Data Sheet

DO’s and DON’Ts of Building Circuits
After building the circuits given in this booklet, you may wish to experi-
ment 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 lamp, motor, electromagnet, etc.), and wiring paths between them and
back.
You must be careful not to create “short circuits” (very low-resis-
tance paths across the batteries, see examples below) as this will dam-
age components and/or quickly drain your batteries. ELENCO
®
is not
responsible for parts damaged due to incorrect wiring.
Here are some important guidelines:
ALWAYS USE EYE PROTECTION WHEN EXPERIMENTING ON YOUR
OWN.
ALWAYS include at least one component that will limit the current
through a circuit, such as a lamp, motor, or electromagnet.
ALWAYS use the meter and switches in conjunction with other com-
ponents that will limit the current through them. Failure to
do so will create a short circuit and/or damage those parts.
ALWAYS disconnect your batteries immediately and check your
wiring if something appears to be getting hot.
ALWAYS check your wiring before turning on a circuit.
NEVER connect to an electrical outlet in your home in any way.
NEVER leave a circuit unattended when it is turned on.
NEVER touch the motor when it is spinning at high speed.
For all of the projects given in this book, the parts may be arranged in
different ways without changing the circuit. For example, the order of
parts connected in series or in parallel does not matter — what matters
is how combinations of these sub-circuits are arranged together.
Examples of SHORTCIRCUITS - NEVERDOTHESE!!!
You are encouraged to tell us about new programs and circuits you create.
If they are unique, we will post them with your name and state on our web-
site at: www.snapcircuits.net/learning_center/kids_creation.
Send your suggestions to ELENCO
®
: [e-mail].
ELENCO
®
provides a circuit designer so that you can make your own Snap
Circuits
®
drawings. This Microsoft
®
Word document can be downloaded
from: www.snapcircuits.net/learning_center/kids_creation or through
the www.snapcircuits.net website.
WARNING: SHOCK HAZARD - Never connect your Snaptric-
ity
®
set to the electrical outlets in your home in any way!
Placing a 3-snap wire directly across
the batteries is a SHORT CIRCUIT.
This is also a
SHORT CIRCUIT.
When the switch (S6)
is turned on, this large
circuit has a SHORT
CIRCUIT path (as
shown by the arrows).
The short circuit pre-
vents any other por-
tions of the circuit from
ever working.
NEVER
DO!
!
!
NEVER
DO!
!
NEVER
DO!
!
NEVER
DO!
Warning to Snap Circuits
®
owners: Do not connect addi-
tional voltage sources from other sets, or you may damage
your parts. Contact ELENCO
®
if you have questions or need
guidance.
!
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