Building Circuit Blocks -- The Learning Circuit 10

Matt — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 07:24:00 GMT

Current Revision posted to Documents by Matt on 4/25/2018 7:24:00 AM

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Circuit Blocks are a great DIY beginners electronics project, more robust and durable than a simple circuit using cardboard and paper clips. It involves more complex components giving you more opportunities for fun and learning while experimenting. You'll use batteries to provide DC power or direct current. LEDs, motors, buzzers, and fans provide the load in the circuit and you will make blocks with interrupts like buttons, switches, and potentiometers.

Make Your Own!

Parts & Products:

Type	Product Name	UK Part No	US Part No	Part Link
Connectors	Alligator Clip Test Leads	2419155	53W5644	Buy NowBuy Now
Connectors	Ring connectors	2410270	27X7145	Buy NowBuy Now
Connectors	Ring connectors	2413350	46T3743	Buy NowBuy Now
Power Source	(2) AA battery pack	1702631	16F1092	Buy NowBuy Now
Power Source	(3) AA battery pack	2293261	16F1094	Buy NowBuy Now
Power Source	(4) AA battery pack	1650685	31C0582	Buy NowBuy Now
Power Source	9V battery snap	4530044	31C0662	Buy NowBuy Now
Power Source	9V battery snap	1650675	59K0356	Buy NowBuy Now
Connectors	Stranded wire, Red, 22awg, 25ft	1662081	33C7339	Buy NowBuy Now
Connectors	Stranded wire, Black, 22 awg, 25ft	1662078	33C7335	Buy NowBuy Now
Connectors	Solid-core wire, Red, 22awg, 25ft	1662031	33C7233	Buy NowBuy Now
Connectors	Solid-core wire, Black, 22 awg, 25ft	1662027	33C7229	Buy NowBuy Now
Load	DC motor, 2-6V	2457411	53W6195	Buy NowBuy Now
Load	Piezo buzzer, 3-30V	2419158	53W5754	Buy NowBuy Now
Load	Buzzer, 3-28V	1653528	96W6801	Buy NowBuy Now
Load	PC fan, 5VDC 40mmx20mm	1924857	23T0587	Buy NowBuy Now
Load	PC fan, 5VDC, 50mmx10mm	1924858	23T0589	Buy NowBuy Now
Load	PC fan, 12V DC 80mmx25mm	2292894	71P8670	Buy NowBuy Now
Load	LED, Red, 10mm	1168543	26M0059	Buy NowBuy Now
Interrupt	Pushbutton Switch	1661907	32M5410	Buy NowBuy Now
Interrupt	SPST Toggle Switch	1164191	73K0924	Buy NowBuy Now
Interrupt	SPST Toggle Switch	2128120	94T9282	Buy NowBuy Now
Interrupt	Rocker Switch	1383947	10M5262	Buy NowBuy Now
Interrupt	Photo Resistor	2419162	54W2650	Buy NowBuy Now
Interrupt	Photo Resistor	327700	07WX4951	Buy NowBuy Now
Interrupt	Magnetic Reed Switch	2137221	11R7943	Buy NowBuy Now
Interrupt	Slide Switch, SPST On/Off	1634609	03P2509	Buy NowBuy Now
Interrupt	PIR Motion Sensor	1871410	26T3945	Buy NowBuy Now
Interrupt	Vibration Sensor	2717589	99W2098	Buy NowBuy Now

Other Materials:

Product Name	SourceUS Part No
Wood	Local Hardware Store
Pop Rivets	Harbor Freight

This is a great, DIY Beginner electronics project good for elementary school levels and up. I’ve even had Pre-K children use these, but most of them still needed a little help. For our circuit blocks, we’re going to include three main types of components: power sources, loads, and interrupts.

The power sources we’ll use will be batteries, which provide DC power or direct current power, meaning a current that flows in one direction. I recommend 2AA 3V battery packs, and maybe a 4AA 6V battery pack. You could even use a 9V battery and clip if you’d like. You’ll need to be careful with more than 3V, but I’ll explain why later.

The load in a circuit is anything that consumes power. We’ll be using LEDs, motors, buzzers, and fans. You can also use incandescent lights from either strand holiday lights or buying sockets that hold bulbs. Ideally you’ll want components that are rated for around 3V and for DC power.

For motors and fans, they may be rated for more power, but try to get as low as you can near 3V. These motors and fans can handle more power, but will still work at 3V. Most LEDs are rated for 1.5-3V DC. Be careful with the LEDs. If they are fed too many volts, they’ll burn out and stop working. While that’s true for most components, LEDs tend to be less tolerant to voltages above their rating. We’ll also make blocks with interrupts, like buttons, switches, and potentiometers.

Tags: batteries, tlc, stem, technology_for_kids, buttons, circuit blocks, e14presents_makerkaren, switches, buzzers, potentiometers, motors, led, dc power, stem projects, thelearningcircuit

The Learning Circuit 10: Building Circuit Blocks

tariq.ahmad — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 16:02:14 GMT

Revision 1 posted to Documents by tariq.ahmad on 1/18/2019 4:02:14 PM

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