Pitsco Education STEM in the Gym Electricity User manual

ROI V1017
STEM in the GymTM
Electricity
User Guide

2 SitG Electricity User Guide ROI V1017
Cautionary and Warning Statements
• This kit is designed and intended for educational purposes only.
• Use only under the direct supervision of an adult who has read and
understood the instructions provided in this user guide.
• Read warnings on packaging and in manual carefully.
Materials Included
Note: This section highlights what each of these items comes with
when ordered separately. This does not include all the items that
come in the full Electricity & Magnetism package.
STEM in the GymTM Generator
• STEM in the Gym Generator
• 24" alligator clip leads (3 black and 3 red)
Battery Box
• Battery box
• 6-volt battery (2)
STEM in the Gym Electricity Demo Board
• STEM in the Gym Demo Board
• 12" alligator clip leads (12 black and 12 red)
STEM in the Gym Light and Buzzer Board
• STEM in the Gym Light and Buzzer Board
STEM in the Gym Knife Switch Board
• STEM in the Gym Knife Switch Board
Electrical Wiring
Typically, the color code for electrical wiring in direct current (DC)
circuits is black for negative (-) and red for positive (+). When wiring
between power source and boards, connect (+) to (+) and (-) to (-).
Please note that there will be instances where a connection is made
between a (+) and (-) terminal. In those instances, either color lead
may be used.

SitG Electricity User Guide ROI V1017 3
STEM in the Gym Generator
The generator can be connected to the demo board, knife switch
board, and the light and buzzer board.
1. Before using the generator, connect a black lead to the (-) terminal
and a red lead to the (+) terminal of each side of the display.
2. Connect the leads to the corresponding terminals on the board
you wish to power.
3. To use the generator, kneel on the pad in front of the generator
and turn the cranks (Figure 1). The faster you crank, the more
electricity you generate. Note: The cranks only generate electricity
in one direction. The display on top of the generator shows the
amount of voltage being generated.
Note: The generator can be used in stand-alone fashion without
any connections to other components. Students can see how
much voltage they can produce by watching the display.
Figure 1

4 SitG Electricity User Guide ROI V1017
Battery Box
1. Use a black lead to connect the (+) terminal of the rst battery
to the (-) terminal of the second battery. Note: The battery box
contains two 6-volt batteries. When the battery box is used with
the boards, it is necessary to connect the batteries to complete the
circuit.
2. Connect a red lead to the (+) terminal of one battery and a black
lead to the (-) terminal of the other battery (Figure 2). Connect
the other end of the leads to the corresponding terminals on the
board you wish to power.
+-
Figure 2

SitG Electricity User Guide ROI V1017 5
STEM in the Gym Electricity Demo Board
The demo board (Figure 3) can be powered by a battery pack that
consists of two 6-volt batteries in a plastic case. Alternatively, the
demo board can be powered by the STEM in the Gym Generator.
Instructions below assume that power is being supplied by the
battery pack.
Wiring the Power Switch
1. Make sure power switch is in the o position. Use a black lead to
connect the (-) terminal of rst battery to the (-) terminal of the
second battery.
2. Using a red lead, connect the (+) terminal of the battery pack to
the (+) terminal of the power in side of the power switch area.
3. Using a black lead, connect the (-) terminal of the second battery
to the (-) terminal of the power in side of the power switch area
(Figure 4).
Figure 3
Figure 4

6 SitG Electricity User Guide ROI V1017
Series Circuit
1. Using a red lead, connect the (+) terminal of the power out side
of the power switch area to the (+) terminal on the left side of the
series circuit area.
2. Using a black lead, connect the (-) terminal of the power out side
of the power switch area to the (-) terminal on the right side of the
series circuit area.
3. Turn the power switch on to observe that the circuit is not yet
complete. The lights will not turn on.
4. Turn the switch o to continue making connections for the circuit.
5. Using two additional leads (color does not matter), nish making
the circuit connections as shown in Figure 5.
Parallel Circuit
1. Using a red lead, connect the (+) terminal of the power out side of
the power switch area to the (+) terminal on the right side of the
parallel circuit area.
2. Using a black lead, connect the (-) terminal of the power out side
of the power switch area to the (-) terminal on the right side of the
parallel circuit area.
3. Turn the power switch on to observe that the rst light comes on,
but the other two lights do not.
4. Turn the power switch o to continue connecting the circuit.
5. Use leads (black for the (-) terminals, red for the (+) terminals) to
connect the other two lights within the parallel circuit area as
shown in Figure 6.
Figure 5

SitG Electricity User Guide ROI V1017 7
Buzzer, Electromagnet, and Motor Disc
1. Use a red lead to connect the (+) terminal of the power out side of
the power switch area to the +() terminal of the buzzer.
2. Use a black lead to connect the (-) terminal of the power out side
of the power switch to the (-) terminal of the buzzer (Figure 7).
3. Turn the switch on to make the buzzer buzz.
4. Remove wires from terminals. Repeat Steps 1-4 for the
electromagnet and motor disc.
Figure 6
Figure 7

P.O. Box 1708 • Pittsburg, KS 66762
www.pitsco.com
Toll-Free Orders 800-835-0686
Knife Switch Board and the Light and Buzzer Board
The knife switch board functions as a power switch. It is a clear way
to demonstrate what happens when a power switch is turned on/
o. The knife switch can be used with the red or black lead, but you
will use the black lead. For these instructions, you will wire the knife
switch to the light and buzzer board.
1. Make sure the knife switch is open. Use a black lead to connect the
(-) terminal of the battery to a terminal on the knife switch.
2. Use a black lead to connect the other terminal on the knife switch
to the (-) terminal of the light.
3. Use a red lead to connect the (+) terminal of the second battery to
the + terminal of the light (Figure 8).
4. To turn the light on, close the knife switch.
5. Repeat Steps 1-4 for the buzzer.
Figure 8