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BOHM Kits
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OCTOBER'91

VOLUME20 No 10

R*grlars
Open Channel
il:l::'
'i l: t ';:i 'r
1

Freezing Alarm

,,

Neurs

News Stateiite
Read/Write
PCB Foils
PCB Senrice
Classified Ads

ll

t2
3l
60

63

Features & Projects

t4

A little project to warn of imminent danger of frozen pipes. Dave Bradshaw

keeps his soldering
iron hot for the winter.

Cosmic Rays

l6

Douglas ciarkson reports on those seemingry timeless rays that

bombard the earth.

Back to Basics

2t

Paul Coxwell continues to look at inductive and capacitive resonant

circuits this month.

Circuit File

26

Modern Unijunction transistor circuits are the subject for Ray Marston
to examine this month.

The

In the s
control.

32

project we include the

mounted unit for high power lighting
s the power unit conne from the master controller.

Document

Saver

42

Designer

46

power supply with a designer's breadboard is always a welcome

sight in the
he test bench. This simple project is described by Bill Arexander.

The Magnetron

48

The trusted and well used simple component comes under the magniflng
glass. A p Stephenson
looks at its history and its functioning.

Behind The Hole In The Wall

52

Fire Detection Systems 4

56

Everwondered how a plastic card can provide you with cash? Paul
Shlackman explains some of
the characteristics behind a machine that has produced a revolution
in automated banking.
Vivian Capel finalises his

lookit

protecting domestic and industrial premises from fire.

ETI OCTOBER

I 99

Editorial
There has been a growing de-

mand once again {or technologY

to offer a helping hand in the Process of bettering or maintaining
ones personal welfare. I'm thinking of electronic machines to
releavepain on the one hand and
pocket electronics that hoPe to
alter our state of consciousness
on the other. Our recent Hemisync machine along with manY

PrototYPe

Designer Page 46

other projects in the Past

are

prime examples. But one thing in

common with these 'sPecialist'

machines available commercially,is their disProPortionate

cost to any other electronic
equipment o{ equivalent size on
the market todaY. As to whY this
is, I will leave the decision to You,
but at a self-constructional level
within the confines of magazines
like ETI, it has to be an area of

project construction that for

once, is financiallY attractive to
build.

Using electricitY and magnetism to banish ailments is not

radically new desPite its infancY
in the electro-technological age.
One could call it a rediscoverY in

Behind The Hole ln The Wall Page 52

The Magnetron Page 48

some cicumstances for Tesla,that

genius ahead of his time, exPerimented many decades ago with
high frequencY currrents for the

purposes of healing wounds.

It is true that Biofeedback, a
technique of conscious control

over ones bodilY

regulatorY

mechanisms enhanced bY electronics has onlY emerged more

recently with the use of sensitive

operational amPlifiers. Indeed

electronics maY onlY be a temporary helping hand in achieving
total body control.

Whatever the ultimate aim,

provided the demand is there
and it appears that it is, the electronic forces in nature will continue to help provide a suPPort
for our well-being.

.*6,
1,

ill

Paul Freeman
PS Twin Worlds
By the way, do let me know if You

come across another human

race. Last month I seem to have
slipped into the plural in the ediFreeze Alarm
Page 14

ETI OCTOBER 1991

torial column.

of,

underlying reason for all these problems, takeovers,

buyouts and collapses.

prophe

nications sector? If you cast your minds back to the

June 1990 issue of ETI, in this very column, I warned
about potential problems in the cellular telephone and
telepoint networks
Well, all the chickens are starting to come home to

roost now, and many of these networks are obviously

having economic problems. You'vebnly to look at
what's happened over the last few months to figure
that out for yourself.
First, Callpoint - one of the four licensed telepoint
operators has effectively collapsed, and will be out of
business by the time you read this. Callpoint had three
equal shareholders: Cable and Wireless (parent company of Mercury Communications), Shaye Communications and Motorola. There had been rumblings for
months belore the collapse, and rumours were rife
about what was going to happen to Callpoint. Indeed,
Mercury's chairman had indicated back in June there
was a possibility of Callpoint merging with Mercury,s
personal commun ications network operator Mercury
Personal Communications. In retrospect, it would be
hard for Mercury to deny it didn't know that telepoint
was, and still is, a more-or-less dead duck.

Incidentally, in a not entirely unrelated move,

Motorola has sold its 40% share in Mercury personal
Communications back to Cable and Wireless. I,ll get
back to Motorola and its current fortunes in a while.
Creditphone, the telepoint operator owned in the
main by Ferranti may have closed, too, by the time ETI
hits the streets. If Ferranti can find a buyer of its 68%
share in Creditphone, it might have managed to save
itself, but if no buyer is found; there's another one up
the swanee.
That only leaves two telpoint operators currently functional. Phonepoint and Hutchison personal
Communications. Hutchison, incidentally, bought out
,s
Philips'
share of the original
license
a But that's not all: Br(ish
Aerosp
a stake in Hutchison Telecommunications, the parent company of Hutchison
Communications. This is where the going gets hard to
fathom. In the deal, British Aerospace handed over
control of its personal communications operator Microtel to Hutchison. Meanwhile, Hutchison already
owns Millicon; a radio-paging operation and is one oi
the existing cellular operators. There's got to be a message in this situation
- essentially that there's probably
too many communications operators across too many
tgpes of services - but whether anyone's taking any
notice of this message up in the ivory towers of Whitehall is doubtful!

The chips are down?

It's not unfair to say that Intel, developers and manus which have powrsonal computers
to go through one

Despite always championing the world over

recent times with their 8080, 8086, 80286, 80386 and
now 80486 personal computer microprocessors, and
despite always developing 'souped up' chips, just to

satisfy power hungry computer and car users and

market-led computer and car manufacturers, it looks
like their experience in the Garden of Eden isn't going
to help them in the wilderness.
There are two reasons why this is so. First, Ford
has recently adopted Motorola as its development
agent for engine management microprocessors and
systems. For the last eight years, Ford used Intel.
who
with
with the most unlikely partner you could ever think of;
Apple.
For years, the only computer which could ever
sustain significant sales
ing I
tible has been the Apple
Not
ot
directly compatible with
a to
nt
operaflng system to IBM's PC-DOS) but it laughed
directly in IBM's face with a much friendlier yet just as
powerful computer system. Consistently, Apple has
never licensed its computersoftware to anyother computer manufacture with the result that Apple computers were, and still are, unique. Even Microsoft,s Windows 3, the front-end system designed to give pCDOS computers just a hint of Apple,s user-friendliness
isn't a patch on the real thing.
Now though, IBM and Apple are in bed to design,
develop and manufacture a totally new generation of
computers based on reduced instruction set computer
(RISC) chips. Apple has now licensed its software to
IBM, and because Motorola has consistentlv backed
Apple with its 68000 series of microprocesso-rs for the
Macintosh, Motorola has the exclusive licence to
manufacture these RISC microprocessors.
This is all rather a slap in the face for Microsoft,
too. They are in the midst of legal action taken by
Apple against certain features of Windows 3 which are
said to infringe the Macintosh user interface so drasti-

In the cellular sector things are getting a bit sticky,

too. Recent

financ

announced by

Securicor show it's

Cellnet fell by
nearly 40% from las
wth in new sub
scribers had fallen dramatically, and the service,s call
rate has fallen by 10%.
Now we're all aware there's a recession and we
haven't seen the worst yet, but there's got to be an

look forward to an authorised Apple user interface,

without all the hassles of PC-DOS.
Paraphrasing my favourite TV personality of the
time, Bart Simpson; Intel, eat Motorola's shorts!Microsoft, eat Apple's.

Keith Brindley

ETI OCTOBER I991

NEWS
A;il":.""'l"tll,'H't::
SouthamPton

ooened in JulY at
Universitv bY Mr Arthur Walsh.
chairman of Northem Telecom
Europe Limited. The lab has been

funded

in full bY Northern

Telecom as Part o{ its investment

in EuroPean-based
research and develoPment'
"This new laboratory at Sou-

programme

thampton UniversitY will be

major cente for high voltage

research in the United Kingdom,"
Mr Walsh said. "lt will offer new

opportunities in the tuaining of

undergraduates while Providing
specialised testing facilities Ior the
cable industY''
Northern Telecom, through its
subsidiary STC Submarine SYstems, has been associated with
SouthamPton UniversitY through
the department of electrical engineering for several Years. Much of
the collaboration has been in
research Programmes relating to

of
underuater cables. A Year ago, a
teaching Programme was deve-

the design and behaviour

loped to comPlement

the

research initiatives.

The dePartment of electrical

engineering at SouthamPton University has an established reputa-

tion for high voltage

research,

focusing primarily on the electri-

cal properties of solid dielectrics

and the long term ageing and
breakdown processes in
polymers. All these areas are of

special importance to manufacturers of cables. STC has collaborated on a number of Projects at

the universitY.

tFhorn Microwave Devices

I Li*i,"d hus introduced a new

state technologY. A verY low

phase noise of onlY 0.1 degrees
rms (-95dBC/Hz) is sPeci{ied on
current units; this will be improved
still further on future models.
Transpax Power suPPlies feature: a choice of modulators for
operating tubes with intercepting,

of compact, lightweight,
low noise, switched mode Power

range

supplied

for modern

coherent

radars, including multi-mode,

pulse compression and doPPIer
systems. TheY are also well suited

to Electronic Warfare (EW), communications and inshumentation

applications.

electrode electron guns; short

harsh airborne environment,

Transpax power suPPlies offer

variable pulse lengths uP to 45

Designed for oPerating in a

high efficiency and

reliabilitY.

They will drive helix, ring looP,

coupled cavitY tavelling wave

ETI OCTOBER I99I

-non-intercePting grids, or focus

pulse performance for high defin-

ition radars; and

continuouslY

microseconds.
For applications uP to 25 kilowatt peak RF outPut Power, the

HT modules are of Potted

con-

and

conduction/air
cooled. Above this Power, uP to
60 kilowatts,liquid cooling is normally required, dePending on

tubes (TWTs) and extended inter-

struction

action klystrons ( EIKs ), operating

from 1-60 kilowatt Peak RF output power with average Power uP
to 1.6 kilowatt.
The high efficiencY of the
Transpax range is achieved bY the
extensive use o{ high voltage solid

application.

Further information contact:

Tony Smart, Thorn Microwave,
Tel:081 573 5555.

LEiectronics Division,

many thousands of hours of tests

in which a range of vehicles from

Enterprises for the subsequent

exploitation of a unique vehicle

and light trucks were subjected to

ucas Automotive, through its

have
reached an agreementwith Cobra

alarm technology. Cobra, the Toronto and Vancouver based advanced electronics company, has
developed an intelligent vi bration
sensing system using sequential
digital interpretive filtering to dif-

ferentiate between specific

attacks on the vehicle like a
smashed window and normal
interferance such as nudges and
bumps or passing heavy traffic.
The system has undergone rigorous tests by Lucas and found to
be totally immune to vigorous

rocking of the car yet able to

detect the removal of a wheel or
forcing of a lock.
The essence of the technology
is contained within a 'golden ball
sensor'. The SDI software developed over many years, has had

Ar['J:::.'''i]'"i#''A"x?i
Society of Great Britain, is the biggest change to UK amateur radio

in25
more
espec

ntended to bring

into the hobby,

people. The

Novice Licence will involve a short

training course, a straightforward

multi-choice examination and an

optional Morse Test. It allows the

world of amateur radio to be

entered more easily than ever
before. It is hoped and expected
that most Novice Licensees will go
on to study for the full Amateur
Radio Licence.
The introduction of a Novice
Amateur Radio Licence in the UK

mini cars up to station wagons

motion and vibration analysis.

This form of vibration sensing and
filtering has been used for some
time in the defence indusby, particularly in anti-tank land mines
where the technique is used to dif-

ferentiate between

heavy

armoured fighting vehicles and

light or so called soft targets. This
e the onlysuccess_
of this technology
rity.
The Cobra system is currently
an OE fit on the SAAB range of
vehicles and. discussions are ai'a-

is
tu
to

very advanced stage

between

Lucas and several European

Vehicle manufacturers for

thl

use

of this, and other technologies in

comprehensive vehicle protection
systems currently under develop-

Division.
Vehicle security

ment by Automotive Elecfuonics

probably the
fastest growing sector within the
automotive electronics market

marks a signi{icant step forward in

the recognition ofthe educational

lX1_,nl".un"t

completion

of amateur radio. The

Novice Licence allows low power
operation on certain designated
amateur bands as a workable and
value

pleasurabe stepping stone to

UK Class A or B Licence.

Training

is

based on the principle of 'leaming

through doing'. Emphasis is on

practical training and the encouragement of constructional and
operating skills. Traini ng progress
is continuously assessed during
the course and understanding
and retention checked and rein-

teur Radio Licence, the

the

above

qualifications are required plus a

pass in the Novice Morse Test (5
wpm), conducted by ihe Radio
Society of Great Britain.
Existing full Class B radio
licensees can be given access to

of
ultiple
examination ch is

forced by means

choice

of

To obtain the Novice B Amateur Radio Licence one must first

successfully complete a practical
training course run by the RSGB
and then pass the Novice Radio
Amateur Examination (NRAE
subject number 773) conducted
by the City and Guilds of London
Institute.
To obtain the Novice A Ama-

full

for the Novice

is

place at the moment because of

the epidemic levels of car thefts
and break-ins throughout Europe.

novice frequencies below 30MHz.

Full Class B licensees are also eligible to become Class A novice
licensees, if they pass the 5 wpm
Novice Morse Test. Such a licensee will hold both a Novice and a

full Class B Licence with both

Novice and full Class B call signs
and pay fees for both licences.
Nevertheless, it is expected
that the UK Novice Licence will
athact people from all walks of Iife
and all age groups. The Licence
may well be particularly attractive
to disabled people where in many
cases amateur radio could be
their doorway to the world.

fhe SR630 can monitor 16

I independent input channels,
each separately configurable for
seven different tlpes of thermoc-

ouple. The front panel digital

reading can be displayed in
degrees Fahrenheit, Celsius or
Kelvin as well as millivolts and
volts - all with a S-digit resolution.

,itu*

@j

rf

| *- .;i

..

;* j'

$iel
..-.,,.

,.."

:Ii@ ji*^

+i ,*i

Each thermocouple input is

scanned 12 times per second.

Built-in digital filtering reduces

noise while all 16 channels can be
sequentially scanned with dwell

times user-variable from 0.5 to

ETI OCTOBER I 99 I

9,999 secondsAudible alarm limits maY be

{or each channel

tflower limits o{

re the

alarm
sounds. AdditionallY, a relaY outfacitilitY
arts of a
closed
fail-safe

mode. Isolated differential inputs

a 250V breakdown

level
allowing the SR630 to be used in

have

difficutt applications such a temperature profiling of electrically

live equiPment.
A printer output suPports two
forms - continuous graPhic striP
chart and a data Printout which
logs the imPortant Parameteis
such as time, date, temPerature,
voltage and channel number'

In remote stand-alone moni-

SR630
000 meanon-vola-

tile

memorY. Data

is

easilY

reoeatabilitY'
When used in control aPPlications or with analogue recorders,
Provide
four rear
ortional
analogue
to

temper

esPond-

ing input channel.

Contact Lambda Photometstored and recalled for convenient

and accurate instrument set

offering instant and

rics Ltd, Tel: 0582

7&334'

uP

reliable

Thurlby-Thandar

TM3487B is a high Perform

ance auto-ranging hand-held

DMM with large disPlaY. The
digits are supplemented bY a 41
segment analogue bar graPhs
The high measurement accu-

racy (0.3% basic) with a 4000

count resolution is combined with
a wide range of features including

True RMS AC, Data Hold, Min/

Max storage, Relative disPlaY and
Frequency measurement' Auto or
Manual ranging is selectable.
This combination o{ high Performance in a lightweight and

X 80 X
is
aPProx.)
2009
and
30mm

portable DMM (162

unique and the TM3487B will find

applications

in

manY different

areas from field service to product

development.

The TM3487B is

suPPlied

complete with Probes and batteries at a price of f89.00 Plus VAT.

Further details contact:
Thurlby-Thandar Ltd, Tel: (0480)
412451..

w ::: ;:-.:H";:: T:,.,lil:

Visual RealitY? What is a Chladni

Plate and how does a microPhone

work? What is an electron gun

and how does it helP a television
work? These are just a few of the
questio4 to be answered in the
\991'192 IEE FaradaY Lecture,
co-presented bY Ph
ics and ImPerial Col

Entitled

i'.ruentv-first centurY.

The Lecture will include stage

demonstrations and film re-enactments of keY exPeriments Performed by FaradaY in the 1830's

and 1840's.
The FaradaY Lecture was
inaugurated bY the Insiitution of
Electrical Engineers (lEE)in 1924
to promote public interest in EIec-

'Years

Leciuie will visit 16 towns and cit-

ies throughout the UK and be

of over
seen by

85,000,
begin in
and end

iechnologies might develoP in the

trical Engineering and to commemorate the life and work of

Michael FaradaY. In 1991, the
bicentenarY of FaradaY's birth, the

tour will

aims of the Lecture remain the

October

same.

18 March

\992.

The one hour Presentation will

look at the develoPment of such

electrical science. The Lecture will

also provide a glimPse o{ the

future by looking at how these

Admission

to the Lecture

is

free but by ticket onlY. There are

usually three Performances at
each venue, with the moming and
afternoon performances being
attended bY local schools.
Applications for tickets should
be made to: The FaradaY Officer,
IEE, Michael FaradaY House, Six
Hills Way, Stevenage, Herts SG1

zAv.

f5

fb, f,\ lh *{q

..r f4 #,'

fhe Pulnix TM6CN series

I monochrome cameras offer

the highest resolution interline

transfer, '/r" CDD imager available to date. The compact package eliminates the need for a
remote imager camera in all but
the most confined spaces. The
camera fits both physically and
functionally, into all types of
machine vision, automated processing and related applications.

{r.. '
f1

.i'.',

Other uses include remotely

piloted vehicles. miniature inspection devices, surveillance, microscopes and medical equipment.

,.,i1

.I"$

The standard

.:\:|.:,

..t.

TM6CN

includes the {ollowing {eatures:

-.High resolution 570H X 460 TV
lines

C-mount
l/60 to 1/10000 sec shuttering

1 lux sensitivity (F1.4)

12voltDC.220mA
Sync and pixel clock output
The TM6CN offers the industrial user easy access to the most
commonly needed adjustments
on the rear panel of the camera.
They are GAMMA 1 or 045. AGC
ON/OFF, and Manual gain control.
The TM6CN also allows the
external selection of eight shutter
speeds (1/60 to 1/10000 sec).
This is achieved by attaching the
SC745 shutter controller to the 6
pin connector. Auto iris outputs
are also available
Other functions including
asynchronous reset, pixel clock
and sync output are obtained via
the 12 pin connector on the rear
of the camera.

Asynchronous reset

fl nlv one in four British comlJpunies surveyed intend to

phase out use of ozone depleting
chemicals faster than required by
EC law Despite availability of alternatives, and new scientific evidence that ozone depletion is wors-

stopped using ozone-depleting

as they are banned

under Swedish law. Jaguar, Peugeot, Landrover, and Vauxhall
failed to specify phaseout date,
and Skoda (GB) Ltd alone
offered no commitment whatsosolvents,

ening at an alarming rate, the

ever.

industry response has been

patchy, concludes a survey

Companies in General Engineering lag even further behind.

launched by Friends of the Earth.

British companies use large

quantities of two ozone depleters
- CFC 113 and 1,1,1-trichloroethane - as solvents in electronics,

precision and general engineer-

ing. Tough ozone protection laws

have already banned used of

Fewer than one in five of compan-

ies specified an early phase out

date. Almost half the companies

in the General and

neering

companies
early

ozone depleting chemicals in

pared to set an

some countries, but in Britain the

ap-

date.

Government's voluntary

proach leaves ozone protection

decision ro individual companies
Friends ofthe Earth's survey of

over 300 UK companies finds

that while some companies are
working hard to eradicate use of
these chemicals, similar compan

ies are making little or no effort.

Almost half of the companies
made a phase out commitment,
with one in three setting a date
ahead of legal requirements. Most
car manufacturers are beginning
to respond to pressure. Eleven of

the nineteen companies contacted made a commitment to

phase out in advance of the \997
EC deadline Volvo has already

10

Precjsion

Engineering categories failed to

reply to the survey. More than a
quarter (28%) of Prec Engipre-

e out

Recent US reports that ozone

depletion is occurring t'wice as fast

as previously predicted have

fuelled calls {or more decisive
action to eliminate use of ozone
depleters. The US Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that the new data could

indicate an extra 200,000 deaths
from skin cancer in the US alone
over the next 50 years.
Fortunately, many EC countries have responded to public
pressure for action to protect the
ozone layer by adopting national
strategies to phase out ozone
depleters ahead of the EC deadline. The UK currently has no
such plans.

he new HY60P audio ampli.

been

I fi". module has

launched by ILP Electronics. It is

particularly suitable for OEMs in
applications which include sound
backing systems, small public
address systems and Hi-Fi equipment.

A 30 watt single

channel

amplifier measuring 80 X 40 X
26mm, the HY60P's input sensitivity is 500mwms and total dis-

tortion is less than 0.015%.

