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This oscillator circuit permits crystals to be electronically switched by logic commands. The circuit is best understood by initially ignoring all crystals. Furthermore, assume that all diodes are shorts and their associated 1kO resistors open. The two 1kO resistors at the non-inverting input of IC1 (LT1016) set the output to half the supply, ie, +2.5V. The RC network from the output to pin 3 sets up phase-shifted feedback and the circuit looks like a wide-band unity gain follower at DC. When crystal X1 is inserted (remember, D1 is temporarily shorted) positive feedback occurs and oscillation commences at the crystal’s resonant frequency.... [read more]

This simple circuit drives 6 LEDs in 'Knightrider scanner mode'. Power consumption depends mainly on the type of LEDs used if you use a 7555 (555 CMOS version).... [read more]

Feeling chirpy? Attract new friends with this modified hartley oscillator. You could also use it as a replacement doorbell.... [read more]

Wound on a 3 foot length of PVC pipe, the long loopstick antenna was an experiment to try to improve AM radio reception without using a long wire or ground. It works fairly well and greatly improved reception of a weak station 130 miles away. A longer rod antenna will probably work better if space allows.... [read more]

Measures 10mV to 50Volt RMS in eight ranges Simply connect to your Avo-meter set @ 50uA range... [read more]

This little circuit indicates the basic integrity of a printed board, detecting 0V, positive supply voltage from less than 3V to 30V and floating parts. If the probe is floating, as it would be in a broken track, then both LEDs barely light up, since there is no current to drive the transistors, but if the probe touches 0V or a positive voltage one or other lights. A digital signal should light them in proportion to the mark-space ratio whereas the output of a circuit oscillating at a frequency rate below about 20Hz will cause the LEDs to flicker alternatively. The LEDs will illuminate always at a constant intensity, no matter the voltage supply used, because they are fed by a very simple FET constant-current generator (Q1).... [read more]