Elenco Electronics Snap Circuits STEM Quick guide

Copyright © 2017 by lenco®lectronics, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book shall be reproduced by 753136
any means; electronic, photocopying, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. U.S. Patents: 7,144,255; 7,273,377, & patents pending
Instruction Manual
Projects 1 - 93 Project 3
8-108
AGES
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1. Most circuit problems are due to incorrect assem-
bly, 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.
Elenco®is not responsible for parts damaged due to
incorrect wiring.
Basic Troubleshooting
Note: If you suspect you have damaged parts, you can follow
the Advanced Troubleshooting procedure on page 11 to deter-
mine which ones need replacing.
Basic Troubleshooting 1
Parts List 2
How to Use t 3
Assembling the Build-Your-Own Electromagnet 4
Guidelines for Use in Classrooms & Home School 4
About Your Snap Circuits®Parts 5-8
ntroduction to Electricity 9
DOs and DON’Ts of Building Circuits 10
Advanced Troubleshooting 11
Project Listings 12
Projects 1 - 93 13 - 74
Test Your Knowledge 75
Other Snap Circuits®Projects 76
Block Layout Back Cover
Table of Contents
WARN NG: Always check your wiring
before turning on a circuit. Never leave
a circuit unattended while the batteries
are installed. Never connect additional
batteries or any other power sources to
your circuits. Discard any cracked or
broken parts.
Adult Supervision: Because children’s
abilities vary so much, even with age
groups, adults should exercise discre-
tion as to which experiments are suit-
able and safe (the instructions should
enable supervising adults to establish
the experiment’s suitability for the
child). Make sure your child reads and
follows all of the relevant instructions
and safety procedures, and keeps them
at hand for reference.
This product is intended for use by
adults and children who have attained
sufficient maturity to read and follow
directions and warnings.
Never modify your parts, as doing so
may disable important safety features
in them, and could put your child at risk
of injury.
 Use only 1.5V AA type, alkaline batteries
(not included).
 nsert batteries with correct polarity.
 Non-rechargeable batteries should not
be recharged. Rechargeable batteries
should only be charged under adult su-
pervision, and should not be recharged
while in the product.
 Do not mix old and new batteries.
 Do not connect batteries or battery
holders in parallel.
 Do not mix alkaline, standard (carbon-
zinc), or rechargeable (nickel-cadmium)
batteries.

Remove batteries when they are used up.
 Do not short circuit the battery termi-
nals.
 Never throw batteries in a fire or attempt
to open its outer casing.
 Batteries are harmful if swallowed, so
keep away from small children.
Batteries:
!
WARN NG: CHOK NG HAZARD -
Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.
!Conforms to all applicable U.S.
government requirements and
CAN CES-3 (B)/NMB-3 (B).
!
WARN NG: Moving parts. Do not touch the fan while it is spinning.
WARN NG: SHOCK HAZARD - Never connect Snap
Circuits®to the electrical outlets in your home in any way!
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mportant: If any parts are missing or damaged, DO NOT RETURN TO RETA LER. Call toll-free [phone] or e-mail us at: [e-mail].
Customer Service ● 150 Carpenter Ave. ● Wheeling, IL 60090 U.S.A.
Parts List (Colors and styles may vary) Symbols and Numbers
Qty. D Name Symbol Part # Qty. D Name Symbol Part #
r31-Snap Wire 6SC01 r1String 6SCM1S
r62-Snap Wire 6SC02 r1Spare Motor Top 6SCM1T
r33-Snap Wire 6SC03 r1lectromagnet 6SCM3
r14-Snap Wire 6SC04 r2
Iron Core Rod (46mm) 6SCM3C
r15-Snap Wire 6SC05 r1Bag of Paper Clips 6SCM3P
r16-Snap Wire 6SC06 r1Meter 6SCM5
r1
Battery Holder - uses
3 1.5V type AA (not included)
6SCB3 r1Magnet 6SCMAG
r1
Base Grid (11.0” x 7.7”) 6SCBG r1Nut Snap 6SCNS
r1Compass 6SCCOM r1Two Spring Socket 6SCPY1
r1White L D 6SCD6 r1Slide Switch 6SCS1
r1
Copper lectrode with Snap 6SC CS r1Press Switch 6SCS2
r1
Zinc lectrode with Snap 6SC ZS r1Relay 6SCS3
r1Iron Fillings 6SCIF r1Switcher 6SCS6
r1Jumper Wire (Black) 6SCJ1 r1Reed Switch 6SCS9
r1Jumper Wire (Red) 6SCJ2 r1Coil 6SCWIR 1
r3Lamp 6SCL4 r2Grommet 662510
r1Motor 6SCM1 r1Thin Rod MWK01P5
r1Glow Fan Blade 6SCM1FG You may order additional / replacement parts at our website:
www.snapcircuits.net
M1
S2
M5
M3
6
5
4
3
2
1
B3
L4
N
S
D6 S1
S3
S6
S9
?1
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How to Use SnapCircuits
®
Snap Circuits®uses building blocks with snaps
to build the different electrical and electronic
circuits in the projects. ach block has a func-
tion: there are switch blocks, light blocks, bat-
tery blocks, different length wire blocks, etc.
