Shut That Mutt!! (Silicon Chip project)

[Erikkssen]

Greetings to all,

I bought two online access to Silicon Chip magazine : April 2004 (Shut that mutt) and September 2012 (Barking blaster). The first project uses a TL494 and a PUT 2N6028 as an oscillator the second one uses a pre-programmed PIC12F675.  Question is : No PCB pattern on the magazine.
For second one publisher makes available a pdf file : https://www.siliconchip.com.au/Shop/10
charge free for everyone buys magazine. 
But for Shut that mutt (April 2004) nothing else.
http://archive.siliconchip.com.au/cms/A_101145/article.html

After a few e-mails they replied to me :
"The link we sent you IS the right one for this project.
Barking Dog Blaster is also known as Shut That Mutt! It is the same project.
http://www.siliconchip.com.au/Shop/10/734"

helps and suggestions are much appreciated !
Bye.

[Ian.M]

If you've got a schematic and sourcecode or hex file, and can still get all the ICs, you've got all you need to recreate it, as you'd want to redraw the PCB layout in a PCB CAD package anyway so you could order the PCBs online.

Many Silicon Chip projects were republished in the British "Everyday Practical Electronics" magazine (now just "Practical Electronics") so its worth checking their archives for a couple of years forward from the original publication date as you may well find the layouts and firmware there.   Article reprints are chargeable, access for firmware and some layouts is free.  If you are lucky EPE PCB service may even stilo have PCBs if they republished the "Barking blaster" project.  N.B. project titles may be changed to better relate to the UK market so look carefully at anything in the index with 'Dog' in its title or description.

[BradC]

I have the barking dog blaster sitting in a box somewhere unassembled. Can't promise I can find it, but if I do I'll scan the PCB for you. Given we've had 2 kids since I opened the box, the likelihood of the instructions still being in the box is low.

Come to mention it, the likelihood of there being anything in the box is low but I don't recall seeing tweeters scattered around the house.

[Erikkssen]

Thanks to all, I got the pcb with some hard work 
But careful this is not tested yet.
Also I've been noticing some changes from schematic. (TL494 pin 6 R4.7K R10K)
Construction in progress...

[unitedatoms]

Permanent sonic damage is not a joke. And if one agrees to sacrifice his/her hearing for science, do not forget that vision is also being damaged by sonic waves.

[Erikkssen]

i think that this is not too much dangerous, sound power is adjustable and dimmerable.
maybe fireworks should be much more dangerous. 

[tooki]

Or figure out why the dog is barking and address it through positive reinforcement training. It’s often separation anxiety and/or boredom, and both of those can be addressed.

[atmfjstc]

Usually the people who need these devices aren't in control of the dog or its owner (i.e. it'll be a neighbor's dog or a stray).

I know I could have certainly benefited from such a device 10 years ago, when the streets of my city were always beset by vicious and territorial stray dogs that terrorized the populace. The authorities did nothing for many years, and the interference of clueless and out-of-touch "animal rights" groups didn't help. It took many years until we got a proper mayor that finally did what had to be done.

[ivo333]

Permanent sonic damage is not a joke. And if one agrees to sacrifice his/her hearing for science, do not forget that vision is also being damaged by sonic waves.

so, have you tried to build this project?

[austfox]

Question is : No PCB pattern on the magazine.

I'm a little bit late to the question, but having a look at the 2004 magazine, it seems the design / article was from Oatley Electronics.

Projects submitted to Silicon Chip from Oatley never include PCB artwork, the articles themselves are there to push kit sales.

[Erikkssen]

I sent an email to Oatley electronics but i didn't get a response. Also it seems they don't have/sell this pcb anymore.
All about safety are on Silicon Chip Apr. 2004 Diode Bridge rectifier endures max 2Amp x 12V = max 24W  (in a rock concert maybe are much more than 24W. Surely during the tests it's better to use an anti-noise headphone or a dummy load).
I found some differences on pcb compared to schematics :

[Erikkssen]

Also I found some problems in the schematics. To maximize the power output I tried some modifications :
- remove inductor L1 (choke 8.5T) = Direct output from transformer
- wind 24 turns on T1 secondary (more turns = more tension)
- sometimes it is necessary to insert a ballast resistor in series to tweeters for not burn them (I measured over 75Vp)
- adjust frequency Rt - Ct according to datasheet TL494   f = 1.1/(Rt*Ct)
- if not available can be replaced : C8050 --> BC337 (inverted pins!)   TIP41C --> BD911 (or BD711)
- power transistors should have an heatsink
- it would be better to use a fuse on positive wire

[HB9EVI]

if you're really living in CH, be warned, that any technical devices applied on animals is strictly forbidden by animal protection laws.
that includes shockers as much as sound devices; a friend of mine got in trouble because of a GPS tracker on her dog's harness ; a neighbour believed it's a shocker and informed the authorities; she got it ruled out, but it caused trouble.
I'm a long time dog owner and would put authorities attention on it too if I got to know about such devices impairing animals

[Erikkssen]

if you're really living in CH, be warned, that any technical devices applied on animals is strictly forbidden by animal protection laws.
that includes shockers as much as sound devices; a friend of mine got in trouble because of a GPS tracker on her dog's harness ; a neighbour believed it's a shocker and informed the authorities; she got it ruled out, but it caused trouble.
I'm a long time dog owner and would put authorities attention on it too if I got to know about such devices impairing animals

Buy the article online to read all about safery : www.siliconchip.com.au Issue 2004 April Shut That Mut
The use of this device is only for self-defense against annoying barking. Not to cause psychological problems to the dogs. Entually you can also adjust the output power. In theory it would be prohibited but ... Farmers Switzerland routinely eating cats dogs meals