Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011

45-SeCoND VOICE RECORDER MODULE i i i i

Record two, four or eight different messages Clean and glitch-free line-level audio output Can feed an amplifier or PA system 8-bit recording quality, user-selected bandwidth

W MIC IN A R Mic OCHIP Dev rostick elop Boa ment rd

PIR-Triggered Mains Switch Use a domestic PIR system to switch any mains-powered device rated up to 10A

Multi-function, intelligent remote-controlled dimmer The ultimate dimmer project using a standard handheld remote

Teach-In 2011 – Part 6

Logic circuits – Our not-to-be-missed introduction to gates and flip-flops APRIL 2011 Cover.indd 1

$8.75US $10.25CAN £3.95UK APRIL 2011 PRINTED IN THE UK

24/02/2011 11:53:13

Microchip Offers Lowest Currents for Active and Sleep Modes

Microcontrollers

Low-Power Microcontrollers for Battery-Friendly Design

Digital Signal Controllers Analog Memory

Extend the battery life in your application using PIC® microcontrollers with nanoWatt XLP Technology and get the industry’s lowest currents for Active and Sleep modes. Microchip’s new peripheral-rich PIC12F182X, PIC16F182X and PIC16F19XX families offer active currents of less than 50 μA and sleep currents down to 20 nA. These products enable you to create battery-friendly designs that also incorporate capacitive touch sensing, LCD, communications and other functions which help differentiate your products in the marketplace. Microchip’s Enhanced Mid-range 8-bit architecture provides up to 50% increased performance and 14 new instructions that result in up to 40% better code execution over previous-generation 8-bit PIC16 MCUs. PIC12F182X and PIC16F182X families include: t Packages ranging from 8 to 64 pins t mTouch™ capacitive touch-sensing t Multiple communications peripherals t Dual I2C™/SPI interfaces t PWM outputs with independent time bases t Data signal modulator

PIC16F19XX family includes: t mTouch capacitive touch-sensing t LCD drive t Multiple communications peripherals t More PWM channels, with independent timers t Up to 28 KB of Flash program memory t Enhanced data EEPROM t 32-level bandgap reference t Three rail-to-rail input comparators

GET STARTED IN 3 EASY STEPS 1. View the Low Power Comparison videos 2. Download the Low Power Tips ‘n Tricks 3. Order samples and development tools www.microchip.com/XLP

PIC16F193X ‘F1’ Evaluation Platform - DM164130-1

Intelligent Electronics start with Microchip www.microchip.com/xlp The Microchip name and logo, the Microchip logo and PIC are registered trademarks and mTouch is a trademark of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the U.S.A. and other countries. © 2010 Energizer. Energizer and other marks are trademarks owned by Energizer. All other trademarks mentioned herein are property of their respective companies. © 2010, Microchip Technology Incorporated, All Rights Reserved. ME257Eng/06.10

Copyright ”2010, Wimborne Publishing Ltd (Sequoia House, 398a Ringwood Road, Ferndown, Dorset BH22 9AU, UK)

and TechBites Interactive Inc., (PO Box 857, Madison, Alabama 35758, USA)

All rights reserved.

WARNING! ThematerialsandworkscontainedwithinEPEOnline—whicharemadeavailable byWimbornePublishingLtdandTechBitesInteractiveInc—arecopyrighted.You arepermittedtomakeabackupcopyofthedownloadedfileandone(1)hard copyofsuchmaterialsandworksforyourpersonaluse. Internationalcopyrightlaws,however,prohibitanyfurthercopyingor reproductionofsuchmaterialsandworks,oranyrepublicationofanykind. TechBitesInteractiveIncandWimbornePublishingLtdhaveusedtheirbest effortsinpreparingthesematerialsandworks.However,TechBitesInteractiveInc andWimbornePublishingLtdmakenowarrantiesofanykind,expressedor implied,withregardtothedocumentationordatacontainedherein,and specificallydisclaim,withoutlimitation,anyimpliedwarrantiesofmerchantability andfitnessforaparticularpurpose.Becauseofpossiblevariancesinthequality andconditionofmaterialsandworkmanshipusedbyreaders,EPEOnline,its publishersandagentsdisclaimanyresponsibilityforthesafeandproper functioningofreaderͲconstructedprojectsbasedonorfrominformation publishedinthesematerialsandworks.InnoeventshallTechBitesInteractiveInc orWimbornePublishingLtdberesponsibleorliableforanylossofprofitorany othercommercialdamages,includingbutnotlimitedtospecial,incidental, consequential,oranyotherdamagesinconnectionwithorarisingoutof furnishing,performance,oruseofthesematerialsandworks.

