Jaycar Cat News Today

This advanced Watering System Controller does it all. It can change the watering schedule depending on the seasons, check the weather forecast before watering and even alert you to a burst pipe or blocked sprinkler. Best of all, it is very easy to set up and use. by Geoff Graham

This ‘Songbird’ is quick and easy to build, with a simple circuit, so it is perfect for beginners and even more experienced constructors. It sports an aptly designed PCB, and once completed, will burst into song. It is powered via two AA cells and ‘sings’ via a piezo speaker. by Andrew Woodfifield

The AD8238-based heart rate monitor module is a low-cost way to monitor the operation of the heart via an Arduino or similar, like an electrocardiogram. It comes with a 3-electrode lead and is available from Jaycar. by Jim Rowe

This power supply is designed to help you take the mess out when prototyping new designs on a breadboard. It plugs straight into a breadboard’s power rails and has two adjustable current-limited outputs. by Tim Blythman

Illumination so we can be active beyond daylight hours has always been an important technology. On foot, that usually means a torch. Once a stick with a fire on the end, modern torches (known elsewhere as “flashlights”) are almost always battery-powered. by Dr David Maddison

This hifi system takes a ‘no compromise’ approach to build a truly superlative sound system that will be at home in a modern living room. We are utilising high-end components that are readily available while avoiding falling into the abyss of overly expensive, gold-plated parts. The parts used are not cheap but this system will still be within reach for many people. by Phil Prosser

Resin-based 3D printers have been around for a while, but it’s only in the last few years that we have seen them experience a boom in popularity and availability. We tested this model (available from Jaycar) to see how it shapes up, especially compared to filament-based 3D printing. by Tim Blythman

This remote mains power switch uses secure wireless transmission so that nefarious people can’t intercept the commands and override your control. It can also switch high current loads and includes an adjustable timer. Up to 16 separate handheld remotes can control the same receiver. by John Clarke

This advanced MIDI synthesiser is easy to build and can be hooked up to any MIDI compatible device. It lets you explore the broad range of acoustic elements that capture the characteristics of real and imaginary instruments. It is more than an experiment – it is a full-blown instrument capable of forming rich, detailed sounds using a plethora of settings, envelopes and waveforms – a blank canvas. by Jeremy Leach

Our recent article took a look at low-cost air quality sensors and sensing modules, explaining what they do and how they work. Here’s a more detailed investigation of some of the currently available MOS (metal oxide semiconductor) type sensor modules. by Jim Rowe