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Issue 1 September 1998
Click here to read this article Motor reversing switches
Wiring up a DPDT switch to reverse the direction of a motor in a model such as a crane.
Click here to read this article Relays revealed
How relays work, their connections, and their advantages and disadvantages.
Click here to read this article The latching relay circuit
Simple circuit using a relay which can switch a device on when a push switch is pressed. The device will then stay on until the power is removed.
Click here to read this article Model Study: The Chocolate Vending Machine
How two latching relay circuits were put to use in a model of a vending machine.
Click here to read this article All about resistors
Identifiying resistors by their colour code and Ohm's Law.
Click here to read this article Practical Matters: Soldering
Learn how to solder wires and onto stripboard/PCB.

Issue 2 January 1999
Click here to read this article LED's versus lamps
How to use Light Emitting Diodes and the advantages over ordinary filament lamps.
Click here to read this article Stepping out: Using stepper motors
Find out how to use stepper motors in your models for precision movement.
Click here to read this article Reversing using two relays
Another way of making a motor reversing switch using two single-pole relays.
Click here to read this article Practical Matters: Breadboards
Design circuits with the minimum hassle using breadboard -- no soldering required!

Issue 3 March 1999
Click here to read this article Using the NE555 IC: The astable
The first in a series on the NE555 IC shows how you can make an astable circuit which could be used for flashing lamps or intermittent moton of a motor.
Click here to read this article Using more powerful stepper motors
An extension to the SAA1027 stepper motor driver allowing your to drive more powerful stepper motors, by John Hewes.
Click here to read this article Practical Matters: Stripboard
Once you have designed a circuit on breadboard, build it on stripboard.

Issue 4 June 1999
Click here to read this article Using the NE555 IC: The monostable
The second part of the series on the NE555 IC describes the monostable circuit which has applications such as a 'push-to-operate' system in Meccano models.
Click here to read this article Some NE555 tricks
Add additional features to the NE555 circuits by 'sinking & sourcing' and creating variable time periods.
Click here to read this article Building a power supply
Learn how a simple regulated power supply works and how one can be built.
Click here to read this article Practical Matters: Connectors
Part one of a series describing some of the different types of connectors available. In this issue, wander plugs and banana plugs are covered.

Issue 5 September 1999
Click here to read this article Using the NE555 IC: The bistable
The last part of the series on the NE555 IC describes the bistable circuit.
Click here to read this article Simple motor control
Provide forward/reverse control to a DC motor from an AC supply using only two diodes and a switch!  Article by Stan Leech.
Click here to read this article More about power supplies
Find out how rectification loss and ripple voltage affects a power supply.
Click here to read this article Practical Matters: Connectors
Part two of this series describes some multi-way connectors such as D-types, DIN and power plugs.

Issue 6 January 2000
Click here to read this article Pulse Width Modulation motor control
Michael Adler gives an overview of the principles of PWM.
Click here to read this article Digital electronics: Logic gates
An introduction to digital logic and the CMOS 4000 series range of logic ICs.
Click here to read this article All about reed switches
Find out the what reed switches can be used for and their advantages over ordinary switches in this article by James Johnston.

Issue 7 April 2000
Click here to read this article Pulse Width Modulation motor control
Michael Adler's series concludes with a PWM circuit using two NE555 ICs.
Click here to read this article Digital electronics: Logic IC reduction
Save on logic ICs by using NAND gates only in your logic gate circuits.
Click here to read this article Digital electronics: Counters
Find out how to use binary counter ICs such as the 4520.
Click here to read this article Rotary switch motor controllers
Two easy to build controllers described by John Hewes, providing forward/reverse, 2 and 4 speed control of motors.

Issue 8 July 2000
Click here to read this article Digital electronics: Decoders
Find out how to sequence motors in a model, control cranes using less wiring, and control 7-segment LED displays.
Click here to read this article Motor control with a Darlington Pair
Control the speed of a motor using a normal variable resistor and two transistors with this article by John Hewes.

Issue 9 September 2000
Click here to read this article Adding sound to your models
Find out how to use sound generator ICs.
Click here to read this article Practical Matters: Veroboard
Michael Adler and Robin Davidson take an in depth look at designing veroboard layouts.
Click here to read this article Five-band resistors
Explaining how to read resistors that have five colour bands.

Issue 10 January 2001
Click here to read this article A replacement stepper motor circuit
This circuit replaces the one given in issue 2 of Electronics in Meccano.  The circuit uses two standard logic ICs to replace the now unobtainable SAA1027 stepper motor driver IC.
Click here to read this article Model Study: A cliff lift
Gilbert Ghyselbrecht describes the electronics inside his Cliff Lift model.  A PIC microcontroller controls the motor with positional information provided by slotted opto switches.

Issue 11 April 2001
Click here to read this article Meccano mechanisms incorporating electronics
Gilbert Ghyselbrecht introduces his Meccano Relay Board and explains how it can be used with some example Meccano mechanisms.
Click here to read this article A remote control system
Part one of this article shows how you can use ready-built radio modules to control a single motor.  
Click here to read this article The infra-red experience!
Mike Tebbutt shares his experiences (good and bad!) of the Meccano Infra-red System.

Issue 12 July 2001
Click here to read this article A remote control system
Part two of this article shows how you can use the HT12E and HT12D ICs with the radio transmitter and receiver modules to build a system that can control two motors.  

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