Dilshan R Jayakody’s Web Log

The LM386 is a low-voltage audio power amplifier designed by National Semiconductor , which is now part of Texas Instruments . Introduced in 1983, it has been widely used in various audio applications, such as amplifying signals in small radios, portable speakers, and other low-power audio equipment. This compact device integrates all the essential components of a basic audio amplifier circuit, including an internal biasing network, an input stage, and an output driver. It operates within a supply voltage range of 4V to 12V, making it ideal for driving small speakers while consuming minimal power. A standout feature of the LM386 is its adjustable gain, which can be varied between 20 (26dB) and 200 (46dB) using external components. Assembled LM386 power amplifier. Although modern Class-D amplifiers offer higher efficiency and greater power output, the LM386 remains a viable solution in certain applications due to its straightforward design, low cost, ease of assembly (thanks to i...

TDA7052A is an audio power amplifier designed for use in low voltage battery-powered equipment. Compare with the popular LM386, TDA7052A is not so popular among DIY electronic enthusiasts.  Final view of the finished amplifier with speaker.   Using the Bridge Tied Load principal, this IC delivers an output power of 1.2W into an 8Ω load with, 6V power supply.   The most striking feature of this amplifier is the minimum external component count. This IC only needs two external capacitors to build a functional audio amplifier.   The gain of the amplifier is fixed internally at 40dB. The amplifier got, short-circuit protection, requires no external heatsinks, and not producing any switch on/off click sound(s).    Although this is an old amplifier IC, it is still available to purchase in many local and online stores. Compare with the other low-power AF power amplifier ICs, TDA7052 is a little expensive in the local market. Although it is costly, I use this IC ...

UV exposure unit is a vital component in printing and mass-manufacturing industries. I decided to build a UV exposure unit to assist my screen-printing and PCB prototyping needs. After examining the market, I decided to construct this unit using black fluorescent tubes. Those black fluorescent tubes are usually available to purchase in many electrical shops here in Sri Lanka . Finished UV exposure unit with four fluorescent tubes. To drive the exposure unit, I build an electronic controller using ATtiny2313A MCU. This controller is capable to handle the exposure unit for up to 999 seconds ( approximately 16 minutes ). This electronic controller got two high-power relay driver stages, an audible notification unit, a safety lock, and a programmable timer. The fluorescent tubes are drive using four separate chokes and starter units. For this unit, I use four NEC 20W - 60cm (T10) black fluorescent tubes.  12V, 5A SMPS is used to drive the relays and electronic controller unit. PSU, c...

Signal injector and the tracer is a very useful device when troubleshooting electronic audio equipment. We decided to build this signal injector by inspiring the article available in June 2016 - Everyday Practical Electronics (EPE) Magazine ( Audio Signal Injector and Tracer by John Clarke - Page 22 to 29). The signal injector design in EPE magazine is simple but we got few issues while constructing that circuit. The main issue is that LMC6482 is not available to buy in the local market. After few months wait we got a couple of ICs from eBay for LKR 600.00. The second issue is its output is not enough to drive most of the loudspeakers. After prototyping EPE design we decided to build similar sort of signal injector and tracer with commonly available ICs and with more powerful power amplifier stage. For our design, we use the LM358 operational amplifier IC which is commonly available in the local market (for LKR 15 to 20). For the power amplifier, we use LM386 low voltage power...

This is a very simple electronic doorbell circuit which is specifically designed to interface with commonly available access control systems. This circuit is designed around an NE555 timer IC and LM386 audio power amplifier IC. Because most of the access control systems use 12V power supplies this doorbell is also designed to work with 9V to 15V DC power source. Final view of our doorbell project prototype. We test this doorbell with several YOUHE access control systems and it works well with all the tested models. In this design, NE555 is set up to obtain 840Hz - 860Hz output with above 80% duty cycle. To get the more effective output we use small 3.5 inches, 8Ω tweeter with our prototype design. The PCB design and schematic of this design is available to download at google drive .

This is a simple electronic project which we implemented for some local event to guide audience automatically with some prerecorded voice messages. The core component of this unit is ISD1820PY voice record/playback chip which is manufactured by Nuvoton Technologies . Except for ISD1820PY, this unit use commonly available low power LASER and LDR assembly to detect people. To drive the loudspeaker we use popular LM386 audio power amplifier. Thanks to ISD1820PY and LM386 this system can be implemented on a breadboard or on stripboard with a minimum number of external components. This circuit is designed to drive using 6V or 9V DC battery but it can also drive with 6V or 9V DC regulated power supply. To get 3.3V we use an LD1117V33 voltage regulator, but this can also be replaced with some commonly available 3.3V regulators such as LD33V, MC33269-3.3, etc. For the speaker, we use 4-inch 8Ω full-range speaker. A prototype version of electronic voice messenger. This unit can be u...

This project is about USB port base true hardware random number generator and it is design around the avalanche noise which occurred in reversed biased P-N junction. This random number generator is design using commonly available electronic components. The core component of this system is Microchip’s PIC18F2550 microcontroller. The noise source is 2N3904 (Q1) transistor and LM386 low voltage power amplifier is used to amplify the incoming noise signals. This peripheral is design to work as a self-powered USB HID device. Cumulative distribution graph of random number sample In this design we use 2N3904 as a noise source because it give more noise amplitude than any another transistors which we tested. Theoretically this transistor (Q1) can be replaced with any other suitable NPN transistor like BC548, BC107, 2SC945, etc. The control software of this system is available for Linux and it’s compiled as x86 - 32bit binary file. This controller application required libusb driver ...

This is simple PIC microcontroller base project to generate Morse codes using standard PS/2 keyboard. This project based on Microchip’s PIC16F73 microcontroller and National semiconductor’s LM386 audio power amplifier. Software for PIC microcontroller is written using MikroC and all the source codes, schematic diagrams and other documents are available to download at here . In this project we choose PIC16F73 because of it’s 4KW (KWords) program memory, it is possible to replace this MCU with any suitable MCU which having 4KW (or more) flash memory. (For example Atmel AT89C4051-24SJ with different source code, Microchip PIC16F648 with some minor changes in source code, etc) Audio power amplifier of this project is based on National Semiconductor’s LM386. We choose LM386 because of its lower power consumption and compactness. User may also replace this module with suitable power amplifier (for example Philips TDA7052, TDA8551, National’s LM4906, etc.) PIC16F73 software is develop...