Snap Circuits

CM-125_Manual_031514.
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Copyright © 2014 by Elenco® Electronics, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book shall be reproduced by 753095
any means; electronic, photocopying, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher.
CM-125_Manual_031514.qxp_CM-125_Manual_031514 4/2/14 12:19 PM Page 2
Table of Contents
Basic Troubleshooting 1 Advanced Troubleshooting 8
Parts List 2 Project Listings 9, 10
How to Use Circuit Maker Skill Builder 125 3 Projects 1 - 125 11-60
About Your Circuit Maker Skill Builder 125 Parts 4, 5 Other Circuit Maker Products 61
Introduction to Electricity 6 Project Shapes 62
DOs and DON’Ts of Building Circuits 7
WARNING: SHOCK HAZARD - Never connect Circuit Maker WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD - Conforms to all applicable
Skill Builder 125 to the electrical outlets in your home in any way! ! Small parts. Not for children under 3 years. U.S. government
requirements.
WARNING FOR ALL PROJECTS WITH A ! WARNING: Always check your wiring for the child). Make sure your child
SYMBOL before turning on a circuit. Never leave reads and follows all of the relevant
Moving parts. Do not touch the motor or fan a circuit unattended while the batteries instructions and safety procedures,
! during operation. Do not lean over the motor. Do are installed. Never connect additional
batteries or any other power sources to
and keeps them at hand for reference.
not launch the fan at people, animals, or objects. This product is intended for use by
Eye protection is recommended. your circuits. Discard any cracked or
broken parts. adults and children who have attained
sufficient maturity to read and follow
Basic Troubleshooting Adult Supervision: Because children’s directions and warnings.
abilities vary so much, even with age
Never modify your parts, as doing so
1. Most circuit problems are due to incorrect groups, adults should exercise
discretion as to which experiments are may disable important safety features
assembly, always double-check that your in them, and could put your child at risk
suitable and safe (the instructions
circuit exactly matches the drawing for it. of injury.
should enable supervising adults to
2. Be sure the motor (M1) “+” marking is establish the experiment’s suitability
positioned as per the drawing.
3. Be sure that all connections are securely
snapped. ! Batteries:
● Use only 1.5V “AA” type, alkaline ● Do not mix alkaline, standard (carbon-
4. Try replacing the batteries. batteries (not included). zinc), or rechargeable (nickel-cadmium)
● Insert batteries with correct polarity. batteries.
ELENCO® is not responsible for parts
● Non-rechargeable batteries should not be ● Remove batteries when they are used up.
damaged due to incorrect wiring.
recharged. Rechargeable batteries should ● Do not short circuit the battery terminals.
only be charged under adult supervision, and ● Never throw batteries in a fire or attempt
Note: If you suspect you have damaged parts, should not be recharged while in the product. to open its outer casing.
you can follow the Advanced Troubleshooting
● Do not mix old and new batteries. ● Batteries are harmful if swallowed, so
procedure on page 8 to determine which ones
● Do not connect batteries or battery keep away from small children.
need replacing. holders in parallel.
-1-
Parts List (Colors and styles may vary) Symbols and Numbers
Important: If any parts are missing or damaged in shipping, DO NOT RETURN TO Target. Call toll-free (800) 533-2441 or e-mail to
[email protected]. Customer Service ● 150 Carpenter Ave. ● Wheeling, IL 60090 U.S.A.
Qty. ID Name Symbol Part # Qty. ID Name Symbol Part #
Base Grid r1 Motor 6SCM1

r1 6SCBG M1
(11.0” x 7.7”) r1 Glow Fan 6SCM1FG
r3 1 1-Snap Wire 6SC01 r1 Q2 NPN Transistor 6SCQ2
r6 2 2-Snap Wire 6SC02 r1 R1 100W Resistor 6SCR1
r3 3 3-Snap Wire 6SC03 r1 R2 1KW Resistor 6SCR2
r1 4 4-Snap Wire 6SC04 r1 RP Photoresistor 6SCRP
r1 5 5-Snap Wire 6SC05 r1 S1 Slide Switch 6SCS1
r1 6 6-Snap Wire 6SC06 r1 S2 Press Switch 6SCS2
Battery Holder - uses

r1 B1 6SCB1 r1 SP Speaker 6SCSP
Two 1.5V type AA (not incl.)
Music
r1 C5 470mF Capacitor 6SCC5 r1 U1 6SCU1
Integrated Circuit
Red Light Emitting Alarm

r1 D1 6SCD1 r1 U2 6SCU2
Diode (LED) Integrated Circuit
Space War
r1 L1 2.5V Lamp 6SCL1 r1 U3 6SCU3
Integrated Circuit
-2-
How to Use Circuit Maker Skill Builder 125

Circuit Maker Skill Builder 125 uses building You need a power source to build each circuit. Usually when the motor M1 is used, the glow
blocks with snaps to build the different This is labeled B1 and requires two (2) 1.5V fan will be placed on it. On top of the motor
electronic circuits in the projects. Each block “AA” batteries (not included). shaft is a black plastic piece (the motor top)
has a function: there are switch blocks, light with three little tabs. Lay the fan on the black
blocks, battery blocks, different length wire piece so the slots in its bottom “fall into place”
blocks, etc. These blocks are different colors around the three tabs in the motor top. If not
and have numbers on them so that you can placed properly, the fan will fall off when the
easily identify them. The blocks you will be motor starts to spin.
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 S2 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 A large clear plastic base grid is included with
in different wire lengths. this kit to help keep the circuit blocks properly
This one has the number 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , spaced. You will see evenly spaced posts that
or 6 on it depending on the length of the wire the different blocks snap into. The base has
connection required. 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 Note: While building the projects, be
level the component is placed at. Place all careful not to accidentally make a direct
parts on level 1 first, then all of the parts on connection across the battery holder (a
level 2, then all of the parts on level 3, etc. “short circuit”), as this may damage and/or
There is also a 1-snap wire that is used as a quickly drain the batteries.
spacer or for interconnection between
different layers.
-3-
About Your Circuit Maker Skill Builder 125 Parts

(Part designs are subject to change without
notice).
BATTERY HOLDER RESISTORS
The batteries (B1) produce an electrical voltage Resistors “resist” the flow of electricity and are
BASE GRID using a chemical reaction. This “voltage” can be used to control or limit the current in a circuit.
The base grid is a platform for mounting parts thought of as electrical pressure, pushing Circuit Maker Skill Builder 125 includes 100W
and wires. It functions like the printed circuit electricity through a circuit just like a pump (R1) and 1KW (R2) resistors (“K” symbolizes
boards used in most electronic products, or like pushes water through pipes. This voltage is 1,000, so R2 is really 1,000W). Materials like
how the walls are used for mounting the much lower and much safer than that used in metal have very low resistance (<1W), while
electrical wiring in your home. your house wiring. Using more batteries materials like paper, plastic, and air have near-
increases the “pressure”, therefore, more infinite resistance. Increasing circuit resistance
electricity flows. reduces the flow of electricity.
SNAP WIRES
The blue snap wires
are wires used to
connect components. Resistors (R1 & R2)
They are used to transport
electricity and do not affect
circuit performance. They come in The photoresistor (RP) is a light-sensitive
different lengths to allow orderly resistor, its value changes from nearly infinite in
arrangement of connections on the base grid. Battery Holder (B1) total darkness to about 1,000W when a bright
light shines on it.
SLIDE & PRESS SWITCHES LAMP
The slide & press switches (S1 & S2) connect A light bulb, such as in the 2.5V lamp (L1),
(pressed or “ON”) or disconnect (not pressed or contains a special thin high-resistance wire. Photoresistor (RP)
“OFF”) the wires in a circuit. When ON they When a lot of electricity flows through, this wire
have no effect on circuit performance. Switches gets so hot it glows bright. Voltages above the CAPACITOR
turn on electricity just like a faucet turns on bulb’s rating can burn out the wire.
water from a pipe. The 470mF capacitor (C5) can store electrical
pressure (voltage) for a period of time. This
storage ability allows it to block stable voltage
signals and pass changing ones. Capacitors are
used for filtering and delay circuits.
Slide & Press

Switches Lamp (L1)
(S1 & S2)
Capacitor (C5)
-4-
About Your Circuit Maker Skill Builder 125 Parts

MOTOR SPEAKER INTEGRATED CIRCUITS (ICs)
The motor (M1) converts electricity into The speaker (SP) converts electricity into Some types of electronic components can be
mechanical motion. An electric sound by making mech- super-miniaturized, allowing many thousands of
current in the motor will anical vibrations. These parts to fit into an area smaller than your
turn the shaft and the vibrations create vari- fingernail. These “integrated circuits” (ICs) are
motor blades, and the fan ations in air pressure, used in everything from simple electronic toys to
blade if it is on the which travel across the the most advanced computers. The music,
motor. room. You “hear” sound alarm, and space war ICs (U1, U2, and U3) in
when your ears feel Circuit Maker Skill Builder 125 are actually
Motor (M1) these air pressure modules containing specialized sound-
variations. generation ICs and other supporting components
Speaker (SP) (resistors, capacitors, and transistors) that are
How does electricity turn the shaft in the motor?
always needed with them. This was done to
The answer is magnetism. Electricity is closely TRANSISTOR simplify the connections you need to make to use
related to magnetism, and an electric current
flowing in a wire has a magnetic field similar to The NPN transistor (Q2) is a component that them. The descriptions for these modules are
that of a very, very tiny magnet. Inside the motor uses a small electric current to control a large given here for those interested, see the projects
is a coil of wire with many loops wrapped around current, and is used in switching, amplifier, and for connection examples:
metal plates. This is called an electromagnet. If buffering applications. Transistors are easy to
miniaturize, and are the Music IC:
a large electric current flows through the loops, Connections:
it will turn ordinary metal into a magnet. The main building blocks of (+) - power from batteries
integrated circuits TRG (+) HLD (–) - power return to batteries
motor shell also has a magnet on it. When OUT - output connection
electricity flows through the electromagnet, it including the micro- HLD - hold control input
repels from the magnet on the motor shell and processor and memory TRG - trigger control input
the shaft spins. If the fan is on the motor shaft, circuits in computers.
Music for a few seconds on power-
then its blades will create airflow. NPN Transistor (Q2) (–) OUT
up, then hold HLD to (+) power or
touch TRG to (+) power to resume
music.
Power Contacts LED Alarm IC:
IN1 IN2 IN3 Connections:
The red LED (D1) is a light emitting diode and IN1, IN2, IN3 - control inputs
Magnet may be thought of as a special one-way light (–) - power return to batteries
bulb. In the “forward” direction, (indicated by the OUT - output connection
Shell “arrow” in the symbol) electricity flows if the Connect control inputs to (+) power
voltage exceeds a turn-on threshold (about to make five alarm sounds, see
1.5V); brightness then increases. A high current (–) OUT project 22 for configurations.
Shaft will burn out an LED, so the current must be Space War IC:
Connections:
limited by other components in the circuit. LEDs (+) OUT (+) - power from batteries
block electricity in the “reverse” direction. (–) - power return to batteries
OUT - output connection
IN1, IN2 - control inputs
LED (D1)
Electromagnet Connect each control input to (–)
power to sequence through 8
IN1 (–) IN2 sounds.
-5-
Introduction to Electricity
What is electricity? Nobody really knows. We only know how to produce it, There are two ways of arranging parts in a circuit, in series or
understand its properties, and how to control it. Electricity is the movement of in parallel. Here are examples:
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 LEDs, 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

