Project 15 | FADER Build the circuit as shown, turn on the slide switch (S1), and then push the press switch (S2) to hear a melody. After you release the press switch the sound slowly fades out. Push the press switch to resume the sound. Part B: Replace the melody IC (U32) with the motor (M4) and fan. The fan spins for a time after the press switch is released. Part C: Replace the motor and fan with the white LED (D6). The LED slowly dims after you release the press switch.
Project 16 | TIMED WALL OF FUN Assembly: 1. Place the base grid support on base grid B. 2. Place parts on grids C and install into base grid supports on grid B. 3. Install remaining parts on grids A&B. Set the meter (M6) to the 0.5mA scale, push the press switch (S2), and then turn on the slide switch (S1). The motor (M4) spins the fan, the LEDs (D6 & D8) light, the melody IC (U32) plays a tune, and the meter measures the current charging the 470µF capacitor through the 5.1kΩ resistor.
Project 17 | FESTIVE HOUSE 33 Do not leave the circuit for two minutes because the lamp will be hot.
Assembly (adult supervision recommended): 1. Place base grid supports on base grids A & B. 2. Place parts (except for the blue jumper wires) on base grids C & D, and install into base grid supports on grids A & B. The pegs should be facing inward. 4. Mount grids E & F, at the angles shown and with pegs facing down, on top of grids C & D using 6 stabilizers, and attaching 2 vertical snap wires (V1) as you do it. Adjust the positions of the stabilizers as needed. 5. Add the remaining parts on grids E & F.
Project 18 | ELECTRIC HEATER Turn on the slide switch (S1), cover the holes in the top of the lamp (L4) with your finger, and wait. After a minute or so you should feel the lamp heating up. Do not leave the circuit for two minutes because the lamp will be hot. Incandescent light bulbs like L4 contain a special thin wire that gets so hot when electricity flows through it that it glows.
Project 20 | AUTOMATIC LIGHT Build the circuit and turn on the slide switch (S1). The white LED (D6) will be on unless there is bright light on the phototransistor (Q4), so vary the amount of light shining on the phototransistor. The melody IC (U32) will make little or no sound (it is used here to help control the phototransistor current). This circuit automatically turns on the light when the room starts getting dark.
Project 22 | TRANSISTOR AMPLIFIER Turn on the slide switch (S1). The color LED (D8) is dim but the white LED (D6) is bright. Part B: Remove either LED (D6 or D8) and see what happens to the other one. Part C: Swap the locations of the white LED (D6) and the color LED (D8). The NPN transistor (Q2) is a current amplifier, meaning it takes a small current and makes it larger.
Project 24 | AUDIO FAN SPEED ADJUSTER Turn on the slide switch (S1). The fan should spin and there should be sound from the melody IC (U32). If the fan does not spin then push the press switch (S2) to get the fan started. The speed of the fan varies depending on the current flowing into the melody IC, and the melody IC current depends on the sound it is making. Project 25 | DISTANCE LOSS SIMULATOR C A This circuit is intended to simulate electrical transmission loss over long distances.
Project 26 | LIGHT-CONTROLLED LIGHT Turn on the slide switch (S1) and vary the amount of light shining on the phototransistor (Q4). The brighter the light on the phototransistor, the brighter the color LED (D8) should be. The Q4 attachment is placed on D8, to make it easier to see if it is dim. Next, replace the color LED (D8) with the white LED (D6). Compared to the color LED, the white LED requires more light on Q4 to turn on, but gets brighter when there is a lot of light on Q4.
Project 28 | INFRARED-CONTROLLED LIGHT You need an infrared remote control for this project, such as any TV/ stereo/DVD remote control in your home. Build the circuit and turn on the switch (S1). Place the Q4 attachment on the phototransistor (Q4). Position the circuit away from lights in the room so that the white LED (D6) is off. Point your remote control directly into the Q4 attachment, and press any button to turn on the white LED. The LED may not get very bright.