The unit requires five electrical

connections and the only additional components needed are a

heatsink and power supply.
Designed and manufactured
in the UK at ILP's Canterbury
headquarters, the HY60P canies
a tlvo-year guarantee and is the
latest addition to a wide range of
audio amplifier modules available
from the company

ETI OCTOBER I991

Advanced
semiconduc-

tor

N-EWS

H;.ffiI$:+":fift

in semiconductor technologY, has

The plan, MicroTech 2000, aims

to develop bY the end of this

bits of information. But

random-access memorY) chiP'

This would require new technology capable of etching lines 0 15

plan to keeP the US comPetitive

forecast that bY the Year 2000
advanced semiconductor factories will produce memorY chiPs
that can store more than 1 billion
these

olants will also cost about $2 bilii.,.r nuch. and the world will have
only 25 of them, with 10 in the US'

decade all the technologY to Produce the 1 Gigabit-SMM (static

micrometers wide on the chiPs,

about one-fifth the width thai

is

possible todaY.

stobside

Optical flame

detector

tFhe incomoration o{ surface

I mount technologies into the

Housing meets NEMA 1,3,4,

4x,12,and 13.

tJ7652B optical flame detector

enables the sensing, signal-Processing and outPut components
to be enclosed in a single housing'
The unit continuouslY monitors
both the ultraviolet and infrared
sensors, activating seParate LED
indicators i{ a malfunction occurs'

Emitter

Advanced signal Processing

lnlrared beam

power is on and when

switch is activated.

gives this unit the ability to detect

fir". that maY be

PartiallY

obscured, either bY other objects

or their own smoke The manu-

facturer claims a resPonse time of

one to five seconds with a hYdrocarbon fire, and saYs that the sen-

sors

will ignore

intense

sources, such as arc welding' The

unit's modular design allows
maintenance while ii is still online'

Maximum output
current is 7 A.

Detector Electronics CorP',

Minneapolis, Minnesota.

For F{VAC aPPlications, the

temperature contol microProcessor, slows the fan as temPerature
approaches the set Point, It then
runs the fan several minutes after

Micro-

Drocessor

'needs only

the heater or cooler has

low power

microDrocessor that moniund aonoo,. rempetature is said to be a more accurate

alternative to vapour-tension con-

^.
IJlto*

trollersl'

p
o
1

The chiP's low

10PA

to operate

orexternal
controller
has a -40 to 230F range, with a

+/ 0.5F

accuracY.

It

also

measures in degrees Celsius'

Hish

transistor
A,'$:"'i[oo'Tt1ffi ;'if,i

State UniversitY is said to be ihe

first that operates at temperatures

ETI OCTOBER 1991

as high as 300'C The transistor

was built to demonstate that it is

spacecraft.

The single-crYstal, diamond-

been

turned off, to Push the remaining

hot or cold air through the ducts'
The chip also has a 6 or 8 minute
cycle time delaY, which eliminates

rapid on/off switching.

Other aPPlications include
thermostats on recreational vehicles, and control on water-

sourced heat PumPs on boats,

where low Power draw is imPortant.

PSG Industries Inc., Perkasic,

Pennsylvania.

The comPanY is currentlY trY-

ing

to

grow single-crYstal dia'

to use diamond as a

film transistor was fabricated on a

mond films on other substrate

irigh-temperature semiconductor
material.
It is believed that thin-film diamond semi-conductors could
form the basis of integrated circuits that work at around 600"C
and these could eliminate the
need for bulkY cooling equiPment
now used in high-temPerature
applications such as unmanned

natural diamond substrate using

silicon-dioxide lithograPhY and
epitaxy. A highlY-Pure diamond

compounds and substrates to

substrate was used because crYstal imperfections limit the temperatue at which the transistor oPerates. PresentlY, diamond {ilms can
be grown on other materials, but
single-crystal diamond films cannot.

possible

materials. ExPeriments are being

made with di{ferent chemical
solve this Problem. When a solu-

tion is found it will be a major

milestone because most other
substrate materials are much less
expensive than high-qualitY natu

ral or synthetic diamonds.

11

Photo Copy PC

he Not So Easy PC on your

Read/Write page, September issue, complains about the

high cost of creating photopositives for PCB construction. Has
anybody ever considered or tried
using a conventional photocop_
ier. The original can be drawn on
paper, and then by using the cop-

ier's reducing facility, create

photopositive

on an

overhead
(com-

projector fuansparency

monly c
Stoeet
should

p
facility, I doubt if the local comer
shop's copying service could
cope.

It is probably that the thickneqs_.

of the viewfoil material will nof

allow fine detail to be achieved

due to optical dif{raction, but the
achievable limits could be determined byexperiment. Would anybody like to try?.

Colin Long,
Chlgwell, Essex.

erence of the reverse side o[ a

paper foil. It is fine 6or graphical
design work but we consider the
dark areas too transparent to be
used as a mask for the production
of PCB's. One could of course
enhance the contrast with a black
marker pen Assuming any High
Street shop will allow you to put a

have used this idea in the

office to obtain a quick visual ref-

*, We
*'

transparent sheet through

Life, Cash Machines And Everything

am doing some intensive
Iresearch into the meaning of

life and I have come across two

problems which I am unable to
solve, maybe you can help.

How do those 'Hole-in-thewall' machines know that you are

putting a card in the wrong way
round. Even before the card has
had a chance to reach the magne-

tic read head, the card is re{used

entry into the slot.
Secondly, why does my VHS
Mdeorecorder (and my brother,s)
start playing some tapes staight
away, without having to press the
play button whilst other tapes do
not?
Help me please, I'm starting to

need it.

a guess

at the first answer,

the people that build the

machines. NCR, the cash register
people have offered us an article
on Hole-the-wall machines. (See

would suggest the default setting

of the shutter must be closed and
either using a close range magnetic proximity detector or some reflection technique, detection of the

within these pages.) Any sugges'life'problem

uld be grate_

stip in the conect position will

Wilmslow Audio's NEW ranoe of

speaker kits from peerless."- -'
This new range of four kits utilise
CC technology drive units
for optimum performance.

The kit contains all the cabinet

components (accurately
machined from smooth MDF
for easy assembly).
Pictured'here the Force 6,
a large floor standing design.

Hg

Dimensions:
8OO x 275

x 335 mm
Response:
32 HZ - 20 KHZ
AMP Suitability: 30 - t2Ow

ar,--

N(}Rl
il0R1
CAEF

lmpedence:

9eno !4 cn/po wtth request for catalooue.

(Export f6) to the address below.
Also available lor cailers.
FREE
s.

ohms

I lnter comms
I CB I Tools etc.
I Accessories
lor TV-Video
I Teleohones.
CompJter, Audio etc.

Wilmslow
YAudio&
!l 50
t3.50)

DIY Speker catalogue

posl ree (export

Ed.

cause the shutters to open. I will

leave the overall explanation to

M P Scotford, London.
Taking

lffifl
lLasltl

Wellington Close,
Parkgate Trading Estate
Knutsford, Cheshire
WA16 8DX
Tel: (0565) 650605
Fax: (0565) 650080
Tetephone credit card
orders wetcome

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I99I

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INCLUDEVAT**

common line). The

terminal is attached to the

anode ofanoth erzener diode,attheexfteme left ofthe

ii
,,,.,'it

,U.

Burst pfoes in winter

he an alarming
oxperimce. Daae
Bradshnw builds a

cail

an

very cold winter can lead to a

large number of burst pipes
and floods, due to the very low

temperatures.

The

device

here should help

stop your household suffering that fate in winters

tt

The device is based on an integrated circuit tem_

perature sensor, the LM3911, which also contains

voltage regulating zener diode and an op-amp as well.

Fig.

tJ

Circuit diagram of Freezer Alarm.

The way this is used in the temperature alarm is shown

in the circuit diagram of Figure 1. The circuit divides

output, and R4 'pulls'the output voltage up to nearly

the main supply voltage

Fv\

-l

used by the comparator as a reference.

vAa
,-'
-

A
14

unnecessary.

ETI OCTOBER

I99I

.U
-l
,N
-l

s-\

L ,l

-l
-

Constnrction

Fault Finding Guide

Fig.2 Component overlay for the alarm'

larget or much less

Symptom: cunent drawn by the PCB is much

th

(il
th

Ythatthe Power

eckthatthisisth
or solder bridge

wr0ng.

ETI OCTOBER I99I

regulator IC must be used'

Continwd
on page 25

15

bard planet earth. The patterns of ionising radiation

observed by numerous cosmic ray investigitors from
the 193O's onwards are the result of the coirplex
inler_
action of such fast moving particleswith the itoms
and
molecules in the earth,s atmosphere.
Such 'cosmic particles, provide importani infor_
mation aboutthe greater universe Itis consideredthat
the bulk of such particles originate within the Milky
Way, the galary to which planet Earth beloncs. So not
only is planet Earth bombarded by photonJfrom the

electo-magnetic spectrum

in the

ranges

of ,iJi"

waves, infra red, visible light, ultra violet, X_rays and

gamma rays, it is also showered by physical atoms
of
matter &om all corners of the Milky Wiy u.d possibly
beyond. Over the considerable tirne that pla.,lt Eu.th
has been in existence a significant mass of such
cosmic
particles has fallen onto it.

Energy Spectruur
A feature of prirne importance which scientists have
,energy

ENERGY (eV)

Typical energy spectrum of cosmic ray protons

Douglas Clarkson
inuwtigates that elusiae
radiationfrom outer
space.

ile life on terra firma unfolds its

nor

into cosrnic ray particles has been undertaken in order

clues
Asfuonomy.
been obtained
provided much
to provide

amental aspects
nformation has
nvaders, it has
but at the same

of

time raised Other questions about the nature of the

unrverse.

_The early investigators

(J

radioactivity were
charnbers with
f activity able

outer
loons
increa

A-

ol

puzzled by the apparent conkadiction that no matter

to

that the source

but came from
sent aloft in bal-

peaks detected

It is

radiation
particles

H:tfl:5
lly bJm.

investigated is the so called

spechum' of such
particles. The bulk o{ cosmic ray
tarticles are in fact
hydrogen nuclei or simple protons. Figure 1 shows
the
typical energyspechum ofsuch particles incident from
outerspace. In general there are fewer and fewerparticles at higher and higher energies. tt is difficuli
L
appreciate however, the exceedingly htgh energies
which.the fastest particle, po.."rr. Er,"rgI", ur"
tipi
cally described in electron volts where In"
volt is the energy picked up by an electron "1".61.,
when it
passes through apotentialdiffereflce of
onevolt. Unih
of MeV (106 electron volts) and GeV (10e)electron
volts) are commonlyused. The energy of l0zdelectron
volts corresponds to the energy thJ would raise the
temperature of 1ml of water by4. Celcius. This a single
ultra fast cosmic particle can be imagined to deliv?r
quite a 'whack' to any physical ob;ect which
it encoun_
tered.ln fact some impact marks made by cosmic ray
particles have been detected in the space suits
of the
Apollo moon landing astonauts.
Understanding of cosmic ray particles and associated phenomenon have rnatursd s6nslderably with
the advent ofspace research. One of the vital fa.io..
oi

long term exposur to outr space relates to the nature

of radiation hazard which cosmic rav Darticles mau
present. Important studies have been Lndertaken
n.ri
also to rneasur.e the relative energies o{ such particles
but also to evaluate the type and the flux of such parti-

-=

(t)
t-\

(J
-

16

with the earth,s magnetic field

ETI OCTOBEB IggI

o9

o8
o7
o6
F

zu 05

(,)

z o4
o3

o2
30

40

'lO

20

ru

radioactivity levels detected at sea level as a function of

geomagnetic latitude
Fig.3 Variation of

values

bom
obtained
topofth
C" V/n

cles

at the

an15
to the

vertical

640

Hydrogen

94

Helium

Lithium, BerYllium, Boton

1.5

Carbon, nitrogen, oxYgen

Iron (246)

0.24
0.01

Cobalt, Nickel (247,28)

All nuclei with Z

>

0,003

28

Table 1: lncident flux oI nuclei

enet
ed is
o the

the earlh is coniinu00 kilojoulesr/sec received in starlight'

Interaction with the Earth's

Itflagnetic Field

Charged Particles which move in a magnetic field

experience a force which iends ro deflect their Path

from a straight liPe. The

portional to the sPeed of
component of magnetic
The earrh has a relativelY s
paths of
has the property of significantly deflecting the
magnetic
it'
This
upon
cosmic;ay particles incident
field can be considered to be created by a large 'imaginary' bar magnet embedded within the earth about
20d miles from its centre. One set of {ield lines emerge
from the earth near lattitude 79" N, 69' north o{ Greenland (north magnetic pole) and another set emerge at
79" south, 110' east (south magnetic pole)'
This locally strong magnetic field around the
earth distorts the paths of even the most energetic cosray
mic ray particles. The typicalflightpath oi a-cosmic
particle passing around the earth can often be ex'

in.aingty

.o.pl"*

as revealed by computer simul-

ations Jf the flight paths of cosmic rays particles.o{spe-

ci{ic types anJenergies approaching the earth.{rom

path
uurio.ri directions. Figure 2 shows the computed
earth's
the
with
interacts
it
as
pariicle
ray
cosmic
of a
magnetic ti"ta. tt i. therefore quite difficult to predict
the"point of origin of a specific cosmic ray which collidei with the earth. The effect of the earth's magnetic

,5

)
\
F\

o
u

z(,

\2

tourER

RADIATIoN

BELT

the earth' showing how the solar wind deforms

Fig.4 Outline of the Van Allen radiation belts surrounding

the earth's magnetic field

ETI OCTOBER 1991

17

1670 teao r6so loo---io

160
140

120

Cocmic Bag Shorrers

r00
80
60
40
20

200
200

r80

t80
160
140
140

120

120

't00

100

80

80

60

60

40

40

20

20

Fig.S Cycles on-sun spot activity since

1610 showing the appearance of an
approximate ll-year cycle

field is to.deflect particles away fiom the equatorial

zones of the.earth towards the poles. Figure

3 shows

the result of a survey of cosmic ray intensity undertaken at sea level as a function of.geomagnetic
lati_
tude.

(t)
)d

(J
-=

O
v
(J
^-\

18

The levels of radiation in the radiation

belts poses

ETI OCTOBER

I99I

a large solar flare and the interaction of such higher

enerf,y particles within ihe earth's atmosphere'

Elusive Neutrinos

and detect neutrinos.

observation sYstems
neutrinos flux from th

-l-\
\-

=
-

,&
-l

ka

in
tesY

models o{ stellar theorY.

LaboratorY)

nature o{ such potential risks will become more acute

The Sun's ActivitY

ELECTRONS/(m2 sec)

While cosmic ray particles riginaie primarily from

outside the solarsystem, th sun is a finite source of

energy

*utJ

to escape from its gravitational field It is esti

tf,ut the sun looses 300.000 tons o{ material

region of 100 miliion Part

As shown in Figure 4, the e

considerablYthe Pattern o

discovery of the telescope in 1609'

The sun is also a source of cosmic ray particles'
are in the
ith
Energies
tend to be
an
region of

associate

arl

es Thesun

ray
is not identi{ied as a source of high energy cosmic

particles. Figure 6 shows the sudden increase in neu

tron activity detected at earth following the emission o{

ETI OCTOBER I991

Fig.8 Energy spectrum of cosmic ray electrons

19

?
N
H
,r

The importance of the neutrino lies

in the accur_

ate. estimation

of their

vanishingly

.-;ia ;;,

Although their mass is very small, tn""v

a"rl* i_p..t
ance from the fact that their conkibution
t" thn ;;..
of the universe could be significant
il;
;;h"t.
;;;;,
abundance. In theories of cosmology,
k";
q;":i;;
relates to whether the universe is ,closed,
" f" Ifif,"." i.

enough mass for gravitational attraction

t" ;;i^g

about an eventual ,greaf crunch, .,

*n"rn".
which continue to fly out from an initial ,big *1">i,".
bJ"S; *,f l
continue to do so and the universe
ton'.r"rl.
"*puni
explosions tena to.nt"ur"
ti;,;;;;;
,IysmicSupernova
energy in a relatively ,f,ort ti.l pJri.j'a"r.*

wiich a super pulse of neutrinos

is';;f;;#';;

observing the time period cver which

;;.;.rr;;;#
neutrinos can be detected on earth,
u.tronori*'*n-

estimate the rest mass of such particies.

I" 19gt

;;"f

of 19 neutrinos beh,veen t\,vo sites were

detected which
were associated with the supernova

explosion of

Fig..9 T.ypical

spiral path oI electrons travelling in

a magnetic field,

radiating electromagnetic energy

The time spread of detected events put

a
,SN19?71
rower
rrmit on the neutrino mass of 1/50,000
of that ol
an electron Such a value of .".trnu..
i..onr,a*"i

sufficient to create a ,closed, ,.r"r*

".,
ifr.rg"iin"
debate on the neutrino is surely far from
;"";

Cosmic Electrons
While high energy electrons do represent
a portion of
parti

;H:
solar wind tends

to alter significanr, ,n"

- '"''
distribution observed bel:w a6ouf 10
G"V ""lli
Because of the smaller rest mass
of the electron
(l/2000 of.that of a proton),
urn-...".rU
ject to acceleration when intetdcting
"l".tron.
witf,
p..ti
cles or spiralling in a magnetie fielJ
"tf,".
When
are spiralling in a magnetic field, this
"[Jt .";
u..nl".uiio.,
iritt
tend to make the electron emit photons
of u ffi"n.y

'll,l,:9 by the energy of rhe electronl;j;;:;;;

l:f
nerrc tietd through which it is passing.

A l GeV e/ecuon
kavelling through a galactic rnugn"ti.
field of 3 micr
gauss would typically emit at
a wavelength .f 4g M;;
Figure 9 shows the tglrical spiral putf,
oi.r.f, ;;
tron in a magnetic field
"L.
lt

is

also possible for electrons to lose a

significant

portion of their energy lty so called ,b.n,n.

#;hi;;;,
or 'braking radiation' as they suffer sudden
aru_uif,
accelerations as they in
physical mafter

nusrnteractionswith hy
rend to cause significant
gamma ray emission

dustparticleswill
ses detectable as

.l

Origin of Cosmic Rays

lt is assumed that all but the most
energetic cosmic rau

particles originate within the Milky

galaxy. Astronomers are fond
of

20

1U'
10r1

WJy .;; ;;;;

,f-r" ilir"
"r,,r",,rn

1013

l0ls
1017

101s

1,1 107

11 10s
1.1 10rr
1

1013

101s

1,1 1017

Table 2: Radius o

interstellar

The diameter

of the Milky Way is of the order of

, -..
19li k-,so particles with energies greater than about
1016 eV cannot be heldwithin
tn" g.h.;.iii;i,k;bil,
the highesr energy particle. .o-"n f-;
.;;;;r;

side rhe Milky Way.

Thus in terms of life cycles, cosmic
ray particles
given energy will tgpically ."-"i"
;ili;;;
lelow _a-mutt",
Milky Way,. and slowly interact w,th phy.l.ul
over periods of millions of vears.

Summary
It is not surprising that cosmic ray particles
have been a

investigarion. Understandinq of

d death within the Universe Jro_

y of its fundamenral laws. Is
iinot

nsider that numerous atoms of

I ithium within the human body
-";h";;;;;;;,;
from interacrions experienced by
tieavy .;.;i;;;;
particles in remore corners of ti,n
frlilLV Wuui

ETI OCTOBER I99I

1 Plate area increases

2 Dielectlic thickness

decreases

+
FigI Series and parallel capacitance

Paul Coxuell
inaestigates resonant
circuits this month.
used- in combinatlon

a higher
Connecting inductors in series results ln
gives a lower
connection
parallel
uulrr" J indu.ta'nce;
in the
inductance. In this respect, inductors behave
hand'
other
the
on
iapacitors'
resistors.
;;;;;;;.
of
work the opposite way around Parallel connection
and
capacitance
total
in
increase
capacitors gives an
series connection gives a lower capacitance'
Recall the basic laws for determining capacitance

Ec 1698 I bY 90"
EL lags I bY 90"

.'.

EclEL Phase

shilt = 180"

Parallel CZC3 combination:

CA=C2+C3=6+10=16PF
Series Cl/Ca combination:

ClCa

2 x 16

cr=6TlEa=rJlE=1.78PF
Or

1111'l
6i = Ti *6
.'.

cr =

r+i6

= 0.562s

I
0-5625

Fig.2 Total capacitance

t.7ePF

calculations

and you will see whY th

capacitors are connecte
area has been increased
tance. I{ two capacitorg ar

dielectric materials, whlch gives the

single
same e{fe;t as increasing the thickness of a
dielectric.
-'- -a*
tf',e Iormulae shows, the rules for calculating

;;;;;

tup*"L

ETI OCTOBER 1991

45

90

135

portion of the cirused as a refetence. In the eapacitive

cuit E. lags the

tion EJoads th
phase shifts Pl
each other.

As can be seen from the diagram, the inductance

21

":,,:_i.- l'::t : 1, ,,.::... ;, :,".: , :.. ).'-'

.,

.,.1.i1

::.: . _

..;

:i f,tq ,;

.;l 6 ts :ii

F 2,(xr0(l

if.tf+j,..

At Flonant lrsqusncy, ,o:

Xr =

X6,eq1.. O.

At 60Hz:

Xc = 26,5400
Xr = 94O

Cl

4pF

SoXE = XL_XC

26,4460

Al1,OO7HZ

Xc =

2frf

6..n

XL=2tdL=ZS4O

Xc = 1,561Q
Xr = 1,56161 SoXE E XL-Xe 0'l
=
At 8,000H2

Xc
XL

= '1ggg
= 12,5600

SoXE = XL_XC

12,3610

Fig.5 Series resonance

EL

(270')

XL

E tsclive r6atane, Xe
= Xr-Xc = 9lO
So equlvalenl vetor dlagrEm bocomga;

7540

(lnducfive)

XL 91O

:"._:

z =\/F;8, - /5@;eF = 3r4o /

Tan

XE

=0.3033, ro 0 = 16.90

R,

120V
t=E=gffi=sezmr

Fig.4 RLC Series circuits

22

OUTPUT

that at resonance the total impedance o{ a series cir-

voltage o{ only 10V, they are correct'

. i<irchoff i Law regarding the sum of voltage drops
in a series circuit being equal to the source voltage

L^.1

-l
L^./
-l
-

,N

= XL-XG = 0Q
SoZ = R = 504
XE

ET

,IOV

r=7=Edd=zoomr
EL

= lxXL =O'2x2,000=400V

Ec

=lxXc =

0.2x2,000=400V

Fig.7 Reactive voltages in series resonant

circuit

voltmeter connected across the coil and capacitor in

series would indicate zero.
Remember that in any series tuned circuit the coil
and capacitor voltages increase greatly at resonance'
but they are alwayi 180' out of phase, leaving the
resistance to drop the source voltage'

increases above and below that frequency lmpedance

determines total current flow, so it can also be said ihat

lr

--------->

current will be maximum at the resonant frequency'

-l
-

-i

the
the

i."

seri

lf

lc =

3OOmA

lr = lc-lL =

cuit is shown in the diagram.

