Test Beeper For Your Stereo

The test beeper generates a sinusoidal signal with a frequency of 1,000 Hz, a common test  frequency for audio amplifiers.  It consists of a classical Wien- Bridge oscillator (also known as  a Wien-Robinson oscillator). The network that determines the  frequency consists here of a series connection of a resistor and  capacitor (R1/C1) and a parallel connection (R2/C2), where  the values of the resistors and  capacitors  are  equal  to  each  other. This network behaves, at  the oscillator frequency (1 kHz  in this case), as two pure resistors. The opamp (IC1) ensures  that the attenuation of the net- work  (3  times)  is  compensated  for.  In  principle  a  gain  of  3 times should have been sufficient to sustain the oscillation,  but  that  is  in  theory.  Because  of tolerances in the values, the  amplification needs to be (automatically) adjusted.

Circuit diagram:

Test Beeper For Your Stereo circuit Diagram

Instead of an intelligent amplitude  controller  we  chose  for  a  somewhat simpler solution. With  P1, R3 and R4 you can adjust  the gain to the point that oscillation takes place. The range of P1 (±10%) is large enough the cover the tolerance range. To sustain  the oscillation, a gain of slightly  more than 3 times is required,  which  would,  however,  cause  the amplifier to clip (the ‘round-trip’ signal becomes increasingly  larger, after all). To prevent this  from happening, a resistor in se-ries with two anti-parallel diodes  (D1 and D2) are connected in  parallel  with  the  feedback  (P1  and R3). If the voltage increases to the point that the threshold  voltage of the diodes is exceed-ed, then these will slowly start to  conduct.

The consequence of this  is that the total resistance of the  feedback  is  reduced  and  with  that  also  the  amplitude  of  the  signal. So D1 and D2 provide a  stabilising function. The distortion of this simple oscillator, after adjustment of P1 and  an output voltage of 100 mV (P2  to  maximum)  is  around  0,1%.  You can adjust the amplitude of  the output signal with P2 as required for the application. The  circuit is powered from a 9-V battery. Because of the low current  consumption  of  only  2 mA  the  circuit will provide many hours  of service.

Author :Ton Giesberts  - Copyright : Elektor Electronics

Going for Gold

The title refers to a popular TV game show where the contestants each have a big button.  The  game show  host  asks  a  question and the first contestant to press their but-ton makes an illuminated indicator light up on their desk. The other contestants’ buttons  are automatically inhibited, so that everyone can see who was the first contestant to press their button, and so is allowed to answer the question. The project described here shows how to build a similar sortof  refereeing device yourself, using simple resources and without needing a microcontroller, which is  pretty rare these days! The basic circuit is for  just two contestants, but the modular design  means it can easily be expanded.

Circuit diagram :

 

Going for Gold Circuit Diagram

The diagram shows three buttons: S2 and S3  are the buttons for the two contestants, S1 is  the button for the host, which allows them to  reset the circuit before each fresh question.  The ‘brains’ of the circuit is IC1, a 4013 dual D-type flip-flop, of which only the Set and Reset  inputs are used here. This circuit can handle  quite a wide supply voltage range, from 3 to  15 V, and so the project can easily be run off a 4.5 V battery pack (the power consumption is minimal).

IC1 is armed by pressing S1 (reset). In this  state, the non-inverting outputs (pins 1 and  13) are at 0 and the inverting outputs (pins 12  and 12) are at 1. Hence line A is pulled high  by R1, since diodes D2 and D4 are not biased  on. If contestant 1 presses button S2, the  non-inverting output of flip-flop IC1a goes  to logic 1, and LED D1 lights via T1 to indicate that contestant 1 has pressed the but-ton. At the same time, the flip-flop’s invert-ing output goes to logic 0, making diode  D2 conduct. Line A is now pulled down to 0,  and consequently contestant 2’s button S3  can no longer trigger the second flip-flop.  The reverse happens if it is contestant 2 who  presses their button S3 first.

The circuit can be extended to 4 or 6 contest-ants (or even more) by adding a second or  third (or more) 4013 IC. All you have to do is  repeat the circuit (minus R1, R2, and S1) and connect to the A, B, Vdd, and 0 V lines on the right-hand side. 

