July 2008 Issue
A summary of this month's contents.
Coolmaster — turn a fridge into a wine cooler or a freezer into a fridge! You can convert a spare fridge into a wine cooler to hold your favourite tipples at just the right temperature (+9-15°C for a fridge or +4-10°C for a freezer).
This op.amp based circuit used a solid state temperature sensor and opto isolator with a triac to add a reliable thermostatic action to a working fridge or freezer, at a threshold to please the discerning wine lover. Simply unplug again to restore normal fridge-freezer action.
WARNING - MAINS VOLTAGE ONBOARD. SUITABLE FOR ASSEMBLY BY COMPETENT AND EXPERIENCED CONSTRUCTORS ONLY.
Galactic Voice Effects Unit — an electronic voice changer that transforms speech from a mere human's into the robotic-like dialect uttered by motley Daleks, robots and similar extraterrestrial entities. Useful for communicating with aliens, every household should keep one in reserve for the time when aliens finally invade our corner of the Milky Way. Helps prevent misunderstandings and possibly negotiate your way out of intergalactic war. (Theory unproven by EPE ;-)
Our Galactic Voice project uses an MC1496 mixer to modulate human speech and play it over a loudspeaker. Built-in electret microphone and audio amplifier, with variable effect controls. Fantastic fun and completely self-contained, with all assembly details provided in full colour.
PIC MIDI Wave Sound Generator — this wavetable synthesis music generation source has a MIDI input and provides 18 wavetable instruments on a preprogrammed flash memory. Includes pianos, guitars, banjo, trumpets and more. Eight-note polyphony spanning five octaves (C2 to C7). Audio line and headphone output.
Straightforward PCB based assembly. Powered by a mains adaptor. This projects uses a PIC micro 16F628A, an 18F452 and a flash EEPROM type AM29F040.
The designer's website Rainbow Electronics no longer works (@ 08/2013)
Universal High-Energy LED Lighting System (Part 2) — construction details of our high power LED lighting unit featured last month and application notes to build an LED Powered spotlight for e.g. cycle use.
Techno Talk discusses the impact of counterfeit components on the electronics industry. Practically Speaking - capacitor values and markings. Teach In 2008 Part 9: Watchdog Timer, Sleep and Interrupts. Circuit Surgery on the MAX8596X LED driver i.c. PIC n MIX Microcontroller I/O port expansion. Net Work - the impact that streaming TV programmes is having on Internet usage.
Source codes 0708.zip
PCB artwork pcb0708.zip
PCB artwork
As from July 2013 issue PCB artwork is available free to subscribers only.
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EPE Printed Circuit Boards
We can supply ready-made printed circuit boards (8-digit order codes) to the original design specification via mail order or from our Online Shop.