One other important aspect of the series tuned
circuit is that at resonance the coil and capacitor voltages increase greatly (Figure 7 ) . We have already seen

and lL = 200mA, then

100mA

lr

-------->
E

lL=XL
IE
,rlrr. r" = x"

lr

Itn

v
R

llXL = Xc,thenlL = lcandlr = lr-lc =

Circulating current in a parallel LC circuit

lL lags E by 90'
lc lags E bY 90'

-'.

Ulc are 180" out of Phase

45

90

',lss l8o 225 270

31s

DEGREES

Fig.8 Parallel LC circuits

ETI OCTOBER

I99I

23

<-

examining the circuit during one half-cycle of AC. If a

current of 300mA is flowing downward through the
capacitor and a current of

through the coil, then Kir

sum of currents at a junctio
..---..---->
Capacitor discharges
into coil

flow from the power source. During the next half-cycle

the direction of all three currents will be reversed, of
course.

The second circuit in Figure 9 shows what happens at the resonant frequency. Ohm's Law shows that
the current through the coil or capacitor can be determined from the supply voltage and the inductive or
capacitive reactance. The voltage across each compo_
nent is the same, so if )ft and X,_are equal the current
through each component must also be the same. The

It
form

'.,t"Jflnl

energy
practice

must always

without

l1ll:ffi1

rsource. In

be a cert

would soon cause the oscillation to

The practical tank qircuit, therefore
cunent from the power supply to
cuit's resistance.

etely.

ougi

"

&

Use Of The Parallel Tank Circuit

currents I. and I. cancel each other out at the junctions, resulting in no current being taken from the
Cspacitor lully discharged,
so field starts to collapse

power supply. Even though I, is zero, there is still a circulating current flowing through the parallel LC circuit.

Tank Action
The coil and capacitor combination,s.[own is some-

times
Figure
at the

circuit, because it stores enetgy.

way in which the circuit op"rut",
uency.

Start by assuming that the capacitor is fully

All magnetic tield energy

is gone, leaving capacltor
lully charged

<-

charged with the polarity shown (A). The coil forms a

path through which the charges on the capacitor,s
plates can flow, so electron current flows as indicated.
As the capacitor discharges, a magnetic field starts to

lmpedance

build up around the coil (B). This field continues to

expand until the capacitor is fully discharged (C). At
this point, current drops to zero and the magnetic field
starts to collapse. This
EMF in the coil,

capaci
collapsed

which flows to the

netic field has

).

When the mag-

current drops to

zero once more and the capacitor is fully charged

again (E). Notice that the plates are now opposite in

Frequency

coil; in the capacitor it is stored as an electostatic field

and in the inductor it is stored as an electromagnetic
field.

lr

---------_.>
1

Xc

=R

Frequency

xr =

_------.->
Collapsing lleld induces
current in coil, which
charges capacitor

At 60Hz:

xc = 26.s4oo
xL =
________>

FigI0 Mechanism of
oscillating
current in a
resonant circuit

94!r

so

tc =

E
i;

E
sotr = Ii

10V

= i6,Stoi =

O.szzmA

Fig.12 Parallel LC

circuit as a filter

represents an infinite impedance.

Figure 11 shows how this works. The same com
ponent values have be used as were given in the series_
resonance description earlier. Below the resonant fre_

10V

5ni =

sorc = -xc =

i]lero

tooml

At 1.007H2

xc = 1,58lr2
xL =

t.ss1!2

E
sott = Ii

10V

= srzsmn

.tov

= i53Jii = s.szsmr

At 8.q)0Hz:

xc = 199!r

xr = t2,s6o!2

sob = ii =
sotL =

FigJl Parallel resonance

24

lo = 2n\/LC

llt

<_-

The process repeats...,..

I7f

I
I

E
ii

10V

iEgc- = SO.zsml
lOV

= izlB66u = o.zmmr

reactances are equal, which results in equal (but oppo_

site phase) currents.
Just as the series tuned circuit can be used as a fil_

fer,

lff

Figure 12 shows

Humil,*:

to its highest value, which reduces circuit current to a

mlnimum. As the voltage drop across R is directly pro-

portional to the current, this also reduces the output

ETI OCTOBER I99I

voltage to a minim
quency the tank cir

ing an

increase
increase in voltage
is called a band-stop filter, because it prevents any signals at the resonant frequency from being passed on to

the next stage.

Note that the same formula is used to calculate
the resonant frequency of any series or parallel tuned
circuit. It is the method of connection that determines
how the {ilter behaves

Filters
Figure 13 shows some other ways in which coils.and
calpacitors can be used to select
quencies and reject all others.

At A u

,".i"t

range of required fre-

tuned circuit has been connected

low-pass filter and a high-pass filter, respectively The

{ormer blocks frequencies above a certain value and

the latter blocks frequencies below a certain value lt
will be left to the reader as an exercise to determine

Start off bY assuming

pacitor (saY 0.1uF and

ctances at dif f e rent fr equencles.

Next month we examine transformers'

Freeze

PARTS
tolerance)
RESISTORS {all'/8W or more power dlssipation, 5% or less

later.

If all seems OK, test the device either by spraying

R1

2k7

R2

121

R3

18k

B4

6k6

R5

2M2

R6

470k

B7

1M0

Bt

41k

R9

1k8

"
RV1

lkO

Alarm

continued
from page 15

sub'miniature preset pot, horizontal mountlng'

ITORS

^;
LI

100n, any

c2

2n2, any

n2

10u electrolytic, 16V {or more), single'ended

lC3 is used)
{reduce to 100p non-polarised of

type

$pe

SEMICONDUCTORS

stop the bleePs.

slightly
- Thewitlboard
can now be placed in position' and it
can be attached to the most vulnerable pipe in the

lc1
lC2
lC3
Dl

1M3911

4093 CM0S quad two-input NAND with Scmitt

trigger inPuts
7812 (may not be necessarY

see text)

1N4001 (remove if lC3 used)

solder; lC holder lor lC1 if required (8 pin DlL, see text)'

metres, there shouldn't be any problems'

ETI OCTOBER 1991

25

appears across the lower (ror) half of the bar

under
REGION
OF p-TYPE

MATERIAL
EMITTER

n-TYPE

srLtcoN
BAR

VEE (+VE)

(c)

PARAMETER

2N2646

TIS43

EMITTER REVERSE VOLTS (MAX)

30v

30v

3sv
2

AMPS
300mW

35V
1.5 AMPS

300mW

0.56-0.75
4k7-9k1

0.55-0.82
4k0-9k't

VBB

Fig.2 Basic UJT relaxation

oscillator_

FigI

(a) UJT.symbol, (b) UJT

equivalent circuit.

Ray Marston looks at

U nij un c tion Trans is tor
tnd Programmable

construction (c) UJT

he Unijunction transistor (UJT) is one of

the oldest and simplest of all active semiconductor devices. It first became com_
mercially available in 1952, and for many
years_ was widely used as a general_pur_
pose timer, oscillator, and high_energy prlr" genera_
tor. Then, in the early l97O,r, rnuny of th"re tas"ks
were
taken over by readily avaitable lowlcost ICs such
us th"
SSSlim9J-1a the ubiquitous CMOS range of gut"r,
and the UJT slowly fell out of favour, evenlually"being
rel,egated t9 gnly the high-energy pulse generating
role. A similar fate also fell on its hopeful r"p"lr.n.nn.rt,

Unij unction Transistor

'lUl) principles and
:llcutts.

(MAX)

lp (MAx)
lv (MAX)

5[A

B1

92
E

(TO.92 CASE)

Fig.4 2N2646 and TlS43 UJT data.

+9-12V

<_y-

oI these devices are still

re readily available. This

A2

how to use them in

pract

UJT Basics

within ihe device (hence the name ,uni.lunction,).

Alternative version
of the UJT oscillator.

Figure 1 shows the symbol, construction, und

lent circuit of the UJT.
"quiuu
Base 1 and base 2 form contacts with the ends
of
the silicon bar, and a simple resistance upp"ur.
betuueen these fuio points and measures tnn
.uiln in
either direction. This ,inter-base,reslstance is given
the
symbol Roo and has a tgpical value in the rang:e 4k0
to
12k.
In use, base 2 is connected to a positive voltage
and base
zero volts (see Figure i.),.o i-r.
acts as a
der with a division or .intrinsic
stand off'
at has a typical value behueen
0

26

*vE

ngprinciples' and shows

The Unijunction transistor is a simple device that

con
sists of a bar of n-type silicon material with a
non_rectifying contact at either end (base 1 and base Zl,
iia
with a rectiflng contact (emitter) alloyed into the bar
Ol{t way along its length, to form the only juncilon

Fig.3

4mA

OUTLINE

the PUT (Programmable Llhijunction .i.ansistoi),

VBB (+VE)

5[A

4mA

45 and 0.8. A 'stand-off, voitage of q V* thr.

R3

i *_

l00B

sous

OV

Fig.5 Wide-range pulse generator.

+9-'l2V

,1
t/
>

AV1

R2,
470F.

R4.
10k.

ou,

47ok

:*,=
100n

.L

f./
--s

/1r4r/

02
2N3906

o1

.lTrs43
.R3

.rooR

Fig.6 Wide-range non-linear sawtooth generator.

The UJT thus acts as a voltage-triggered switch

that has a-very high input impedance
1t"o"it.
when the UJT is off and a very low o"n *n"n "-i[;;j
ili,

"r.

ETI OCTOBER

I99I

point at which triggering occurs is-called

the precise
-'peak-point'
voltage, Vp, and is about 600 mV
ihe
above the P,Vu* value.

The UJT Oscillator

The most basic application of the UJT is as simple

relaxation oscillator, as shown in Figure 2' Here, C1 is

fully discharged when the supply is initally connected,
so the emitter is at ground potential and presents a
starts to charge
C1
as soon as the
s Ve
nd raPidlY disthe

- ---------0v

charges C1 int
C1 is effective
Cl then starts
process repeats add in{initum and generates a non'linear sawtooth wave{orm across C1.

BEAM
BLANKING

SYNC
INPUT

OUTPUT

sawtooth generator can be used as a simple

Fig.8 This linear

The oscillation frequency of the Figure 2 circuit is

given

0v

sawtooth generator
with variJble-amplitude ground ref erenced
output.

Fig.7 Wide-range non-linear

approimatel

pendeni ofVru (tYP

change of less than
be varied from abo
to span a 100:1 frequency range via a single^variable
resiitor. The C1 value can be varied from a few hundred picofarad to hundreds o{ microfarad, enabling
the circuit to be used over a very wide frequency range
(from less than one cycle per minute to hundreds of
kHz).
In most practical UJT oscillator circuits an additional resistor (R3) is wired between base 1 and
r to control the disground, as shown
to glve a brief high
Iharge time of C1
C1's discharge A
energy positive o
series with base2,
resisior (R2) may
either to enhance the oscillator's thermal stability or to
enable a low-energy negative-going output pulse to be
generated via C1's discharge.

sw2
r AkHz

Fig.9 25Hz to 3kHz generator produces a non-lin-ear

sawtooth or a rectangular waveform with fully

variable M-S ratio.

RV1

250k

,R2
-180n

BEAT

RATE/

1l

18k

t^-t0ll'

o1

Tts43.

ft^

ri

39k

_}"
22k

'R3
'

tok

100R

[""" \5
'R3

Simple'code'Practice'
oscillator; tone is variable
from 300H2 to 3kHz.

NOTE:
D1-3 = 1N4148

lo'

I
TOTAL

R,I

cl:

H.i

,R2
'

sw3
3kHz

D1

+12V

,r'

I'
I

Fig J0

c1
22n

R4
't

.;
L

808

or
TIS43

LSI

FigI2 Simple multi-tone signalling system'

lroos

Practical UJTs
Figll

Metronome giving 20 lo
minute.

2OO

beats per

The two best known and most readily available types of

UJT are the 2N2646 and the TIS43- The Iatter device
is the most modestly priced of the two, and is used as

ln ihis circuit the switch-of{ action occurs in each

both types of UJT.

Practical Waveform Generators

teristic, and the minimum value is limited by the Iv
characteristic.

ETI OCTOBER 199I

The TIS43 can be used in a variety of pulse' sawtooth,

and rectangular wave{orm generator applications,

27

F4
180R

,,,

R2
3k9

____rT__

t-L
47n
",V

DI
1N4148

o1
Tts43
LS1

8-25R
OV

FigJ3 Simple rising-tone siren.

Figures 5 to 9 show a selection of practical circuits
of
these types.

Figure5showsawide
circuit. A high-energy positive

R3, and a low-energy negativ

across R2. Both pulses are of
similar form, but are in anti-

network and its amplitude is variable via RV3. With the

component values shown the oscillation frequency is
variable from 60Hz to 700H2 via RV1;altemitive te_
quencies can be obtained by changing the Cl
value.
The circuit can be used as a simple osc-illoscope time_
base generator by taking its sawtooth outpui to the
'external timebase' socket of the 'scope anj using the
'positive flyback pulses' from R5 for beam bhnfing.
Th.e generator can be synchronised to any external
si!nal that is fed to the SyNC INPUT terminal.
Figure 9 shows how a UJT can be used to generate either a non-linear sawtooth or a rectangular-wave_
form with an infinitely-variable mark-space-ratio. The
LF356 op amp used here is ,fast, device with a very
high input impedance. When SW1 is in the SAWposition this op-amp acts as a simple voltage
IQOTH
follower, and C1's sawtooth appears u.ror. outp"ui
control RV2. When SW1 is set to the RECTANGLE

phase. With the component

values shown the pulse width

is constant at about
over the frequency
25Hz to 3kHz

(a dj

range
ustable vi a

RV1). The pulse width and

frequency range can altered

by changing the C1 value;

reducing it by a decade
reduces the pulse width and
raises the operating frequency
Figf 4 Light-sensitive oscillator.

12V

30ps

A2
00R

R,I

1008

,-r

-.

.:$i:"1.

RVr
47k
SENSITIVITY

ct

l00n

TEXI)

400v

FigJ6 Light-sensitive AC power switch.

byafactorofl0;C1 can have any value from 100p to

1000p.

A non-linear sawtooth is generated across C1 of

5
r
th

the Figure
is thus not
gained to

vel and

can be
le pNp

Gadgets And Novelties

i
t

i
"-t

Fig.15

emitter follower across the

timing resistor network, s
shown in Figure 6, or by
wiring an NPN Darlington

referenced

supply rail, but that the

Figure 7 design gives a

LJ
N

(J
-

28

lsolated-input AC power switchi Sdect the triac

voltage and current rating to suit the supply and load.

Figure 12 shows a multi-tone signalling system

that consumes zero quiescent current and geierates a

emitter follower across C1,

as in Figure 7. Note that the
Figure 6 circuit gives a fixed

that is
to the positive

amplitude output

variable-amplitude output
that is referenc ed to lhe zero
Fig.17 Alternative tight-sensitive AC power switch.
volts line.
The UJT oscillator can be made to generate a lin_
ear sav,tooth waveform by charging its timing
capaci_
tor via a constant-current generator rather tlian
via a
simple resistance. Figure 8 shows a practical
version of
such a circuit. Q1 and its associated network
form the
constant current generator, and the current
magnitude
(and thus the oscillation frequency) is
variable v]a RV1.

C1's linear sawtooth rruunfor-- is made n**.nutt,

available via the Q3.e4 Darlington emitter follown',

ETI OCTOBER

I99I

its voltage causes the charge current of C2 to increase

via D1 and R2, raising the UJT frequency' Thus, the

UJT's oscillation frequency slowly rises as C1 charges
up, as shown by the diagram's exponential graph, and
the
:til',t':'il3+n:d as a right
n LDR acting as its main timsensi

FigIS Auto'turn-off AC power switch with 5-minute delaY'

cadmium sulphide photocell LDR) falls below a prepotset level, RV1 and the LDR form a light-sensitive
eniial divider which has its output taken to the VJT's
timing resistor via D1. Under bright conditions the
SA!\TTOOTH
OUTPUT

Figl9 Transistor equivalent of the UJT oscillator'

symbol and (b and c) equivalent circuits.

LDR resistance is low and the divider's output voltage

ac is

high
the

plies
presthat
type
any
be
can
power to the load. The LDR
Lnts a resistance in the range 2k0 to 47k at the desired
'dark' turn-on tight level.

Figure 17 tho*t u.l alternative version o{ the

above iircuit in which the UJT is not electrically isolated from the triac. Here, the UJT output pulses are

Fig.22lal SGS sYmbol and (bl

transistor equivalent
circuit.

Fig.20 PUT symbol and basic oscillator circuit'

AC Pourer Control Circuits

ra
its
de

The most important use of the UJT is in AC power

7k
variable wired in series.
res 17 and 18 that, to generate an
suPPlY, the R5 value maY have to be

erating from 115V AC Power lines'

(400V
must be chosen to suit the AC power line used
rating on 230VAC,200Vrating on 115VAC), andthat
its current rating is chosen to suit the load'

The Fiqure 15 circuit is a simple on/off unit

PUTs And Kindred Devices

The action oi a UJT oscillator can be simulated by the
circuit of Figure 19, in which PNP transistor Q1 is in
series with NPN transistor Q2; R1 and C1 control the
circuit's timing action, and R2-R3 apply a fixed voltage
c

?a\
e[o

\/ o )c"
\:-,/
GA

(GA CONNECTED TO

load.

Figure 16 shows how the above circuit can be

modified to act as a light-sensitive power switch that

turns on automatically when the light level (sensed by

ETI OCTOBER 1991

ANODE TO CATHOOE VOLTAGE

ANOOE CURRENT, DC,
ANODE CUBRENT,
SATURATTON

MAx
PEAK
VOLTAGE

(MAX) = 70v

= 250mA
= 2 5A
= 1.4V MAX

CASE)

PIN CONNECTIONS

(equivalent to-the 2N6027 and Dl3T1 )

Fig.24
' -"'- Basic details of the BRY39
ittyri.tor tetrode device, which can also be used as a PUT or SCS'

29

(a)
(b)
Fig.23 (al Thyristor tetrode symbol and (b)

transistor equivalent circuit.

(the equivalent of a UJT,s intrinsic standoff

ratio vol_
tage) to the base of Q1; R5 shunts
e2,s base_emitter

Note that the PUT symbol of Figure 20 is similar

to that of an SCR (silicon controlled rectifier), exceft

HART AUDIO KITS

- YOUR UATUE FOR MOI{EY ROUTE TO UTTITIIATE H!.FI

HIGH QUALITY REPLACEMENT CASSETTE HEADS

t-'
ttt,
Do
top
eve

Telephone or wnle lor your FBEE LTSTS grving luil detatts of

kls, components and special ollers. Featured th-is month rs lhe all our

'

'

eble? A worn head could be the probtem. For

sseite recorder tr".a!-"r,-o,iro- 6"

ieilicei

AUDIO DESIGN 80 WATT AMPLIFIEB

MovtNGilAGNEr ptcxup pneaMCirrr'eii-

--'- *
....7.98

Uselul opnons are a stereo LED power meter and a versatile oassivc

rrcnl eno grvrng switched tnpuls, wrth ALpS precision, lorlv-norse

votume and balance conkols

is very srmple

and
p
v

h all the dlflicult work

ready for;nstanl uael

, even.lhe wring,s
latts ot {he different

our tri?e lists.

BLH-l-0 Beprnts of tatesl Auoro Desrgn Ampldter ad(tes...........e2.70

K1100ctd HABT Consiruclon Manuai witn iutr
ti* ......

Why nol buy lhe

is to.burtd your o
crediled agarnst

....G:;

!rae

Modern-.ulhmale sound systems are evolvtng lowards

an RIAA
preamplner wilhrn the lurnlable und. This keep=s
norse pickup to;
minimum.

ruclron manuar lo see how easv il

uan r*ry. rrp

jl purchase.

iuii

"l1i

J"-,it"

ALPS PRECISION LOW-NOISE STEREO POTS

r
d
e

ona ly easy to build with all the

heioiter mneJ
Even the gotd plated phono

g dirdctty <jn to

ir
To fulfil lhe need lor h,gher quatrty controls we are now,mn6din^
an excrtng new range of precrsroh audio pots rn vatues ijcovei

Kit complete with ,ully macnined case and a j melre tendrh 6r

mhrature power supply cabre is HABT ref Kt 5OO.

QUALITY AUDIO KITS

30

e69.23.

(0691

Fax (06

OLr new SUI,MER 91 Lrst is FFTEE in UK. Send for vorr

copy now _Overseas customers welcome, buipt"""j-_
*nr a r,"t. to

B:!.,3,ff;Jl,r,

"o,.,

s,aiie'ooiii--

652894
1

ETI OCTOBER

I99I

TELEPHONE
ORDERS
may be made on

PCB
SERYICE

0ctober

TODAY INTERNATIONAL
........
.........
Designer
-

""""""""""""' E
"""""""""' E
""""""" """" J
"""""""""""' L
""""""""""""""""' F
"""""""""" M
sided)
"""' J
Board
""""""" N

E9110-1 FreezeAlarm
Egllo-z Document Saver
E9110 3 Proto-type
Sound to Light (double siiled)
E9110 4 Nightfighter
Ramp Generator Board
Nightfighter
E9110-5
Cyclic Crossfade (double sided)
E9110-6 Nightfighter
Egllo 7 Ni;htfighter Strobe Board (double
8 ChannelTriac
E9110 8 Nilntfighter

PCBs for the remaining projects are available from the companies listes in Buylines.
you use the board reference
Use the form or a photocopy for your order. Please {ill_our all parts of the form. Make sure
nr.t"ir. i'tritnot'only ideniities ihe toaid brt ulso t"lls you when the project was published. The first two numbers are
the year, the next two are the month.
proforma invoice if required'
Terms are strictly payment with order. We cannot accept official orders butwe can supply a
Such orders wil noi be processed until payment is received

E9007-4
E9007,5
E9008-1
E9008-2
E9008-3

E9009-2
E9009-2
E9009-3
E9010-1
E9010-2
E9010-3

TransistorTester
Decision Maker .....
AC Millivoltmeter .... .....
Temperature Controller ....
FM Generator
Slide Projector Controller
Ultimate Diode Tester
The Entertainer
Component Tester ..
Active Contact Pickup .
R4X Longwave Receiver

... ..,... C
. . ......