ISSN 0262 3617 z PROJECTS z THEORY z z NEWS z COMMENT z z POPULAR FEATURES z VOL. 40. No 4

INCORPORATING ELECTRONICS TODAY INTERNATIONAL

April 2011

www.epemag.com

Projects and Circuits 45-SECOND VOICE RECORDER MODULE by Jim Rowe A design that can easily record two, four or eight different messages.

10

MULTI-FUNCTION, INTELLIGENT REMOTE-CONTROLLED DIMMER by Mauro Grassi Use almost any RC5 remote with this versatile, low standby power marvel.

18

PIR-TRIGGERED MAINS SWITCH by Jim Rowe Switch just about any plug-in mains-powered device using a PIR sensor.

32

A QUICK’N’EASY DIGITAL SLIDE ‘SCANNER’ by Brian Coulson A simple way to copy slides onto your computer’s hard drive.

40

INGENUITY UNLIMITED Universal Remote Control Receiver – In control

64

Series and Features TECHNO TALK by Mark Nelson Decoding The Heavens

17

MAX’S COOL BEANS by Max The Magnificent Sugar and space and all things nice… Elementary IC

30

TEACH-IN 2011 by Mike and Richard Tooley Part 6: Logic circuits

44

CIRCUIT SURGERY by Ian Bell Collector-base feedback/bias

57

PIC N’ MIX by Mike Hibbett Software development

60

INTERFACE by Robert Penfold A simple analogue optical interface

62

NET WORK by Alan Winstanley A cool billion... Getting started

72

Regulars and Services EDITORIAL Handmade chips

7

NEWS – Barry Fox highlights technology’s leading edge Plus everyday news from the world of electronics

8

MICROCHIP READER OFFER EPE Exclusive – Win a Microchip Microstick Development Board

EPE PIC PROJECTS CD-ROM VOL.1 AND VOL.2 A plethora of handPICed projects

31 42, 56

PIC RESOURCES CD-ROM 66 EPE PIC Tutorial V2, plus PIC Toolkit Mk3 and a selection of PIC-related articles SUBSCRIBE TO EPE and save money

68

CD-ROMS FOR ELECTRONICS A wide range of CD-ROMs for hobbyists, students and engineers

69

READOUT Matt Pulzer addresses general points arising

74

DIRECT BOOK SERVICE A wide range of technical books available by mail order, plus more CD-ROMs

75

© Wimborne Publishing Ltd 2011. Copyright in all drawings, photographs and articles published in EVERYDAY PRACTICAL ELECTRONICS is fully protected, and reproduction or imitations in whole or in part are expressly forbidden.

EPE PCB SERVICE PCBs for EPE projects

78

ADVERTISERS INDEX

80

Our May 2011 issue will be published on Thursday 14 April 2011, see page 80 for details.

