 32-pin DIP packages with either 0.3-inch or 0.6-inch pitch. It will program EPROMs, EEPROMs, serial EEPROM s and Flash/ CMOS PROMs. Adapters are also available for PLCC, TSOP and SOIC devices. The device support library is fully updatable and is held in non-volatile 63VA transformer is wired This 12V 60VA transformer was design­ ed for use with halogen lighting in homes. Fully encapsulated and enclos­ ed, it is intended to be mounted in the ceiling space. However, it could be used in almost any application where a continuously rated 12V 63VA transformer is required. Its overall dimensions are 207 x 48 x 42mm. flash memory which means that no additional library support ROMs are required. Device selection is menu driven, either by the manufactur­er’s part name or automatically via the electronic ID to select the programming algorithm for the device in the socket. Stag also makes device library updates available A particular attraction of the transformer is that it comes fitted with a 2-core power flex and a moulded 2-pin power plug. The transformer is protected against overloads by a thermal cutout which is in series with the primary winding. The secondary connection is via two screw terminals which are shrouded by a plastic cover. The transformer is available from all Jaycar Electronics stores at $24.95 (Cat. MP-3050). free-of-charge on its Web site. The unit is fitted with 128Kb of RAM as standard, expandible to 512Kb or 1Mb and devices are programmed in blocks if the RAM fitted is smaller than the device. 8-bit, 16-bit and 32bit structures are supported and are automatically handled by “Interlace 2”, Stag’s method of splitting and shuffling data without the intervention of the user. Either battery or mains-powered for both portable and desktop applications, the P301 features a 4 x 20 character alpha­ n umeric reflective super­ twist LCD and 23 dedicated func­tion and cursor keys. The P301’s battery can either be trickle charged using the supplied mains adapter or boost charged using the optional offline charging unit. For more information, call Emona Instruments on (02) 9519 3933 or fax on (02) 9550 1378. Thin-film power chip resistors New thin-film power chip resistors recently introduced by Philips are among the first to offer the same pulse power cap­ability as leaded products. As well, the new PRC202 resistors can handle higher pulse surges and significantly higher current densities than equivalent thick-film types. The resistors are supplied in the same package (ie, 1218) as the Philips thick-film PRC201 series. This is the same size as the standard 1812 package but with the terminations on the longer side. The PRC201 range has already demonstrated that this signif­icantly improves heat transfer and increases the strength of the solder joint. It also reduces stresses and hence improves reli­ability. Nearest equivalents to the new PRC202 thin-film series offering comparable continuous power handling THE “HIGH” THAT LASTS IS MADE IN THE U.S.A. Model KSN 1141 The new Powerline series of Motorola’s 2kHz Horn speakers incorporate protection circuitry which allows them to be used safely with amplifiers rated as high as 400 watts. This results in a product that is practically blowout proof. Based upon extensive testing, Motorola is offering a 36 month money back guarantee on this product should it burn out. Frequency Response: 1.8kHz - 30kHz Av. Sens: 92dB <at> 1m/2.83v (1 watt <at> 8Ω) Max. Power Handling Capacity: 400W Max. Temperature: 80°C Typ. Imp: appears as a 0.3µF capacitor Typical Frequency Response MOTOROLA PIEZO TWEETERS AVAILABLE FROM: DICK SMITH, JAYCAR, ALTRONICS AND OTHER GOOD AUDIO OUTLETS. IMPORTING DISTRIBUTOR: Freedman Electronics Pty Ltd, PO Box 3, Rydalmere NSW 2116. Phone: (02) 9638 6666. April 1997  81 capability are available only in the larger 2512 size. The new resistors are available in values from 0.1Ω to 100Ω with tolerances down to ±1% and with temperature coefficients of less than 200 ppm for values between 0.1Ω and 1Ω, and 50 ppm for values between 1Ω and 100Ω. They are supplied in blister tape and can be placed by all standard surface-mount assembly machines. For further information, contact Philips Components, 34 Waterloo Road, North Ryde, NSW 2113. Phone (02) 9805 4479; fax (02) 9805 4466. 125W 12VDC to 230VAC inverter There are quite a few different 12V to 240VAC inverters on the market but few are as compact and as neatly packaged as this one. It comes in a neat extruded aluminium case which functions as the heatsink for the internal electronics. It has a single 3-pin AC outlet on the top and a short cable fitted with a cigarette lighter plug for the DC input. There are no switches –you just plug it in and it goes. Overall dimensions of the inverter KITS-R-US RF Products FMTX1 Kit $49 Single transistor 2.5 Watt Tx free running 12v-24V DC. FM band 88-108MHz. 500mV RMS audio sensitivity. FMTX2A Kit $49 A digital stereo coder using discrete components. XTAL locked subcarrier. Compatible with all our transmitters. FMTX2B Kit $49 3 stage XTAL locked 100MHz FM band 30mW output. Aust pre-emphasis. Quality specs. Optional 50mW upgrade $5. FMTX5 Kit $98 Both a FMTX2A & FMTX2B on 1 PCB. Pwt & audio routed. FME500 Kit $499 Broadcast specs. PLL 0.5 to 1 watt output narrowcast TX kit. Frequency set with Dip Switch. 220 Linear Amp Kit $499 2-15 watt output linear amp for FM band 50mW input. Simple design uses hybrid. SG1 Kit $399 Broadcast quality FM stereo coder. Uses op amps with selectable pre-emphasis. Other linear amps and kits available for broadcasters. 