These blocks are different colors and have
numbers on them so that you can easily iden-
tify them. The blocks you will be using are
shown as color symbols with level numbers
next to them, allowing you to easily snap them
together to form a circuit.
For Example:
This is the switch block which is green and has
the marking on it. The part symbols in this
booklet may not exactly match the appearance
of the actual parts, but will clearly identify them.
This is a wire block which is blue and comes
in different wire lengths.
This one has the number , , ,
or on it depending on the length of the wire
connection required.
There is also a 1-snap wire that is used as a
spacer or for interconnection between different
layers.
You need a power source to build each circuit.
This is labeled and requires three (3) 1.5V
“AA” batteries (not included).
When installing a battery, be sure the spring
is compressed straight back, and not bent up,
down, or to one side.
A large clear plastic base grid is included with
this kit to help keep the circuit blocks properly
spaced. You will see evenly spaced posts that
the different blocks snap into. The base has
rows labeled A-G and columns labeled 1-10.
Next to each part in every circuit drawing is a
small number in black. This tells you which
level the component is placed at. Place all
parts on level 1 first, then all of the parts on
level 2, then all of the parts on level 3, etc.
Some circuits use the jumper wires to make
unusual connections. Just clip them to the
metal snaps or as indicated.
Usually when the motor is used, the glow
fan will usually be placed on it. On top of the
motor shaft is a black plastic piece (the motor
top) with three little tabs. Lay the fan on the
black piece so the slots in its bottom “fall into
place” around the three tabs in the motor top.
If not placed properly, the fan will fall off when
the motor starts to spin.
S2
234
5
Note: While building the projects, be careful
not to accidentally make a direct connection
across the battery holder (a “short circuit”),
as this may damage and/or quickly drain the
batteries.
B3
M1
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How to Use SnapCircuits
®
Assembling the build-your-own electromagnet:
You need the coil, an iron core rod, a grommet, and the 2-spring socket
(?1).
Wrap the coil around one of the iron core rods, leaving about 3 inches
free at both ends. Place a grommet on the end of the rod to help keep
the coil wire from coming off it.
Check that some of the protective coating has been removed
at each end, leaving about half an inch of bare wire. If the coil
wire is broken (or later gets broken) then use sandpaper or
steel wool to scrape off the protective coating for about half an
inch at each end.
Connect the bare wire ends to the springs on the 2-spring
socket (the springs must connect to the wire where the varnish
has been removed, otherwise it won’t make electrical contact).
GU DEL NESFORUSE NCLASSROOMSORHOMESCHOOL NG:
This product is a tool for opening the exciting world of electronics, and its relationship to
magnetism. Following the Learn by Doing®concept, electronics & magnetism will be easy
for students to understand by using Snap Circuits®to build circuits as they learn about them.
This kit emphasizes the practical applications of electronics, without bogging down in math-
ematics. This course is as much about science as about electronics & magnetism.
Why should students learn about electronics? lectronics plays an important and increasing
role in their everyday lives, and so some basic knowledge of it is good for all of them. Learn-
ing about it teaches how to do scientific investigation, and the projects develop basic skills
needed in today's world.
This product is intended for ages 8 and up. The only prerequisite is basic reading skills.
It should take about 6 hours to do this entire book, or about 2 hours to read the Introduction
to lectricity (page 9) and do just the educational summary projects (shown on page 12).
Teachers should review the Project Listing (page 12) and decide what is best.
NSTRUCTOR PREPARAT ON/ORGAN ZAT ON
●Determine what the learning environment will be. Will the students be learning independ-
ently or in small groups? How much teacher instruction will there be for each section?
Will the students be reading the lesson as homework and then have limited teacher in-
struction before performing the experiments? Decide when quizzes will be given and
how they will be organized.
●Allocate time within the session as needed for:
●Teacher instruction about the topics being covered during the session.
●Getting the Snap Circuits®components into the workspace.
●Teacher instruction about the specific projects to be performed during that ses-
sion.
●Building and testing the circuits.
●Performing experiments (and teacher verification if desired).
●Dismantling the circuits and returning Snap Circuits®components to storage area.
●Reassembling the class for review.
●Make sure the students know their objectives for the day, how much time they will need
for cleanup, and where the materials are being stored.
●Students must understand that there are usually many ways of making the same circuit,
and that the instructor may not know all the answers. They are doing scientific investi-
gation, and many circuit projects suggest variations to experiment with.