5HDGHUV·6HUYLFHV‡(GLWRULDODQG$GYHUWLVHPHQW'HSDUWPHQWV

Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011



1

4XDVDU(OHFWURQLFV/LPLWHG 32%R[%LVKRSV6WRUWIRUG &0:38QLWHG.LQJGRP 7HO )D[ (PDLOVDOHV#TXDVDUHOHFWURQLFVFRP :HEZZZTXDVDUHOHFWURQLFVFRP



$OOSULFHV,1&/8'(9$7 3RVWDJH 3DFNLQJ2SWLRQV8SWR.JJURVVZHLJKW 8.6WDQGDUG'D\ 'HOLYHU\…8.0DLQODQG1H[W'D\'HOLYHU\…(XURSH(8  …5HVWRI:RUOG…XSWR.J  2UGHURQOLQHIRUUHGXFHGSULFH3RVWDJHIURPMXVW…  3D\PHQW:HDFFHSWDOOPDMRUFUHGLWGHELWFDUGV0DNHFKHTXHV32¶V SD\DEOHWR4XDVDU(OHFWURQLFV 3OHDVHYLVLWRXURQOLQHVKRSQRZIRUIXOOGHWDLOVRIRYHUHOHFWURQLFNLWV SURMHFWVPRGXOHVDQGSXEOLFDWLRQV'LVFRXQWVIRUEXONTXDQWLWLHV

&UHGLW&DUG

6DOHV 7KH(OHFWURQLF.LW6SHFLDOLVWV6LQFH 7KH(OHFWURQLF.LW6SHFLDOLVWV6LQFH

3,& $70(/3URJUDPPHUV 

:HKDYHDZLGHUDQJHRIORZFRVW3,&DQG $70(/3URJUDPPHUV&RPSOHWHUDQJHDQG GRFXPHQWDWLRQDYDLODEOHIURPRXUZHEVLWH 

3URJUDPPHU$FFHVVRULHV SLQ:LGH=,)VRFNHW=,): … 9GF3RZHUVXSSO\368 … /HDGV3DUDOOHO/'& …6HULDO /'& …86%/'& … 1(:86% 6HULDO3RUW3,&3URJUDPPHU 86%6HULDOFRQQHFWLRQ +HDGHUFDEOHIRU,&63 )UHH:LQGRZV;3VRIW ZDUH6HHZHEVLWHIRU3,&V VXSSRUWHG=,)6RFNHWDQG 86%OHDGH[WUD9GF .LW2UGHU&RGH(.7… $VVHPEOHG2UGHU&RGH$6(… $VVHPEOHGZLWK=,)VRFNHW2UGHU&RGH $6(=,)…  1(:86% $OO)ODVK 3,&3URJUDPPHU 86%3,&SURJUDPPHUIRUDOO µ)ODVK¶GHYLFHV1RH[WHUQDO SRZHUVXSSO\PDNLQJLWWUXO\ SRUWDEOH6XSSOLHGZLWKER[DQG :LQGRZV;36RIWZDUH=,) 6RFNHWDQG86%OHDGQRWLQFO $VVHPEOHG2UGHU&RGH$6… $VVHPEOHGZLWK=,)VRFNHW2UGHU&RGH $6=,)…  $70(/[[[[3URJUDPPHU 8VHVVHULDOSRUWDQGDQ\ VWDQGDUGWHUPLQDOFRPPV SURJUDP/('¶VGLVSOD\ WKHVWDWXV=,)VRFNHWVQRW LQFOXGHG6XSSO\9GF .LW2UGHU&RGH.7… $VVHPEOHG2UGHU&RGH$6…  ,QWURGXFWLRQWR3,&3URJUDPPLQJ *RIURPFRPSOHWHEHJLQQHU WREXUQLQJD3,&DQGZULWLQJ FRGHLQQRWLPH,QFOXGHV SDJHVWHSE\VWHS3') 7XWRULDO0DQXDO3URJUDP PLQJ+DUGZDUHZLWK/(' WHVWVHFWLRQ :LQ²;33URJUDPPLQJ 6RIWZDUH3URJUDP5HDG9HULI\ (UDVH  DQGUHZULWDEOH3,&)$WKDW\RXFDQXVH ZLWKGLIIHUHQWFRGHGHWDLOHGH[DPSOHVSUR YLGHGIRU\RXWROHDUQIURP 3&SDUDOOHOSRUW .LW2UGHU&RGH.7… $VVHPEOHG2UGHU&RGH$6…  3,&3URJUDPPHU%RDUG /RZFRVW3,&SURJUDP PHUERDUGVXSSRUWLQJ DZLGHUDQJHRI0LFUR FKLSŠ3,&ŒPLFURFRQ WUROOHUV5HTXLUHV3& VHULDOSRUW:LQGRZV LQWHUIDFHVXSSOLHG .LW2UGHU&RGH..7…