Project 30 | 2-STORY HOUSE 41
The light covers and slides may be placed on the LEDs (D6 and D8) or lamp (L4) as decoration. Fold the slides as indicated and slide them into the slots on the cover, as shown. Assembly (adult supervision recommended): 1. Place base grid supports on base grid A & B. 2. Place parts (except for the jumper wires) on base grids C & D, and install into base grid supports on grids A & B. The pegs should be facing inward for grid C and outward for grid D. 3. Place remaining parts on grids A & B. 4.
Project 31 | 3-WALL HOUSE The circuit built in this project is pictured on the front of your box and manual, so you can use that picture as a guide here. This circuit represents the different uses of electricity in your home and the electrical circuitry that carries that electricity and makes it work for you. The motor is a ceiling fan. The white LED is a ceiling light. The press switch is the doorbell, which controls the melody IC as well as the lamp that lights up the room when someone is at the door.
The light covers and slides may be placed on the LEDs (D6 and D8) or lamp (L4) as decoration. Fold the slides as indicated and slide them into the slots on the cover, as shown. Note: the 4snap, 6-snap wires , the fiber optic festive tree and its mounting base (which may b e laid on the 6-snap w ire so it balances the festive tree), are only included as decoratio n and are not neces sary. Assembly (adult supervision recommended): 1. Place base grid supports on base grid A & B. 2.
Project 32 | HIGH CEILING HOUSE The “doorbell” circuit (melody IC, Meter, and push switch) can be activated even if the main switch (S1) is turned off. S1 turns on and off the color LED (D8) on the wall, the white LED (D6), and motor (M4) in the ceiling. Transistor Q2 inverts (or flips) the way the light on the phototransistor controls the lamp; as long as the light shining on the phototransistor (Q4) is dim, lamp (L4) will be on when S1 is on.
The light covers and slides may be placed on the LEDs (D6 and D8) or lamp (L4) as decoration. Fold the slides as indicated and slide them into the slots on the cover, as shown. Assembly (adult supervision recommended): 1. Place base grid supports on base grids A & B. 2. Place parts (except for the jumper wires) on base grids D & F, and install into base grid supports on grids A & B. The pegs should be facing inward on grid D and outward on grid F. 3.
Project 33 | 2-STORY BUILDING 5V 47
The light covers and slides may be placed on the LEDs (D6 and D8) or lamp (L4) as decoration. Fold the slides as indicated and slide them into the slots on the cover, as shown. Assembly (adult supervision recommended): 1. Place base grid supports on base grids A & D. 2. Place parts (except for the jumper wires) on base grid B, and install grids B & C into base grid supports on grid A. The pegs should be facing inward on grids B and C. 3.
Project 34 | STATIC ELECTRICITY Find clothes that cling together in the dryer, and try to uncling them. Take off a sweater (wool is best) and listen for crackling noises. Try it in a dark room and see if you see sparks. Compare the effects with different fabrics (wool, cotton, etc.). Rub a sweater (wool is best) and see how it clings to other clothes. Note: this p roject works best o n a cold dry day.
Find a comb (or plastic ruler) and paper. Rip up the paper into small pieces. Run the comb through your hair several times then hold it near the paper pieces to pick them up. You can also use a pen or plastic ruler, rub it on your clothes (wool works best). You need a comb (or plastic ruler) and a water faucet for this part. Run the comb through your hair several times then hold it next to a slow, thin stream of water from a faucet. The water will bend towards it. You can also use a plastic ruler.
HOW TO USE YOUR SNAP CIRCUITS® Snap Circuits® uses building blocks with snaps to build the different electrical and electronic circuits in the projects. Each block has a function: there are switch blocks, light blocks, battery blocks, different length wire blocks, etc. These blocks are different colors and have numbers on them so that you can easily identify them.
HOW TO USE YOUR SNAP CIRCUITS® Due to the complex nature of building 3D circuits, the circuit diagrams use special symbols that may need additional clarification. One such example is the symbol for the vertical snap wire (V1). It consists of two parts, the horizontal base and vertical stem. In the illustration below, the base is attached to the large base grid and the stem is attached to the mini base grid.