........ .....

.... ..... K
. ......... N

....... ......... L
. .... .. . ... E

..
.

..... ........... D
. ....... ..... G
.... ................ F
................. E

... . .... .
The Autocue (2 boards, 1 double sided) ..
boards)
lnfra-lock transmitter (2
tllltd-ruLn
\4 eusruJ,
....................
lnfra-lock receiver ...
Four-track cassette recorder (record/playback
......................
one channel) ....
E9011-5 Four-track cassette recorder (Bias/erase
.................
oscillator board ........., ..

E9011-1
E9011-2
L>VLL-a
E9011-3
E9011-4

E9O12-l lnfra

N lH
F

E9103-3
E9103-4

Remote Control - Main Board

Remote Control - Display Board ........,.... ... H
Remote Control Timeswitch - Transmit board E
SBC Micro-Controller Board . ..............."" " "' F
SBC Practice lnterface Board . ..... .. ........ " " "' F
5 in 1 Remote Sensing Switch .......... ......... " " E
Remote Control Timeswitch - receiver board F
............ H
Anti Theft Alarm (2 bds) ......
...... . ...... ' ""' L
Ariennes Lights ....
.. ........ ... ' N
64K EPROM Emulator
.......... ......' "" G
SSB Radio Receiver
.. . . .......' ' H
Active Loudspeaker board

Egl}4-l

Testmeter

E911-1

Egl}l-2

E9101-3
E9101-4
E9101-5
E9101-6
Eglr}z-1,

Egl)2-z
E9103-1
Eg7O3-2

Volts

Eg7O4-2 Active Direct Injection Box

E97O4-4

E9104-5
E9105-1
E9105-2
E9105-3
E9106-1
EglO6-2
E9107-1
Eg7O7'2
E9107-3

..

.... ... .

,.. ......... . .. .. E
..,.. ..... . " " F

........ ........... ...'. F

.......... .... F
Digital Tachometer ...... .....
..... .'." " F
Radio Calibrator .............
Modulator Laser 12 boards) ...... ...... ... .....'.' H
........................ . .. F
Thyristor Tester....
. .. ..... . . ... K
Frequency Plotter........,
.. ..... ' " ' F
Laser Receiver
Temperature Controller - Power Supply . ....' G
Temperature Controller - Main Board ...... . . K
Temperature Controller - Probe PCB .. . . ....' F
The Foot Tapper - Volume Control
.......... . ......' J
(double sided)

E9104-3 EPROM Eraser

ETI OCTOBER

I99I

ACCESS or VISA

Price
code

Price
(inc.
vAT)

c
D
E
F
G
H
J
K
L
M
N
o
P
a
R
s
T
u
v
w
x

f,1.80
12.50
83.25

f,4.00
L4.75

t5.50
L6.62
87.20

tE.80
910.60
f,13.10
e15.E0
f 17.90
L2r.8O

f,23.90

f25.90
L29.OO

L32.20

t35.80
f37.90
840.70

. .. , .. ......'. F
. .......... .... . " J

Switch

........ H
The Consort Loadspeaker
Pulsed Wdth Train Controller . ...................... E
Model Speed Controller - Main Board ........... F
Model Speed Controller - Power Supplg ...... . F
... ..... . ......... ... ..... E
Geiger Counter
Hemisync Waveform Generator Board ..., ....... G
Hemisync Pulse Generator Board .. ............. ..... F
E9lO9-4 Hemisync Power Supply Board ...................... C
E9109-5 Nighfighter Main Processor Board . ...... ....... . O

E9707-4
E9108-1
E9lO8-2
E9108-3
E9109-1
E9lO9-2
E9109-3

(o4421
66551

TO: ETI PCB SERVICE, READERS SERVICES'

ARGUS HOUSE, BOUNDARY WAY
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD HP2 7ST
Please supply:

Quintity
*

Ref.

no

Price

Prlce Code

Total Price

Post and packing

LO.75

Total enclosed

Please send my PCBs to: (BlocK cAPrrels

PLEASE)

Name ....
Address

Postcode

CHEQUES SHOULD BE MADE PAYABLE TO ASP Ltd.

31

This month Mike

Beechan prouides the
'7igl poruer interface
for
ttgh pouer output.

32

bout t300 upwards but yet

or cost-conscjous method
at a later date.

ss

ETI OCTOBER I99I

NOTE:
lC1 = NEss32
lC2 = 1M317
lC3 = 1M337
Ql-4 = BC549C
05 = BC109C
D1-3 = 1N4148

BAMP

-'l0v
+12V

PA2
50k

PF3
200k

-12V +

OV

+10v
-12V
0V

PL2 TO INPUT
INTERFACE BI

SET RAMP LINEARITY/

FINAL VOLTAGE
(EOUAL TO INPUT SENSITIVITY)

PB5
SET _lOV (OB -VE VOLTAGE
EOUAL TO INPUT SENSTTIVTTN

0v

Fig.2Zerc crossing detector and ramp generator circuit

.,ij.1r,'
j,i'.j..

i,::..,.'
j1..'.:.'.t.'t./;.".-

dedicated to stoobe use

r which will leave himf
d with a perfectly good

sontrol countless kilowatts

of

lights, namely the

additional control interiace board.

:
.

andsoisreadllYcomPatible

contot iignals

,cankoller. It can be Purcha

improvedand altr

Basic Zeto Crocsing Triac

Srri*ch'Board
urd

The citcuit in its simple state conSists of a kansistor

,"t

'

,
.t.

Present'

S'

ess,

n-stance can be circumvented if the operans a supply of spare boards which can be,
nY RFI'
in a disco

ot

lamps,

riDn {rans{orrnrs or the motor circuth of kinetic

e triggered when conditions
ng current to be established
gate pulse. To aid latching,
tdac load cunent can
(and
duration)
short
additional

e a 'Super-Audio' board which wiil altow

pseudo-random cyeling qf the various

oik coma
lso of{ers
and
triac due
iomeprotection
the
and
like.
EMF
back
to'noise
' The spikes,
dim mable version requires the substitution of
i:e provided by
pri*ed of R5

'

tgsl

thezero-crossing opto-triacwith the ordinary type and

tha addition of L1 toroidal choke and another capacitor, C2whlch provide a measure of suppression of the
RFI which is inherently generated when dimming by
phase conttol.

33

i
I

Conctruction

':

The

ubiq
The
fear.

that
o{.the

eans

If this ts rhe case (another awful.puni[ ihe tuo

options are to either use di{fprent, less dioco.industg
standard mains multipole sockets {or termi,nal blocki
or to use 2U high cases.

LJ
F-r-t

mounted first before moving on to rsore hetgfi1;6on-

-t
r-t

A-

A
34

The PCB for the triac bsard. has been designed in

such a wag that it can either be constructeda. J,i;" S
way board, the 4 way option possibly being most useful
for installation in a Sonsor Switc.hwith m'ains switchi.ng

ETI OCTOBER 199I

regarded as satisfactory although stage dimmer units

do use McMurdo or similar connectors.
The pinout for these connectors is as follows:Earth
Pin 1
Pins 2,3,4,5 Switched Live OutPuts
Neutral
Pins 7,8
Each Neutral and Earth connection to the Bulgin
sockets should be made individually with each set of
eight wires being brought together at the terminal
block end, NOT one or two wires distributing earth and
neutal to alt o{ the sockets.
The cables should be tie-wrapped together into
neat looms and the loom containing wires irom the
Bulgin channel outputs looped to the right hand side
of the case. Each wire should then be terminated at its
respective triac board PC screw terminal The loop

enables facilitates removal of the board from its fixings

without straining any connections and provides a neat
and professional looking internal layout.
The wiring of the unit is the main bugbear of the
construction process principally because there are so
many interconnections between rear panel connectors, fuseholders and the tiac boards, and the mains
voltages involved mean that any mistakes are both
expensive and potentially dangerous! The most
methodical way o{ making the connections is to adopt
the resistor colour code for Channel 1 to Channel 8
wiring, black for all connections relating to channel 1,
brown for channel 2 etc.The cable should be suitably
rated for the load to be controlled-maximum of 5A per
channel. The solder tags of the Bulgin sockets should
all be sleeved and the fuseholders sheathed with insu-

ETI OCTOBER I99I

Iated rubber boots.

tf"X'/6" alumiThe PCB's are again mounted on
nium bar and once the front panel has been drilled in
places appropriate for the unit constructed (the only
holes common to all three variations being the eight
Channel Monitor LED holes).
It should be noted that the guidelines given here
apply equally to the housing and wiring oI a Switch
Pack inside the Master Contoller casing.
Each variation necessitates a slightly different
approach in construction. The dif{erences for each are
outlined as follows.

Zero Voltage Switch Pack

This variation requires one triac board and one connector board (fitted with Remote Disable transistors
Q1, Q2) to be constructed. Zero-crossing opto-tiacs

are used and interference suppression components

L1-8 and C2,4,6,8,1O,12,74,16 are omitted. Each of
the eight LED's is mounted at right-angles to the PCB
so that it can protrude through the appropriate {ront
panel hole. The connector board is mounted adjacent
to the tiac board on the left-hand side of the casing
and power is derived from the rear-panel mounted
EXT. CONTROL IN 15-way D-type socket. The tr.vo
way power supply plug PLl on the triac board mates
with the plug on the connector board.

Full Factlity Dimming Pac.k (Master and

Channel lXmmers c/w Standby/Remote
switches

For this version, an 8-way, fully suppressed toiac board,

PSU, input inter{ace board, ramp generator board and

connector board need to be constructed. The input

35

PL1 TO O/P
SWITCH BOARD
'1600-3 2kHz O/P

o/P
olP
olP
1600-3 2kHz O/P
1600H2 O/P

olP
IOV IN
+'l0v lN
MUSIC IN
OV IN

NOTE:
tc1-3 = t_M324
01-4 = 1N4148

Fig 5 Sound to light

interface board is fitted with 8 channel dimmer pots,

trrro override switches and a master dimmer pot. The
ramp generator board is mounted piggy-back fashion

on the right,hand side of the interface board. Care

should be taken that the through-board pins markedZ
andZ' on the component overlay are NOT inserted in
this version as they will short together the control voltages from the master dimmer and channel dimmer
pots with the consequent destruction of one or more
pots and possibly some PCB tracks. PL1 on the triac
board plugs into the PSU board. Also RV1 derives its
power from pins AA to AA'and from BB to BB'NOT
through XX andYY.

Master Controller Optional plug-in

Boards
The plug-in boards can rggw be tested in the Master
Controller Ensure that each board occupies its correct
slot on the board as although the signal pins are com,
mon to each unit, some power rails are omitted and
replaced with, for example, an audio input signal.

(J
7-v-t
-

rqt
-

A-

A
-

36

Limited Facility Dimming Pack (Master

Dimmer only)
This requires all of the above boards to be constructed,
omitting only the 8 channel dimmer pots and the h.vo
override switches. The through-board pins atZ,Z' and
XX and W are inserted on this version. There are also
links to be inserted in place of the override switches
These will be shown on the component overlay next

month

Setting Up
The PR1 bias preset control on the crossfade board
should be set about mid-position
- the setting isn,t critical - but extreme adjustment affects the low fre
,scope
quency linearity of the triangle wave
or an
-a
analogue voltmeter are the best instruments to have to

hand for this adjustment. PR2 should be set for 5Vand

PR3 for 10V - again if the waveform is viewed on a
'scope it should fall to
to

deviation from

these
the

the smoothnesS of

es
nb

Stobe Board
The adjustments on this board are pR2 which set the
Mark time of the oscillator waveform and pR1 which
sets the maximum strobe flash rate. pR2 should be set
using a 'scope according to the strobe manufacturer's
specification.lf this is not readily available, RV2 shoutd
be set for a long space and PR2 for a short mark.
Should the strobes fail to trigger, increase the mark
length until they do so. PR1 should be set according to
personal preference and with relerence to the maximum flash rate attainable at maximum light output
from the strobe units to be used most strobe units
trade-off light output against flash rate. It should also
not be forgotten what was mentioned earlier about
flash rate and the incidence of dis-orientation and
epilepsy.

Sound to Light
PR1 4 are the only adjustments to be made on this
board. The bestwayto adjustthese is by using an audio

frequency generator to 'squeak' through the normal

audio frequency range, adjusting each preset so that
there is equal response from each associated filter
within its passband. Failing this, each filter should be
adjusted for reasonable 'response with normal
programme materia)_

Ramp Generator
A dual trace 'scope is a most useful jnstrument to have
to hand for precise adjustment of the Ramp Generator
so that the mains inputwaveform and the output of the
zero-crossing detector can be viewed simultaneouslu

ETI OCTOBER I99I

although PR1 can be setreasonably accuratelyusing a

DMM. PR1 should be set for 3.5V on an AC range or
for an narrow a 12V pulse as possible. PR2 sets the
ramp linearity and its final voltage - for use with the
circuity in these articles and for most dimming equipment ln the commercial world, it will be set {or 10V
although one manufacturer does use a 0-5V DC conhol signal. PR3 is set such that the resistance which it
presents to IC1 pin 3 is equivalent to the combined
resistance of R12 and PRz. PR4 should be set such
that IC2 output voltage is equal to the ramp finalvoltage and PRS for an equal and negativevoltage atIC3
output.
There are no adjustments to be made on the
Input Interface board. All that is now needed is to plug
all ol the previouslg set-up boards and the External
Control In socket into the board, leaving the connection to the triac board for the present. With power
applied and the two Standby/Remote switches (if fitted) in the Out ie Remote positlon there should be no
front panel LED's lit. Advance all of the pots lrrlly
clockwise and press SW1 and SW2 ln turn. LED's 1 to
4 and then 5 to 8 should come on at full brightness.
Tuming the Master Dimmer anticlockwise should
smoothly dim all eight LED's simultaneously while
turning a Channel Dimmer down should smoothly
dim that channel only.
Disconnect power and connect a 15" piece of
insulated wire bared at both ends to the *12v terminal
on the PSU. Reapply power and touch the bared end
in turn to each channel input pln on the triac board this should cause each LED to light in tum If this is the
case, connect the interface output plug to the Connector board - the LED's on the triac board should now
mirror exactly the front panel Monitor LED's.
Switch off again and connect the triac supply
wire(s) to the Live terminal in the terminal block. Beg,
borro',y or steal a 100W light-bulb, holder and some
connecting wire and connect one tail to the Neutral
terminal and the other to the PC screrv terminal of
channel 1. Reapply power and the lamp should be
glowing if none of the front panet contools had been

lt should be possible to
smoothly alter the brightness of the lamp {rom off to
{ully on using the {ront panel pots. Any flicker means
that the gain of the opto-triac is low and necessitates
lowering the value of RZ drive resistor.
This routine should be followed for each channel.
The switch board should be tested in a similar maflnEr,
poWering PLl temporarily from the Master PSU and
touched in the meantimp.

using a *10V feed Irom the PSU output terminal to

fire the triacs. Once the triac board is verified as completely working it should be installed in either the Master Controlier or Dimmer cabinet as appropriate.
All that now remains is to make up an 18" 15-way

HO\ff IT WORKS
ZERO CR0SSING DETECrcR

& RAf'tP GENIHAT0f,

A fullwave rech'fied but unsmoothed \crsion ol the AC secondary

waveiorm is applied via PR1 and R2to 01, Ewrytimethe inputfrom the
bridge drops below about 1V 01 is biased ofi aM thecollector swingsto
+10V Wher

thecollector goes negative 4ain,0[ is biasedhard offfor

very sho( period deflned by the C1/R5 combination. This putse ls

applied to the leading edge deterts comprised oi C2,

outputwaveiorm at03 collector

is a

f5

and 03. The

nanow, negative-going pulse which

is exactly coincldent with the zero crosslngs

ofthe 50Hz waveform. ltis

invened by 04 and applied to the trigger inputofthe saMooth generator

of lCt and associated components. lC1 isbaslcally an integratorwith a
clamping transishr0S added,this resetting the capacitorlorcrovolts 8t
the end ofeach timing cple, When the triggerinput is high,the circuitls
in hold mode, R11 holding 05 in uturation wlth R13 in parallelwith C3
causing the output to be essentially zero votts, When the trigger pulse
goos loq Dl steers the current in R1l away from 05 by reverse biasing
D2and D3, turning 05off and preventing any'sneak path'cuHent{low

ftom the summing point (which would atter it|.

The circult hen lntegrates at ltiC3 V/s until the trigger voltage
swings highagain. PR2 and the R12iC3 combinationarc chosen to allow
the output to ramp to 10V in the required 10ms (hall mains ryde). PR2
thussetsthe outputvoltage atthetop of theramp, andunlessthereader

is interfacing the dimmer with commercial control equipmefll

eontrol snsitivhies different fmm 10V

itwill

truith

normally be set for+l0V

output
lC2 and lC3

generateplus and minus'l0Vsuppliesfromtheplusand

minus'12Vrails oithe PSU,

as

the op-ampson the inter{aceboardoperate

on different supply rails from the rest of the boards in the series,

ETI OCTOBER

I99I

37

Fig.7 Triac

switching board overlay

t, .j

:
:

@filHoL ll{IEEfACE
.The r6mp.fromthezero

its corecl sense ie fully dockwise is 'fully on', the 0V and +l0V
om$singdetectorlsapplied tothe non-iaverting

connectionsto RVI are reversed by connecting it through pinsXX and

YY.
Jl(1 isthe REMOTEDTSABLE jack whhh

opens$closesthebilateral

orihh

lC's and aflows the EXT, C0NIROL signals through to the

STANDBY/REM0TE switch when the signal on the tip' contacts is +l0V
The C0NNECTOfl 80ARD was usd on the Master Controller to
parallel together the CHANNEL M0N|TOR LED drives and the low

vo[4e

C0NTR0L 0UTPUTS, lt is used inthe'Power Packs'h onnect

the triac board ohannel inputs and the lnput lnterface board ouSuts
together and also to mount two tansistors 01, 02 and associated
components which provide the RIM0I'E DISABLE{unction tor thezerovoltage switcfi packbycontrolling

;thd

ii

EXIERNAL co$trol.vottageforthe channel under srrutiny is 10V, ie

,t:
,

iully

0!,

th3r the

sIA

andthattheCHANNE

landis

ttc

swireh is in the HEM0TE

configuntion, 01, 02 is pourered from

f0rS0%brightnesslevel.

socketon the rear panel and conlrolted by the voltage on

15

way

EXT.

C0NTfi0L lN

he

REMOTE

D|SABLEjack, providing drive onlyuvhen unit is enabfed.

Hfifi,H$Jftf;l,1iffl:

:,

I,

when the +10V isswitchedtothetiac

board,+10V is provided via PL1 from the PSU. The dadingtontransistor

sinPutisderivediromflVlol

i;'^botr.t
.. veryI

There are three optional lighting effect boards whieh plug into the
Master Controller, namely a

Channel Sound

that

Channel Cydic Crossfade board and an

ialff

mount piggy-back fushion over

and

to Lighi

board, on

Channel Strobe board, These

he three principal control boards and

plug into the output switch board and main procesor board
respedivety,
T1rc Sound

to light board takes the gainrontrolled music sigrral

from the 8as BeatTrigger board and splits it into four octave-6paced
frequonrybands,the signa{fiom each band being rectifiedandused to

(J
Fv-t

chatge a capacitor to the mean DC level ofthe signalatthat liequency.

The octave-wide'holes'in the spectratspaeing ofthe filtes mean that

dropouts occurwhenan instrument hitsthe guard bands between fifters,

ddlng considerably to the liveliness oi the disptall lt also means the

harmoniccontent of music doesn'ttum ail thetamps onatthe same lime.
The Crossfade board provides a dipless crossfade, dimming one

lampwhilstdimmiag up the adjacentlamp, thesequencerepeuting

--,

onlysuccessfully be used with an sxternal dimming pack,

The Strobe board uses

A-

A
-

38

ina

cycle.The speed is adjustable via the frontpanel SPEE0 control. lt can

ttp lower40 ofthe

se

80 patternsavailablefrom

& containingfillor

empty r{utines

strobe lighting.

hls unlikelythe readerwill wish to constructaltthreeofthe bolt-on

goodleq ratlerthal he orshe build thosewhich k$applytothe display

,j.

fWduruitioqytif'the HXr.t0NTft0!V0LTAGE$,Soflre

potoperatesin

to be controlled,

ETI OCTOBER 199I

HOW IT WORI$
CYCLIC CROSSFADE

The Crossfade board consists of two main seclions

a very low

frequency function generator which provides the square and triangular

waveforms and

a CM0S

analogue multipexer which route the

waveforms to the appropriate channel outputs at the correct time,

The function generator comprises lCla and lC2, lCla forming a

comparator with hysteresls and lC2 an 'ideal' integrator which

simultaneously generates ultra-linear triangle waveforms and

female D-type to 15-waymale for testing of the remote

driving facilities of the Master Controller. Pinout connections given in Table 1 will be later. The lead should
be connected to CONTROL OUT on the Master and
to EXT. CONTROL IN on the remote unit. The remote
unit should mimic exactly the Channel Monitor display
(if no override buttons are depressed and no Remote
Disable jack is inserted).
Inserting a ll4" iack plug into the Remote Disable socket will disable the remote unit.

symmetrical square waves.The timing components, B5 and Cl set the

integration and hence positive and negative ramp rate and thetwo zener
diodes set the positive and negative voltage limits of the waveform.
There is also b network, 84 and

BV'1,

The problem in our application of a

circuit of this type is in the very long time constants involved which
would normally involve impracticably Iarge non-polarised capacitors
{for long fade rates) and very hard-to{ind (impossible?) high value

Next month we will present more constructional

aspects of thd two units described so far including the
case, front panel and board interconnections. The six
overlays for the master controller will also be presented

variable resistors. The B network placed between the clamping diodes

and

thetiming resistor

R5 varies the

fraction of

Vz

that

is

.U
-,&

i-\
,l-

-t

- L^l
-

fed to R5, and

thus the input cunentto lC2 which consequently increases the dynamic
range very easily to 1000:1. With the components values shown, the
ramp rate is variable from about 2Hz to

0.0'1 Hz.

lCld and lClc are both diflerential amplifiers used to shift the
bipolar outputto the 0-lOV DC swing required bythe dimmercircuits and

lClc

providing an inverting function

of the

triangle wave whilst

preserving the 0-'10V DC swing.