voltage and is measured in volts (V). Notice the “+” and “–” signs on the battery;
these indicate which direction the battery will “pump” the electricity.
Series Circuit
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, 1/1,000 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

electrical 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,
1,000 ohms).
Parallel Circuit
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 Placing components in series increases the resistance;
energy to homes and businesses where it is used. Motors convert the electricity highest value dominates. Placing components in parallel
back into mechanical form to drive machinery and appliances. The most decreases the resistance; lowest value dominates.
important aspect of electricity in our society is that it allows energy to be easily
transported over distances. The parts within these series and parallel sub-circuits may be
arranged in different ways without changing what the circuit
Note that “distances” includes not just large distances but also tiny distances. Try does. Large circuits are made of combinations of smaller
to imagine a plumbing structure of the same complexity as the circuitry inside a series and parallel circuits.
portable radio - it would have to be large because we can’t make water pipes so
small. Electricity allows complex designs to be made very small.
-6-
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 Examples of SHORT CIRCUITS - NEVER DO THESE!!!
concepts are introduced throughout them. Every circuit will include a power
source (the batteries), a resistance (which might be a resistor, capacitor, Placing a 3-snap wire directly
speaker, integrated circuit, etc.), and wiring paths between them and back. You across the batteries is a
must be careful not to create “short circuits” (very low-resistance paths across SHORT CIRCUIT.
!
the batteries, see examples at right) as this will damage components and/or
quickly drain your batteries. Only connect the ICs using configurations given in
the projects, incorrectly doing so may damage them. ELENCO® is not
responsible for parts damaged due to incorrect wiring. NEVER
DO!
Here are some important guidelines:
ALWAYS USE EYE PROTECTION WHEN Ex PERIMENTING ON YOUR
OWN.
This is also a
ALWAYS include at least one component that will limit the current through a
SHORT CIRCUIT.
circuit, such as the speaker, lamp, ICs (which must be connected
properly), motor, photoresistor, or resistor.
ALWAYS use the LED, NPN transistor, and switches in conjunction with other NEVER
components that will limit the current through them. Failure to do so
will create a short circuit and/or damage those parts. ! DO!
ALWAYS disconnect your batteries immediately and check your wiring if
something appears to be getting hot.
When the slide switch (S1) is turned on, this large circuit has a SHORT
ALWAYS check your wiring before turning on a circuit. CIRCUIT path (as shown by the arrows). The short circuit prevents any
ALWAYS connect capacitors so that the “+” side gets the higher voltage. other portions of the circuit from ever working.
ALWAYS connect ICs using configurations given in the projects or as per the
connection descriptions for the parts.
NEVER connect to an electrical outlet in your home in any way.
NEVER leave a circuit unattended when it is turned on.
NEVER touch the motor when it is spinning at high speed.
!
NEVER
For all of the projects given in this book, the parts may be arranged in different DO!
ways without changing the circuit. For example, the order of parts connected in
series or in parallel does not matter — what matters is how combinations of
these sub-circuits are arranged together.
WARNING: SHOCK HAZARD - Never connect Circuit Maker

! Skill Builder 125 to the electrical outlets in your home in any way!
Warning to Circuit Maker owners: Do not connect

!
additional voltage sources from other sets, or you NEVER
! may damage your parts. Contact ELENCO® if you DO!
have questions or need guidance.
-7-
Advanced Troubleshooting (Adult supervision recommended)

3. Slide switch (S1) and Press switch 7. Space war IC (U3) and photoresistor
ELENCO® is not responsible for parts
damaged due to incorrect wiring.
(S2): Build Project #1, if the lamp (L1) (RP): Build Project #4, both switches
doesn’t light then the slide switch is (S1 and S2) should change the sound.
If you suspect you have damaged parts, bad. Replace the slide switch with the Then replace the slide switch (S1) with
you can follow this procedure to press switch to test it. the photoresistor, waving your hand
systematically determine which ones need over it should change the sound.
replacing:
4. 100W resistor (R1), 1KW resistor
1. 2.5V lamp (L1), motor (M1), speaker (R2), and LED (D1): Build Project #11 8. NPN transistor (Q2): Build Project
(SP), and battery holder (B1): Place except initially use the speaker (SP) in #31. When both switches are on, the
batteries in holder. Place the 2.5V lamp place of the resistor, the LED should lamp lights and motor spins. If one
directly across the battery holder, it light. Then, replace the speaker with switch is off, nothing happens.
should light. Do the same with the the 100W resistor; the LED should still
motor (motor + to battery +), it should light. Then, replace the 100W resistor
spin to the right at high speed. “Tap” the with the 1KW resistor; the LED should 9. 470mF capacitor (C5): Build Project
speaker across the battery holder light but not as brightly. #50, then press and release the switch.
contacts, you should hear static as it The LED should go off slowly.
touches. If none work then replace your
batteries and repeat, if still bad then the 5. Alarm IC (U2): Build Project #21, you
battery holder is damaged. If the motor should hear a siren. Then place a 3-
spins but does not balance the fan, snap wire between grid locations A1
check the black plastic piece on the and C1, the sound is different. Then Customer Service
motor shaft; it should have 3 prongs. move the 3-snap from A1-C1 to A3-C3 Call toll-free: (800) 533-2441
to hear a third sound.
e-mail: [email protected]
2. Snap wires: Use this mini-circuit to test
the 5-snap and 6-snap wires. The lamp 6. Music IC (U1): Build Project #86 but
should light. Then test each of the 1- use the press switch (S2) in place of
snap, 2-snap, 3-snap, and 4-snap the photoresistor (RP). Turn it on and
wires by connecting them the LED (D1) flickers for a while and
between stops, it resumes if you press and hold
the ends of down the press switch. Then touch a 3-
the 5-snap snap wire across base grid points A1
and 6-snap. and C1 and the flickering resumes for a
while.
-8-
Project Listings
Project # Description Page # Project # Description Page # Project # Description Page #
1 Turn on the Light 11 22 Laser Blaster 21 43 Motor Magic 28
2 Up, Up, and Away! 11 23 Mind Reader Game 22 44 Spin & Shoot 28
3 Super Circuit 12 24 Don’t Make a Sound 23 45 Spin Out Siren 28
4 Space War 13 25 Discover the Diode 23 46 Whirl Out Warning 28
5 Loud in Light 13 26 Shine On Siren 24 47 Turn a Tune 28
6 Paper Player 13 27 Shooting Sounds 24 48 Wave & Watch 29
7 Stick Around Saucer 14 28 Song & Siren 24 49 Switching Sounds 29
8 Rotate & Roar 14 29 Ambulance Melody 24 50 Lingering Light 30
9 Spin & Dim 15 30 Static Song 24 51 Current Splitter 30
10 Balanced Buddies 15 31 Transistor Control 25 52 Light Up & Listen 30
11 The Diode Dude 16 32 Slow & Bright 25 53 Auto-Off Night Light 31
12 One Way Works 16 33 Stop & Shine 25 54 Auto-Off Day Light 31
13 Clippy the Conductor 17 34 Murky Motor 25 55 Reflection Detector 32
14 Nifty Noises 17 35 Mixed Up Music 26 56 Music Reflection Detector 32
15 Mumbling Motor 18 36 Blaster Disaster 26 57 Laser Flasher 33
16 Lift Loss 18 37 Siren & Song 26 58 Flash & Flicker 33
17 Hi-Low Fan 19 38 Ambulance Song 26 59 Spinning Rings 34
18 Fuse or Lose 19 39 Space Battle 27 60 Strobe the House Lights 34
19 Magical Music 20 40 Bizarre Blinker 27 61 Race Game 35
20 Press & Play 20 41 Sporadic Sounds 27 62 Using Parts as Conductors 35
21 Simple Siren 21 42 Blinking Double Flashlight 27 63 Spin Draw 36
-9-
Project Listings
Project # Description Page # Project # Description Page # Project # Description Page #
64 Singing Motor 36 85 Electron Warehouse 44 106 Lagging Light 52
65 Visual Volume 37 86 Light Makes Light 45 107 Sonic Flasher 53
66 Daylight Alarm 37 87 Go & Glow 45 108 Stay or Blink 53
67 Bang-Bang Bright 37 88 Spin & Stop 45 109 Glow & Go 54
68 Daylight Danger 37 89 Flashing Flare 46 110 Fading Siren 54
69 Crooks & Cars 37 90 Touch & Go 46 111 Light the Motor 55
70 Pop On, Pop Off 38 91 Two-Tone Twinkler 46 112 Motor Space Sounds 55
71 Little R Rules 38 92 Fan Flash Energy 47 113 Twist & Blink 55
72 Big R Rules 38 93 Photo Timer Light 47 114 Morse Code 56
73 Little to Big 39 94 Room Light to Red Light 47 115 Light to Dark 56
74 Luminate & Rotate 39 95 Fun with the Alarm IC 48 116 Power Shifter 56
75 Light to Light 39 96 Dancing Motor 48 117 Touch of Light 57
76 Switch & Store 40 97 Musical Light 48 118 Change & Charge 57
77 Crazy Combo 40 98 Music Alarm Combo 49 119 Electricity You Can Wear 58
78 Alien Alarm 41 99 Hit the Target 49 120 Electricity In Your Hair 58
79 Same or “NOT” 41 100 Many Missiles 49 121 Bending Water 59
80 This OR That 42 101 Sing & Fling 50 122 Static Tricks 59
81 This AND That 42 102 Power Pitch 50 123 Sunrise Light 60
82 Neither This NOR That 43 103 Long Gone Light 51 124 Light-controlled Lamp 60
83 NOT This AND That 43 104 Slow Siren Changer 51 125 Motor-controlled Lamp 60
84 Two-way Light Switch 44 105 The Dark Dimmer 52
-10-
Project #1 Turn on the Light

