Silicon ChipProduct Showcase - March 2023 SILICON CHIP
  1. Outer Front Cover
  2. Contents
  3. Publisher's Letter: An AI wrote the editorial for me
  4. Subscriptions
  5. Feature: Underwater Communication by Dr David Maddison
  6. Project: The Digital Potentiometer by Phil Prosser
  7. Project: Model Railway Turntable by Les Kerr
  8. Product Showcase
  9. Review: Altium Designer 23 by Tim Blythman
  10. Review: ZPB30A1 30V 10A DC Load by Jim Rowe
  11. Project: Active Mains Soft Starter, Part 2 by John Clarke
  12. Project: Advanced Test Tweezers, Part 2 by Tim Blythman
  13. Serviceman's Log: Carpet vacuums suck, too by Dave Thompson
  14. Vintage Radio: Three STC radios by Associate Professor Graham Parslow
  15. PartShop
  16. Market Centre
  17. Advertising Index
  18. Notes & Errata: Heart Rate Sensor Module review, February 2023; 45V 8A Linear Bench Supply, October-December 2019
  19. Outer Back Cover

This is only a preview of the March 2023 issue of Silicon Chip.

You can view 37 of the 104 pages in the full issue, including the advertisments.

For full access, purchase the issue for $10.00 or subscribe for access to the latest issues.

Articles in this series:
  • Underwater Communication (March 2023)
  • Underground Communications (April 2023)
Items relevant to "The Digital Potentiometer":
  • Digital Potentiometer PCB (SMD version) [01101231] (AUD $2.50)
  • Digital Potentiometer PCB (TH version) [01101232] (AUD $5.00)
  • PIC16F15214-I/SN programmed for the Digital Potentiometer [0110123A.HEX] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $10.00)
  • PIC16F15214-I/P programmed for the Digital Potentiometer [0110123A.HEX] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $10.00)
  • Digital Potentiometer kit (SMD version) (Component, AUD $60.00)
  • Digital Potentiometer kit (through-hole version) (Component, AUD $70.00)
  • Firmware for the Digital Potentiometer [0110123A] (Software, Free)
  • Digital Potentiometer PCB patterns (PDF download) [01101231-2] (Free)
Items relevant to "Model Railway Turntable":
  • Model Railway Turntable contact PCB [09103232] (AUD $10.00)
  • Model Railway Turntable control PCB [09103231] (AUD $5.00)
  • PIC12F675-I/P programmed for the Model Railway Turntable (0910323A.HEX) (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $10.00)
  • Firmware for the Model Railway Turntable [0910323A.HEX] (Software, Free)
  • Model Railway Turntable PCB patterns (PDF download) [09103231-2] (Free)
Items relevant to "ZPB30A1 30V 10A DC Load":
  • Translated manual for ZPB30A1 30V 10A DC Load (Software, Free)
Items relevant to "Active Mains Soft Starter, Part 2":
  • Active Mains Soft Starter PCB [10110221] (AUD $10.00)
  • PIC12F617-I/P programmed for the Active Mains Soft Starter [1011022A.HEX] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $10.00)
  • Firmware for the Active Mains Soft Starter [1011022A] (Software, Free)
  • Active Mains Soft Starter PCB pattern (PDF download) [10110221] (Free)
  • Active Mains Soft Starter lid panel artwork (PDF download) (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • Active Mains Soft Starter, Part 1 (February 2023)
  • Active Mains Soft Starter, Part 2 (March 2023)
  • Active Mains Soft Starter (January 2024)
  • Active Mains Soft Starter (February 2024)
Items relevant to "Advanced Test Tweezers, Part 2":
  • Advanced/ESR Test Tweezers back panel PCB (blue) [04105242] (AUD $2.50)
  • Advanced SMD Test Tweezers PCB set [04106221+04106212 {blue}] (AUD $10.00)
  • PIC24FJ256GA702-I/SS programmed for the Advanced SMD Test Tweezers (0410622A.HEX) (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $15.00)
  • 0.96in cyan OLED with SSD1306 controller (Component, AUD $10.00)
  • Advanced SMD Test Tweezers kit (Component, AUD $45.00)
  • Firmware for the Advanced SMD Test Tweezers [0410622A.HEX] (Software, Free)
  • Advanced SMD Test Tweezers PCB patterns (PDF download) [04106221+04106212] (Free)
  • Advanced SMD Test Tweezers sticker artwork (PDF download) (Panel Artwork, Free)
Articles in this series:
  • Advanced Test Tweezers, Part 1 (February 2023)
  • Advanced Test Tweezers, Part 2 (March 2023)
  • ADVANCED SMD TEST TWEEZERS (January 2024)
  • ADVANCED SMD TEST TWEEZERS (February 2024)

Purchase a printed copy of this issue for $11.50.