The square wave is used to clock the two binary counters of lC3,
lC3a advancing on the rising edge of the clock and lC3b on the trailing
edge. C4, R26 combination reset both binary counters on power up. The

0 outputs of each

counter address lC's 4 and 5 eight input analogue

multiplexers, lC4 inputbeing the inverted ramp and lC5 input the original.
101

outputs comprise channels 2 to 8 (even) and lC5's are the odd

channels, I to 7
We shall consider the case where both sets of addres lines are 00
and the ramp voltage outputted to channel '1 is almo$ lOV ie lamp

almost full brightness. At the instant that the ramp voltage reaches 10V,

the clock alters state and the rising edge clocks lC3a changing the
address lines of 101 to 01, The ramp input, now connected to output
channel2on l0lisat0Vand ramping upwhile lC5ramp input isfalling.At

Fig.8 Zero crossing detector and ramp generator overlay

the instant that lC5 input reaches 0V, a Ialling edge clock is generated,
lC3b clocks and the now-rising ramp input of lC5 is outputted to channel
3.

This sequence of events continues ad infinitum, lC6 and lC7 simply

PARTS LIST

buffer the multiplexer outputs,

SOUND TO LIGHT

TRIAC BOARD

The Sound to Light board consists oJ four octave-wide two pole filters
covering the ranges 50 to 100H2, 200H2 to 400H2, 800H2 to '1600Hz and
3.2kHz to 6.4kHz. Each filter has a 'ldB pasband dip. The filter
implemented using

multiple{eedbacksection

is

for each ofthe two poles

and the filter has a 0 of 3,2. The centre frequency of each filter is
determined by (f2 x f'l ) {fl x f2) wfiere f2 and f1 are the upper and lower
requencies respectively,

Each

filter input is irst amplified by lCla to lC'ld, the gain of the

RESISTORS
R1,6,11,16

10k

R2,7,12,17

470R

R3,8,13I8

C20 via diodes D1.4 and so a DC voltage representative

ol the

mean level ol signal at that frequency is outputted to the 0utput Switch

board.

lk
1808

R5,10,15,20

100R,1W

CAPACITOBS

cB,fr

100n 250VAC W0BKING lnterference Suppression

C2,4,6,8

*$ame

amplifiers being set by P814. The four filter outputs charge capacitors

Cl7

R4,9,14,19

Capacitors

TlC226D 8A Triacs

tc1-4

M0C 3041 Zero crossing opto-triac

tM0C

3020 opto triac

The Strobe Board is an optional ertra which plugs into the Main

01-4

BC549C

Processor Board and from which itderives its power and control signals.

LED1.4

0l'or

consists ofan oscillator whose frequency is user- variable from about

17Hz via the

front panel STROBE/CROSSFADE SPEED pot, a series ol

AND gatesenabled on one input bythe data linesofthe EPB0M (0/P'l to

0/P

8)

and on the other by the LF0.

Theoscillator itself is enabled bytheSTR0BE/ENABLE linewhich is

fitted only to dimming version)

Tr1-4

STBOBE BOARD

It

as above,

SEMICONDUCTOBS

0.2" red LED (SEE TEXT)

MISCELIANEOUS

Ll-4

*150pH

P1l,2

2-way lVlinicon latch plugs

PCTERi/1-4

2-way PC screwterminal (Maplin FI38R)

5A Toroidal Choke

off high power vaned heatsinks (Maplin FL58N), SIL socket $rip (see

switched by the STB0BE pushbutton on the 0utput Mode board and

text), Triac PCB, Heatsink mounting hardware, 0uantity of 2.5mm2

which also limits the sequences available to those held in the lower

stranded insulated wire (see text), lnsulating sleeving, SK1, 8 way

of

thE EPROM.

Minicon Socket-lead assy

The outputs are buffered by transistors 01-8 before connection to

strobe

jach

JK3-10 on the rear panel. PR1 sets the max. flash rate

attainable as it has been proven that prolonged exposure to strobe light

inthe frequency range 15Hz causes break-up ofvision, or more seriously,

fits in those who suffer from epilepsy.

ETI OCTOBER

I99I

SK2, 2 way Minicon Socket-Socket assy

Parts

li$ above

is for four channel version-double the quantities

of

components shown for an eight channel version.

Parts denoted thus (*Toroidal Choke) are

fitted to the dimmer version

only.

39

l'
r

PLz,

6 way Minicon latch plug

SK1,

4 way Minicon latch socket-assy

SK2,

6 way Minicon socket-socket assy

socket to suit, PCB, veropins

lC

CYCLIC CROSSFADE
RESISTORS

81,4,6,7 12k
82
R3
R5,8-15,18-25,26
R16
47k
R17
P81,2,3 horizontal preset
RV1
2M2 linear pot
4k7

680R

8@

100k

10k
10k

CAPACITOBS
C1

10p non-polarised electrolytic

c2,3,4

100n disc ceramic

polyester
C5
SEMICONOUCTORS
1c1,6,7 1M324
100n

tc2

NE5534

lc3

4520

lc4 5

4051

01

BC549C

201,2

5V1 300mWzener

MISCELLANEOUS
3 way Minicon latch plug

PL1,

SK1,
lC

way Minicon Socket lead assy

sockets to suit, PCB, veropins

4 CHANNEL SOUND TO TIGHT

RESISTOBS

R1-4
R5-8
R9-12
R13-16
817-20
PBl-4

a
z
o
F
o
u

zz

22k
4k3
43k

2k4
24k

o
o
o

CAPACITORS

C1,2,9,10

220n Polyester

C3,4X1,12

56n Polyester

C5,6,13I4

'lSn

CZ8J5,I6

3n6 Polystyrene

c17-20

4p7 16V Radial Electrolytic

E
6
E
l
o
E
F
l

100k horizontal miniature preset

Polyester

SEMICONDUCTORS

Fig.9 Control lnterface overlay showing only two channels

1c1,2,3
D1-4

1M324
1N4148

MISCETI.ANEOUS
lC Sockets to suit, PCB, Veropins, 12 way Minicon plug

PARTS LIST

STROBE BOARD
RESISTORS

RAMP GENERATOR

RES|SToRS *
R1-4,6-10 10k d
R5
Blt
47k
R12
R13
l00R
R14,15 240R
PBl
horizontal preset
PB2
horizontal preset
PR3
horizontal presel
PR4,5
horizontal preset
polyester
Cl
C2
750p polystyrene
15k

100k

20k

50k

200k
5k

CAPACITORS

12n

SEMICONDUCTORS

lok
270R

680k
100k miniature horizontal preset

lM

miniature horizontal

2M2linearpot

CAPACITORS

100n

polye$er

100n disc ceramic

MISCETI-ANEOUS
PL1

PL2
SK1
to suit,
JKI-8
lC sockets

3-way l\llinicon plug

12-way Minicon plug

3-way Minicon socket-lead assy

PCB, veropins

1/4' mono jack sockets-panel mounting

MISCELTANEOUS IO COMPLETE SWITCH/DIMMER

tcl

NE5532

tc2

LM317T

tc3

LI/3377

01-4

BC549C

05

BC109C

D1-3
MISCELI.ANEOUS
PLl,

R1-18
R9-16
R17
PR2
PRl
RV1
Cl
C2-4

tN4l48

SKl

15-way D-type socket

sK2

15-way D-type socket

PACI(

JK1

1/4" mono switched jack socket

FH1.8

5x20mm panel mounting fuseholder

BULGIN1.4

Bulgin octal socket

lU black anodised front panel, case to suit (see text),20mm gland,

30A terminal block, 5A connecting wire 6VA PSU.

4 way l\ilinicon latch plug

ETI OCTOBER

I99I

rilL iirt
n,.i

il:t
{1+

.ln

PRl

c17 C18 C19

C20

@@@@
.H ,H H-H
o

THROUGH BO

=THROUGH BOAFD CONNECTTONS

FigI2 Strobe board overlay

PF1
,BIAS

tXir

iiL

Figll

PB3
10

SET

il::

EI H

Sound to light overlay

{i.:}

PR2
'SET 5'

PL2
r'-?1

@@@

l:li

I
l li:r I

l'rl

PLI

o
O

= THROUGH BOARD CONNECTIONS

FigI0 Cyclic crossfade overlay

ETI OCTOBER 199I

sr

.$,

#,

Daaid Bradshaw builds

a mains failure alarm to
uarn of possible data
(l

ower cuts are frequently preceeded by

mains voltage reductions, so a device that

lets you know when the mains voltage

drops significantly below its normal level
can be an invaluable 'eariy warning'. This
computer users, who may

/oss.

the warning tone.

The power supply uses a capacitor to reduce the
mains voltage; because capacitors have pure react_
ance and no resistance, the capacitor C1 does not dis_

k, but many others would

cut useful.
The heart of this device is a voltage comparator,
which uses an op-amp with no feedback. Other sections of the circuit include power supply, which
also is used to provide a refe ce roltage to th".o-parator, a potential divider which reduces the mains

negative voltage (or any voltage less than that on the

capacitor).

ffi

The potential divider uses D3 to rectifu the

incoming voltage, then resistors R1 and R2 form the
upper arm ofthe potential divider and R3 and R4 form

vol

42

r can deal

i*lY;

ofpote
atpointAtocharge
itive voltage, but dis
ing as a sort

oltage
apos_
is at a

ETI OCTOBER 199I

the lower arm. The reason why t'wo reslstors are used
for the upper arm is so that if one resistor fails, there is
still the other to prevent a dangerously large current
from flowing (which could lead to a fire). The lower
arm is divided so that the smaller resistor, R3, can be
shorted out by a switch to simulate a drop in the mains
voltage. The voltage given by the voltage divided is not
a simple function of the two reslstance arms, because
the input is AC but the output is DC. If the mains voltage in your area is different to those for which component values are given in the Parts List, you can calculate the required value of R1*R2 needed from the formula:

R1+R2

4.05xV,"-21.2 (kA)

where V," is the RMS mains voltage (the figure usually

quoted). Choose two resistor values for R1 and R2 that
when added together get fairly close to the required
value, say within 25k, using an E12 value. Try to make
the two resistor values fairly similar, if this isn't possible
then do keep them both above 100k.
The comparator is a simple open-loop op-amp,

E
,N

timeter to the current range, connect it between the

battery positive and point A and measure the current
the unit draws-it should be a milliamp or so with or
without the bleeper going.
The next step is to fit out the case: if possible, use
the ppe of case the prototype was built in, which has

the plug connections built in; make sure there is

enough room inside to fit all the components. The case
the author used, from Maplin Electronic Supplies, has
an internal plastic frame which the PCB fits into. The
sounder has to be fixed and a hole drilled to let out the
actual sound. The hole must be very small so that even
a child's finger cannot touch the sounder itself. In the
prototype, the sounder was glued to the case behind
the hole using epoxy resin adhesive.
If you cannot use a case with built-in plug connections, then youwillhaveto use a twin-core mains cable,
and provide some way of clamping the cable in the box
so that even a strong pull will not loosen it; there are
special cable clamps available.

j--\
-

L^./

-t
-]

with one voltage coming from the potential divider,i

rectifier and the other from a simple resistive potential
divider between the positive supply and the common
line. This uses a preset potentiometer so that the voltage from it may be adjusted. Because ihe vohage from
the potential divider/rectifier goes ro the inverting
input, ihe output of the op-amp r,.ili be loru as long as
the mains voltage is above a certain value determined
by the resistor values in both porenial dividers
The final stage is the bleeper ,.\nich uses some
CMOS logic gates. There are in iaci :*o oscillators,
one around lC2a/lC2b which is a s.ou oscillator, (frequency approximately 3 Hz) is ci i.indl the output of
IC1 goes high, and a iast osciliaio: around lC2c/lC2d,
(frequency about 3 kHz) q hich cr,i'e. rhe sounder via
R11. It can only operate i,.hen te ouput of IC2b is
high. The result is that the :o.e cu?ut is interupted
several times a second

Construction
t

lrr-e:c -;e:nains. there are a

number of important po:n:: -i:.:c:r must be observed
with the design of the case icr ::,e unit and during construction. The mosr ir,..:o-::: )o::rIs are:
o Make sure that norhinq .:,, e car be touched with the
box closed
o Never operate the u::: .i-:--:3;i a suitably rated fuse
o Use components as s:e:.:ec for C1, D3 and SW1
o Where available use a s:ecral 'plug in' case.
As this project i-. co::.ec:ed to the mains, I would
strongly recommenci us:rg .;e PCB shown in Figure 2.
Start by positioning ii.e l:e holder and capacitor C1
to check that the."- rr i-l :: T:en fit the PCB pins for the
off-board connectio;rs io :ie sr,r,itch. Then fit and solder all the resistors. ali -.r.e capacitors except C2 (making sure you get C3 ne nght way round), then preset
potentiometer and i:,e .rrse holder Fit the diodes D 1 -3
andthezenerdiode ZDi. raking greatcareto getthem
the right way round Tne ICs can be inserted and soldered at this point. ani:hen C2, which may have to sit
a bit above the boarC because of its width Solderwires
for the connections ro -.he mains supply and to the
switch, and also connect tbe wire to the piezo-sounder.
Note the polari4, on rhe connections to this.
Borrow a 9 r'oit battery, and using your multimeter check that is roltage is not much over 9 volts
(sometimes very nal baneries can have voltages quite
a bit above their no,-ninal voltage). With the battery
negative terminal io common connect the positive
terminal to poinr A This should make the unit start
bleeping. The wire soidered to point B (forthe connection to SW1) shoulC be tacked to the battery positive
and this should silence the bleeper. Switch the mulBecause this circuit is

ETI OCTOBER I99I

Fig.2 Component overlay for

the Document Saver

A hole willbe needed for the test switch SWl; this

should be mounted in such a way as to prevent the
back of the switch coming into contact with the components on the PCB. On the prototype, this was
achieved by pushing a short length of heat-shrink
sleeving over the back of the switch once it was
mounted with the leads attached to it, then using a
hair-drier to get the heat shrink sleeving to actually
shrink on to the switch, to cover the contacts completely. (A soldering iron can also be used to shrink the
sleeving, bm this tends to be quite tricky as touching
the sleeving scorches it, so you have to place the bit
right next to the sleeving without touching. ) The connectio for the mains should be made next, if the special
is used it will probably,be better to remove the
plug pins to solder the connecting wires to them.
The time has now come to try out the unit by connecting it to the mains. Close up the case and plug it in.

ca

The unit should start to bleep immediately, possibly

falling silent after a ten to twenty seconds. If the unit
doesn't bleep at all, there is something wrong so
unplug it and try to discover what is wrong from the
fault-finding chart.
If this test is OK, disconnect the unit and open the
case. Now find some way of adjusting the potentiometer RVl without risking an electric shock. If the potentiometer has a plastic case and a plastic adjustment
point, then you can use any screwdriver with a plastic
handle to adjust it. If, on the other hand, the adjustment tool is metal, itwill be connected to the mains via
the circuitry and you must use a screwdriver with an
insulated shaft as well as an insulated body (a mains

tester screwdriver would be suitable or you could

improvise a suitable screwdriver by covering the shaft
up to nearly the tip with heat-shrink sleeving). Alternatively, there are plastic trimming tools which you can
buy for very modest cost.

43

GUIDE-

EAULT FINDING

Symptom; No tleeps

wlen hattery rsnnected htween A

and

c0Etlll0lr
Checkvohage onl0l pin 6;ifthisis high (ie nearly batteryvoltage) then
thereis alauhin lC2 sr asociatcd circuitry; ,ifthe problem is notdueh

SymptomrBleeps donot $opwhen

+

piflt

g i$

conile{ted t0bettery

terminal

CheckvoltageonlCl pi
2volt4ewhichshould

$ymphn: unit doesn't

RE$ISTORS (alt1l4W5% or lower toleranceRl and R2 mustbe of

typos whidr hwe a nraximum vueirking voltage of at least?& volts
ACI

4?ft

R3

3k9

f4

33k

R5

15k

H6

101

H7

4M7

R8

39k

RS

1M0

RIO

39k

a
mltagemngeb
ofwiretothe q

lderingexirapiec0s

Then, withthe unh

wellalvayfrom youend one hand behindpurback,applythe mainstoit.
The meter should

red

between 8,5 aad 10volt& lfflot" dis{onfloctthe

:ener diode and thecorrectorientation of

C2.

Symptom:Unit eannot be adjusted to stop bleeping

Attach muliimeter [eads belween point B and common, soldering on
small lengths of wire if necessary switch

multimeterto I0VDC range and

coflBect unit to the mains, with one hand hehind back The

shouldbe4.l voltr{3.7v0}tswith SWlclored},

are

[f it is much

vottap"

less,oheckyou

ilsing the correct value components for th two potentiat dividers

aild thatD3 is the aorrecr way round. tf voltag6 at B is

l

same

R12

2k2

RV1

4k7 subminiature preset potentiomeler, horizontal mounting

0l( perform the

checkiorthevoltage atlCl pin3,whichshouldbeadjustrdby&VI

ftom about

{capaclton mustbe at least the minimum voftage stated;

m in having a larger raled wltage butthis usually

ct

bleep when first cdtnscted to the fi6iD$

mains andchetk the fuse, the correct orientation ofthe diodet and the

1k0

fl11

ifitisl0l'siaug

This is almost certainly due to a fault in the power supply. Open tho unit
and connecl
(or slightly highr)

PARTS LIST

fir,2

igh,checklClpin

,''

vDCl

to 4,5volls.

6ymptom; Unit cannot be adjusted tostart bleeping

,h abow, but this time

immedietely if over

1S

tk

voltage at B will be too high. Disconnect

vohs. As abovo, look {or a fau}t in the potexlial

divi&ra

c2
c3

t4

't00n tsY

C5

Now for the bit that requires a great deal of care to

avoid getting a shock. Find some way of connecting

2u2 l$V

stftilc0NoucToHs

{t
lfi
W4I
(quadCMOS NS,lD gateswith Schmitt$igger iiputsl
tC2
u1,2 1il4,m1
diodes, S0P|V)
E3 1N4005
rdiode,0$PlV}
201 BZX61Cfl rener dide, .3 W max dissipation)
4093

(10 V

(J
7v-l
-

-l
r-t

FSI'
lS1

5W1

Purbutton swite h, rated for 250 V AC, push to make

Fiezo-electricsounder{withoutbuilt-inoscillatori

toft220VoPEfiAIl0H
should bemade 3Sk

f.l
all

otfier values stay the same

C1 shpuld

8&100rnAfuse,20mmlength,andhotder

Printed ciftuit hoard; case; rllire; heat'$hrink sleeving.

R1

A
44

M]$CEIIAHEOUS

A-

FOR

{'OVOPEBATION

should be made 270k

Msho*ld he made

150k

beome ?20n

11! V

lffi

V AC

SW1 can be rgted at

all other

valu6

stay the sams

(minlAC or5ffiV DC

the unit to the mains whilst still open. If there is a separate mains plug, this is not a problem. If the plug is part

of the case, use an extension lead and plug in the

extension lead plug when required. Check that you can
adjust the potentiometer using the screwdriver with
just one hand, then put your other hand behind your
back and keep it there (this is a precaution to stop an
accidental shock being a serious shock). Using your
onefree hand, plug in the unit and then adjust ihe potentiometer until you find the point at which th ebleeper
begins to go all the time (if this isn't possible, disconnect the unit then go to the fault finding table ). Disconnect the unit from the mains, then find some way of
keeping SW1 pushed in (you could use some masking
tape, for example; you can use both hands for this bit!i.
Reconnect the unit (with your other hand behind your
back) and now the bleeper should be on all the time;
readjust RV1 so thatthe bleeperjuststays on, ie adjusting it slightly clockwise will take the bleeper off. Disconnect the unit from the mains and re-close the case.
The unit is now set up and ready to use. Piug it in
where you will hear it should the alarm go off. pushing
in SW1 periodically will check simulates a 10% reduction in the mains voltage and will make the bleeper
start making its noise if the unit is working correctly.

ETI OCTOBER I991

AUD

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KIEI@E
ETI OCTOBER I99I

45

Bill Alexander builds a

unit as a test

bed

for

experimental circuits

Prototype Designer is a must for all newto electronics and practising

design engineers. This simple piece ol
equipment will enable the designer to
experiment and design different circuits
with the aid of an easy plug in component board and

comers

three power supplies The component board has

approx 880 sockets which are on a 0.1in pitch set in
rows that the components can be plugged into This
size of board was found to be large enough for the
design o{ even quite large cilcuit modules. The power

FSI
g-:-/

sw1

*5 volt 500mA fixed, *5 volts to

15 volts at 500mA adlustable, and -5 volts to -15
volts at 500mA adjustable making it convenient forthe
use of op-amps and other components that require
plus and minus supply rails. The power supply is not
only simple but reliable and is enclosed in an attractive
grey sloping case, which makes it easier to view the circuit as you are working.
The chosen supply voltages are taken to the plug
board with the aid of single strain wires which are
plugged into the appropriate sockets. Each supply has
supplies consist of a

*
-T1

(J

c6
l00n
Dtsc

7v-tl

R1

4k7

--d

A-

A
-

46

PROTOTYPE DESIGNEB Fig

Fig

RV2

c8

c9

10k
LIN

'l

63V

100n
DISC

oI

Circuit of Prototype Designer

ETI OCTOBER 1991

short circuit protection along with output

appropriately rated at 500mA.

path. Once all the components are soldered to the

PCB the interconnections to the pots, sockets and

Constnrction

transformer can be made.