●Have students review the DO’s and DON’Ts of Building Circuits on page 10 at the begin-
ning of each session.
Answers to quiz questions are at www.snapcircuits.net/scstem1 .
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About Your Snap Circuits®Parts
(Part designs are subject to change without notice).
The base grid is a plat-
form for mounting
parts and wires. It
functions like the
printed circuit boards
used in most elec-
tronic products, or
like how the walls are
used for mounting the electrical wiring in your
home.
BASEGR D
The blue snap wires
are wires used to con-
nect components.
They are used to trans-
port electricity and do not af-
fect circuit performance. They
come in different lengths to allow orderly
arrangement of connections on the base grid.
The red and black
jumper wires
make flexible con-
nections for times
when using the snap wires
would be difficult. They also
are used to make connections off the base grid.
Wires transport electricity just like pipes are used
to transport water. The colorful plastic coating
protects them and prevents electricity from get-
ting in or out.
The batteries (B3) produce an electrical voltage
using a chemical reaction. This “voltage” can be
thought of as electrical pressure, pushing elec-
tricity through a circuit just like a pump pushes
water through pipes. This voltage is much lower
and much safer than that used in your house
wiring. Using more batteries increases the “pres-
sure”, therefore, more electricity flows.
The funny marking on the battery holder is the
standard battery symbol used in electrical wiring
diagrams. These wiring diagrams are called
schematics, and are used in everything from
house wiring to complex radios.
SNAP W RES & JUMPER W RES
BATTERY HOLDER
Battery Symbol
Battery Holder (B3)
Symbols
Slide &Press
Switches
(S1 & S2)
SW TCHES
The slide & press switches (S1 &S2) connect
(pressed or “ON”) or disconnect (not pressed or
“OFF”) the wires in a circuit. When ON they have
no effect on circuit performance. Switches turn
on electricity just like a faucet turns on water from
a pipe.
Reed Switch (S9)
The reed switch (S9) is an electrical switch that
can be controlled by a magnet. It has two metal
contacts close together. The magnetic field from
the magnet makes the contacts come together,
completing a circuit just like other switches do.
The switcher (S6) is a more complex switch used
to reverse the wires to a component or circuit. See
project 2 for an example of connections.
Switcher (S6)
Its symbol & connections look like this:
Symbol
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About Your Snap Circuits®Parts
How does electricity turn the shaft in the motor?
The answer is magnetism. lectricity 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 wrapped around
metal plates. This is called an electromagnet. If
a large electric current flows through the loops,
it will turn ordinary metal into a magnet. The
motor shell also has a magnet on it. When elec-
tricity flows through the electromagnet, it repels
from the magnet on the motor shell and the shaft
spins. If the fan is on the motor shaft, then its
blades will create airflow.
The meter (M5) is an important measuring de-
vice. You will use it to measure the voltage (elec-
trical pressure) and current (how fast electricity
is flowing) in a circuit.
The electrical symbol for a meter is shown below.
The meter measures voltage when connected in
parallel to a circuit and measures the current
when connected in series in a circuit.
This meter has one voltage scale (5V) and two
current scales (1mA and 1A). These use the
same meter but with internal components that
scale the measurement into the desired range.
This will be explained more later. Note: Your M5
meter is a simple meter. Don’t expect it to be as
accurate as normal electronic test instruments.
The motor (M1) converts electricity into mechan-
ical motion. An electric current in the motor will
turn the shaft and the motor blades, and the fan
blade if it is on the motor. The electrical symbol
for a motor is also shown here.
METER
MOTOR
Meter Symbol
Magnet
Coil
Pointer
Contacts
Motor Symbol
Magnet
Electromagnet
Shaft
Power Contacts
Shell
Meter (M5)
Motor (M1)
Inside the meter there is a fixed magnet and a
moveable coil around it. As current flows through
the coil, it creates a magnetic field. The interac-
tion of the two magnetic fields causes the coil
(connected to the pointer) to move (deflect).
Glow-in-the-dark Fan
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About Your Snap Circuits®Parts
A light bulb, such as in the 4.5V lamps (L4), con-
tains 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 rat-
ing can burn out the wire.
The electrical symbol for a lamp is shown here,
though other symbols are also used in the industry.
LAMP
Lamp Symbol
The electromagnet (M3) is a large coil of wire,
which acts like a magnet when electricity flows
through it. Placing an iron bar inside increases
the magnetic effects. The electromagnet can
store electrical energy in a magnetic field.
The properties of the electromagnet will be ex-
plained in the projects. Note that magnets can
erase magnetic media like computer disks.
The grommet will be used to hold the iron core
rod on the electromagnet.
ELECTROMAGNET
Electromagnet (M3)
ron Core Rod
(usually placed in
electromagnet)
Electromagnet Sym-
bol with Rod nside
Grommet
OTHER PARTS
The magnet is an ordinary magnet
like those in your home.