82  Silicon Chip are 128mm wide, 122mm long and 53mm high. There are three LEDs on the top panel – one indicates that it is operating, while the other two indicate whether the battery is good or low. The output waveform is a modified PO Box 314 Blackwood SA 5051 Ph 0414 323099 Fax 088 270 3175 AWA FM721 FM-Tx board $19 Modify them as a 1 watt op Narrowcast Tx. Lots of good RF bits on PCB. AWA FM721 FM-Rx board $10 The complementary receiver for the above Tx. Full circuits provided for Rx or Tx. Xtals have been disabled. MAX Kit for PCs $169 Talk to the real world from a PC. 7 relays, ADC, DAC 8 TTL inputs & stepper driver with sample basic programs. ETI 1623 kit for PCs $69 24 lines as inputs or outputs DS-PTH-PCB and all parts. Easy to build, low cost. ETI DIGI-200 Watt Amp Kit $39 200W/2 125W/4 70W/8 from ±33 volt supply. 27,000 built since 1987. Easy to build. ROLA Digital Audio Software Call for full information about our range of digital cart players & multitrack recorders. ALL POSTAGE $6.80 Per Order FREE Steam Boat For every order over $100 re­ceive FREE a PUTT-PUTT steam boat kit. Available separately for $19.95, this is one of the greatest educational toys ever sold. square wave type and it is silent in operation. We tested the unit by plugging it into a cigarette lighter socket and then measured the RMS output voltage when the unit was driving a standard lamp fitted with two 60W globes. With around 12.6V, it delivered 200V with Teac 12-speed CD-ROM Teac Corporation in Japan has released a 12-speed CD-ROM drive, the CD-512. The CD-512 features a data transfer rate of 1.8Mb/s and a choice of ATAPI (CD-512E) or SCSI (CD-512S) inter­face, MW DMA Mode 2 and PIO Mode 4 to minimise CPU utilisation (CD-512E), motorised tray loading, an MTBF of 100 000 hours (10% duty cycle), horizontal or vertical mounting and compliancy to Windows 95 and Window NT. The CD -512 has an industry stand­a rd 5.25inch format. The front panels controls include an eject button, a stereo mini jack and a thumbwheel volume control. There is also an emergency CD release mechanism which can be used to release a CD if there is no power available. This drive is compatible with the CD-DA, CDROM (mode 1, mode 2), CD-ROM XA mode-2 (form 1, form 2) Multi Session Photo CD, CD-I, Video-CD, CD Plus and Enhanced CD disc formats. For further information, PO Box 25, Bangor NSW 2234. Phone (02) 9749 2633; fax (02) 9749 2152. one 60W globe on while with two 60W globes the voltage dropped to 140V. At just below 12.6V, the low battery light comes and the unit emits a loud whistle. Having been warned, we started the motor and the battery voltage rapidly came up to 14V. At this point, it would deliver 200V with one or two 60W lamps on. The unit should be suitable for many applications, driving mains voltage equipment where no 240VAC is available. It is available from Altronics in Perth or any Altronics reseller. It is priced at $140.00 (Cat. M-8105). PCB POWER TRANSFORMERS 1VA to 25VA Manufactured in Australia Harbuch Electronics Pty Ltd 9/40 Leighton Pl. HORNSBY 2077 Ph (02) 9476-5854 Fx (02) 9476-3231 Philips “talking remote” finds itself With Philips hifi stereo video cassette recorders (models VR656 and VR856), you will always be able to find your remote control. No longer will you need to throw a tantrum or glare at the children whenever the remote control for your VCR or TV has been misplaced. The new Remote Locator video cassette recorders from Phil­ips “call” the remote device with a “beep, beep” when you press the power button on the deck. And once you’ve found the remote for the VCR, there’s a good chance you won’t have to worry about the one that’s missing from the TV. The Philips remote is multi-branded and multi-functional, which means it can operate most TVs as well. Both units are 6-head, hifi stereo VCRs with Incredible Picture(TM) chip circuitry to improve the picture quality. The VR856 model is Multi­systemcompatible which means it can record and play back tapes from the various systems in use around the world. G-Code makes programming a cinch BassBox® Design low frequency loudspeaker enclos­ures fast and accurately with BassBox® software. Uses both Thiele-Small and Electro-Mechanical parameters with equal ease. Includes X. Over 2.03 passive cross­over design program. and the new “Turbo Drive Mechanism” gives faster access to all play, fast forward and rewind functions. Other features include audio and video front input sockets, digital audio tracking, widescreen-compatible playback, tape counter, NTSC playback (Model VR656 only), PAL, NTSC and SECAM record and playback (Model VR856 only). Recommended retail prices are $769 for the VR656 and $989 for the VR856. For further information, contact your nearest Philips retailer. With component test speeds said to be several times faster than other automatic test equipment currently available, the 5200 Power MDA excels in situations where high fault coverage and very high throughput are important. In practice, using the 5200 Power MDA results in more than twice the normal throughput in a typical manufacturing setup. The Windows based software ensures test programs and fixture designs can be quickly developed manually or from CAD data. For further information, contact Marconi Instruments, 1/38 South St, Rydalmere, NSW 2116. Phone (02) 9638 0800. SC Manufacturing defects analyser The new 5200 Power Manufacturing Defects Analyser (MDA) from Marconi Instruments is designed to meet the needs of high volume PC board manufacturers. The 5200 Power MDA includes vectorless testing (Marconi’s Q-test is configured as standard), Boundary-Scan and new “power-on” test techniques. Comprehensive software for program genera­tion and debug tools ensure ease of use. $299.00 Plus $6.00 postage. Pay by cheque, Bankcard, Mastercard Visacard. EARTHQUAKE AUDIO PH: (02) 9949 8071 FAX: (02) 9949 8073 PO BOX 226 BALGOWLAH NSW 2093 April 1997  83