3,&3URJUDPPHU ([SHULPHQWHU%RDUG 7KH3,&3URJUDPPHU  ([SHULPHQWHU%RDUGZLWK WHVWEXWWRQVDQG/('LQGL FDWRUVWRFDUU\RXWHGXFD WLRQDOH[SHULPHQWVVXFKDV WKHVXSSOLHGSURJUDPPLQJH[DPSOHV,Q FOXGHVD))ODVK0LFURFRQWUROOHUWKDW FDQEHUHSURJUDPPHGXSWRWLPHVIRU H[SHULPHQWLQJDWZLOO6RIWZDUHWRFRPSLOH DQGSURJUDP\RXUVRXUFHFRGHLVLQFOXGHG .LW2UGHU&RGH..7… $VVHPEOHG2UGHU&RGH90…

&RQWUROOHUV /RJJHUV 

+HUHDUHMXVWDIHZRIWKHFRQWUROOHUDQG GDWDDFTXLVLWLRQDQGFRQWUROXQLWVZHKDYH 6HHZHEVLWHIRUIXOOGHWDLOV9GF368IRU DOOXQLWV2UGHU&RGH368…  86%([SHULPHQW,QWHUIDFH%RDUG GLJLWDOLQSXWFKDQ QHOVDQGGLJLWDORXW SXWFKDQQHOVSOXVWZR DQDORJXHLQSXWVDQG WZRDQDORJXHRXWSXWV ZLWKELWUHVROXWLRQ .LW2UGHU&RGH..7… $VVHPEOHG2UGHU&RGH90…  5ROOLQJ&RGH&KDQQHO8+)5HPRWH 6WDWHRIWKH$UW+LJKVHFXULW\ FKDQQHOV0RPHQWDU\RU ODWFKLQJUHOD\RXWSXW5DQJH XSWRP8SWR7[¶VFDQ EHOHDUQWE\RQH5[NLWLQ FOXGHVRQH7[EXWPRUHDYDLO DEOHVHSDUDWHO\ LQGLFDWRU/('¶V5[3&% [PP9GFP$VWDQGE\ 7ZR 7HQ &KDQQHOYHUVLRQVDOVRDYDLODEOH .LW2UGHU&RGH.7… $VVHPEOHG2UGHU&RGH$6…  &RPSXWHU7HPSHUDWXUH'DWD/RJJHU 6HULDOSRUWFKDQQHOWHP SHUDWXUHORJJHUƒ&RUƒ) &RQWLQXRXVO\ORJVXSWR VHSDUDWHVHQVRUVORFDWHG PIURPERDUG:LGH UDQJHRIIUHHVRIWZDUHDSSOLFDWLRQVIRUVWRU LQJXVLQJGDWD3&%MXVW[PP3RZHUHG E\3&,QFOXGHVRQH'6VHQVRU .LW2UGHU&RGH.7… $VVHPEOHG2UGHU&RGH$6… $GGLWLRQDO'66HQVRUV…HDFK  5HPRWH&RQWURO9LD*600RELOH3KRQH 3ODFHQH[WWRDPRELOHSKRQH QRWLQFOXGHG $OORZVWRJJOHRU DXWRWLPHUFRQWURORI$PDLQV UDWHGRXWSXWUHOD\IURPDQ\ORFD WLRQZLWK*60FRYHUDJH .LW2UGHU&RGH0..7…