PRODUCT SHOWCASE Electronex arrives in Melbourne this May Electronex, the electronics design and assembly expo returns to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on the 10-11th of May 2023. Electronex is Australia’s pre-­ eminent exhibition for companies using electronics in design, assembly, manufacture and service in Australia. The SMCBA Electronics Design and Manufacture Conference will also be held, featuring technical workshops from international and local experts. In an exciting new development, Electronex will be co-located with Australian Manufacturing Week, with trade visitors now able to visit both events on Wednesday or Thursday. This allows visitors to see the entire spectrum of the latest products, technology and turnkey solutions for the electronics and manufacturing sectors. Attending this event is a must for designers, engineers, managers and other decision-­ makers involved in designing or manufacturing products that utilise electronics. The expo will showcase a wide range of electronic components, surface mount and inspection equipment, test and measurement and other products and services. Companies can also discuss their specific requirements with contract manufacturers that can design and produce turnkey solutions. Register to attend for free at www.electronex. com.au Australasian Exhibitions and Events Pty Ltd Suite 11, Pier 35-263 Lorimer St Port Melbourne VIC 3207 Tel: (03) 9676 2133 mail: ngray<at>auexhibitions.com.au Web: www.auexhibitions.com.au Nordic Semiconductors new nRF7002 companion IC for WiFi 6 The nRF7002 is a low-power WiFi 6 companion IC providing seamless dual-band connectivity (2.4 & 5GHz). The nRF7002 can be used together with Nordic’s nRF52 & nRF53 series multi-protocol SoCs and the nRF9160 cellular IoT SiP (LTE-M/NB-IoT) . But it also can be used in conjunction with non-Nordic host devices. The nRF7002 brings low power and secure WiFi to the IoT sphere. The dual-band IC complies with Station (STA), Soft Access Point (AP), and WiFi direct operation, and meets the IEEE 802.11b, a, g, n (“Wi-Fi 4”), ac (“5”), and ax (“6”) standards. It also works with Bluetooth LE, Thread, and Zigbee. The nRF7002 supports Target Wake Time (TWT), a key WiFi 6 power saving feature. Interfacing with a host processor is done via SPI or Quad SPI. The IC offers a single spatial stream, 20MHz channel bandwidth, 64 QAM (MCS7), OFDMA, up to 86Mbps PHY throughput, and BSS coloring. The nRF7002 is the ideal choice for implementing low power SSID-based WiFi locationing when used together with the nRF9160 and nRF Cloud Location Services. This is all supported by the devel- opment kit. The dev kit includes an nRF7002 IC and features an nRF5340 multi-protocol SoC as a host processor. The nRF5340 embeds a 128MHz Arm Cortex-M33 application processor and a 64MHz network processor. The dev kit includes: Arduino connectors; two programmable buttons; a WiFi dual-band antenna and a Bluetooth LE antenna, and current measurement pins. The nRF7002 companion IC and dev kit are available now from Nordic’s distribution partners. Nordic Semiconductors www.nordicsemi.com High current inductor for automotive applications Würth Elektronik introduces another AEC-Q200 certified SMD inductor: the WE-XHMA. It features an extremely high current capability of up to 50.6A saturation current and the ability to handle high current transient peaks. Its design with a flat wire coil and composite core material ensures low copper losses and stable behavior under temperature fluctuations. siliconchip.com.au The WE-XHMA is particularly suitable for use in DC/DC converters for high current supply and FPGAs, as well as filter applications. In contrast to conventional core materials, the compact coil shows hardly any temperature-­dependent fluctuations in terms of inductance and saturation current. The higher energy density and the compact design make it useful for switch-mode power supplies. Furthermore, it shows a lower skin effect at higher frequencies and the heat dissipation towards the circuit board is also Australia's electronics magazine better than round wire. The compact molded magnetically shielded coils have an operating temperature range of -40°C to +125°C. The WE-XHMA is available in SMT styles: 6030, 6060, 8080, 1090 and 1510. You can also choose between saturation currents from 9.3 to 50.6A. Free samples for developers are provided. Würth Elektronik Max-Eyth-Straße 1 74638 Waldenburg Germany www.we-online.com March 2023  55