The Solar CarouSol Kit Cruising the ocean floor, one hunts the other through a kelp forest; the other flees. Who... is hunting whom? Intermediate skill level - ages 12+ Solar powered (no batteries needed) Basic soldering & tools required 1-2 hours build time www.solarbotics.com 1-866-276-2687 solarbotics.
Introduction Inspired by Jules Verne’s book “20,000 Leagues under the Sea” this kit matches a whimsical deap-sea submarine against a mysterious Giant Squid. But as is the case when man ventures into territories unfamiliar, is he the hunter or the hunted? Hence the name of this kit is “Squid Hunting”, implying that either can be viewed as the aggressor in this story.
4 x Laser cut wood panels PARTS LIST 1 x Rotation point & screw 1 x Spinning surface 1 x 2.0cm (3/4") counterbalance bearing 1 x Motor 1 x 1.0cm (3/8”) marble 1 x 0.5cm (3/16”) magnet 2 x 30AWG wire 1 x Propeller 1 x Solar Engine: 1 x SolarEngine circuit board 1 x Diode C2 D1 M Miller SolarEngine1.3 2 x SCC3733 solar panel C1 Transistor 1381 1 x Double-sided sticky tape (DSST) Solar 1 x 0.
ASSEMBLY STEPS Start by assembling the SolarEngine. This clever circuit allows solar energy to be harvested and used in low light levels - much lower than is usually possible. There is soldering required, so if you are new to the process, review the “how-to” link on the right. Intro to soldering youtu.be/iGzXGtH3adw Step 1. SolarEngine Circuitry 1.1 Collect your electronics, being: transistor trigger MCP112 (also looks like a transistor) 22μF capacitor (has paper tape on the legs) 0.
ASSEMBLY STEPS + - 1.4 We’re going to test the electronics before final installation. Start by temporarily soldering the remaining wire to the SolarEngine to one of the solar panels. + + - + These connections are temporary 1.5 Locate the motor and solder it to the SolarEngine as shown. Pay close attention to the color of the wire! BLUE motor wire... RED motor wire... Don’t cross up the motor wiring.
ASSEMBLY STEPS Step 2. Assembling the Squid As the parts are all labeled and marked on the panel, the build is a simple process of find, prepare, and assemble. The parts are cut so you only have to carefully rock them out of the panel to break them free. 2.1 Remove the 2 squid mounting rings (1) and 6 squid arms (2-7) and remove cutouts.
ASSEMBLY STEPS Step 3. Assembling the Submarine 3.0 Remove the submarine ring (12) and 2 side-window portals (15) and remove any stuck cutouts. Insert the sub windows into the square holes on the sub rings. The little “rivets” on the portal windows should face outwards when properly assembled. 3.1 Remove the main submarine ring (13) and remove cutouts. Arrange the ring so it slides over the portals and rests in between in the middle. 3.2 Remove the submarine ring (14) and remove cutouts.
ASSEMBLY STEPS 3.4 Locate the SolarEngine and motor assembly. Slide the pager motor into the slot created by the top rib and motor fin. The wires of the pager motor should be straddling the fin on the top rib so one wire is on each side when the motor is fully seated. 3.5 Mounting Tab Side Feed the wires of the SolarEngine through the ring assembly. You want your wires to exit just ahead of the middle mounting ring. Finish with the SolarEngine module sitting in the middle of the ring cavity. 3.
ASSEMBLY STEPS 3.7 Remove the Bottom submarine rib (18) and remove cutouts. Insert the rib into the ring slots, making sure it is fully seated. 3.8 Remove the remaining 4 submarine ribs (19) and insert them into the slots of the sub rings, ensuring they are fully seated. The top ribs may install easier if you slide the motor fin (17) out just a bit. Step 4. Assembling the Balance Arm 4.0 Locate the balance arm (20), 2 solar panel holders (21), and connector peg (22).
ASSEMBLY STEPS 4.1 Complete the submarine by attaching the propeller back onto the motor like in Step 1.6 on page 4 of this manual. 4.2 Start threading the wire-pair through the balance arm. Leave 25mm (1”) slack at the sub to allow easier SolarEngine access. Leave 25mm (1”) slack Feed the wire through the small holes along the balance arm. These wires will be used to connect the solar panels to the SolarEngine in the next step.
ASSEMBLY STEPS 4.5 Locate the magnet holder (23) and the magnet. Position the magnet into the circular cutout and slide the magnet holder up and around it, trapping it in place. 4.6 Cut four 3mm (1/8”) wide strips from the double sided sticky tape. Peel the protective paper off and mount the solar panels to the panel holders. Hide any extra wire in behind the panels. 4.
ASSEMBLY STEPS Step 5. Assembling the Tower 5.0 Remove the kelp tower arms (24-29) and fish (30-33) and remove any stuck cutouts. Place the fish into their positions. (32) (30) (31) (33) (30) (30) (24) (27) (29) 5.1 Locate the tower ring (34) and install each kelp frond into the slots as numbered below, starting with (24). The other short frond (27) must go directly across from it. (26) (25) (36) (27) (26) (28) (25) (29) (24) (24) 5.
ASSEMBLY STEPS 5.3 Find the spinner surface and place it face down (dome up) on a hard surface. Place the spinner ring (37) over the dome, and press it on so it “force fits” onto the dome with edge of the spinner dome flush with the ring. dome side up press ring down onto dome... ...flip over! 5.4 Flip the spinner surface over, and generously glue the assembly to the tower cap. 5.5 Finish your project by balancing the arm on the spinner surface, and give it some light.
TROUBLESHOOTING First, the Basics: The SolarEngine powering the motor depends directly on light intensity. Test with sunlight or under an incandescent or halogen (not fluorescent) lamp. If you have a voltmeter, check that the voltage on the solar cells is slowly climbing. A bad solder connection is the most often reason for a circuit failure. Inspect your soldering for parts not connecting (too little solder) or parts connecting when they shouldn’t be (too much solder).
Liked “Squid Hunting”? Check out our other dynamic kits: The Paris Flyer Solar CarouSol Kit Elegant airship travel cleverly powered with SolarEngineTM Technology The GraviTrack Marble lifting motion feature two arms and an elegant mid-flight hand-off.
Construct a lively kelp forest Build a deep-sea submirsible No batteries - it’s solar powered! Assemble the Squid Build as a desktop or hanging mobile Solarbotics “No Fear” Warranty Aggressive feline interaction damage? Obtuse canine posterior oscillation disaster? Plain old damage during construction? No issue. Contact support@solarbotics.