Circuit Maker Skill Builder 125 uses electronic blocks
that snap onto a clear plastic grid to build different
circuits. These blocks have different colors and
numbers on them so that you can easily identify them.
Build the circuit shown on the left by placing all the
parts with a black 1 next to them on the board first.
Then, assemble parts marked with a 2. Install two (2)
“AA” batteries (not included) into the battery holder
(B1) if you have not done so already.
When you turn on the slide switch (S1), electricity
Snappy says the lamp contains flows from the batteries through the lamp (L1) and
a special thin high-resistance back to the batteries through the switch. The switch
wire. When a lot of electricity completes the circuit. The lamp gets bright as
Placement Level Numbers flows through it, it gets so hot it electricity flows through it.
glows bright.
Project #2 Up, Up, and Away!

+ Build the circuit shown on the left by placing the parts
The air is being blown down through the blade with a black 1 next to them on the base grid first.
and the motor rotation locks the fan on the shaft. Then, assemble parts marked with a 2. Place the
When the motor is turned off, the blade unlocks glow fan on the motor. New alkaline batteries are
from the shaft and is free to act as a propeller recommended for this project.
and fly through the air. If speed of rotation is too
Turn on the slide switch (S1), wait for the motor to
slow, the fan will remain on the motor shaft
reach full speed, then turn off the switch. The glow
because it does not have enough lift to propel it.
fan should rise and float through the air like a flying
saucer. Be careful not to look directly down on the
glow fan when it is spinning.
If the fan doesn’t fly off, then turn the switch on and
off several times rapidly when it is at full speed.
Placement Level Numbers The glow fan will glow in the dark. It will glow best
after absorbing sunlight for a while. The glow fan is
WARNING: Moving parts. Do not touch the
! fan or motor during operation. Do not lean
made of plastic, so be careful not to let it get hot
over the motor. enough to melt. The glow looks best in a dimly lit
WARNING: Fan may not rise until switch is room.
! released.
-11-
Project #3 Super Circuit

Placement Level Numbers
This complex circuit is pictured

on the box cover. Use that as a
guide to help in building it.

! fan or motor during operation. Do not lean
over the motor. Placement
WARNING: Fan may not rise until switch is Level
! released.
Numbers
Circuit Maker Skill Builder 125 uses electronic Place the glow fan on the motor (M1). If the fan doesn’t fly off, then push and release
blocks that snap onto a clear plastic grid to Turn on the slide switch (S1). You hear music the press switch several times rapidly when it is
build different circuits. These blocks have and alarm sounds, and the red LED (D1) lights. at full speed.
different colors and numbers on them so that The lamp (L1) may light briefly before the red If the 470mF capacitor (C5) is discharged when
you can easily identify them. LED turns on. Cover the photoresistor (RP) to you turn on the slide switch, then the lamp will
Build the circuit shown above by placing all the change the sound a little. light for a few seconds as the circuit charges up
parts with a black 1 next to them on the board Push the press switch (S2) to spin the motor C5. L1 will not light again until C5 is
first. Then, assemble parts marked with a 2. and glow fan. Release the press switch when discharged. To discharge C5, remove it from
Then, assemble parts marked with a 3. Then, the motor is spinning at full speed. The glow fan the circuit and place it directly on the 4-snap
assemble the part marked with a 4 (the alarm should float through the air like a flying saucer. wire for an instant, then move it back to its
IC (U2), which should be placed directly over Be careful not to look directly down on the glow normal spot in the circuit.
the music IC (U1)). Install two (2) “AA” batteries fan when it is spinning.
(not included) into the battery holder (B1).
-12-
Project #4 Space War

Build the circuit shown on the left, which uses the space war integrated
circuit. Activate it by flipping the slide switch (S1) or pressing the press
switch (S2), do both several times and in combination. You will hear an
exciting range of sounds, as if a space war is raging!
The space war IC (U3) is a super-miniaturized electronic circuit that
can play a variety of cool sounds stored in it by using just a few extra
components.
In movie studios, technicians are paid to insert these sounds at the
precise instant a gun is fired. Try making your sound occur at the same
time an object hits the floor. It is not as easy as it sounds.
The Space War, Alarm, and Music ICs contain

specialized ICs combined with other electrical
components (resistors, capacitors, transistors)
designed to produce various cool sounds and music.
Project #5 Project #6
Loud in Light Paper Player
Use the same circuit as for Project #5. Find a piece of white paper that
Use the circuit from Project #4 above, but replace the slide switch (S1) has a lot of large black or dark areas on it, and slowly slide it over the
with the photoresistor (RP). The circuit immediately makes noise. Try photosensitive resistor. You may need to shine a flashlight over the paper.
turning it off. If you experiment, then you can see that the only ways to You should hear the sound pattern constantly changing, as the white and
turn it off are to cover the photoresistor, or to turn off the lights in the room dark areas of the paper control the light to the photosensitive resistance.
(if the room is dark). Since light is used to turn on the circuit, you might You can also try the pattern below or something similar to it.
say it is a “light switch”.
The photoresistor contains material that changes its

resistance when it is exposed to light; as it gets more
light, the resistance of the photoresistor decreases.
Parts like this are used in a number of ways that affect
our lives. For example, you may have streetlights in
your neighborhood that turn on when it starts getting
dark and turn off in the morning.
-13-
Project #7 Stick Around Saucer

+
Build the circuit shown on the left which is the same as the circuit in
Project #2 but with the motor part reversed. Place the glow fan on the
motor.
Turn on the slide switch (S1), wait for the motor to reach full speed,
then turn off the switch. This time, the glow fan does not fly because
the fan is now rotating in the opposite direction such that the airflow is
pushing the fan downward.
WARNING: Moving parts. Do not touch the fan or

! motor during operation.
Project #8 Rotate & Roar

Build the circuit shown on the left, but leave the fan off the motor (M1).
When you turn on the slide switch (S1), the music may play for a short
time and then stop. After the music has stopped, spin the motor with
your fingers. The music should play again for a short time, then stop.
Now replace the 100W resistor (R1) with a 3-snap wire, and notice how
the sound is affected.
In this project, you changed the amount of current that goes through
the speaker (SP) and increased the sound output of the speaker.
Resistors are used throughout electronics

to limit the amount of current that flows.
-14-
Project #9 Spin & Dim

Build the circuit shown on the left.
The parts are arranged
as a series circuit. You When you turn on the slide switch (S1), the fan will spin and the lamp
can swap the locations (L1) should turn on. The fan will take a while to start turning due to
of any of the parts inertia. Inertia is the property that tries to keep a body at rest from
without affecting circuit moving and tries to keep a moving object from stopping.
operation. The lamp helps protect the motor from getting the full voltage when the
switch is turned on. Part of the voltage goes across the lamp and the
rest goes across the motor. Remove the fan and notice how the lamp
gets dimmer when the motor does not have to spin the fan blade.

Project #10 Balanced Buddies

The parts are arranged as a When you turn on the slide switch (S1), both the fan and the lamp (L1)
+ parallel circuit. Parallel
circuits are often used in
should turn on. The fan will take a while to start turning due to inertia.
In this connection, the lamp does not change the current to the motor
residential homes so that (M1). The motor should start a little faster than in Project #9.
turning on one device
doesn’t limit the current to Remove the fan and notice how the lamp does not change in
other devices. brightness as the motor picks up speed. It has its own path to the
battery (B1).

-15-
Project #11 The Diode Dude

When you turn on the slide switch (S1), current flows from the batteries
(B1) through the switch, through the 100W resistor (R1), through the
LED (D1, light emitting diode) and back to the battery. The turned on
switch completes the circuit. The resistor limits the current and prevents
damage to the LED. NEVER PLACE AN LED DIRECTLY ACROSS
THE BATTERY! If no resistor is in the circuit, the battery may push
enough current through the LED to damage the semiconductor that is
used to produce the light.
+ LEDs are used in all types of electronic

equipment to indicate conditions and
pass information to the user of that
equipment. Can you think of something
you use everyday that has an LED in it?
Project #12 One Way Works

Rebuild the circuit used in Project #11 but put the LED in as shown on
the left.
This time when you turn on the slide switch (S1), current does not flow
from the batteries (B1) through the 100W resistor (R1) or through the
LED (D1), and hence the LED does not light up. This is because the
LED is in backwards. The LED is like a check valve that lets current
flow in only one direction (into the + end and out the other end).
An electronic component that

needs to be connected in one
direction is said to have polarity.
Other parts like this will be
discussed in future projects.
Placing the LED in backwards does
not harm it because the voltage is
not large enough to break down this
+ electronic component.
-16-
Project #13 Clippy the Conductor

Rebuild the circuit from Project #11 but leave the slide switch (S1) out
as shown on the left.
When you place a paper clip across the terminals as shown in the
picture on the left, current flows from the batteries (B1) through the
100W resistor (R1), through the LED (D1), and back to the battery. The
paper clip completes the circuit and current flows through the LED.
Place your fingers across the terminals and the LED does not light.
Your body is too high of a resistance to allow enough current to flow to
light the LED. If the voltage, which is electrical pressure, was higher,
current could be pushed through your fingers and the LED would light.
This detector can be used to see if a material like plastic is a

good conductor or a poor conductor. Materials that make the
LED bright pass electricity easily, and are called conductors.
Most metals are good conductors, and copper is used in
most house wiring. Materials that block the flow of electricity
are called insulators. Plastic, paper and air are insulators.
Project #14 Nifty Noises

Build the circuit shown. Turn it on, press the press switch (S2) several
times, and wave your hand over the photoresistor (RP) to hear all the
sound combinations. You can make the sound from the alarm IC (U2)
louder by replacing the 100W resistor (R1) with the 2.5V lamp (L1).
A photoresistor is a light-controlled variable

resistor. The resistance of the photoresistor
decreases with increasing light intensity.
-17-
Project #15 Mumbling Motor

Place the fan on the motor (M1). Press the press switch (S2) and listen
+ to the motor. Why does the motor make sound?

