Coming Attractions

Current Clamps Compared
Although a multimeter is an extremely useful and versatile instrument, the range of the ammeter section usually ends at about 10 A. For larger currents you should use a so-called clamp that can easily handle 100 A or even 1000 A. In the October 2010 edition we describe our experiences with twenty current clamp meters from different price ranges, varying from tens of pounds to about 500 pounds.

Photo Timer
Many modern digital cameras allow all features to be controlled remotely. Using the extensive photo timer published in the October 2010 edition, accurately timed photos can be made with Canon EOS or compatible cameras. A 4-line display shows all settings, which are also stored in an EEPROM. Optional pre-focusing is available and sound effects announce the actual ‘shot’.

NE5532 power amplifier
In this article Elektor’s ‘off the beaten track’ approach to electronics flourishes. Sure, the NE5532 opamp is widely used in audio applications but it’s less well known that an interesting power amplifier can be made by connecting enough of them in parallel. For this project 32 NE5532s are bundled to make a quality amplifier with an output power of about 15 watts into 8 ohms. The first instalment of the article describes the design philosophy and the schematic of this remarkable audio power amp.

Elektor UK/European edition: on sale September 23, 2010.
Elektor USA edition: published September 10, 2010.