SCSNAPINO_Manual_112816.qxp 12/30/16 1:59 PM Page 1 Copyright © 2017 by ELENCO® Electronics, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book shall be reproduced 753106 U.S. Patents: 7,144,255; 7,273,377; & patents pending by any means; electronic, photocopying, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher.
SCSNAPINO_Manual_112816.qxp 12/30/16 1:59 PM Page 2 A NOTE ABOUT THE FCC The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates use of the radio frequency spectrum in the United States to prevent products from interfering with each other. Snapino™ has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation.
SCSNAPINO_Manual_112816.qxp 12/30/16 2:00 PM Page 3 Table of Contents Parts List How to Use SnapinoTM About Your SnapinoTM Parts Introduction to Electricity DOs and DON’Ts of Building Circuits Troubleshooting Qty. ID Name r1 3 r1 5 r1 2 r1 r1 r1 D1 r1 D2 r1 D10 2 3 4, 5 6 7 8 2-Snap Wire Project Listings 9 Projects 1 - 20 9−29 Introduction to Microcontrollers 13 Installing Software & Programming Cable 14 Learn About Programming 16 To Go Further 30 Symbol Part # Qty.
SCSNAPINO_Manual_112816.qxp 12/30/16 2:00 PM Page 4 How to Use SnapinoTM 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.
SCSNAPINO_Manual_112816.qxp 12/30/16 2:00 PM Page 5 About Your SnapinoTM Parts (Part designs are subject to change without notice). BASE GRID The base grid is a platform for mounting parts and wires. It functions 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. SNAP WIRES & JUMPER WIRES The blue snap wires are wires used to connect components.
SCSNAPINO_Manual_112816.qxp 12/30/16 2:00 PM Page 6 RESISTORS About Your SnapinoTM Parts Resistors “resist” the flow of electricity and are used to control or limit the current in a circuit. This set includes a 10kW resistor (R4) (“k” symbolizes 1,000, so R4 is really 10,000W). Materials like metal have very low resistance (<1W), while materials like paper, plastic, and air have nearinfinite resistance. Increasing circuit resistance reduces the flow of electricity.
SCSNAPINO_Manual_112816.qxp 12/30/16 2:00 PM Page 7 Introduction to Electricity What is electricity? Nobody really knows. We only know how to produce it, understand its properties, and how to control it. Electricity is the movement of sub-atomic charged particles (called electrons) through a material due to electrical pressure across the material, such as from a battery. Power sources, such as batteries, push electricity through a circuit, like a pump pushes water through pipes.
SCSNAPINO_Manual_112816.qxp 12/30/16 2:00 PM Page 8 DOs 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 9V battery holder or USB cable), a resistance (which might be a resistor, LED (which has an internal protection resistor), etc.), and wiring paths between them and back.
SCSNAPINO_Manual_112816.qxp 12/30/16 2:00 PM Page 9 Troubleshooting (Adult supervision recommended) Elenco is not responsible for parts damaged due to incorrect wiring. ® Basic Troubleshooting 1. Most circuit problems are due to incorrect assembly, always double-check that your circuit exactly matches the drawing for it. 2. Be sure that parts with positive/negative markings are positioned as per the drawing. 3. Be sure that all connections are securely snapped. 4. Try replacing the batteries.
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SCSNAPINO_Manual_112816.qxp 12/30/16 2:00 PM Page 11 A. Snap Circuits® uses electronic blocks that snap onto a clear plastic grid to build different circuits. These blocks have different colors and numbers on them so you can easily identify them. Build the circuit shown by placing all the parts with a black 1 next to them on the board first. Then, assemble parts marked with a 2.
SCSNAPINO_Manual_112816.qxp 12/30/16 2:00 PM Page 12 + Project 2 Lights YELLOW Placement Level Numbers Optional: USB cable to USB device may be used as alternate power source in place of 9V battery.