If you replace the motor with the 2.5V lamp (L1), then it will work the
same as the “Hear the Motor” project, but only make noise when the
lamp is turned ON or OFF.
A motor uses magnetism to convert electrical

energy into mechanical spinning motion. As the
motor shaft spins around it connects / disconnects
several sets of electrical contacts to give the best
magnetic properties. As these contacts are
switched, an electrical disturbance is created,
which the speaker (SP) converts into sound.

! fan or motor during operation.
Project #16 Lift Loss

Build the circuit to the left.
Cover the photoresistor (RP) and turn on the slide switch (S1). The
motor (M1) should spin. If not, give it a push to get it started. Now
uncover the photoresistor or get a flashlight and shine it on the
photoresistor. The motor will slow down as more light reaches the
photoresistor, and will stop spinning if enough light reaches the
photoresistor. This circuit demonstrates how darkness can be used to
control a fan. Try this circuit with and without the fan on the motor.

! fan or motor during operation.
-18-
Project #17 Hi-Low Fan

When you close the slide switch (S1), current flows from the batteries
WARNING:
! through the slide switch (S1), motor (M1), the lamp (L1), and back to
Moving parts. Do not
the battery (B1). When the press switch (S2) is closed, the lamp is
touch the fan or motor
shorted and motor speed increases.
during operation.
The principle of removing resistance to

increase motor speeds is only one way of
changing the speed of the motor. Commercial
fans do not use this method because it would
produce heat in the resistor and fans are used
to cool circuits by moving air over them.
Commercial fans change the amount of
voltage that is applied to the motor using a
transformer or other electronic device.
Project #18 Fuse or Lose

WARNING:
! Moving parts. Do not Use the circuit built in Project #17.
touch the fan or motor When you close the slide switch (S1), current flows from the batteries
during operation. through the slide switch (S1), the lamp (L1), motor (M1), and back to the
battery (B1). Pretend the 2-snap wire marked fuse in the drawing on the
left is a device that will open the circuit if too much current is taken from
the battery. When press switch (S2) is closed, the light is shorted and
Many electronic products in motor speed increases due to an increase in current to the motor. While
your home have a fuse that will still holding press switch (S2) down, remove the 2-snap wire marked
open when too much current is fuse and notice how everything stops. Until the fuse is replaced, the
drawn. Can you name some? open circuit path protects the electronic parts. If fuses did not exist,
many parts could get hot and even start fires. Replace the 2-snap wire
and the circuit should return to normal.
-19-
Project #19 Magical Music

Build the circuit shown on the left. When you turn on the slide switch
(S1), the music integrated circuit (U1) may start playing one song then
stop. Each time you press the press switch “doorbell button” (S2) the
song will play again and stop. Even if you let go of the press switch
(S2), the integrated circuit keeps the song playing until it has reached
the end of the song.
Musical integrated circuits are used to

entertain young children in many of the toys
and chairs made to hold infants. If the music
is replaced with words, the child can also
learn while they are entertained. Because of
great advances in miniaturization, many
songs are stored in a circuit no bigger than a
pinhead.
Project #20 Press & Play

Modify the circuit used in Project #19 to look like the one shown on the
left.
When you turn on the slide switch (S1), the music integrated circuit
(U1) may start playing one song then stop. The song will be much
louder than in the previous project because it is now being used as an
alarm. Each time you press the press switch “alarm button” (S2) after
the song stops playing, the song will play again, but only while you hold
the button down.
Having no resistor in series with the speaker

allows more current to flow through the speaker
producing a louder sound.
-20-
Project #21 Simple Siren

When you turn on the slide switch (S1), the integrated circuit (U2)
should start sounding a very loud alarm sound. This integrated circuit is
designed to sweep through all the frequencies so even hard of hearing
people can be warned by the alarm.
If the alarm sound in this circuit

was passed through an amplifier
and installed into a police car, it
would also serve as a good
police siren.
Project #22 Laser Blaster

When you turn on the slide switch (S1), the integrated circuit (U2)
should start sounding a laser gun sound. This integrated circuit is
designed to produce different sounds that can easily be changed. You
can even switch the sound on and off quickly to add sound effects to
your games or recordings.
This circuit demonstrates

how sounds can be made
for electronic games.
-21-
Project #23 Mind Reader Game

Build the circuit below. It uses a paper clip and The object is for Player 2 to guess the location 3-snap shorting bar and slide the switch off and
a 3-Snap Wire as “shorting bars”. by placing one end of the paper clip on the 5- on to reset the sound.
Setup: Player 1 sets the target by placing the snap wire as shown, and the other end of the Player 2 then sets the 2, 3, 4 side and player 1
3-snap shorting bar under the paper on column paper clip at positions X, Y, or Z and then tries his luck.
2, 3 or 4. Player 2 must NOT know where the pressing the press switch (S2). If Player 2
places the paper clip at the correct position, the Play multiple rounds and see who gets the best
shorting bar is located under the paper. overall score. The winner will be the player who
sounds played indicates a “hit”. He keeps
guessing until he hits. After each hit, remove the is best at reading his opponent’s mind.
Paper Sheet to
hide position of
shorting bar
-22-
Project #24 Don’t Make a Sound

Use the circuit from Project #23, but now place a 3-snap wire and the
LED (D1) as “shorting bars” under the paper sheet as shown on left.
Setup: Player 1 sets the “Quiet Zone” by placing the 3-snap wire and
the LED (D1) under the paper on columns 2, 3 or 4, leaving only one
open. Player 2 must NOT know where these “shorting bars” are
located under the paper.
Both Player 1 and Player 2 are given 10 points. The object is for Player
2 to guess the location of the “Quiet Zone” by placing the paper clip at
positions X, Y, or Z and pressing the press switch. If Player 2 places
the paper clip on the correct column, and a sound plays when he
presses the press switch, this means he has not found the “Quiet
Paper sheet Zone” and he loses 1 point. He has three (3) tries to find the zone on
to hide each turn. Each time sounds are made he loses a point.
position of
shorting bar Player 2 then sets the 2, 3 or 4 side and player 1 starts searching. Play
continues until one player is at zero points and makes sound during
that players turn.
Project #25 Discover the Diode
Diodes are electronic components that allow current to flow in only one
direction, blocking it in the other. The red LED (D1) is a special diode
that can emit light, and the transistor (Q1) can also be used as a pair
of diodes.
Turn on the slide switch (S1), the lamp (L1) will be bright and the LED
(D1) will be lit. The NPN transistor (Q2) is used here as a diode,
allowing the batteries to charge up the 470 mF capacitor (C5) and light
the LED.
Turn off the slide switch, the lamp will go dark immediately but the LED
will stay lit for a few moments as capacitor C5 discharges through it.
The transistor/diode isolates the capacitor from the lamp.
-23-
Project #26 Shine On Siren

Cover the photoresistor (RP) and turn on the switch (S1). A police siren
is heard for a while and stops, then you can control it by covering or
uncovering the photoresistor.
This circuit demonstrates how

sounds can be synchronized
to light patterns through the
photoresistor.
Project #27 Project #28 Project #29 Project #30

Shooting Song & Ambulance Static
Sounds Siren Melody Song
Now remove the connections

Now remove the connection Now remove the connection
Modify Project #26 by between U & Z and between V &
between X & Y and then make a between T & U and then make a
connecting points X & Y. The W, then make a connection
connection between T & U. The connection between U & Z. The
circuit works the same way but between T & U. The circuit
circuit works the same way but circuit works the same way but
now it sounds like a machine works the same way but now it
now it sounds like a fire engine. now it sounds like an
gun. sounds like a familiar song but
ambulance.
with static.
-24-

Transistor Control Slow & Bright
Place the fan on the motor (M1) Compare this circuit to Project
and turn on the slide switch (S1) #31. It works the same way, but
- nothing happens. Push the the lamp is brighter here and the
press switch (S2), the lamp motor is slower.
lights and the motor spins.
This time the NPN transistor
The NPN transistor (Q2) uses (Q2) uses the motor current to
the lamp current to control the control the lamp current. A
motor current. A small current current through the motor
through the lamp branch creates branch creates a larger current
a large current through the through the lamp branch. They
motor branch. They combine in combine in the transistor and
WARNING: Moving parts. the transistor and leave through WARNING: Moving parts. leave through the 3-snap
! Do not touch the fan or motor the 3-snap branch. ! Do not touch the fan or motor branch.
during operation. during operation.

