Maximum Minimum Voltage Indicator

This circuit indicates which of three voltages in the range from about about -4V to about +4V - at A, B and C - is the highest by lighting one of three indicator LEDs. Alternatively, it can be wired to indicate the lowest of three voltages or to indicate both the highest and lowest voltages. Op amps IC1a, IC1b & IC1c are wired as comparators, while the three indicator LEDs and their series 1kO current limiting resistors are strung across the op amp outputs to implement the appropriate logic functions.

Circuit diagram:

Maximum Minimum Voltage Indicator Circuit Diagram

For example, LED A will light only when pin 8 of IC1c is low (ie, A greater B) and pin 7 of IC1b is high (ie, A greater C). Similarly, LED B will light only when pin 8 of IC1c is high (ie, B greater A) and pin 1 of IC1a is low (ie, B greater C). LED C works in similar fashion if the voltage at C is the highest. Note that if all the LEDs and their parallel 1N4148 diodes are reversed, the circuit will indicate the lowest of the three input voltages. And if each 1N4148 diode is replaced by a LED, the circuit will indicate both the highest and lowest inputs.

Author: Andrew Partridge - Copyright: Silicon Chip

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Rechargeable Snow Blower

You know what they say –the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. How any people do you know wish that they stay in an area where snow is in abundance? For folks who happen to live in such an area, you know the hassle of life when it snows really hard, and nearly every single day during winter to boot. A snow blower would make plenty of sense actually, which is why you might want to check out the $599.95 Rechargeable Snow Blower.

The Rechargeable Snow Blower is touted to be the only snow blower which will be powered by a rechargeable battery, hence doing away with the need to refill a gas tank, or perhaps to untangle a power cord. A 40-volt lithium-ion battery would run proceedings fro within, where this emission-free, environmentally friendly blower can throw powder for up to 40 minutes at a stretch before exhausting its battery reserves.

It works best in clearing out small outdoor spaces like a patio or walkway, where the single-stage blower is more than capable of handling 10″ high drifts and clear an 18″ wide path in a single pass. Want to do all of the snow clearing after dark? Not a problem, since the blower features a bright LED headlight that makes it a snap to do so even when the sun has gone down. [Via]

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Remember Shelf

While we try our best, we can’t remember every small detail we’re supposed to keep track of. There’s gadgets to charge, groceries to buy, things to clean, appointments, meetings, and much, much more. While you can set reminders on your phone, that’s often not enough to make sure you accomplish whatever task lay in front of you in the appropriate amount of time. As the saying goes, “If you’re early, you’re on time. If you’re on time, you’re late.” Of course, if you’re late, it’s completely unacceptable.

We need calendars that hang on the wall, notes on our hand, and post-its on everything. If all that isn’t enough, then the Remember Shelf can add to your collection. This is a a whiteboard where you can write down those appointment times and grocery list. It can also hold your keys, phone, and wallet. Possibly the most unique aspect of this is that there are switches on the right hand side where you can doodle little pictures of things that you still need to do.

That can be anything from turning off the light to locking the back door. It can become the best departure checklist for going out the front door before your day at work begins…well, if you remember to check it and update it regularly. This will cost you around $35, and won’t take up much space on the wall as it only measures 34x21cm. [Via]

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Heated Furniture Cover keeps everyone warm this winter

Heated Furniture Cover keeps everyone warm this winter
During winter, one ought to maintain a careful balance between keeping everyone at home warm and cozy, alongside making sure that the electric bill at the end of the month does not throw your monthly budget out of whack. Having said that, it is pretty nice to indulge once in a while, and for some of us, we tend to cozy up to our favorite couch with a nice, thick fleece blanket covering us to keep us nice and warm underneath. That is fine and dandy if you want to sleep, but what happens when you still want to read a book and yet keep most of your body warm? Enter the $159.95 Heated Furniture Cover.

This particular heated furniture cover will be able to offer an instant cozy place to sit during the cold winter months. It is made out of soft microsuede, where the quilted cover will drape over the back, seat and arms of furniture, while sporting a textured backing to make sure that it remains in place. The cover itself will be able to produce an even, all-over warmth which will go a long way in reducing home heating costs simply by targeting heat directly at a room’s occupants. Not only that, thanks to its generous polyester filling within, the embedded heating elements are virtually undetectable for a comfortable lounging experience. There is a tethered controller that lets you play around with the temperature settings; while an auto shut-off feature will turn off heat after four hours.[Via]

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Timebrick Concrete Clock

It’s not a normal concrete block, but a unique clock that shows you accurate time. If you like this kind of solid design, let’s go on checking the Timebrick concrete clock. The Timebrick is a pretty cool desktop timepiece that measures 8.5 x 8.5 x 5.3cm and weights 486g.

As we can see from the images, the desktop clock features low-profile and stylish design, most importantly, the timepiece comes with a unique casing made from concrete along with bold accents including hexagonal screws and squat hands for extremely durable construction and personalized design.

Inside, there is a German Quartz UTS movement in order to show you accurate time, moreover, the concrete clock is powered by an AA battery. The Timebrick concrete clock is available in 6 colors, each one is priced at $49 USD. If you’re interested, jump to TouchOfModren online store for more details. [Via]

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