Once the front sloping panel has been drilled as in the

Testing

place. The mains switch shank is a good place to fit a

large solder tag which will be in good contact with the
front panel and switch housing. This is the point where
the earth wire is to be secured. The mains neon indicator should be fitted above the power switch to observe
the internal space requirements. Once the 4mm sockets and fuse holders have been bolted in place the connections can be made, these connections should be
made so that the fuses are wired in line with the trruo
plus rails and the negative rail. The two pots can have
thelr shafts cut to the right length to take the knobs and
e front panel. The plug board

When the unit has been completed, check every connection and component orientation at least twice, then
go have a cup of tea and return to the unit later. you
may think this is shange but is derived from experience. You may have overlooked an error in the excitement of getting to the final test stage. Now check the
whole unit again.
Wth the power switch in the off position, plug the
unit in, then switch the power switch on and if all is OK
the neon will come on and the DC voltage of the 5volt
supply can be checked with a meter. If this is correct
check the other supplies. However if the 5 volt supply
is not present switch off, unplug, and recheck the unlt.
NOTE
hmahf
Pment

fuses

photograph the panel components can be fixed in

'JilJ""'*#TJ::i"tm:
The tuansformer should be positioned into the
top left hand corner of the case to allow room for the

circuit board. Once the correct position has been

found the fixing holes can be &illed into the case and
the transformer bolted into posidon The mains input

and sw
thefoll
done s

n
-l

:tth:*
shock

the shock path can only run down one side of your
body. If the shock runs from one hand to the other
hand it would run across your heart and you could be
in touble.

Fig.2 Photograph showing the position of the pafts

tuse can then be fitted to the case This is best done
once the transformer is fitted as some tansformers of

the correct rating may varg'insize. and this will avoid

placing the fuse hole in the \4rong position. If all this
has been done correctJy the circuit board will fit neatty
into the case fifngs
The transformer must be so configured as to take
240 volt AC in and 24 volts AC out with a cente tap

ta
transforme
r engineer.
dealing with mains voltages
musr be

pARTS LIST
RESIST0RS

Rl
B2
RV1

4kj
l8k

1Oklin

CAPACIT0RS

hat c1
C2,5,8 :
d if
are C3,6,9 '
CA,1

1000u/40v

rc(mv
100n disc ceramic
22001r140v

An earth wire must be connected to one of the

transformer bolting lugs and the front metal panel solder tag.
Once all the connections to and from the transformer are complete they should be covered up with a
plastic shield, no access to these connections should
be possible. It is important that the layout shovun is followed to enable everything to fit properly inside the

SEMIC0NDUCT0BS

BB1
lcl
lC2
lC3

Diode Bridge 3A
7805CT

LMiSGCP
LMT9GCP

MISCELIANEOUS

case.

TBI Tran$ormer25VA 12.0_12v

The circuit board is nice and simple and no problem should develop as long as the correct orientation
of the capacitors, regulators and rectifier are observed.

Breadboard, console style case, knobs, toggle switch, mains neon, red,
black and yellow terminals

FSl Panel mount luse holder

YoushouldstartbysolderingthesmaIlestcomponents
in first and work upwards. The regulators should be
soldered in place with their leads at their full extent

ETI OCTOBER I99I

to BU"r,INES

47

i
I
l
I

The resonant cauity

magnetron has been
widely usedfor many
years. A P Steph?nson
looks into the operation
of this uery successfwl
deuice.

the outcome might have been quite different. That

superiority was due in no small measure to the introduction in late 1939 of a strange Iooking object consisting of a block of copper with two glass tubes sticking out of it. It was the brain child of two scientists, Dr
Randall and Dr Boot. The gadget, which revolutionised radar, was the Resonant Cavity Magnetron 'rnagnetron' for short.

racy demanded for good target discrimination. The

available technology at the time was capable of generating {requencies in the GHz region but only of relatively low power. What was needed was a reliable, nonbulky device which was easy to manufacture but cap-

able

of

generating powerful bursts

of

microwave

enefgy.
The magnetron provided all these features. Itwas
small. Itwas rugged. Itwas disarminglysimpleand easy

manufacture. It could generate peak powers in

20 kilowatts at wavelengths as low as 3cm
(10GHz frequency).ln short, itanswered the prayers of
the British Mititary Establishment and put a smile on
the {ace of Sir Hugh Dowding and 'Bomber' Hatis.

to

excess o{

The Lure Of The Black-Box

There is an increasing tendenry for lecturers and technical writers, when faced with some difficilt theoretical
concept, to fall back on the 'black box' treatment. The
intestines of any component or sub-system which cannot be taken apart'is now considered fair game for the
'you don't need to know this' excuse. Admittedly, in

(b) Cross-sectional view.

The Chiefs of Staff at the time were concerned

that the secret of its design might {all into enemy hands
so they decided that aircraft using the new radar must
be equipped with an incendiary system to destroy the
magnetron should the aircraft crash ln enemyterritory.
It is sad in a way that the magnehon, which once

E
ct)
48

enjoyed such a privileged positiorr, should now find

itself relegated to the ignominious task of agitating the
molecules of junk food in microwave cookers.
Although radar systems were in opetation many
years before the magnetron arrived ({irst expriments
began in 7922l,theywere crude and bulky and could
only operate at relatively low frequencies in the order
of a few hundred MHz. At such frequencies the resulting wide radar beam, even with the largest possible
practical scanning mirror, could not achieve the accu-

some fields such as the internal design of complex

logic chips, it may be justi{iablelor even the most conscientious Iecturer to clutch at the black-box straw The
kouble starts if this tendency is allowed to get out of
hand and in which case there is a danger of reaching a
position when even the humble discrete transistor is
considered too complex for the avetage technician to
grasp above black box level.
In the case of the magnetron, there is no reason
whatever why the internal operation should remain a
mystery just because it can't be repaired. A thynistor or
transistor cannot be repaired but, merci{ully, the
theory behind their design is still taught! The magne'
tron is an extremely straightforward device, understandable with the minimum of mathernatics and is an
excellent guineapig {or a refresher course in basic electro-magnetic principles.

Constructlon
Figure 1a shows the general appearence while Figure
1b shows a cut-away cross-sectional view of a tg2ical
magnetron in the early years which, from the DC point

ETI OCTOBER 1991

il
t_

requiredt The hole is constricted at the mouth to forn

'lips', as shown in Figure 1b, in order to maximise the
electric fieldstrength, thus formingthe'capacitance, o{
the tuned circuit.
The Q factor of a cavity resonator can be very
high because the resistance of the copper walls are
very low and there is no radiation loss if the cavity is
closed at both ends.

Details (X The Electron Orbits

Fig.2 Electron paths under influence of magnetic f ield

o{ view, behaves as a simple djode. The copper block
itself is the anode and the heated cathode sits in the
centre busily sending out a copious supply of elec

x lines from a powerful magnet

are

wards through the block. The queer

ear the outside edge of the block. called

'cavity resonators', are the places t,here high power

centimetric oscillations are produced. The copper
block must be held several kilovoirs posrtir,,e to the
cathode but it is more convenient
- and iess hazardous for humans
if the block is grounoed and the
cathode is held several kilovolts negarii,e.,uith respect
to ground. The design of the hearec caihode was not
easy! h was required to emit amps ra.ier than milliamps of current and had to be ins uialeci io u.jihstand a
potential diflerence of many kV ber,.i een irself and the
copper block.

Outline operation

.\

When first switched on. the car.:ides rlhich behave as

high Q tuned circuits, are shock erc:reci inio oscillation
but without some addirionai nelp. such oscillations
would rapidly die away. This helD is provided by the
shower of electrons which. u;-rier lhe influence of the
permanent magnet, circuiate t: curr",ed paths, almost
in free orbit. Under certain ccnditions, some of the
electrons' kinetic energy- is -ransfered to the cavities,
thereby sustaining oscillarlors.

E
-

Under the influence of a positive anode voltage (V) an

electron would normally accelerate in a straight line
path from cathode to anode as shown in Figure 2a.
However, if a weak magnetic field is app)ied at right
angles, the electron would be deflected as shown in
Figure 2b, The magnetic flux density and the anode
voltage causes the electron to rotate in a closed orbital
path as shown in Figure 2c. The mathematics for establishing the correct relationship is not difficult
An electron
ovinq

(u)
direc

with velocity
angles to its

dght

force
proportional to the magnetic flux density B: Deflection
Force : Bqu NeMons
To maintain an orbital path, this dellection force must
be balanced by a centripetal force acting towards the
centre of orbital radius (r):
Centripetal force: muz/r Newtons
By equating the t'wo forces, we obtain the necessary condition:

Bqu

mu2/r
or

Bq - mu/r
The electron velocity (u) is the only awkward
term. However; we know that an electron at the
cathode has potential energy and that, under the
accelerating force of the anode potential (V), this
energyis converted intokinetic form, reaching its high-

The Cavitgl Resonators

A coil of wire with a capacitance across it is quite satis
factory at 'normal' frequencies because it would
posses a reasonable circuit ampJification the e fac_
tor. The ability of a iuned circuit to oscillate depends
on the magnitude of Q, The higher the e factor, the

easier it is to sustain oscj llati ons. Th ere are several equ

ations for Q factor but the fo)low,ing is particularly re.levant:

O:I/!
RVC

Fig. 3 Equivalent outer

orbit

est value just

indicating that a low value of R and a high value for the

inductance (L) is required. The resistance o{ a coil
depends on the number of turns but the inductance
depends on the square of the turns so when reducing
inductance in order to increase frequency, the e factor
is reduced at a greater rate than the resistance is
reduced. This means that in conventional tuned ciror tends
equency.

cau
due to

hich

frequen_

coil skin

resistance.

A tuned circuit doesn't have to be a coil of wire

and a separate capacitor The inside surface of a hole
in a block of copper can have inductance
not much,
it is agreed but, to operate at several GHz, not much is

prior to impact at the anode.

By the conservation of energy law:
Potential energy : kinetic energy
or qV - mu2f2
and by ie-arranging, we obtain:

u:

Jzqv/m

Substituting this expression for u in equation

and simplifying gives:

B:/ry,g
It is more convenient to use R, the full radius
betu;een the cathode and the anode rather than r.
Since r : R/2, fhe above equation can be rearranged
into the form:

ETI OCTOBER

I99I

49

bons, as they pass across the lips of a cavity, can have

theirvelocitT altered by the extra kick theyreceive from
the oscillating electric field - hence the term velocity
modulation. Whether ihts extra kick is beneficial for
the purpose of sustaining oscillations depends entirely
on the phase relationship at the instant the elechon
crosses the cavity lip. There are three possibilities:
(i) The electron is speeded up, in which case,
oscillatory energy is robbed Irom the cavity and tansfered to the electron. Such an electron is a bad elec'
tron!
(ii)The electon is slowed down, inwhich case the
kinetic energyof the electron is tuansferedtothe cavity.
Such an eleckon is a good electron!
(iii) The electron is unaffected because it encounters a zero point in the oscillatory cycle. An electron ln
this case is neither good or bad - just a non paying
passenger!

The statlstical advantage

The above description of velocity modulation
The electoon mass (m) is a standard physical constani equal to approximately 9.1 X 10-31 kg.
The charge (q) is also a standard physical constant equal to 1.6 x 10-1e coulomb.
Substituting these values in the above equation
and evaluating yields a final, simple formula which
relates thevalue ol fluxdensity to anodevoltage neces'
sary for maintaining otbital conditions:

B:

6.7s

x ro_./H.

of about 0.07 Tesla.

Example 2: A2cm magnetron operating at 5kV
requires a flw density of 0.024 Tesla.
It is important to note from Equation 2 that the
required flux density of the magnet depends only on
the square root of the anode voltage'
This means the orbital conditions are not too critical of variations in anode voltage, a property which is
fortunate from the designer's viewpoint.

Sustalning Osciltations In

Ihe Cavities
to

explain
oscilla

tained microwave

(i) An electron which is speeded up suffers a grea-

ter deflection force from the magnet and so tends to

spiral inwards towards the cathodewhere it can do no
damage.

(ii) An electron which is slowed down is

. . Eqn 2

Exampte 1: A 1cm magnetron, operatingwith an

anode volta ge of 10kV requires a magnetic f lw density

We now have

may lead to the conclusion that justas many elecbons

would be bad as good so the overall advantage to the
cavities would b ezero.However, when the e{fecto{the
change in electon velocities is taken into consideration, itwill beseen fromFigure5 andthe followingthat
there is indeed an overall advantage:

mechanism behind sus'within the cavities.

less

effected by the magnet and so is still maintained in

orbit, although of slightly larger radius. This means it
has a second (or even a third or more chance) of doing
good atthe next cavity. There is thus a statisticalprobabilitythatthe good electrons have the advantage as far
as sustaining oscillations is concemed.

How The Cavities Are Coupled

The microwave output is normally taken (via a ring
probe into a short stub of coax) from one ofthe cavities
and on into a waveguide. This cavity is not different in
any way frorn the others, apart from the fact that its

uniquness has been chosen by the whim

of

the

designer. To ensure all other cavities contribute to the

final output, the lid of the magnetron {which is necessary to preserve the intemal vacuum) is raised slightly
above the top of the cavity block so as to leave a 'reac-

The single equivalept orbit

The above keatment showed that, under certain
conditions, an electro uld be forced into a free orbital path whose radir.s was midway between the
cathode and the inner wall of the anode block. So
ideally, we can visualise millions of these electrons
each buzzing around endlessly in their own separate
orbits. To explain the operation of the magnetron, it is
convenient tb ignore the individual electron orbits and
consider their integrated effect close to the anode wall.
Since a1l the electrons are rotating in the same direction the overall effect is equivalent to a single large
orbit having the cathode as centre. (See Figure 3).
If we ignore the presence of the cavities, the
anode curent would be zero because no electrons
would ever hit the anode wall. The device would be
operating under current cut-off conditions!

lct)
-

50

Velocigr modulation
When the magnetron is first switched on, the
cavities are shock-excited into oscillation attheir natural frequency. In the absence of some driving force,
such oscillations would eventually die away at a rate
inversely proportional to the resonant Q factor of the
cavities.

The mechanism for sustaining these oscillations

is known as 'velocity modulation'. The orbiting elec-

-+-+-+
Fig. 4 Rolled out view showing pi-made straps.

tion space' which allows the electric and ma$netic lines

Irom each oscillating cavity to link with its neighbour
on either side. Electrically, this means that all cavities
are coupled in parallel, a condition which may help to
explain why it was suJficient to take the output from
any one of them.

Establishing Cotrect Phasing

Betueen Cavides
It is important to realise that each cavity is an entirely
independant oscillator in its own righi. Tb prevent the
resulting chaos, some additional persuasion is essential in order to maintain some form of phase discipline.
There are recognised ways of imposing such a discipline, suqh as:

Pi mode otapPing
Thin copper conductors are welded into the
block as shown in Figure 4. Note thatthey strap altetn-

ETI OCTOBER 1991

Operating Conditions
A magnetron, although physically small, operates in
the kilowatt region
- even the first specimens operated at a peak power of 20kW with a DC/AC conversion efficiency in excess of 50%. It should be self evident that continuous operation at that kind of power
level would quickly tum the magnetron into a molten
mass. Fortunately, radar makes comparatively modest
demands on average power because, by its very
nature, it is pulse operated. The transmitter (ihe magnetron) is switched on for microseconds and then off
again for milliseconds while it waits for an ,echo' to
return. Thus the average power is only a small fraction
of the peak power. {See Figure 6).
The terms used in the operating cycle are as Iol-

Fig.5 Rising sun cavities.

ate cavities together. At first sight, their presence would
seem to border on the ridiculous
why add copper
wires in parallelwith a large block of copper? Horvever,

(t)
rlB
-

lows:
(a) Pulse recurrence frequency (pRF) is the nurn-

it must be realised that at microwave frequencies. a

thin wire can have appreciable jnductrve reactance

much higher than the copper block iFor those who
still remember their basic theory. :he iniuctance of a
wire is dependant on its ieng-& bur :n,,,ersel9.proportional to its diameter).
Now, if ad.lacent cavtia car be persuaded to
oscillate with a phase dif{ere:: o: r8i' i: ;oilows that
vities must b
a::: nusr always be

instantaneo
cari

cycle that the magnetron is operating.

a-. S=tce each strap

e:.: ,.,.;lj be at the

same potential so incic:i'e :j-::j cannot flow
through it!
If the phasing is :-r:: cc-e:: :::uctve curents
temate

would flow down the srals

a::

trss:;=:e energywhich
oscjllations. This
means that oscillatro::s *:,, ::,, :e susrained if the
magnetron behaves irsel: :-_ :-_: :-_a.ring 180" phase
difference befuueen a.ra.::.: :3.. :.es.
It seems to be a ia-,,. c::,:,s:- -:a: potential oscillatorysystems have a:: :::':.::_: ::;e :c cscillate
- rather
similar to the reproduc:,.': :-r:z ::_
cies.lf
a loophole exists for a..:,,.r:.3
ill
find
=.it. A strapped magner.:, ::. -_-.:s c:e loophole and is
said to operate in the ?: ).1: ::'
- :rasumably because
Pi radians is 180'.

would tend to damp oL:

'J-.e :a,.::-..

Rising sun magnetroas

Shaping the ca,,::._<. ,: !.-....i,:i ln Figure 5, is an

altemative to pi-moce :-::?r_- r! Long narrow cavities, alternating wi'.h s.-.:- ::: ::a-. ;i :rch, for some reason never fully u::;:=-: : :. --:e .irrter, ensures, pimode operation. I'l'e -= ::._a:,,,. :nformed ihut thi,

USe

bec
nes

:::.=:.::

z-.-

.=

-.-_

.=: :.= :t
'Rising Sun' macl-e:::.

note that magnetrons used in fields other than radar

must still use the pulsed operating system to control
power, It

is clgar from the earlier discussion on electron

orbiting conditions, that any attempt to control power
by reducin! the magnetron voltage is doomed io failure. On
anent
ular flux
density i
there
band of
magnetr
which
tions. In
the microwave cookeq the average power is still controlled by varying the on/off time of the magnetron.

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ETI OCTOBER I99I

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ished
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BS17 3Ry

51

Paul Shlackrnanfrom
t NCR roaeals soma of the
operations behind a
modern cash dispenser.

owadays, we take easy accss to money

for granted.Whenevei wa are in need of
some ready cash, we simplypop down to
the nearest'hole-in-the-walf macliine
and draw out a wad of crisp new notes.
This has become such a part of everydag lifefor
millions of people that we n,e\ter g;ve it a second
moment to considerthe
thought.
'becomes clsar that the
size oI t
achievement is an astonishing one.
At any time of the day or niglrt, and from almost

FigJ Layout of basic automated teller machine (ATM)

52

not to merrtion dirporfs,

any town or city in the UK
service stations and out-of-iown shopping malls " you
ean have instant aqcess to tha mangyirtyour personal

banking and savings accounts. You. can deposit

moneyl chech your aceount balance or c.gnduct any
nuinber of other special tansactions.
Every transaction is conducted with speed; yet
with security and integrity guaranteed..Even though a

machine mayperlotm hundreds of transactions in any

one day, each one is conducted quickly, neatly and
correctly.
From the customers point of view' vdthdrawing
moneyis a sirnple and convenientprocess. Butmaking
it easy for the customer is a complex task indeed.
Behind the wall is a massive arra! of electronic,
rnechanical and computer wizardry, all playing a vital
role in the making of the modern automated teller
machine (ATM).

ETI OCTOBER

99

The firstATMwas introducedinAmerica in 1969.

At first, customers were a little hesitant about the new
technology, unwilling to be convinced that a machine
could be trusted to handle their finances. However. as
the advantages they offered became clear, and people
realised that they were very secure, enthusiasm grew
rapidly, so that by the end of the 1980s there are
around 400,000 machines installed world-wide.
Today there are a number of different tlpes of
ATM machines in use throughout the UK, supplied by
various manufacturers. One of the most important of
these is NCR, which supplies machines to all the ,Big
Five' UK banks, aswellas manyother banks and buildl
ing societies. In this article, we will examine an NCR
machine as a typical example of the technology
employed in the construction and operation of the
modern ATM
The success of these devices depends upon the
efficient interaction of various engineering technologies. This interaction is an activit! that has become
known as'mechatronics'
Let's consider whar happens uom rhe moment
when the customer arives a: ihe nac:,:re We are all
familiar with the CRT (ca$cd? raL .;r. r cisplag.rr,hich
invites us to insert our n:aqte:i:a:_-tlliec card But
what happens alter :le :.:: := =,i...:ii-ej bv the
machine remains a n:L:::a- ': :.:.: :: _:.e
The card is actua.l. ;.a.,,- ,:-:. a
=:a::ai readerf
writer unit, which reais --:? -!=: :...:: r-=ter and ihe
encry42tion of his persc:.a :::r:::a::c: number
(PIN). The nexr stage r! r - ji:. ::. ---::::,er ro enler
the PIN via the kevbca::

a series of wheels and belts to the presenter module

which actually dispenses the money. Another device
stacks the notes as they arrive in the presenter module.
and pushes them through a security shutter to the cus,
tomer.
ounds reasonably straight for
the need for absolute security
transaction necessitates some
very sophisticated techniques and controls. In this
area, interaction betrleen the electronics, mechanics
and software elements of the system become abso-

ffi
*'"=*.

ffiM.*

W
@

Orive

rolls

Electronics

Card entry

slot
Transpoil

Shutter

;fr:[

rollers

solenoid

Fig.2 Reader/Writer unit

o l

Casseile

o =C

lutely crucial to successful operation. And as ATMs

become more
ckonics techno.logy
plays an incre
role. Currently, for
example, the
mechanism which
extracts the notes from the
mechanically operated pumps.
a chain of gearwheels at the ap

cycle.