Stop & Shine Murky Motor
Compare this circuit to Project
Compare this circuit to Project
#32. It works in a similar way,
#33. It works in a similar way,
but the motor does not spin even
the lamp is off but the motor
though the lamp is bright. But
spins. But the motor does not
the lamp is not as bright here as
spin as fast as in Project #31.
in Project #32.
The currents in the lamp branch
The currents in the motor branch
and 3-snap branch are
and 3-snap branch are
combined into the motor branch.
combined into the lamp branch.
Since the 3-snap has no
Since the 3-snap has no
resistance, the current through
resistance, the current through
its branch will be much larger
its branch will be much larger WARNING: Moving parts. than the lamp branch current.
than the motor branch current. ! Do not touch the fan or motor
during operation.
-25-
Project #35 Mixed Up Music
In the circuit, the outputs from the alarm and

music ICs are connected together. Build the
circuit shown and then place the alarm IC (U2)
directly over the music IC (U1), resting on two
1-snaps and a 2-snap. Turn on the switch (S1)
and you will hear a siren and music together
while the lamp (L1) varies in brightness.
Snappy says there sure are a lot of

different sounds that can be made
with the music and alarm ICs.
Project #36 Project #37 Project #38

Blaster Siren & Song Ambulance
Disaster Song
Now remove the 2-snap connection between Y Now remove the 2-snap connection between X
Modify the last circuit by connecting points Y &
& Z and then make a 2-snap connection & Y and then make a 2-snap connection
Z with a 2-snap (on level 5). The circuit works
between X & Y (on level 5). The circuit works between W & X (on level 5). The circuit works
the same way but now it sounds like a machine
the same way but now it sounds like a fire the same way but now it sounds like an
gun with music.
engine with music. ambulance with music.
-26-
Project #39 Space Battle Project #40

Bizarre
Build the circuit shown on the
Blinker
left. Turn on the switch (S1)
and you will hear exciting
sounds, as if a space battle is
The preceding circuit is loud and
raging!
may bother people around you, so
The motor (M1) is used here replace the speaker (SP) with the
as a 3-snap wire, and will not LED (D1). Make sure you connect
spin. the LED with the positive (+) side
on A6, not U3. Now you have a
silent space battle.
Project #41 Sporadic Sounds Project #42

Build the circuit shown on the left and turn it
on. The lamp (L1) alternates between being
Blinking
on and off while the speaker (SP) alternates
between two musical tones... like someone is Double
Flashlight
flipping a switch, but at a very consistent rate.
Periodic signals like this are very important in
electronics.
Periodic electrical signals are

used for things like flashing In the circuit at left, replace the speaker
yellow lights or sometimes in (SP) with an LED (D1). Make sure you
consumer devices to indicate connect the LED with the positive (+) side
batteries are low. on A5, not U1. The lamp (L1) alternates
between being on and off while the LED
alternates between being dimmer and
brighter.
-27-
Project #43 Motor Magic

This circuit is controlled by spinning the motor (M1) with your hands.
Turn on the switch. A police siren is heard and then stops. Spin the
motor and it will play again. Note, however, that music can be heard
faintly in the background of the siren.
This project shows how a motor can be used to

convert mechanical energy to electrical energy and
sound. The speaker uses electromagnetism to
create changes in air pressure, which your ears feel
and interpret as sound. Think of the speaker as
creating pressure waves in the air just like waves in
a pool. You only see waves in the pool when you
disturb the water, so the speaker only makes sound
when the voltage changes.

Spin & Spin Out Whirl Out Turn a
Shoot Siren Warning Tune
Now remove the connections

Now remove the connection Now remove the connection
Modify the last circuit by between U & Z and between V &
between X & Y and then make a between T & U and then make a
connecting points X & Y with the W, then make a connection
connection between T & U with connection between U & Z. The
2.5V lamp (L1). The circuit between T & U. The circuit
the 2.5V lamp (L1). The circuit circuit works the same way but
works the same way but now it works the same way but now it
works the same way but now it now it sounds like an
sounds like a machine gun. sounds like a familiar song but
sounds like a fire engine. ambulance.
with static.
-28-
Project #48 Wave & Watch

This circuit does not use the noisy speaker (SP) but instead uses a
nice quiet LED (D1). Turn on the slide switch (S1), the LED flickers.
Wait a few seconds, and then cover the photoresistor (RP), and the
flicker stops. The flicker is controlled by the photoresistor; uncover it
and the flicker resumes.
People that are deaf need lights to tell them

when a doorbell is ringing. They also use
circuits like this to tell them if an alarm has
been triggered or an oven is ready.
Can you think of other uses?
Project #49 Switching Sounds

Build the circuit shown on the left. When you close the slide switch (S1),
the integrated circuit (U2) should start sounding an up-down siren. This
is just one more sound effect that this integrated circuit is designed to
produce. Switch the sound on and off quickly and see if you can create
even different effects. This mode will create many robotic sounds if
switched quickly.
Different sounds that can easily be

changed are very important when
designing games and toys.
-29-
Project #50 Lingering Light

Build the circuit and press the switch (S2). You see that the LED (D1)
turns off slowly after you release the switch.
This delay in turning off the LED is caused by the 470mF capacitor
(C5).
Capacitors can store electricity and are

used to delay changes in voltage. They
can block unchanging voltages while
passing fast-changing voltages.

Current Splitter Light Up & Listen
Turn on the switch (S1), the LED
(D1) and lamp (L1) are bright. This
is an unusual circuit which uses the This circuit has four different
NPN transistor (Q2) as two types of output. Flip the switch
connected diodes to split the (S1) several times. The LED
current from the batteries into the (D1) and lamp (L1) light up, the
paths with the LED and lamp. If the motor (M1) spins, and the
LED (D1) does not light, you may speaker (SP) makes a siren
have weak batteries in need of sound. If the LED does not light,
replacement. you may have weak batteries
that need replacement.
This is an unusual circuit which
Transistors use a small current to uses the NPN transistor (Q2) as
control a large current, and have three two connected diodes, to split
connection points (the small current,
the current from the batteries
the larger current, and the combined
current). But they are actually (B1) into the paths with the LED
constructed using two diodes that are and lamp.
connected together. These diodes are WARNING: Moving parts. Do
similar to your LED (light emitting
diode) except that they don’t emit light.
! not touch the fan or motor during
operation.
-30-
Project #53 Auto-Off Night Light

Build the circuit to the left. When you turn on the slide switch (S1) the
first time the LED (D1) will come on and very slowly get dimmer and
dimmer. If you turn the slide switch (S1) off and back on after the LED
goes out it will NOT come on again. The 470mF capacitor (C5) has
charged up and the NPN transistor amplifier (Q2) can get no current at
its input to turn it on. To discharge the capacitor (C5) and reset the circuit,
press and release the switch (S2).
This circuit would make a good night light.

It would allow you to get into bed, and then
it would go out. No further current is taken
from the battery so it will not drain the
batteries even if left on all night.
Project #54 Auto-Off Day Light

LED (D1) is bright, but it will very slowly get dimmer and dimmer as the
470mF capacitor (C5) charges up. If you turn the slide switch (S1) off
and back on after the light goes out it will NOT come on again. Push
the press switch (S2) to discharge the capacitor and reset the circuit.
If you uncover the photoresistor and to let light shine on it, then the
LED will get dark quickly. The photoresistor has much lower resistance
with light on it, and this lower resistance allows the capacitor to charge
up faster.
This circuit would make a good day light. It would quickly turn off
the lights when you opened the shades and let the sunlight in.
-31-
Project #55 Reflection Detector

Build the circuit to the left. Place it where there won’t be any room light
hitting the photoresistor (RP) (such as in a dark room or under a table),
and then turn it on. The 2.5V lamp (L1) will be bright, but there should
be no sound.
Take a small mirror and hold it over the lamp and photoresistor. You
should hear sound now. You have a reflection detector! You can also
use a white piece of paper instead of a mirror, since white surfaces
reflect light.
How good of a reflector is a black piece of

paper? Tin foil? How about your hand?
Project #56 Music Reflection

Detector
Build the circuit to the left. Place it where there won’t be any room light
hitting the photoresistor (RP) (such as in a dark room or under a table),
and then turn it on. The 2.5V lamp (L1) will be bright, and one song
may play, but then there should be no sound.
Take a small mirror and hold it over the lamp and photoresistor. You
should hear sound now. You have a music reflection detector! You can
also use a white piece of paper instead of a mirror, since white
surfaces reflect light.
-32-
Project #57 Laser Flasher
When you press the press switch (S2), the integrated circuit should
start sounding a very loud laser gun sound. The red LED will flash
simulating a burst of laser light. You can shoot long repeating laser
burst, or short zaps by tapping the press switch.

toy laser guns can be
designed.
Project #58 Flash & Flicker

Build the circuit shown on the left, which uses the Space War
integrated circuit.
Set the switch on and the speaker makes exciting sounds. The output
of the IC can control lights, speakers, and other low power devices.
You may replace the speaker (SP) with the 2.5V lamp (L1), and the
bulb will flicker. You can also use the LED (D1) in place of the lamp
(position it with the “+” side towards the 6-snap).

continuous laser gun sounds
can be generated.
-33-
Project #59
Spinning Rings
Setup: Cut out the disc on page #62 that looks like the one shown
here. Using Scotch tape, attach the disc with the printed side up on the
top of the fan blade. Place the blade on the motor as shown to the left
and below.
When the press switch (S2) is pressed, the arcs will turn into colored
rings with a black background. Notice how the color drops in
brightness when it is stretched to make a complete circle.

Project #60
Strobe the House Lights
Use the circuit from Project #59.
Setup: Place the spinning rings under a fluorescent light that runs on
normal house current. Start the disc spinning and release the press
switch (S2). As the speed changes you will notice the white lines first
seem to move in one direction then they start moving in another
direction. This effect is because the lights are blinking 60 times a
second and the changing speed of the motor is acting like a strobe
light to catch the motion at certain speeds. To prove this, try the same
test with a flashlight. The light from a flashlight is constant and if all
other lights are out, you will not see the effect that looks like a
helicopter blade in a movie. Some fluorescent lights use an electronic
ballast and they also produce a constant light.