SCSNAPINO_Manual_112816.qxp 12/30/16 2:00 PM Page 13 A. Build the circuit, turn on the switch in the 9V battery holder, and push the press switch (S2). The red, green, and yellow LEDs (D1, D2, & D10) light. Note: The white jumper wire is used only as a spacer (so both snaps on the yellow LED are on level 3); its right snap need not be connected. Educational Note: LEDs are light emitting diodes, which convert electrical energy into light.
SCSNAPINO_Manual_112816.qxp 12/30/16 2:00 PM Page 14 Introduction to Microcontrollers Arduino UNO circuit board on Snap Circuits platform ® WHAT IS A MICROCONTROLLER? The SnapinoTM module (U31) is an Arduino UNO microcontroller mounted on a Snap Circuits® base. Arduino is an electronics platform for prototyping with easyto-use hardware and software.
SCSNAPINO_Manual_112816.qxp 12/30/16 2:00 PM Page 15 Project 3 Blinking Light (Programming Snapino™) This project explains the procedure for programming the SnapinoTM module (U31). The microcontroller can be re-programmed in ANY circuit that uses it, by attaching the programming cable to it. When you initiate a new program download, any program currently running in the microcontroller is interrupted. When a new program download is complete, the new program will begin running.
SCSNAPINO_Manual_112816.qxp 12/30/16 2:00 PM Page 16 Go to the SnapinoTM product page (www.snapcircuits.net/scsnapino) and download the SnapinoTM program files from our website to your computer. In the File menu in the Arduino IDE, pick Open, then go to where you downloaded the SnapinoTM program files to, and pick the Blinking_Light program or “sketch” (Arduino users refer to a program as a sketch). The sketch should appear in the IDE window, as shown below.
SCSNAPINO_Manual_112816.qxp 12/30/16 2:00 PM Page 17 Learn About Programming Here is how the sketch works: void - this sets up a function. setup - this is a function that initializes variables, pin modes, etc. pinMode(13, OUTPUT) - this configures digital pin 13 to act as an output. loop - this is a function for executing the following commands in a continuous loop.
SCSNAPINO_Manual_112816.qxp 12/30/16 2:00 PM Page 18 Project 4 Alternating Lights Build this circuit. Load sketch Alternating_Lights into SnapinoTM using the programming instructions in project 3. Arduino controls the two Snap Circuits® LEDs (red and green), and alternates turning them on and off. Programming Note: This sketch uses the int command (int is short for integer) to assign a constant value that will be used within the sketch.
SCSNAPINO_Manual_112816.qxp 12/30/16 2:00 PM Page 19 Project 5 Stoplight Build this circuit. Load sketch Stoplight into SnapinoTM using the programming instructions in project 3. SnapinoTM controls the three Snap Circuits® LEDs (green, yellow, and red), and turns them on and off like a stoplight. The yellow light is only on for half as long, just like a normal stoplight. YELLOW Programming Note: This sketch uses the int command to assign constant values for the delay and LED connection pins.
SCSNAPINO_Manual_112816.qxp 12/30/16 2:00 PM Page 20 Project 6 Button Build this circuit. Load sketch Button into SnapinoTM using the programming instructions in project 3. The red LED (D1) should be on; push the press switch (S2) to turn it off. Swap the locations of the press switch and 10KW resistor (R4). Now the red LED turns on when the press switch is pushed.
SCSNAPINO_Manual_112816.qxp 12/30/16 2:00 PM Page 21 Project 7 Bicolor Light Build the circuit and load sketch Bicolor_Light into SnapinoTM using the programming instructions in project 3. The red/yellow bicolor LED (D10) alternates between red and yellow. Programming Note: The red/yellow bicolor LED (D10) has red and yellow LEDs connected in opposite directions. The sketch instructions alternate between turning digital pins 9 and 10 HIGH or LOW, so that electricity flows out of one and into the other.
SCSNAPINO_Manual_112816.qxp 12/30/16 2:00 PM Page 22 Project 8 Project 9 Blink Rate Use the preceding circuit, but load sketch Blink_Rate into SnapinoTM. The red LED (D1) will be blinking; the darker the room, the faster it blinks. If the room is very dark then the red LED may appear to be on continuously. Swap the locations of the 10KW (R4) resistor and phototransistor (Q4). Now brighter light makes the LED blink faster and darkness makes it slower.