-=

P., :.-s:

Fig.3 Pick module

>ssE:e

rr:rsport section-pick mode

Future mechanisms will be able to implement a

system that uses electronically controlled valves (not
the devices before transistors came along). A single
vacuum source can be piped to each pick module, with
the electronic valves controlling the timing.

Bilt transport
from lowet cassetre

Fig.4 Pick module-transport mode

ETI OCTOBER I99I

53

double pick or a folded note is provided by passing the

notes through a pair of rollers. One of these is fixed,

while the other is capable of radial movement. This

second roller is designed so that its circumference
equals the length o{ the note.
A linear variable dif{erential transformer (LDVT)
is used to calculate the small increase in the distance
between the rollers as the note passes between them. A

larger than expected increase indicates that one or

more notes have been picked, or that the note is
folded.
At the same time, the length of the bill is calculated by measuring how far the second roller tums. If
this is shorter than expected, then the note has clearly
become folded during the pick up.

The use of electronics allows much greater control to be achieved. The use of solid state relays in place

of mechanical altematives will offer better reliability

and more accurate control. In addition, low voltages
and the absence of arcing make them electoically quiet'
One of the most important tasks of the ATM is
ensuring that exactly the right amount of money is
delivered. Naturally, if even one note is accidentally
omitted, the customer is going to become very irate
indeed. Conversely, the bank cannot afford to have
more than the required amount of money dispensed.
For this reason, very tight controls are used to
ensure that the right number and denomination ol

position

aE
a

a--"\\
Purge
posrlton

slol

Fig.5 Optical position sensor

l-

Timing dlsc

Other developments include advances in the

switching sensors used to sense the presence of cards
and bank notes, and to detect the position of moving
parts within the machine.
Infrared position sensors are arranged as a foansmillerfreceiver pair, together with opaque elements
which interrupt the infrared beam. As well as being
more reliable than micro-switches, these offer more
accurate timing and do not require any adjustment.
These have proved useful for a number of applications. For example, in{rared sensors are used in conjunction with rotating discs which have a series of holes
around their edge. The disc interrupts the beam as it
rotates, except at those points where the beam passes
through the holes.

Fig.7 Presenter module

showing timing disc

notes are delivered. One of the most important oper-

ations in this respect is the detection of double or

folded notes.
ATMs use an optical technique to identify times
when two or more notes have been picked up by mistake, or when a note has become folded in the
mechanism. A bright light is shone through the note
onto a special detector behind. Double or folded bills
can then be detected by a reduction in the light intensity that reaches the detector.

An

54

improvement

in

differentiating between

ETI OCTOBER 1991

The result is a signal that is exactly

to the speed of rotation of the disc and, t
shaft on which the disc is mounted. Be
nature, these
for interfacing to the
digital process
ATM, frequently being
used as an int
A number of other sensors are also used in ATMs

These include semiconductor optical coupling elements, which can be used to preserve total electrical
isolation while transferring digital signals from one circuit to another.
Digital electronics have also had a major impact
on the motors that drive the mechanical parts oi the

not stand still. Already we are seeing the next genera,

tion of ATMs emerging, bringing a much greater convergence bet'ween electronics and computing technologres.

NCR, for example, is now producing self-service

devices based on PC architecture to increase flexibility

and to make the most of the very sophisticated pC

technology that is now available. As a result, we are
now
see devices thatoffer full- colourgra_
phic
screen and animation, together with

O
H

digit

machine. Conventional eleco-ic motors proved less

than ideal as they ruere nors!.and difficult to contol.
They required regular sen:c::g arci n:aintenance. and
introduced high voltages i:r:c ie ATM itself.
Consequently tiese ::a'.'e
superseded by

stepping motors tr'hic:. a:e

-en
:::::h

quieter. more
dependable and do no: re:':ie iarloxes or clutches.
Because they are dg:a
. .r-rey' are ideally
suited for use as oupu: l>:or *re digital processor which conuo-s --:e
In the t'r,enR :.i. j '-Dl- r:.:e 'Jre first ATM

qo

U
G

a
=
o

U
E
G

Dual processor
o

v4
u
E

o
o

be

up process-

plalng

an even more important role in our lives. As

the interface becomes easier and more attractive to

use, and the range of facilities offered continues to

t4

-0
Fig.9

configur

ing and support extra functi

neh,vorkino
and communications. Othe
res includ!
increased security to control fraudulent use of cards.
Thanks to these developments, ATMs will soon

02 1r

:J

E-'

O ,t.2

Vacuu

1.4

mp

electricalty

appeared.
to

with locat

s advanced considerably.

Thanks

that these advances have

increase, we will begin to wonder how we ever

managed before the ATM came along.
We h
already reached the stage where many
people ne go through the doors of the bank thal
holds their account. Thanks to the ATM, we are now
enterin ew era of convenience in the management
of pers finances.

made poss::-=- -:,1:- = nachines are much more

sophistica:e: :,:-: :-zl :ounterparts of two decades
ago.

Whera. --:---

usually in pr;-'
dle everytl-:=

_-,achines dispensed only cash,

--: r.--.eiopes, today's ATMs can han-

:-.-

:'-'

passbook-:;,-:=

?a5,,rnents to cheque cashing

to

-j ricket issuing. Many machines

Can no,*':ir. :: -i as well aS noteS.

Perlc:=;--.:; :.as improved greatly, too. The percentage o; ---::e

nachines are available for use has
=.a:
moved
88 per cent to over 99.5 per cent.
s been achieved, with the number
: ;-g Irom an average of 35 a year to
of servic:

f
Greater
-: =
five
or iga=:

The :---.--=: of fansactions between replenishhtially too, rising from several

hundre :
At the same time, the time
requirec ::r : --pical withdrawal has fallen from 30
ments

-.r 2 seconds.
T'::* ==
substantial improvements

seconcs::

he
of

that have
modern ATM such an integral part
.ir..es. But of course, technology does

-ie

ETI OCTOBER

I99I

55

Testing and Maintenance

aving installed the system, the final step
is to test it, and for a large installation
this can be rather tediqus. However, it is

Viui,an CaPel Prasents the

final part in his sanes.

essential

to do so and not to

cut

corners.

Most detectors are easily removed from their

ba
connecti
circuit of

wired

be t

I sho

d be
leak should be investigated and cleared before the next

step. A

high

if iny, on t

monitoring

effect
shunt

ults to

tested, the final detector in each chain should be

removed again. A fault indication should appear on
the panel for that zone, showing that the monitoring
syst

hed in place of the

test

actuated Acheck
should be made to determine that all bells are sounding. If a sound level meter is available, (professional
initallers should certainly be so equipped), readings
should be taken at the furthest points from the bells to
ensure that the minimum 65 dB is produced, or 75 dB
at the bedheads of residential establishments.
If all is in order, the resistor across the final bell
should be disconnected so producing a fault indication
on the panel. Reconnection of the resistor ends the
installation test. A record book should be kept for all

except small domestic systems. This contains details of

ing that there is no mains supply' The mains are now

connecied, and the output of the panel switched from
the bells to the test buzzer.
Now comes the tedious part - testing every
detector. Most will probably be smoke detectors and
these can be checked by holding a piece of smouldering cord near the device and blowing the smoke gently
inio the vents. Chemically generated'smoke' from aerosols is not recommended as it can be corrosive, and
can also leave deposits inside the smoke chamber'
Smouldering cord gives the minimum of undesirable
side effects and is also kind to the decor.
The test buzzer shouldlsound for each one, and
the system must be re-set for the next. For a large installation it needs a two-man team with radio communicators, one testing the detgtors, and the other reporting

a
=

).4.

at the control Panel re-setting'

For heat detec a portable hair dryer is the
most practical method {or testing. Not all dryers get to
the 135"F at which heat sensors trigger, so the dryer
should be tested with a thermometer. This may take
several minutes.

Any heater merely raises the temperature of the

surrounding air, so a hair dryer that attained the temperature in mild or warm weather, may not do so when
it is cold.
In the case of a rate-of-rise heat detector, the
rapid increase in temperature when a hair dryer is
diiected into ii should produce a quick result, well
before the 135" stage is reached. This incidentally
demonstrates the faster response of this type of delector compared to the fixed heat sensor.
Manual call points can be tested by breaking the

Fl

Maintenance
Faults can occur in any system, either due to component failure of external conditions such as damage to
wiring. With a fire alarm system, such faults must be
identified quickly and repaired as soon as possible. To
this end, a routine of regular checks and maintenance
is suggested by the BS 5839 and should be followed.
Detectors should never be painted as this could modify
their thermal characteristics.

Someone should be appointed to check the

control panel at the start of each day and preferably at
the end of the day too. All that is required is to make a
visual examination of the fault indicators. If any show a
fault, a record should be made in the record book and
the matter immediately reported to the management.
If the fault has not been cleared by the next working
day, a further record should be made, until rectifiedWeekly Each week one detector or call point should
be actuated as described in the installation test and the
result and the identity of the device should be recorded
in the book with the date. A different detector should
be chosen each week, so that in time all are tested The
bells should be sounded briefly to ascertain whether all
are operating. Any fault should be reported immedi-

Daily

ately. The standby battery terminals should be

checked for corrosion and cleaned if necessary.

(luarterly The mains should

be disconnected or

switched off, and the current tests for thatweek and the
glasses are available from the makers if one is broken'

When all the call points and detectors have been

56

test results such as sound levels, zoning, and records

each maintenance and what was checked. Any activation of the system by a fire, by accident, or by a false
alarm of unknown cause should be entered.
Any cases of the latter should be thoroughly
investigated to try to find the cause, but unlike intruder
alarms fire systems rarely suffer {rom false alarms.
Most of the common causes o{ such with intruder
alarms are not present with {ire systems.

others here stipulated should be made using the

standbybattery. Its voltage should be checkedwhen all

ETI OCTOBER 1991

the sounders are operarnS aici recorded Check that

is s:<ra,.:r.g Fauhs should be
simulated by removing iha .a.: :::e::or :;r each zone to

the'no mains' indicator

:r.-::.ar -:i=,., ise discon,

nectthebell termila:::= :=. ::,j, :::_:e l:arrhe bell
circuit monitor is ru:.:..: ::-: :.-_::. ::.:a:lecr
Per
efy
-:.:-: :a.a not only
:.:.a.:-,,. {
ike
--:.: j< p
humans.
ac.
tivity accelerai?s :<:ar. t=: :.
BS 5839:-:::::: :.:'
= -a.. ':::= :?.;sued for
checkthe detector c:l-c! _ ::

each quaner,, :=.-

Annually i:: a::--:: -: :-.: :-r-:..=- :,_a::erJy test,

everysmoke.::=: :: r. _ _._ :. _ .=_.._ al jlested.A
visual exami:.a::: _: . : - -: :: _
=::=..-5ie tviring
should also c ---a:=

Cleaning [6rnizrng Smoke

Detectors
sary exposura

_ -:

...

: :=:_-_::ended

:- :-, --: -: _:.: ::_-:oneandh,,",o

soft nylon br:s-=.. -- = _ --._ : _ : _..2s should be
Three br-.-

The first of these are the auto-diallers. These can

be either analogue or digital. With the former, the 999

number is recorded in pulse form on an endless tape

followed by a message. When activated, the number is
dialled and the message given. Several numbers and
messages can be recorded so that responsible staff
members can also be alerted. The dialling and mes-

sag
the
sPe

ilstogetthrough
tapeihave to be
erwise the num-

bers could not be recorded.

These are used mostly with intruder alarm sys_
tems, but dual-purpose ones are available that can be
Iinked to both an intruder and fire alarm system, and
give the appropriate message when activaied.
The digital dialler has the 999 number contained
in a memory store instead of on tape, although the
message is on tape. It will only dial 999 so messages to
other numbers are not possible.
An alternative to the diallers is the digital commu_
nicator. These dcnot use tape at all and so are more
reliable and are also cheaper. They have to be used in
conjunction with a central receiving station which

hands
received
When it does get th
sends back a

nal is not

withthestiff br":.: -:--_ _-:=.with spirit and :-.: :- - - _: Next,disr::a:--= -. _-: - =

=._i:oberemoved

=-_ : ::ntheinsideof

the chamber fir_.: ',._ = :. --:: -:.ereafterremov,

ing deposits !rt::. -- = _-. .- - ,,.--=:. :.eaning around
ttreradioactive .'..:.--- - _ _ : :.-s:esattheirends

&
-

O
=

sig-

lling.
ifica_

tion and then a message

-

tion, the receiving station

If not received, it re-dials

Communicators are
alarms, but can be used with fire alarm systems. Most
are single message types, but some can send different
codes actuated by different triggers, so could be linked

to both an intruder and fire alarm.

by
cha

gs
ity
th

co
a
us

rsr
a
f,
appropriate authority. The subscription and

use

charges must thus be set against the lower initial cost of

a communicator compared with a dialler.

In addition,

Cleaning Optical Smoke

Detectors

a:.: -:= -==- _j:reopticaldetectoris

--:
.. _. :

=.

greasy

ingatall.:- :- - _:

_= --'.?n a dustover and

checkto

-, :_ :,up of dirt, once in a while.

-..- _-.._::rat although installing and
mainta :--: I
considered a
special : -:
it cannot be
--: -:
done b
skills, following the
: ::
see that -_-<:: r.
,

It ca:

_=

Auxiliarg Equipment
Althoug. - -mentio.. : _ -:
the fire : --

,- -

::ope of these articles, we will

=::ipmentwhich can be linked to

. =- :id is worth considering espe
=

ciallyfor.--:.: ::-.;.s orwherecircumstances colld

make a: -= : : . . :- 1. desirable.

ETI OCIOBER I99I

CO,, BCF

textiles, iurnishings

out by an approved installer. DIy systems are thus

0il, petrol, paint, tar,

Foam, powder; BCF,

spirits, inflammable

CO,

Paper, wood,

ruled out leaving the 999 dialler as the only choice.

with

:1"#

er!-i_:-:._-. :==: ietectors need little clean_

Electrical, computers

in the case of intr

will not accept an

: = :onizing detector. The

:
,_. r _ optical units can be
Thes
cted
a
i_
cleaned wita a : -::: : ti: - tr as used to clean cam_
era lenses. I: :.-: - - .- : -.: loured dust deposits
on the cha:-:=: :..: -__.: removed because it
could cause :z = - _- - - : ;:nerate false alarms. Do
notpolish c: :_ : -: -: : .r-:rerwallsasthevmustbe
matt to avcr: .-:
sprinklers all over the building were activated by a
-- , - :=i:::ions.
In ger,=-= . _- _.: rlpe of detector needs small fire
in one part.
more clea:.-,-: - r- _-: ,:::al ones. Ions attract dust
Fire doors are another safeguard. If doors are
-::
and dirt. a: :'.--:_:: air ionizers will be aware. closed in the
affected area, draughts on which a fire
Optical o:.4. j-:
==_ only a dust-out unless in a
feeds
e >.

Type of Fire

straw

Water, C0,, soda

acid, foam,

powder

liquid
Gas, calor, propane

Powder, BCF

Metal:sodium,

Special metal fire

calcium uranium

powders

plutonium,
phosphorus
C0, = carbon dioxide gas.

BCF=bromochlorodiflu

g
free from deposits and
izing non-toxic liquid

avaporvapour
deal for

electronic equipment fires.

can be prevented and also the Iire itself can be

contained within its fire compartment at least for a

while. The door must be fitted with a return spring that

closes it firmly, and the back of the door is fitted with a
catch that engages with a magnetically operated holding device on the wall behind it, which is wired to the
alarm system. This normally retains the door in the
open position, but an alarm signal causes the device to
release the door so that it springs shut. The door can
be pulle
of cours

It is not
Fin

The
material
following table is a
extinguishers.

the type of

be chosen for
in the fire. The
t types.

57

O/Pshelt Nry m@ol2OP?2Y

A6 abow bur wilh frttod 4 lo 1 inlre Educlion box (8oolpm) and
toolhed nylon b.lt diF @g e40.00 rel 'l0P8Y
SINCLAiR C5 Wt{EELlii I or'l6" da incbding tEaded tvre and
innertub. Wh@baE blck, sPoked onod@o PoV @rbonato 1 3'
wheel !6 0O rel 6POY, 16" whl !5 0O rel 6F21Y
ELECTROI{C 9PEED CONTROL Klllorc5 motq PCB and e
?/" ol
component8 to btild

UNIDEN SATELLITE RECEIVEF Band nry units (model

SOO8) C6O.OO rsf 6OP4Y also some 7007s also 860.00 rel
6OP5Y

SPECTRUM+2 COIIPUTER Built in data rmrder, 128K, psu

and manuals e59.00 rol 59P4Y
SPECTPUM+3 COIIPUTER Buih in disc driw, 128K, psu md
manuals C79.00 ral 79P4Y

AMSTRAD CPC{64 COUPUTEF No mnuals but onv

t79 00 ref 79P5Y
AIISTRAD cPC61 2s COIIPUTER Again no mnuals but only

speed).

AA nicad3 in'8

e149.00 rel l49P4Y

AIISTRAD GT65 Gr@n scr@n mnitor 849'@ ral49P4Y
aTTRAD PORTABLE PC'S FROI 8140 (PPC'15123DI

cl79

(PPC1512oo).

(PPC164OOD).
PSU.

tloDElls

Us6prlsewid
POWERED

SOI-AR

il#iil;ffi';frioFi"ri--TRANSUITTERS. No daia avaliable bot nicely

ALARII

comDlox tEnsminoB 9v

1OOil REEL OF

6P3

e4 m each ret 4P82Y

ELECTROT{C OIPST|CK KlT.cmrairls 8ll vd noed to uJild an

electronic devi@ to give a 1O lol liqdd rndicator e5 00 (ex c8e)

AIISTRAD PC BAFGAINIIIIII
PC 1 512DD COUPLETE WTH CGA COIOi'F ilONTOF, 2
IXSC DRIVES, UANUALS ETC OI{LY 8240.@ REf 249P4Y

rol 5P104Y

UNVERSAL BATTERY Ctl,ARGER.Takes AA's, c's, D's and

PP3 nicedg Holds up to 5 batteries at orce Now and c8ed, mdB

@aiBd

HIGH POVT ER CAR SPEAKERS. Steoopairoutsut 1Oot' Ech

e and @nsisling ol 6 12' wooler 2" nid range and
towofi wiihtho arptf q d@dbed 8bow. Pd@ por
Bir e3o.oo Oder rsl 3oP7Y
TRANSFOBIIERt| Sutabb lor high rchag.
ZXV SOO
epedrenG oras a sper lo a nicmaw ov$ eic 250vAC irPui

ciwe

4
'l

GABLE TlESlTsmm x 2 4mm whito nvlon

PC ilODEliSl2OoiTS baud modems dsigned to plug inlo a

PC complate with manual but no software 81 8.00 rel 1 8P12Y
ASTEC SWTCHED UODE POWER SUPPLYEomm x 15smm
(PCB 8iz.) giws +5 ar 3 75A, +1 2 at 1 5A, -12 at 0 44 Brsnd
e12 0O Bl 12P39Y
VENTILATED CASE FOR ABOVE Pslhith lEc lihred sod(et
end DNr s$itch. t5 0o rol 5P190Y.
lN CAR POWER SUPPLY'Plugs rnto .igar eckei and grve
3,4,5,6,7 5.9. and 12v @Pute el 8o&iA Conpleie with uniwr$l
sdderptuE. e5.00 rel 5P167Y
CUSTOIER RETURNEDsvitched mode porer sPPles Mted
or ropair. !2 00 4ch E12P2aY
tuD. @d lor
Opgnlf gO PUItlP.Fits anv d dll snd is $[ Pdming e3 0o

nil

m Dl 10P93Y
ffiCROWAVE COI{TBOL PANELMaiT operet d, wiih iouch
seitches Cotrploto with 4 digit diglay. digitsl cbd, and 2 telEy

e10

ldealforellsodeolpEcisionlirer+pletionselc.
EBBE OPTIC GABLE sirmded oiical libB
PvC Fiw metE l$gth e7 0o rel

12V SOLAR CELL2oomA ouBn idesl

15 00 ref 6P35Y.

rxouslxo

cable ties onlv C5.0O rel 5P101 Y.

Waf

sheathed in black
7PzAY

made

rdsl lor

12P26Y

(PPC1640SD)- , C20e
E3o EXTRA.]{O IIANUAI-9 OR

Pder

4P81Y
paltrn

CLAP UGHT. This deu@ turns on a lamp at a lingor 'snap' etc

ni@ly esodwithbuiltinbettory oP.rstedlight ldealbodsdolightetc

el70

outsul8 one lor powor and one tor FJlsod

C4 0O Each rel

int6r@ms. d@r bolls etc 3 0O a resl rel 3P107Y

TFANSIITTER RECEIVER SYSTEI/ioriginallv made ld nu@
cell wstms ihev @nsist o, 6 psndant 9tyl6 transitter End a
rrceirer with teb&ofic 8gti8l '12v. 80 diflgent chennela' C12 0O ret

7P3Y.

rsos 4
BBnd new and sod E6 00 ref

hoB

opeElidn

WlllfE BELL WREfisure I

lq

wr6

6hll

3Pi4oY
PERSONAL ATTAGK ALARil.Conrpbta with built in torch and
venitu mirDr. Pod(.i srzed, Eq's 3 M batten6. E3 @ l 3Pl35Y

161

PoTtERFUL soLAR GELL

d6

dbod

e25 0O rcl 25P24Y

Pack ol irc PAR38 bubs lor

eboE unit f 12 m

Bl

lAilP '4s volTbnlv !5.0o ol

aEliaHe in caialogue)
5P192Y (oihor
SOLAR PRo.JECT Klf.Consistsol a slarcell, sPcil DC mbr,
plaGitic len and turdables otc PtJs a 20 pege bok on olar energy!
Prico is eg 0o rol 8P51Y
RESSTOR PACK.lo x 50 vatrJes (500 rsistoE) all 1/4 walt ?/"
motal film e5 00 rel 5Pl 70Y
CAPACITOR PACK 1.100 asso(ed non elsctrcViic cepacitoc

12P43Y

VIDEO SE {DEF lJl{T Transit both audio and vidm sigmls

lrom either a \rideo Bmra. \rids @rd.r q @rqJid !o any
standerd Tv st within 8 1OO rsgol (tun. TV to a +are chenel)

12 0O El 2P285Y

GAPAOTOH PACK 2. ao asorted olstrolylic capacitors

JOYSICKS BEnd nry wilh 2 f re bultoN and sqlion leot th'e

unil3 cu bo trbdilied lor msl @trlputffi by changing the connslor
Fl{ CORDLESS lllCROPllOl{ESmll

hsnd held unil with a

C2

0o

sl272ofY

OUICK CUPPA? l2vimrersion heater s,ith l6ad end cig6r hghl6r

phrg e3.@ pl 3P92Y.
LE-D PACX .50 red leds. 50 gEen leds and 50 yelbw leds all smm
e8 @ Gl 8P52Y
FEFRARI TESfAFOSSA. A 1ru6 2 channel radio controlled car
wilh loruard. Evee,2 gsars plus turbo Working hoadlights

sm'

rangel2tEnsmrlporerhrelsreqsPP3baltoty Tunoabl.to8ny FM
roBver Our pne e15 bl 15P42AY

222@t I2PGY
v6b.