-34-
Project #61
Race Game
Modify Project #59 by adding the pointer as shown on the left. The paper should
be cut from page #62 and taped high enough on the speaker so the pointer will
stick over the fan with paper. Bend the pointer at a right angle as shown on the left.
Setup: Cut out the grid with four (4) colors from page #62 and place it under the
base as shown on the left. Each player picks a color (or two colors if only 2 people
are playing) and places a single snap on row G. The purple player in column 1,
the blue player in column 2, the green player in column 3, and the yellow player
in column 4. Spin the wheel by closing the press switch (S2). The first single color
wedge that the pointer points to is the first player to start. In some models you only
have three 1-snaps, so use a 2-snap if you have four players.
The Play: Each player gets a turn to press the press switch. They release the
press switch and when the pointer points to a wedge, the players that match the
WARNING: colors on the wedge get to move up one space. If a liner comes up like the one
! Moving parts. Do not shown on the left then the players on each side of the line get to move up two (2)
touch the fan or motor spaces. The first player to reach the top row (A) wins. If two players reach the top
during operation. row at the same time they must both drop down to row “D” and play continues.
Project #62 Using Parts as

Conductors
Turn on the slide switch (S1) and push the press switch (S2), you hear
a machine gun sound (with music in the background). Thoroughly
cover the photoresistor with your hand and the sound becomes a
siren. After a while the sound will stop, push the press switch and it
resumes.
Note that the LED (D1) lights, but the lamp (L1)
does not light and the motor (M1) does not spin.
Electricity is flowing through the lamp and
motor, but not enough to turn them on. So in this
circuit they are acting like 3-snap wires. You
could replace D1 or L1 with a 3-snap and the
circuit would work the same.
-35-
Project #63
Spin Draw
Rebuild the simple motor connection as shown on the left. This is the same setup as Project #59.
Setup: Cut out a circular piece of thin cardboard from the back of an old spiral notebook or note
pad. Use the fan blade as a guide. Place the fan on the cardboard and trace around it with a pencil
or pen. Cut the cardboard out with scissors and tape it to the fan blade. Do the same thing with a
piece of white paper, but tape the paper on top of the cardboard so it can be removed easily later.
Drawing: To make a ring drawing obtain some thin and thick marking pens as drawing tools. Spin
the paper by pressing and holding press switch (S2) down. Press the marker on the paper to form
rings. To make spiral drawings, release press switch (S2) and as the motor approaches a slow
speed move the marker from the inside outward quickly.
Change the colors often and avoid using too much black to get hypnotic effects. Another method
is to make colorful shapes on the disc then spin the disc and watch them blend into each other.
When certain speeds are reached under fluorescent lights without electronic ballasts, the strobe
principle shown in another project will produce strange effects and backward movement. Make a
wheel with different colored spokes to see this strange effect. Adding more spokes and removing
spokes will give different effects at different motor speeds.
Project #64 Singing Motor

Turn on the switch and the motor spins (you may need to give it a push
with your finger to get it started). The sounds from the IC are used to
drive the motor. Because the motor uses magnets and a coil of wire
similar to a speaker, you may even hear the space war sounds coming
faintly from the motor.
The motor has a coil and a magnet similar to the

speaker. An electrical signal in the coil creates a
magnetic field, which makes the shaft spin.
Normally the motor is used with a stable
electrical signal, but in this project it is used with
a changing signal from the space war IC. This
creates mechanical vibrations, which create air
pressure variations that sound like the speaker
does, though not as efficiently.
-36-
Project #65 Visual Volume

Turn on the slide switch (S1), a police siren is heard. The loudness of
the sound depends on how much light reaches the photoresistor (RP).
Try partially shielding it or placing near a very bright light, and compare
the sound.
The photoresistor contains material that

changes its resistance when it is exposed to
light. As it gets more light, the resistance of
the photoresistor decreases. Parts like this
are used in a number of ways that affect our
lives. For example, you may have streetlights
in your neighborhood that turn on when it
starts getting dark and turn off in the morning.

Daylight Bang-Bang Daylight Crooks &
Alarm Bright Danger Cars
Now connect a 3-snap to make

a connection between A & X. Now remove the connection
Modify the last circuit by Now remove the photoresistor
Keep the photoresistor between A & X and then make a
connecting the photoresistor to from points A & X and connect it
connected between points C & connection between B & Y. The
points A & X. The circuit works to points C & Z. The circuit
Z. Now depending on how much circuit works the same way but
the same way but now it sounds works the same way but now it
light reaches the photoresistor, now depending on how much
link an ambulance when enough sounds like a machine gun when
you will hear either an light reaches the photoresistor
light reaches the photoresistor. enough light reaches the
ambulance or machine gun you will hear either a police siren
photoresistor.
sound. or machine gun sound.
-37-
Project #70 Pop On, Pop Off

Turn the slide switch (S1) on and off several times. You hear static from
the speaker (SP) when you turn off the switch.
The speaker uses electromagnetism to create

changes in air pressure, which your ears feel
and interpret as sound. Think of the speaker
as creating pressure waves in the air just like
waves in a pool. You only see waves in the
pool when you disturb the water, so the
speaker only makes sound when the voltage
changes.

Little R Rules Big R Rules
Turn on either or both switches
and compare the LED
Turn on either or both switches brightness.
and compare the LED This circuit has the 100W
brightness. resistor (R1), the 1KW resistor
This circuit has the 100W and (R2), and the photoresistor (RP)
1KW resistors (R1 and R2) arranged in series. You can see
arranged in parallel. You can that the larger photoresistor
see that the smaller 100W limits the brightness in this
resistor controls the brightness arrangement (the resistance of
in this arrangement. the photoresistor will be much
higher than the others, unless
the light is very bright).
-38-
Project #73 Little to Big

Place the fan on the motor (M1) and turn on the slide switch (S1), then
compare this circuit to Project #31. Push the press switch (S2), the lamp
doesn’t light now but the motor still spins.
The lamp is dark because the 100W resistor (R1) limits the current through it.
The NPN transistor (Q2) uses the small lamp current to create a large current
that spins the motor.
Now replace the 100W resistor (R1) with the larger 1KW resistor (R2). The
motor spins more slowly now, because the transistor cannot create as large of
a motor current from such a small controlling current.
Transistors, such as the NPN transistor (Q2), can amplify

electric currents. In this circuit, the small current through the
resistor is used to control a larger current through the motor. A
large resistor value limits the current through the lamp, making
it very dim, but the transistor amplified current is large enough
to still spin the motor.
WARNING: Moving parts. Do not touch the fan or motor during

! operation. Do not lean over the motor.
! WARNING: Fan may not rise until switch is released.

Luminate & Rotate Light to Light
Compare this circuit to Project #73. It uses Compare this circuit to Project #32. Push the
the photoresistor (RP) to control the current press switch (S2), the motor (M1) doesn’t
to the NPN transistor (Q2), instead of the spin now but the lamp (L1) still lights.
press switch (S2). You can adjust the speed The motor doesn’t spin because the 100W
of the motor (M1) by changing how much resistor (R1) limits the current through it.
light shines on the photoresistor. The NPN transistor (Q2) uses the small
The lamp is dark because the photoresistor motor current to create a large current that
limits the current through it. The NPN lights the lamp.
transistor uses the small lamp current to Now replace the 100W resistor (R1) with
create a large current that spins the motor. the larger 1KW resistor (R2). The lamp is
only slightly less bright even though the
If you tried to control the motor speed by
motor current is much lower.
placing the photoresistor in series with the
motor, the motor would not spin because Now place the 100W resistor back in the
the photoresistor would limit the current. circuit and replace the press switch with
WARNING: But the photoresistor can control the motor WARNING: the photoresistor (RP). A bright light on the
! Moving parts. Do not speed with help from the transistor. You ! Moving parts. Do not photoresistor will turn the lamp on. But if
may need to shine a light on the the light is dim, then the photoresistor has
touch the fan or motor photoresistor (RP) if the motor does not touch the fan or motor high resistance, so little current flows
during operation. spin. during operation. through the transistor and the lamp is off.
-39-
Project #76 Switch & Store

Turn on the slide switch (S1) and the LED (D1) lights; it will not be very bright so
turn off the room lights or hold your fingers around it to see it better. Push the
press switch (S2) several times slowly; the LED and lamp (L1) go on and off.
Push the press switch many times quickly - the lamp still goes on and off but
the LED stays on. Next, remove the 470mF capacitor (C5) from the circuit - the
LED goes on and off now. Why?
Pressing the switch quickly simulates a changing voltage, which turns the LED
on and off. The 470mF capacitor can store electricity, and it combines with the
NPN transistor (Q2) to simulate a rectifier. This rectifier converts the changing
voltage at the press switch into a constant voltage, which keeps the LED on.
You can replace the 1KW resistor (R2) with the 100W resistor (R1). This makes
the LED a little brighter but you have to press the switch faster to keep it on,
because the lower resistance drains the capacitor faster.
The electricity supplied to your home by your electric

company is actually a changing voltage. Many
electronic products use rectifier circuits to convert
this into a constant voltage like a battery provides.
Project #77 Crazy Combo

Build the circuit shown. Turn it on, press the press switch (S2) several
times, and wave your hand over the photoresistor to hear all the sound
combinations. You can make the sound from the music IC louder by
replacing the 100W resistor (R1) with the 2.5V lamp (L1).
The music and space war ICs (U1 and U3) are
actually modules containing specialized sound-
generation ICs and other supporting
components (resistors, capacitors, and
transistors) that are always needed with them.
This was done to simplify the connections you
need to make to use them.
-40-
Project #78 Alien Alarm
Build the circuit shown on the left and turn on the slide switch (S1).
Press and hold the press switch (S2) to make the lamp (L1) brighter.
Project #79 Same or “NOT”

Build the circuit shown. Notice that when the press switch (S2) is
pressed, the LED (D1) goes off. This is an example of an inverter
circuit, or NOT gate. Whenever the input is high (switch is on), the
output is low (LED is off) and whenever the input is low (switch is off)
the output is high (LED is on). Disassemble the circuit when finished to
avoid draining your batteries.
Although this circuit seems simple,

inverters or NOT gates are very
important in digital logic circuits.
-41-
Project #80 This OR That

Build the circuit shown. Notice that if you turn on the slide switch (S1) OR
press the press switch (S2) the LED (D1) lights up. There is no partially
lit state here, the diode is either totally on or totally off. While this may
seem very simple and boring, it represents an important concept in
electronics. Two switches like this may be used to turn on a light in your
house, or they might be two sensors at a railroad crossing used to start
the ding-ding sound and lower the gate. You could also have more than
two switches and the circuit would function the same way.
This circuit is commonly called an OR gate.

