What is it?

This is a simple, low-cost mono amplifier kit which can put out up to 1W. It is based upon the LM386 amplifier IC. It can be powered from 5-12V DC.

It can be used to amplify beeps and sounds from mp3 units, phones or from microcontroller projects.

There is an on-board volume adjustment with a potentiometer.

Either the surface mount or the through hole LM386 can be used on the circuit board. I supply this kit with the surface mount version, so that people can practice surface mount soldering. All other components are through-hole.

This board is a relatively simple soldering exercise and should take around 1 hour to build.

Why did you make it?

This was originaly built to amplify the 'voice' of a robot I built to do tours of Nottingham Hackspace. A few people asked me about the amplifier, so I decided to put together a few kits.

What makes it special?

Making your own amplifier is a great learning exercise. This simple kit can add volume to your projects, or can be used as a stand-alone mini-amplifier for your phone or mp3 player.

This kit includes a surface mount component, which makes it good for people wanting to learn to solder surface mount components.