ETEI!
b..= El

pl

8t e45 0O

45P2Y
aE smoko and
2POY,

equiPreni but

WI{SPEH

2OO0

LISTENNG AID'Ensls y@ to hear

$ai w@ld othenris be

Caed i5 0O rel 5P179Y
CAR STEREO Al{D

ondg

Fll RADIOIu ost siors svstm

givins

etc. Gotrploto tith bob, wire and Eusdlo bo8rd

0d

6PglY.
TURiITABLE IOTORS.

ret

I
I

Ei

4P44Y 2

x C'E C4

nil

m El 4P73Y.4

11P6Y.

Df 5P'lE6Y.
COPPEF CI-AD STRIP BOARD17" x 4'ol 1' piich "vero" board
E4 oO a sheet of 4P62Y or 2 sheels lq f7 0O ret 7P22Y

e5.OO

lor r'indow die-

F SUPPLY22oV or 1 1ov inPut

at O. t 5A and +gov at 0 4A fE m

b
Csed e25 rel25P14Y
MCAO BATfEHE$ Brand

ldsl

11.@

WASI{NG SACHINE PUMP.Mains operxEd new pump Not sotf

pdmirc 150OEl5P18Y.
ieu fHNfEA LEAD. (025 to centrcniG plug) 2 mtre parallel

inaudiblcl CotrPlote vith headphonrs

toP qualiy 4 x AA'3 e4 00 rel

x D's e9 (x) rd 9P'12Y, 1 r PP3

El

2P352Y.

fo.00 rol 6OP2Y

V sc@nod 4 ohm 55 t
Ei
3P109Y
125rnm. e3.@ a Pair
SPEAKER GRILLS st ol3 mrching grills ol dilfereni diamioE
EC

pre@t in
3P91

C6.00 rcl 6P35Y

TOWERS. INTERNATIONAL TRAIISISTOR SELECTOR

GUIDE. The uhimate oquivslsts b@k LEI$I odilim e20 0o rel
20P32Y

CABLE nES.142mm x 3 2mm wlite nybn pad ol 100 e3 00 rel

3Plo4Y Burpq peck ol 1,00O tG e14.oo El'l4F6Y

mtal dde ior

VIDEO AND AUDIO MONITORING

PCnflERFUL

+1

AppEx.l'xs' mnted m

w 22Ov

ilput +5 at 3A.

e12.@

td

12?21Y.

12.00

Preqrt inio convonidt 1 2 m lngths Rd 2P355Y

TWEETERS 21/4" IDA I oltm mntod on a marl retalplEtolq

tor FutuE PC'g but can b.

de 88.00 rel 8P57Y. Atan ST

oasy

loll

cmmrciEluniEl

t'

IllRADlOllOD

BD716Y.
hd and whte PhilIPs tube
m8y be sitsble lor othec.

in lw@ter /i ohm !5.m rol

5F205Y
5' X J' 16

OHll SPEAKER 3ld

e1 oo!! re{ cD213Y

AIUUSTABLE SPEAKER BRAGKETS ldsal ior runting

gtc 2lor
intemal orextemal @rneE. unry9n surlaces
epskereon

e2o.0o El 20P26Y.

eAicAra uclDs AAA gzE zmrlAH r.2v PAcK oF

nrr 4p02Y, PAGK oF 1m tao00 REF 3oPt6Y

CB CONVERTORS.OonvoTIE a cEr radio inio an AM cB r@iver
CEed wilh cir@ii di69Em. 14.00 rel 'tP48Y.
FLOPPYOISCS.Pa&oltsstrz' OS0OeloooDl1oPE8Y Pack
ir.oo

Brend new unils @ndlling ol a clmE, lrkm mnilq, 70 mlrs ol

cdl, AC adeler, manling brrckl and oungE marual. 240v AC
or 1 2v DC opoEiion corPlrtcwilh biriltin 2 my i ntercom. CgO.0O El
99P2Y

ol 10 51/4' DSDD C5 0o rel 5P168Y

2 llEG IIISC DRIVES 3

a5

1/4'fErc

CATALOGUE AVAII-ABLE I{OW IF YOU DO 1{OT

HAVE A COPY PLEASE REOUEST ONE WHEN OBDEBI{G
OR SEND US A 6'X9" SAE FOR A FREE COPY.

10$

12'd& driv6 made

bv Sony h@sod in

mg tdmned. t66.00 El66P1Y'

lf

40P2(,oY

AMP KlI e55.00 Pe Dquirod El ssP2oOY

ALTAnI PIF SENSOBS Standad 1 2v ahrm typo sensor $ill inter
916 o0 rot 16P20oY
ssod k6ypsd 6niry. entry oxittre delEy
otc e1 I 0O rel 1 8P20OY
3sull CAIIEBAS Cu6tomer returred unlts with buih io flaeh and
28mm lens 2 lor E8.00 Pl 8P200Y
STEAI ENOIi{E St8ndard Mmod 1 332
ongire f,iilh boiler pision eic e30 rd 30P200Y
3oOWATT

GEIGER COITNTER KlT0orrpbrwilh t$o, PCBand allcotrpq

neIts to buih a b8ttary operated geigcr dnler E39 00 rel 3SP1Y
Fil BUG KIT.N* dlsign fith PCB emb.ddod @il TEnsriB to
any FM radio. 9v baltery,eq'd. e5.00 rel 5P158Y
Fil gUG Built and toeted suParior gv operation e14 m rot 1tlP3Y
COIIPO9TE VIDEO KlTS'These @nven @Fpcito vida into
searate H syrc. V sync snd vidoo. 12v 0C. eg 0O.C 8P!PY
SINCL IR CS IIOTORS 12v 2eA (tull bad) 3so IPm 6"x{" l/4'

laco
ALA

SOf,E OF OUR

1.2

CUSfOffen BETUBNED 2 chanrel tull turclion rEdio conlrolled

caE ony e8.00 cl 8P20OY
WINDUi SOIIB FOWENED BADIOI FTVUAM TAdOtAK6s NICAD
betted6 @mpleto dth hand chaBer.nd sohr perel 14P2OOY
p KT Slers 3O-o-30 P$ roquiDd e40 0o rel
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nl{s llONO

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H ANE!',,'

gfu4@

;HH+*':;i,.*?i1.","*,
r40r
Brandrpad<i;6 ne* & bored

Ill-I.9: *-dry

monitors

sdrins at about

HS$S'ffiiiii::.fl MaSSiVg RedUCtiOnS

Virtr raltv Naw I ilrra ema{

s."riu.ih

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6 foot 40u

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bentitul

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compete

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uverarrdtmensions

emoviue Jo" prner...

....8215.00 (G)

eoulomni

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ot slandard size

+z4v 4a (sa peak). All outputs tully regutaiedirith

prctecilon on the +5v outiut. Ac-inpu"t *r.a"Or"loi
vac. Dtmst3" x 5" x 2.5". Furry guarairt""o nFi.

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iii^-ffi"i"Il.l1furP
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s*q*'i:'-v''t'*TffiJffi:"'i"!H, Wman

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your coloui monitor inio

case wiih singE bolt niino

..,

qqiffiffiE#'

EGA, PGA, VGA modesL

oUAUW colouR

wtt

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commodorE,BBcardraa:ffij:tr*;r.|Hourmonitordoes'nlhavesourrd.t[rrL_teoi;;;.h.J]l
Commodore,
BBC ard ran! -r
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BGB analog & TTL

po^srte and ivnc o;

trg;-t.-w

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*,n**,". *LH ,*nH. ,rr"
osrhmh,rE.r^r#tshry*-.--i ;;_it rz.voila
12
6
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volts 6 v
12 volta Ce
l2volts 12

EXTRA

llom Den-i'
108&AHBH is

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1

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s"paper,tractor,rollorvsheet.....gl20
t4.5"pape,r,tEctororEshet.....Fl/O

f,vf,lutBl"E - Cf,lJ- NOW!

PCBFoils

The Document Saver

Nightfighter Sound to Light solder side

F.dt-fttrdhg 2 (September

91)
In Figure 15, C403 and C404 should be 8200u
not 8200p and R402, a 5R6 resistor should
appear in the line adjoining the 47V rail and
R408, R612 and R713. The caption in Figure 16
should refer to Figure 15 not Figure ll.The
fault-finding exercise, option 18B should direct
you back to paragraph 1 and option 11B should

read...AtoCandAtoD.
Poclret Gelgier Counter (September 91)
Diodes D1/D2 should be 1N4006 and D3/D4
should be 1N4002.

Model railway apecd controllcr (Aus91)

In Figure 3 D7, D3 and D4 are shown orientated
the wrong way and the 1k0 R27 should be R37.
Fuse 1 should be to the right oI the connection
{rom te lower winding of T1.

Radlo Calibrator (April 91)

lC1 is a Hex invertor and should be labelled in
the parts list as 74HC14.
Conoori SpeaLer (July 91)
ln Figure 4, R8 should be 180k, C7 should be
100n. lC1 output should not be shorted to
ground. Mains input should be applied to
2x12OV windings. The formula for the reduction in Q should read 1/Q(required):. . . In How
It Works all resistor and capacitor component
identities have been kansposed by one. R10
should read R9 etc. ln Parts List R2,4,. . should
all read 39k. In Figure 7, the WO output lead
goes to the red wooferterminal. To avoid a slight

DC olfset problem o.n the woofer output,

instead oI linking points B and C on the PCB,
point C should be linked to the junction of R15
and C16 by an insulated wire.

60

o
Sound to Light top side

ETI OCTOBER

I99I

\E

a
Itgiffigfrer

cyclic crossfade solder side

Strobe board top side

CYCLIC CROSSFADE MM

Cyclic crossfade top side

ETT

OCII)BER I99I

1991

-I

Strobe board solder side

+
6

Nightfighter Triac Board. Only 4 of the 8 channels shown

;l
E
E
E
E

Freeze Alarm

Nightfighter Ramp Generator

Proto-type Designer Foil

62

ETI OCTOBER 199I

James Trott
0442 66551 Ext 250
Send your requirements to:
ETI Classified Department, ASB Argus House,
Boundary Way, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 7ST.

p
E15.0

words)

Lineage:60p

Semi

ELECTRONICS

re

(+VAT) Per

Electromart e24.00 per lnsertion (+VAT)

Ring for informalion on series bookings/discounts

TODAY INTERNATIONAL

inSeftiOn

All advertisements in this section must be prepaid.

Advertisements are accepted sub.iect to the terms and conditions
, printed on the advertisement rale card (available on request)

LYS
ELECTRONIC
COMPONENTS
TII/IER
E1.00
AMP
5 Fo]

555
7805+V

741 0P

REG
t0.40 7905 - V REG
7812+VBEG
,, e0.40 7912-VREG
1M317 ADJ REG
., M.5O L[,4337 ADJ REG
ZENERDIODES4OOMWALLAT.

, ,, 5

Fo.0.50
t0.35
,,t0.gs
.IO,5O

T(,.(}sffiCh
HOFIZVEFT CAFBON PHESETS
,ro*f
l, w s% cARBoN RESrsTons................................................e0.ir eacr
f
,ws%CARBONRES|SToBS.....................................,.,,,....,.t0.02each
(100)e0.90 (1000)17.50ariymix
smmHEDLED10.08 GREENt0,08 YELLoWe0.08
DlLSOCKETSUPROF|LE.,..,....................8pineo.m
l4pinE0.05 t6pine0.06 18pint0.(}7 20pint0.Oo
DIL
......... .... ..... ........2\|ay m.O 4 way tO.6O 10 way t0.90

i,*f ,ii.*

rr.33'lirf;l

SW1TCHES.............

L[.I3914 BABGBAPH DRIVER

R F COAX (ANTI MICROPHONIC) 75 OHM RANGE OUTER SHEATH

(nomallyt3oomtr)

0NLY[0.90MTR

1OOMTR[60.OO

DIGITAL FREOUENCY METER KIT 2 RANGES

G30MHZ25-1000MH2 COMPLETE INC 3 PCB'S
(EXC. METALWoRK) 183.60
ANALoctC pROBE KtT (EXC. CASE)19.80

HAVING INTERFACING
PROBLEMS?

For details of any of the above contact:

At last the best solution you are ever likely

to find!
A COMPLETE SINGLE BOARD
COMPUTER
(+VAT)
AT t199.00
for the standard unit

LYS Electronic Components, 10 Westbrook Road, Porchester,

Hants P016 9NS
Tel: (0705) 386550 Tel/Fax: (0705) 388303 (24hrs)

(The screeo ars ,reltoard alone are worth more than that)
This could b tlE 4-'' cc6t #ecuve solution to your interfacing needs
lou a.e every likely to find

CPu
Programming
advice for first 3
FOld
months
cflal@ I {r
Full technical manuals provided
Ai
Soltware included to connect to other
=ao<m
functss.
computers
Two RS232 ports. Tr AD co/ts
30 day money back guarantee
I
Ada 4h.4 a- &4d <a, /ot, tttotz detati/o ;
28O

Complete rYith BA-QC

Keyboard, 80
display. BaUer)'

COVEND ELECTRONICS
32 Poplar Grove, London W6
Tet: (071) 321 6491

N. R. BARDIYELLETD
Dodes;lrr4 nm

2@ Srgnsl

soRctifrerDcr\*Cf iltr
TsBeciin{DooEstuaJG C1fi
75 Redifie( DG Cv!J:
i1ff
25 Assrd H{f BrSEE -=s
C1fr
12 fuSd 7 Segrrtlsars.
flm
75 Eledrohr-cs ! -L. 51\
5n0
50 Ele<trcilrc Srrs 3G
Elm
vff +sgE
93,Tcforis

Prbes,r'G!Ee

-m,

288 I BAEYS|IDE ROAD

ZRE

SOLAR PANELS 100mm

60mm 2.5V 0.2Wp e1 .40. 6 for

f8. 12' x 6" 12V or 6V 1.4Wp
t8.50. 12"x 12' 12V 3Wp 15.00.
36" x 12" 12V 5-6Wp 23.50.

Prices include U.K. P&P. Larger /

mounted panels available.

Orders to Bob Keyes GW4 lED.

HSTror
La

All Your Gomponents

ors,

Semic

Av

,(,S.","

Sample Prices:

4 Glanmor Crescent, Newport,

Gwent. NP9 8AX.

SHEMELDs;./1FL
TEL 17'12 552885

FrJ,g7a2 5fi)689

KITS, p{ans dc. lor sunreillance,

protection (sonrc ard HV), "0O/"
gear. Send 2 x @ samps. For list

ACE(Tl). 53 Woodland

Way,

Burnhivood. $affs.

ETI OCTOBER I99I

CONSORT SPEAKER KIT as

July'91 E.T.l. e188 inclusive. All
parts available separately.

Memex Electronics

lcknield Close,

Ltd.

lckleford,

Hitchen, Herts SG5 3TD.

Prices Exclude VAT at 17.5%. postage 1 .00

Official Orders Welcome

HST Ltd. 2a Prospect Road, Carlton, Nottingham NG4 l LA

Tel: (0602)
Fax: (0602) 484s30

587225

63

Turn your surPlus

"BOFFINS SPECIAL"
UNIQUE OFFER

ical Unil, inlernallY in exceLl

primarrly 1o elscl a prec
uid lrom a medical syringe (la
ng removable
S ANd EPROMS
1 Gar Bot and

Ihreaded drive
Ni Cad M cells
back-uo LCD Diqital read-out 17mm high with legends
Audible waming.
These ars sold lor the dismEnlling ol the excptional

qualrly componsnts. Begrel no Circurls available.

RrdEuiously low pri@ Ct6.m + C4.m p&p lt23 50 rncl

Wite./Phile you r enqui rbs

dtr*l kofr he lopodG

(110240V
lead

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very

marre

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We also welcome the

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VAT

lnput 230/240V AC. Outpul approx

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in
th
lield
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lor boiler ignition Dozens ol us6s
ohvsr6 and ebcroncs, eg supplyi4g neon or argon
iu5es etc. pnce l6ss case e8.50 I1.00 pEp
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GilRED MOTORS

115V AC rnput
lor 240V AC

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including capacilor and lransJormer

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e3.50

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\5

I.-

ol h Pnce ol a
in I wafl 2537

inditor odofl

.@ P&P (el8.80

Anticlockwiso typ 82015 Size 68mm. diametor x 55mm

long. Shafl 6mm diametr x 20mm long. Price in. VAT a
p&p Er8.86
FHEOSTAT
5oW 2 ohm 5 amp cEmic powor ileoslal price inc VAT
& p8p H0.61

illcRoswlTcH
Pye 15 smp changoovsr lsvr microswitch Typ 5171
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Kt

SERVICE MANUALS
DMM's and Logic Probes from
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AccouNr cusroMEBS MIN

oRDEB

Send SAE:

Access Pacific Ltd

Kymbrook School House,
Kimbolton Road, Keysoe,
Bedford MK44 2HH
Tel: 0230 62695

ex stock.
LAZER DIODES
8255 (inclusive of-VAT). 1mW
includes British Safety Standards

and full operating instructions.

Size 75mm x 1Smm diameter.
Dot size one micrometre visible
(with
red.

addr
with
troni

Rosemount, Aberdeen.

back

Elec-

enue,

Available for most equiPment

TV's, Video's, Test, Audio etc
Write ot phone fot quote
MAURITRON (HRT),
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TEL (0844) s1694 FAX (0844) 52s54

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KIT

6 9TO.

Wisbech, Cambs.

SOLID STATE EHT UNIT

EPFOM EFASUFE

TOP PRICES PAID FOR ALL TYPES

OF ELECTRONICS EOUIPMENT
A, B. SinclaiL Electrcn ic9,
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Contact:
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103 South B.ink

GIANT BLOWER EXTRACTOR UilIT

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0442 66551
TO ADVERTISE

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le 1o:

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COLEBOUHN ELECTRONICS
Dept ETl,20 Folly
St Albans, AL3

Lane,

sJT

TelePhone

0727 44185

ETI OCTOBER 1991

Start training now for the fo!lowing

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Telephone:0480 61778 (7 tines) Fax:0480 494042
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ETI OCTOBER I99I

65

TODAY INTERNATIONAL

issue we have a feature article on

Ielectromagnetic waves. fue they really waves or are they
particles? Or are they particles with the characteristics of a
wave? Find out also about the techniques of Digital pulse
transmission as most of our communications down wires or

ln the November

EDITORIAL
Editor Paul Freeman
CREATIVE
Art Editor Peter KirbY
Designer lain Houston
Technical lllustration Jerry Fowler
Photography MannY Cefai
ADVERTISEMENT SALES
Advertisement Manager
Mark Linacre
Advertisement Sales
Michele Donovan
Advertisement CoPY Control
Marie Quilter

fibres are by this method.

On the constuction side,we continuewith the Nightfighter

lamp controller, including the board overlay circuits from the
master controller which could not be included in this issue
owing to lack of space.
A switched mode power supply is always useful to have

around on a bench along with a digital code lock to give

variety of containers or rooms greater security.

fhe tbava g/rilclet

Member of the
Audit Bureau
of Circulation

0t42-7229

whole

These are just some of the articles appearing in the

November issue of ETI. Order your copy now from your
nanrsagent, out on 4th October.

Managing Director
Terry Pattisson
Circulation & Promotions Manager
Debra StuPPle
Production Manager
Tony Dowdeswell
" GrouP Editor
Stuart Cooke
tssN

mini series from Ray Marston on Test'gear

inductance and fuansformers.

MANAGEMENT

nsr

We start a

basics and instumentation and Back To Basics looks at

ftems
rLight,

efe ln prePerallon bul clrcumf,tan@s may

PrcwnI Publlcatlon

featured in the September issue were:

vision colour and perception - the science of

Fault-finding in the electonic equipment '
Pocket Geiger counter The Hemisync machine
Part2. A machine to encourage brainwaves ' The
Sony Minidisc - The storey of the next generation
recorders ' HDTV 9 The last part in the series on

vision

High definition TV
issues are available from Select Subscriptions

., Back

(address on page 3)

a Subscription rates - UK: e1920 Europe: E2410. Middle East:

c2680 Re$: e25 85 or US$4800

66551. Sub$
ertsHP4lHL.
4314west23

1'213)375625A Typesetting and origiiration

by Wiltshire Ltd, Bristol.

bi Projst

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ADVERTISERS' INDEX
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.,,,,...... 45 HoBBY
BK ELECTRONICS ....,,,.. IFC J&N

AUDIoNTCS

Hl-Fl

BRIAN PRICE ELECTRONICS

.... 59
30
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DISPLAYELECTRONICS

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HITECH

45

KIT

MAPLIN ELECTRONICS

NUMBERONESYSTEMS

. OBC
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65

BACKZPRODUCTS.,.,,,,,.

51

REEDELECTRONICS..,.,..

51

SUMAELECTRONICS,,.... 45

INNOVATIVE WIMSLOW AUDIO ... ,, ,,,,, 12

ELECTRONICS,...,.,,

IBC

ETI OCTOBER I99I

ULTI-C

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