OR gates are used in digital logic circuits to
perform logical additions. When one of the
inputs is high (one of the switches is on) the
output is high (LED on). The output will only
be low (LED off) if both inputs are low (both
switches are off).
Project #81 This AND That

Build the circuit shown. Notice that if you turn on the slide switch (S1)
AND press the press switch (S2) the LED (D1) lights up. Once again,
there is no partially lit state here, the LED is either totally on or totally
off. Two switches like this may be used to turn on the same light in your
house, the room switch and the master switch in the electrical box. You
could also have more than two switches and the circuit would function
the same way.
This circuit is commonly called an AND gate. AND

gates are used in digital logic circuits to perform logical
multiplies. When one of the inputs is low (one of the
switches is off) the output is low (LED off). The output
will only be high (LED on) if both inputs are high (both
switches are on). Combinations of AND and OR
circuits are used to add and multiply numbers together
in modern computers. These circuits are made of tiny
transistors in massive integrated circuits.
-42-
Project #82 Neither This NOR That

Build the circuit at left and test the combinations of the slide switch (S1)
and press switch (S2). If you compare it to the OR circuit in Project
#80, you can see the LED (D1) lights in the opposite combinations of
that circuit. Hence, we refer to it as a NOR circuit (short for “NOT this
OR that”). Like the OR and AND, it is an important building block in
computers.
This circuit is commonly called a NOR gate. NOR

gates are used in digital logic circuits to perform
an inverted logical add. When one of the inputs is
high (one of the switches is on) the output is low
(LED off). The output will only be high (LED on) if
both inputs are low (both switches are off).
Project #83 NOT This AND That

Build the circuit at left and test the combinations of the slide switch (S1)
and press switch (S2). If you compare it to the AND circuit in Project
#81, you can see the LED (D1) lights in the opposite combinations of
that circuit. Hence, we refer to it as a NAND circuit (short for “NOT this
AND that”). This circuit can also have more or less than two inputs,
though when it only has one input it is referred to as a NOT circuit. Like
the OR, AND, and NOR, NAND and NOT are important building blocks
in computers.
This circuit is commonly called a NAND gate.

NAND gates are used in digital logic circuits to
perform an inverted logical multiply. When one of
the inputs is low (one of the switches is off) the
output is high (LED on). The output will only be
low (LED off) if both inputs are high (both
switches are on).
-43-
Project #84 Two-way Light Switch
Build the circuit on the left. Note that two of the 2-snaps are left
unconnected on one end because they will be used as switches in this
project. If you connect the free ends of each of these 2-snaps both to
the “high bar” or positions B in the figure or both to the “low bar” or
positions A in the figure, the LED (D1) lights up. But if you connect the
free end of one of the 2-snaps to the “high bar” and the free end of the
other 2-snap to the “low bar”, then the LED does not light up.
Project #85 Electron Warehouse

Build the circuit, then connect points B & C (use a 2-snap wire) for a
moment. Nothing appears to happen, but you just filled up the 470mF
capacitor (C5) with electricity. Now disconnect B & C and instead touch
a connection between A & B. The red LED (D1) will be lit and then go
out after a few seconds as the electricity you stored in it is discharged
through the LED and resistor (R2).
Notice that a capacitor is not very

efficient at storing electricity - compare
how long the 470mF capacitor kept the
LED lit with how your batteries run all
of your projects! That is because a
capacitor stores electrical energy while
a battery stores chemical energy.
-44-
Project #86 Light Makes Light

Build the circuit to the left. Cover the photoresistor, turn the switch on,
and notice that the LED is on for several seconds and then goes off.
Uncover the photoresistor and place the unit near a light and the LED
will light. Cover the photoresistor (RP) again and the LED will turn off.
The resistance of the photoresistor decreases as the light increases
activating the U1 IC that varies the voltage to the LED making it light.
Project #87
Go & Glow
Use the circuit from Project #86. Connect the motor (M1) across points
A1 and C1 on the base grid, and remove the photoresistor (RP). Turn
the switch on and the LED (D1) lights for several seconds then goes
out. Turn the shaft of the motor and the LED will light again. As the
motor turns, it produce a voltage. There is a magnet and a coil inside
the motor. When the axis turns the magnetic field will change and
generate a small current through its terminals. This voltage then
activates the music IC.
Project #88 Spin & Stop

Place the fan on the motor and turn on the slide switch (S1). The motor
spins briefly as the 470mF capacitor (C5) charges up. Turn off the slide
switch and push the press switch (S2) to discharge the capacitor and
reset the circuit.
You can bypass the capacitor by pushing the press switch while the
slide switch is on. This lets the motor spin at full speed and also lights
the lamp.

-45-

Flashing Flare Touch & Go
Build the circuit
shown on the left. Wet your fingers with some
The circuit uses water or saliva and touch them
the Alarm and across points A and B several
Space War ICs to times to hear some space war
flash the LED sounds. Push the press switch
(D1). Turn the (S2) to hear more sounds at
switch on and the the same time.
LED starts This circuit uses your body to
flashing. conduct electricity, and turn on
the circuit. Wetting your fingers
improves the connection
between the metal and your
finger.
Project #91 Two-Tone Twinkler
Turn the switch (S1) on and the lamp (L1) and LED (D1) start flashing.
You hear two different tones driving the LED and lamp. ICs can be
connected to control many different devices at the same time.
Connecting the output of the Alarm

or Music ICs to multiple devices
(such as the LED, speaker and
lamp) enables these devices
operations to be synchronized.
-46-
Project #92 Fan Flash Energy

Place the fan on the motor (M1). Hold down the press switch (S2) for
a few seconds and then watch the LED (D1) as you release the switch.
The LED flashes briefly but only after the batteries (B1) are
disconnected from the circuit.
Do you know why the LED flashes? It flashes because the mechanical
energy stored in the fan blade makes the motor act like a generator.
When the switch is released, this energy creates a brief current
through the LED.
If you reverse the motor direction, then the LED will light the same way,
but the fan may fly off after the LED lights.
WARNING: Moving parts. Do not WARNING: Do not

! touch the fan or motor during operation. ! lean over the motor.

Photo Timer Light Room Light to Red Light
Press and release the
press switch (S2), then
turn on the slide switch
(S1). The LED will light
for a while when there
is room light on the
Turn on the switch, the
photoresistor (RP) and
brightness of the LED
slowly dims.
depends on how much room
The capacitor (C5) will light shines on the
store energy until a light photoresistor. The resistance
shines on the photo drops as more light shines,
resistor to release the allowing more current to the
energy, which activates NPN.
the NPN transistor (Q2)
and turns on the LED
(D1). Press the press
switch again to
recharge the capacitor.
-47-
Project #95 Fun with the Alarm IC

Place the fan on the motor (M1) and turn on the slide switch (S1). The
lamp (L1) lights, the motor spins, and you hear a machine gun sound
(with very faint music in background). Thoroughly cover the
photoresistor (RP) with your hand and the sound becomes a siren.
After a while the sound will stop, hold down the press switch (S2) and
the sound resumes.
Photoresistors can be used to

control many devices such as
street lights, clock radio alarms,
night lights, etc.
WARNING: Moving parts. Do not touch the fan

! or motor during operation.
Project #96 Dancing Project #97

Motor Musical
Light
Place the fan on the motor (M1) and
turn on the slide switch (S1). A song
is heard and the fan spins unevenly.
The fan speed is being controlled by
the music IC (U1).
Now push the press switch (S2) to Use the circuit in Project #96.
control the motor directly, and the Replace the motor (M1) with the
motor spins much faster. 2.5V lamp (L1). Now the music IC
(U1) and press switch (S2)
control the lamp brightness.
WARNING:
! Moving parts. Do not
touch the fan or motor
during operation.
-48-
Project #98 Music Alarm Combo
Build the circuit shown and then place the

alarm IC (U2) directly over the music IC (U1),
resting on the three 1-snaps. Turn on the
slide switch (S1) and you will hear a siren and
music together. After a few seconds, covering
the photoresistor (RP) will stop the music (but
the siren continues).
Project #99 Hit the Target Project #100

Many
Missiles
Turn the slide switch (S1) on
and you hear the sound of a
bomb dropping and then
exploding. The LED (D1) lights Use the circuit from Project #99.
and then flashes as the bomb Replace the slide switch (S1) with the
explodes. This is one sound motor (M1). Turn the shaft on the motor
generated from the space war and now it sounds like a bunch of bombs
IC (U3). dropping.
-49-
Project #101 Sing & Fling

In the circuit, the outputs from the alarm and music ICs are connected
together. Build the circuit shown and then place the alarm IC (U2)
directly over the music IC (U1), resting on two 1-snaps and a 2-snap.
Turn on the slide switch (S1) and you will hear a siren and music
together while the lamp (L1) varies in brightness. Push the press
switch (S2) and the fan spins, while the sound may not be as loud. The
fan may rise into the air when you release the switch.

! WARNING: Do not lean over the motor.
Project #102 Power Pitch

In the circuit, the outputs from the alarm (U2) and music ICs are
connected together. Build the circuit shown and then place the alarm
IC (U2) directly over the music IC (U1), resting on three 1-snaps. Turn
on the slide switch (S1) and you will hear a siren and music together.
Push the press switch (S2) and the fan spins, while the sound may not
be as loud. The fan may rise into the air when you release the switch.
This circuit is similar to Project #101, but the fan will fly a little higher
since the sound circuit no longer drives the lamp (L1) and therefore
uses less battery power.