The compass is
a standard compass.
The red needle will
point toward the
strongest magnetic
field around it, usually
the north pole of the
earth.
The iron filings are tiny
fragments of iron in a
sealed case. They
will be used in
m a g n e t i s m
projects.
The copper and zinc elec-
trodes are just metals that
will be used for electro-chem-
ical projects. They have
snaps attached for easy con-
nection.
The nut-snap is an iron nut
mounted on a snap for special
projects.
The string will be used
in special projects. You
can use your own
string if you need more.
The thin rod is an iron
bar for special projects.
The Paper Clips will be
used for special proj-
ects. You can use your
own if you need more,
but they must be metal.
The spare motor top is provided in
case you break the one on the
motor. Use a screwdriver to pry
the broken one off the motor,
then push the spare one on.
Electromagnet Sym-
bol without Rod
(a coil of wire)
Lamp (L4)
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About Your Snap Circuits®Parts
LED
White LED (D6)
The white LED(D6) is a light emitting diode, and
may be thought of as a special one-way light
bulb. In the “forward” direction, (indicated by the
“arrow” in the symbol) electricity flows if the volt-
age exceeds a turn-on threshold brightness then
increases. A high current will burn out an L D,
so the current must be limited by other compo-
nents in the circuit (Snap Circuits®L Ds have in-
ternal resistors added, to protect them in case
you make wiring mistakes). L Ds block electricity
in the “reverse” direction. COM
Relay:
Coil - connection to coil
Coil - connection to coil
NC - normally closed contact
NO - normally open contact
COM - common
See project 69 for an example of proper connections.
Coil
Coil NO
NC
The relay (S3) is an electronic switch with contacts
that can be closed or opened. It contains a coil that
generates a magnetic field when current flows
through it. The magnetic field attracts an iron arma-
ture, which switches the contacts. See project 69 for
further explanation.
RELAY
Relay (S3)
Two Spring Socket
Two Spring
Socket (?1)
The two-spring socket (?1) just has two
springs, and won’t do anything by itself. In this
set it is used to make the build-your-own electro-
magnet, as per page 5. It can also be used by
advanced users to connect other electronic com-
ponents to Snap Circuits®for creating your own
circuits.
LED Symbol
Relay Symbol
-8-
The symbols for the parts shown in
this section are used by engineers in
drawings of their circuits, called
schematics. Wires connecting com-
ponents are shown as lines, with a
dot indicating a connection between
lines that cross. Here are schematics
of some of the circuits you will build:
SCHEMAT CS
Project 14 Schematic:
Project 27 Schematic:
Project 43 Schematic:
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ntroduction to Electricity
What is electricity? Nobody really knows. We only know how to produce it, under-
stand its properties, and how to control it. lectricity 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. Wires carry electricity, like pipes carry water. Devices
like L Ds, motors, and speakers use the energy in electricity to do things. Switches
and transistors control the flow of electricity like valves and faucets control water.
Resistors limit the flow of electricity.
The electrical pressure exerted by a battery or other power source is called volt-
age and is measured in volts (V). Notice the “+” and “–” signs on the battery; these
indicate which direction the battery will “pump” the electricity.
The electric current is a measure of how fast electricity is flowing in a wire, just
as the water current describes how fast water is flowing in a pipe. It is expressed
in amperes (A) or milliamps (mA, 1/1000 of an ampere).
The “power” of electricity is a measure of how fast energy is moving through a
wire. It is a combination of the voltage and current (Power = Voltage x Current). It
is expressed in watts (W).
The resistance of a component or circuit represents how much it resists the elec-
trical pressure (voltage) and limits the flow of electric current. The relationship is
Voltage = Current x Resistance. When the resistance increases, less current flows.
Resistance is measured in ohms (W), or kilo ohms (kW, 1000 ohms).
Nearly all of the electricity used in our world is produced at enormous generators
driven by steam or water pressure. Wires are used to efficiently transport this en-
ergy to homes and businesses where it is used. Motors convert the electricity back
into mechanical form to drive machinery and appliances. The most important as-
pect of electricity in our society is that it allows energy to be easily transported
over distances.
Note that “distances” includes not just large distances but also tiny distances. Try
to imagine a plumbing structure of the same complexity as the circuitry inside a
portable radio - it would have to be large because we can’t make water pipes so
small. lectricity allows complex designs to be made very small.
There are two ways of arranging parts in a circuit, in series or
in parallel. Here are examples:
Placing components in series increases the resistance; highest
value dominates. Placing components in parallel decreases the
resistance; lowest value dominates.
The parts within these series and parallel sub-circuits may be
arranged in different ways without changing what the circuit
does. Large circuits are made of combinations of smaller series
and parallel circuits.
Series Circuit
Parallel Circuit
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