HOW TO USE YOUR SNAP CIRCUITS® The light covers and slides may be placed on the LEDs (D6 and D8) or lamp (L4) as decoration. Fold the slides as indicated and slide them into the slots on the cover, as shown. The fiber optic festive tree can be mounted on the LEDs (D6 and D8) to enhance their light effects. The fiber optic festive tree must be mounted using the mounting base, as shown. The clear motor (M4) will often have the wind fan mounted on it; simply push the fan onto the shaft.
PARTS LIST (COLORS AND STYLES MAY VARY) Important: If any parts are missing or damaged, DO NOT RETURN TO RETAILER. Call toll-free (800) 533-2441 or e-mail us at: help@elenco.com. Customer Service: 150 Carpenter Ave., Wheeling, IL 60090 U.S.A. ● You may order additional / replacement parts at www.elenco.com/replacement-parts Qty. ID Name Symbol Part # Qty.
ABOUT YOUR SNAP CIRCUITS® PARTS BASE GRID SNAP WIRES,VERTICAL SNAP WIRES, BATTERY HOLDER & JUMPER WIRES The batteries (B3) produce an electrical voltage The base grids are platforms for mounting parts and wires. They function like the printed circuit boards used in most electronic products, or like how the walls are used for mounting the electrical wiring in your home. The base grids can be placed together to form larger grids. The blue snap wires are wires used to connect components.
ABOUT YOUR SNAP CIRCUITS® PARTS CAPACITOR The 470µF capacitors (C5) can store electrical pressure (voltage) for periods of time. This storage ability allows them to block stable voltage signals and pass changing ones. Capacitors are used for filtering and delay circuits. LAMP A light bulb, such as in the 4.5V lamp (L4), contains a special thin high-resistance wire. When a lot of electricity flows through, this wire gets so hot it glows bright. Voltages above the bulb’s rating can burn out the wire.
ABOUT YOUR SNAP CIRCUITS® PARTS METER Pointer The meter (M6) is an important measuring device. You use it to measure the voltage (electrical pressure) and current (how fast electricity is flowing) in a circuit. Magnet Contacts How does electricity turn the shaft in the motor? The answer is magnetism. Electricity is closely related to magnetism, and an electric current flowing in a wire has a magnetic field similar to that of a very, very tiny magnet. Inside the motor is a coil of wire with many loops.
DO’S AND DON’TS OF BUILDING CIRCUITS After building the circuits given in this booklet, you may wish to experiment on your own. Use the projects in this booklet as a guide, as many important design concepts are introduced throughout them. Every circuit will include a power source (the batteries), a resistance (which might be a resistor, melody IC, LED (which has an internal protection resistor), motor, lamp, etc.), and wiring paths between them and back.
TROUBLESHOOTING Elenco® is not responsible for parts damaged due to incorrect wiring. Basic troubleshooting: a. Most circuit problems are due to incorrect assembly, always double-check that your circuit exactly matches the drawing for it. b. Be sure that parts with positive/negative markings are positioned as per the drawing. c. Be sure that all connections are securely snapped. d. Try replacing the batteries. e.
TROUBLESHOOTING 5. Slide switch (S1) and press switch (S2): Build project 1 but replace the meter (M6) with a 3-snap wire; if the color LED (D8) doesn’t light then the slide switch is bad. Replace the slide switch with the press switch to test it. 6. Phototransistor (Q4) and 5.1kΩ resistor (R3): Build project 26 and vary the amount of light shining on the phototransistor. The brighter the light on the phototransistor, the brighter the color LED (D8) should be. Then replace the phototransistor with the 5.
Notes 61
SC- MyH7 Parts Layout Note: A complete parts list is on page 54 in this manual. Important: If parts are missing or damaged, DO NOT RETURN TO RETAILER. Call (800) 533-2441 or e-mail: help@elenco.com.
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