0RVWLWHPVDUHDYDLODEOHLQNLWIRUP.7VXIIL[  RUSUHDVVHPEOHGDQGUHDG\IRUXVH$6SUHIL[ 

&K'70)7HOHSKRQH5HOD\6ZLWFKHU &DOO\RXUSKRQHQXP EHUXVLQJD'70) SKRQHIURPDQ\ZKHUH LQWKHZRUOGDQGUH PRWHO\WXUQRQRIIDQ\ RIWKHUHOD\VDVGH VLUHG8VHUVHWWDEOH6HFXULW\3DVVZRUG$QWL 7DPSHU5LQJVWR$QVZHU$XWR+DQJXSDQG /RFNRXW,QFOXGHVSODVWLFFDVH[[ PP3RZHU9GF .LW2UGHU&RGH.7… $VVHPEOHG2UGHU&RGH$6…  &K6HULDO3RUW,VRODWHG,25HOD\0RGXOH &RPSXWHUFRQWUROOHG FKDQQHOUHOD\ERDUG$ PDLQVUDWHGUHOD\RXWSXWV DQGRSWRLVRODWHGGLJLWDO LQSXWVIRUPRQLWRULQJ VZLWFKVWDWHVHWF 8VHIXO LQDYDULHW\RIFRQWURODQG VHQVLQJDSSOLFDWLRQV3URJUDPPHGYLDVHULDO SRUWXVHRXUQHZ:LQGRZVLQWHUIDFHWHUPL QDOHPXODWRURUEDWFKILOHV 6HULDOFDEOHFDQ EHXSWRPORQJ,QFOXGHVSODVWLFFDVH [[PP3RZHU9GFP$ .LW2UGHU&RGH.7… $VVHPEOHG2UGHU&RGH$6…  ,QIUDUHG5&±&KDQQHO5HOD\%RDUG &RQWURORQERDUGUHOD\VZLWK LQFOXGHGLQIUDUHGUHPRWHFRQ WUROXQLW7RJJOHRUPRPHQWDU\ PUDQJH[PP 6XSSO\9GF$ .LW2UGHU&RGH.7… $VVHPEOHG2UGHU&RGH$6…  $XGLR'70)'HFRGHUDQG'LVSOD\ 'HWHFW'70)WRQHVIURP WDSHUHFRUGHUVUHFHLYHUV WZRZD\UDGLRVHWFXVLQJ WKHEXLOWLQPLFRUGLUHFW IURPWKHSKRQHOLQH&KDU DFWHUVDUHGLVSOD\HGRQD FKDUDFWHUGLVSOD\DVWKH\DUHUHFHLYHGDQG XSWRQXPEHUVFDQEHGLVSOD\HGE\VFUROO LQJWKHGLVSOD\$OOGDWDZULWWHQWRWKH/&'LV DOVRVHQWWRDVHULDORXWSXWIRUFRQQHFWLRQWRD FRPSXWHU6XSSO\9'&2UGHU&RGH 368 0DLQ3&%[PP .LW2UGHU&RGH.7… $VVHPEOHG2UGHU&RGH$6…  7HOHSKRQH&DOO/RJJHU 6WRUHVRYHU[ GLJLW'70)QXPEHUVZLWK WLPHDQGGDWH5HFRUGVDOO EXWWRQVSUHVVHGGXULQJD FDOO1RQHHGIRUDQ\FRQ QHFWLRQWRFRPSXWHUGXULQJRSHUDWLRQEXW ORJJHGGDWDFDQEHGRZQORDGHGLQWRD3&YLD DVHULDOSRUWDQGVDYHGWRGLVN,QFOXGHVD SODVWLFFDVH[[PP6XSSO\9 '&2UGHU&RGH368  .LW2UGHU&RGH.7… $VVHPEOHG2UGHU&RGH$6…