SCSNAPINO_Manual_112816.qxp 12/30/16 2:00 PM Page 23 Project 11 Light Monitor This project opens a window on your computer to display measured data in real time. Build the circuit shown. Load sketch Light_Monitor into SnapinoTM using the programming instructions in project 3. When the upload is finished, click on the Tools menu, then pick Serial Monitor from the list. A window opens on your computer screen, displaying the measured light value.
SCSNAPINO_Manual_112816.qxp 12/30/16 2:00 PM Page 24 Project 12 Distance Sensor This sketch changes which LED is on depending on the amount of light the phototransistor is getting. Build the circuit and load sketch Distance_Sensor into SnapinoTM using the programming instructions in project 3.
SCSNAPINO_Manual_112816.qxp 12/30/16 2:00 PM Page 25 Project 14 Button Stoplight Build this circuit. Load sketch Button_Stoplight into SnapinoTM using the programming instructions in project 3. The red LED (D1) should be on; push the press switch (S2) to change which LED is on, order is red-yellow-green like a stoplight. Programming Note: This sketch uses a counter to switch between different LEDs. When the button is pressed, it increases the counter by 1.
SCSNAPINO_Manual_112816.qxp 12/30/16 2:00 PM Page 26 Project 15 Snapino™ Test This circuit tests the snap connections on the SnapinoTM module (U31), and is referenced by the Advanced Troubleshooting procedure on page 8. Build the circuit as shown, leaving one end of the white jumper wire unconnected for now. Load sketch Snapino_Test into SnapinoTM using the programming instructions in project 3. The green LED (D2) should be on.
SCSNAPINO_Manual_112816.qxp 12/30/16 2:00 PM Page 27 Project 16 Varying LED Brightness Programming Note: This sketch uses a counter to increase the brightness of the LEDs. Once the LED nears full brightness then the counter decreases to make the LEDs dimmer. Some of the digital pins (including D9, D10, and D11, which are connect to snaps and used here) may be controlled using the analogWrite() command.
SCSNAPINO_Manual_112816.qxp 12/30/16 2:00 PM Page 28 Project 17 -27- Programming Note: The light on the phototransistor is measured with the analogRead() command, then 1/16 of that value is used for the red LED brightness with the analogWrite() command. The value is divided by 16 because analogRead() returns a number between 0 and 1023 while the analogWrite() value must be between 0 and 255, and because the red LED will appear to be near full brightness for values >30.
SCSNAPINO_Manual_112816.qxp 12/30/16 2:00 PM Page 29 Project 18 LED Brightness Button Build the circuit and load sketch LED_Brightness_Button into SnapinoTM using the programming instructions in project 3. Push the press switch (S2) repeatedly; the red LED (D1) gets brighter each time. After the red LED reaches full brightness then it resets and starts over.
SCSNAPINO_Manual_112816.qxp 12/30/16 2:00 PM Page 30 Project 19 Project 20 Click Counter This project opens a window on your computer to display how many times you pressed a button. Use the preceding circuit but upload sketch Click_Counter into SnapinoTM. When the upload is finished, click on the Tools menu, then pick Serial Monitor from the list. A window opens on your computer screen. Push the press switch (S2) as many times as you like; the program displays the current count on your computer screen.
SCSNAPINO_Manual_112816.qxp 12/30/16 2:00 PM Page 31 To Go Further Snap Circuits is an ideal environment for working with Arduino due to the ease of building circuits with it. The modules available in your SnapinoTM set comprise only a small fraction of those available, for a full listing go to www.snapcircuits.net. Additional SnapinoTM sketches for use with other Snap Circuits® sets are available at the SnapinoTM product page (www.snapcircuits.net/scsnapino).
SCSNAPINO_Manual_112816.qxp 12/30/16 2:00 PM Page 32 SC-SNAPINO Block Layout 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. Note: A complete parts list is on page 2 in this manual. Wheeling, IL 60090 U.S.A.