 

 

Streampowers

Versatile Micropower Battery Protector

Protect your expensive batteries from discharge damage with this mini-sized electronic cutout switch. It uses virtually no power and can be built to suit a wide range of battery voltages.

Main Features

• Disconnects load at preset battery voltage
• Automatically reconnects load when battery recharged
• Ultra-low power consumption (<20ma)
• Miniature size
• 10A maximum rating
• Suitable for use with 4.8-12.5V batteries
• Transient voltage protection (optional)

Suitable for use in...

• Cars, boats & caravans
• Security systems
• Emergency lighting
• Small solar installations
• Camera battery packs
• Many other low-power applications

Picture of the project:

Back in May 2002, we (Silicon Chip) presented the "Battery Guardian", a project designed specifically for protecting 12V car batteries from over-discharge. This unit has proven to be very popular and is still available from kit suppliers. This new design does not supersede the Battery Guardian – at least not when it comes to 12V car batteries. Instead, it’s a more flexible alternative that can be used with a wide range of battery voltages.

Parts layout:

In this new "Micropower Battery Protector", we’ve dispensed with the low-battery warning circuitry and the relatively cheap N-channel MOSFET used in the Battery Guardian in favour of a physically smaller module that steals much less battery power. It costs a little more but can switch lower voltages, allowing it to be used with 6V & 12V lead-acid batteries and 4-cell to 10-cell NiCd and NiMH battery packs.

PCB layout:

Most battery-powered equipment provides no mechanism for disconnecting the batteries when they’re exhausted. Even when the voltage drops too low for normal operation, battery drain usually continues until all available energy is expended. This is particularly true of equipment designed to be powered from alkaline or carbon cells but retro-fitted with rechargeables.

Circuit diagram:

Another example is emergency lighting and security equipment designed to be float-charged from the mains. In an extended blackout period, the batteries can be completely drained and may not recover when the mains power is finally restored.

Source: Silicon Chip 27 July 2004

The HP series Hydrophone Booster Amplifier (HA2) amplifies low-level hydrophone signals over a wide range of frequencies. It has a minimum gain of 25dB and an input and output impedance of 50Ω. The HA2 is designed for use with either Precision Acoustics membrane hydrophone or Precision Acoustics HP Series Hydrophone Measurement System, which is shown in Fig 1.

Alternatively, the HA2 may be used when the acoustic signal is provided by a high output impedance hydrophone, such as a GEC-Marconi membrane device, or a conventional hydrophone. In this instance a BNC/MCX adaptor is used which connects directly to the HP Series Submersible Preamplifier, using it as a buffer amplifier, (i.e. the standard Precision Acoustic HP Series configuration shown in Fig 1 is used, but without the interchangeable probe).

The HA2 amplifier is straightforward to use but the following points should be noted:

• The output of the amplifier should be correctly terminated in 50Ω before operation.
• The HA2 amplifier is non-inverting but this is of no consequence when used with the HP Series interchangeable probes as their design takes this into account. However when a submersible preamplifier is used as a high impedance buffer amplifier (as in Fig 2) the system output from the HA2 will be inverted as the HP Series Submersible Preamplifier is inverting.

Before Connecting the unit please read WARNING

To Connect

To  Disconnect

1	Connect Output Load	1	Remove RF Input
2	Apply DC Voltage	2	Remove DC Volts
3	Apply RF Input	3	Remove Load

Specification (HA2 Amplifier Only)

Voltage Gain = 25dB minimum
Bandwidth =  50kHz to 125MHz ±1.0dB
Maximum Output Level = 29dBm for 1dB compression (18.1V pk – pk into 50Ω load)
Input Impedance = Nominal 50Ω
Output Impedance  Nominal 50Ω (VSWR 2:1)
Output Noise Level = Typically 70μV pk – pk (bandwidth 125MHz)
Noise Figure = Typically 10dB
Phase = Non-inverting
Terminations:
Front panel = Input BNC socket BNC Output socket
Rear panel Power Requirements = 28v dc output to supply DC Coupler 100/120/220/240V ac, 50 to 60Hz,
7.5W
Operating Temperature = 0 to 50°C
Size = (90mm × 205mm ×194mm)
Weight = 2.6kg

 

 

 

Streampowers