+RW1HZ3URGXFWV

0RWRU6SHHG&RQWUROOHUV

+HUHDUHDIHZRIWKHPRVWUHFHQWSURGXFWV DGGHGWRRXUUDQJH6HHZHEVLWHRUMRLQRXU HPDLO1HZVOHWWHUIRUDOOWKHODWHVWQHZV





 &KDQQHO6HULDO3RUW7HPSHUDWXUH 0RQLWRU &RQWUROOHU5HOD\%RDUG FKDQQHOFRPSXWHU VHULDOSRUWWHPSHUDWXUH PRQLWRUDQGUHOD\FRQ WUROOHUZLWKIRXULQSXWV IRU'DOODV'66RU '6%GLJLWDOWKHU PRPHWHUVHQVRUV…HDFK )RXU$ UDWHGUHOD\FKDQQHOVSURYLGHRXWSXWFRQWURO 5HOD\VDUHLQGHSHQGHQWRIVHQVRUFKDQQHOV DOORZLQJIOH[LELOLW\WRVHWXSWKHOLQNDJHLQDQ\ ZD\\RXFKRRVH&RPPDQGVIRUUHDGLQJ WHPSHUDWXUHDQGUHOD\FRQWUROVHQWYLDWKH 56LQWHUIDFHXVLQJVLPSOHWH[WVWULQJV &RQWUROXVLQJDVLPSOHWHUPLQDOFRPPV SURJUDP:LQGRZV+\SHU7HUPLQDO RURXU IUHH:LQGRZVDSSOLFDWLRQVRIWZDUH .LW2UGHU&RGH.7… $VVHPEOHG2UGHU&RGH$6…  6HFRQG0HVVDJH5HFRUGHU )HDWXUHSDFNHGQRQYRODWLOH VHFRQGPXOWLPHVVDJH VRXQGUHFRUGHUPRGXOHXV LQJDKLJKTXDOLW\:LQERQG VRXQGUHFRUGHU,&6WDQG DORQHRSHUDWLRQXVLQJMXVWVL[RQERDUGEXW WRQVRUXVHRQERDUG63,LQWHUIDFH5HFRUG XVLQJEXLOWLQPLFURSKRQHRUH[WHUQDOOLQH LQ9GFRSHUDWLRQ-XVWFKDQJHRQHUH VLVWRUIRUGLIIHUHQWUHFRUGLQJGXUDWLRQVRXQG TXDOLW\VDPSOLQJIUHTXHQF\N+] .LW2UGHU&RGH.7… $VVHPEOHG2UGHU&RGH$6… VHFRQGYHUVLRQDOVRDYDLODEOH  %LSRODU6WHSSHU0RWRU&KRSSHU'ULYHU *HWEHWWHUSHUIRUPDQFHIURP \RXUVWHSSHUPRWRUVZLWKWKLV GXDOIXOOEULGJHPRWRUGULYHU EDVHGRQ6*67KRPSVRQ FKLSV/ /0RWRU FXUUHQWIRUHDFKSKDVHVHW XVLQJRQERDUGSRWHQWLRPHWHU5DWHGWRKDQ GOHPRWRUZLQGLQJFXUUHQWVXSWR$PSVSHU SKDVH2SHUDWHVRQ9GFVXSSO\YROWDJH 3URYLGHVDOOEDVLFPRWRUFRQWUROVLQFOXGLQJIXOO RUKDOIVWHSSLQJRIELSRODUVWHSSHUVDQGGLUHF WLRQFRQWURO$OORZVPXOWLSOHGULYHUV\QFKURQL VDWLRQ3HUIHFWIRUGHVNWRS&1&DSSOLFDWLRQV .LW2UGHU&RGH.7… $VVHPEOHG2UGHU&RGH$6…  9LGHR6LJQDO&OHDQHU 'LJLWDOO\FOHDQVWKHYLGHR VLJQDODQGUHPRYHVXQ ZDQWHGGLVWRUWLRQLQYLGHR VLJQDO,QDGGLWLRQLWVWDELOLVHV SLFWXUHTXDOLW\DQGOXPLQDQFHIOXFWXDWLRQV EMJEEH:;H WEB: PHONE: FAX: ;C7?B0 POST:

www.jaycarelectronics.co.uk 0800 032 7241* +61 2 8832 3118* j[Y^ijeh[6`WoYWh[b[Yjhed_Yi$Ye$ka P.O. Box 107, Rydalmere NSW 2116 Australia *Australian Eastern Standard Time CedZWo#