-50-
Project #103 Long Gone Light

Push the press switch (S2). If the fan is off the motor (M1) (or flies off)
then the LED (D1) will be bright.
It takes a lot of current to spin the motor when the fan is on it, and the
voltage drops because the batteries (B1) cannot supply enough. When
the fan flies off, the current drops and the voltage rises. The NPN
transistor (Q2, used here as a diode) and 470mF capacitor (C5) are a
detector circuit, which measures the voltage at the motor.

Project #104 Slow Siren Changer

Turn on the slide switch (S1) and you hear a siren sound.
Now hold down the press switch (S2) until the sound becomes a fire
engine sound. This delay is due to the 470mF capacitor (C5) charging
up and is controlled by the photoresistor (RP). If there is bright light on
the photoresistor, then the delay will be only a few seconds.
Release the press switch and after a while the sound will be a siren
again. The capacitor slowly discharges through the NPN transistor (Q2).

capacitors store up energy when
S2 is pressed, and then discharge
energy when S2 is released.
-51-
Project #105 The Dark Dimmer
Turn on the slide switch (S1) and push the press switch (S2). If there
is light on the photoresistor (RP), then the LED (D1) will stay on for a
long time after you release the press switch.
The energy stored in the 470mF capacitor (C5) keeps the controlling
current to the NPN transistor (Q2) on even though the press switch
was turned off. If it is dark, the high resistance of the photoresistor
shuts off the current to the transistor.
Project #106 Lagging Light

Build the circuit and turn on the slide switch (S1). The LED (D1) is
bright but slowly gets dark as the 470mF capacitor (C5) charges up.
The LED will stay dark until you push the press switch (S2), which
discharges the capacitor.
This circuit shows how capacitors

can be used to provide a delay.
This type of circuit is used in house
lighting to fade out the lights when
you turn the switch off.
-52-
Project #107 Sonic Flasher
Set the slide switch (S1) on, a space war sound plays and the LED
(D1) flashes. Cover the photoresistor (RP) and press the press switch
(S2) to change the sound. See how many sounds are programmed
into the space war sound IC (U3).
Project #108 Stay or Blink

Build the circuit and turn on the slide switch (S1). The LED (D1) is dim,
and is actually flashing very quickly, and the speaker (SP) makes a
siren sound. Now push the press switch (S2) to connect the 470mF
capacitor (C5) to the circuit. The LED is brighter and stops flashing.
The signal from the alarm IC (U2) to the speaker is a changing voltage,
which is why the LED was flashing. The 470mF capacitor can store
electricity, and it combines with the NPN transistor (Q2) to make a
rectifier. A rectifier converts a changing voltage into a constant voltage,
so the LED stays on constantly instead of flashing.
Rectifiers are used to convert the AC voltage from the outlets in your
house to a DC voltage used by most of the devices in your house.
-53-
Project #109 Glow & Go

Build the circuit to the left. Turn on the slide switch (S1). The alarm will
sound, as long as light is present. Slowly cover the photoresistor (RP),
and the volume goes down. If you turn off the lights, the alarm will stop.
The amount of light changes the resistance of the photoresistor (less
light means more resistance). The photoresistor and NPN transistor
(Q2) act like a dimmer switch, adjusting the voltage applied to the
alarm.
This type of circuit is used in alarm

systems to detect light. If an intruder
turned on a light or hit the sensor with a
flashlight beam, the alarm would trigger
and probably force the intruder to leave.
Project #110 Fading Siren
First, place the 470mF capacitor (C5) across points A & B to discharge
it. Then build the circuit as shown on the left. Press the switch (S2), the
integrated circuit should make the sound of an up-down siren that gets
weaker with time. The fading is produced by the charging of the 470mF
capacitor (C5). After it is charged, the current stops and the sound is
very weak.
To repeat this effect you must release the press switch (S2), remove
the capacitor (C5), and discharge it by placing it across the snaps on
the bottom bar marked A & B. Then, replace the capacitor (C5) and
press the switch again.
-54-
Project #111 Light the Motor
This circuit combines Projects #1, #2, and #10 into one circuit.
Build the circuit and place the fan on the motor (M1). Depending on
which of the switches (S1 and S2) are on, you can turn on either the
lamp (L1) (Project #1), the motor (M1) (Project #2), or both together
(Project #10).

Project #112 Motor Space Sounds Project #113

Twist &
Blink
Turn it on and wait for any
sounds to stop. Then, spin
the motor (M1) and the
sounds play again.
This circuit is loud and may bother
Do you know why turning the
other people around you so
motor makes the sound play?
replace the speaker (SP) with the
Actually, the DC motor is also
LED (D1), (position it like in Project
a DC generator and when
#89); the circuit operates in the
you turn it, the motor
same manner but now the LED
generates a voltage that
flashes instead of the speaker
triggers the sound circuits.
making sounds.
-55-
Project #114 Morse Code

This simple circuit can be used for communication. Press the press switch (S2) friends far away at night. During World War II Navy ships sometimes
in long and short bursts to make a pattern of light flashes representing the dots communicated by flashing Morse Code messages between ships using
and dashes shown in the Morse Code table below. You can use Morse Code searchlights (because radio transmissions might reveal their presence to the
and this circuit to send secret messages to some friends in the room without enemy).
others knowing what you’re saying.
Years ago Indians would send messages to other tribes using smoke signals
If you have a strong flashlight or searchlight then you can send messages to and a special code.
Morse Code: The forerunner of today’s telephone MORSE CODE

system was the telegraph, which was widely used in A ._ N _. Period ._._._
the latter half of the 19th century. It only had two B _... O ___ Comma _ _ . . _ _
states - on or off (that is, transmitting or not C _._. P .__. Question . . _ _ . .
transmitting), and could not send the range of D _.. Q __._ 1 .____
frequencies contained in human voices or music. A E . R ._. 2 ..___
code was developed to send information over long F .._. S ... 3 ...__
distances using this system and a sequence of dots G __. T _ 4 ...._
and dashes (short or long transmit bursts). It was H .... U .._ 5 .....
named Morse Code after its inventor. It was also I .. V ..._ 6 _....
used extensively in the early days of radio J .___ W .__ 7 __...
communications, though it isn’t in wide use today. It K _._ X _.._ 8 ___..
is sometimes referred to in Hollywood movies,
L ._.. Y _.__ 9 ____.
especially Westerns.
M __ Z __.. 0 _____

Light to Dark Power Shifter
When you turn on the
slide switch (S1), the
LED (D1) is on and
Turn on the slide switch (S1), the the lamp (L1) is off.
brightness of the LED (D1)
depends on how LITTLE light Push the press
shines on the photoresistor (RP). switch (S2) to bypass
The resistance drops as more light the LED. The lamp
shines, diverting current away from turns on and the LED
the NPN transistor (Q2). turns off. This shows
how switches can be
used to shift power
between different
devices.
-56-
Project #117 Touch of Light
Build the circuit on the left. You’re probably wondering how it can work,
since one of the points on the NPN transistor (Q2) is unconnected. It
can’t, but there is another component that isn’t shown. That
component is you.
Touch points X & Y with your fingers. The LED (D1) may be dimly lit.
The problem is your fingers aren’t making a good enough electrical
contact with the metal. Wet your fingers with water or saliva and touch
the points again. The LED should be very bright now. Think of this
circuit as a touch lamp since when you touch it, the LED lights. You
may have seen such a lamp in the store or already have one in your
home.
Project #118 Change & Charge
Turn the slide switch (S1) on and connect points A & B with a 2-snap
wire. The LED (D1) will flash and the 470mF capacitor (C5) will be
charged with electricity. The electricity is now stored in the capacitor.
Disconnect points A & B. Connect points B & C and there will be a flash
from the 2.5V lamp (L1).
The capacitor discharges through the resistor to the base of the NPN
transistor (Q2). The positive current turns on the transistor like a
switch, connecting the lamp to the negative (–) side of the batteries
(B1). The light will go out after the capacitor discharges, because there
is no more current at the base of the transistor.
-57-
Project #119 Electricity You Can Wear
Snappy says: clothes Did you ever wonder why clothes cling
can cling together together when they come out of the dryer? Did
because electricity is you ever hear a crackling sound when you take
all around us. off a sweater? (If the room is dark you might
even see sparks.) Did you ever feel a “zap”
Find some clothes that cling together The crackling noise you hear when when you touch someone wearing a sweater
in the dryer, and try to uncling them. taking off a sweater is static on a dry day?
electricity. You may see sparks
These effects are caused by electricity. We
when taking one off in a dark room.
call this static electricity because the electrical
charges are not moving, although pulling
Note: This project works best on clothes apart sounds like static on a radio.
a cold dry day. If the weather is When electricity is moving (usually through
humid, the water vapor in the air wires) to do something in another place, we
allows the static electric charge to call it an electric current.
dissipate, and this project may not
Rub a sweater (wool is best) and work.
see how it clings to other clothes.
Project #120 Electricity In Your Hair

Snappy says: notice how You need a comb (or a plastic ruler) and some
your hair can “stand up” or be paper for this project. Rip up the paper into small
attracted to the comb when pieces. Run the comb through your hair several
the air is dry. Wetting your hair times then hold it near the paper pieces to pick
dissipates the static charge. them up. You can also use a pen or plastic ruler,
rub it on your clothes (wool works best).
Rubbing the comb through your hair pulls
extremely tiny charged particles from your
hair onto the comb. These give the comb a
static electrical charge, which attracts the
paper pieces.
Note: This project works best on a cold dry
day. If the weather is humid, the water vapor
in the air allows the static electric charge to
dissipate, and this project may not work.
-58-
Project #121 Bending Water

Static electricity was You need a comb (or plastic ruler) and a water
discovered more than 2,500 faucet for this project. Run the comb through
years ago when the Greek your hair several times then hold it next to a
philosopher Thales noticed slow, thin stream of water from a faucet. The
that when amber (a hard, water will bend towards it. You can also use a
clear, yellow-tinted material) plastic ruler. Rub it on your clothes (wool works
is rubbed, light materials like best).
feathers stick to it. Electricity
is named after the Greek Rubbing the comb through your hair builds up a
word for amber, which is static electrical charge on it, which attracts the
electron. water.
Note: This project works best on a cold dry day.

If the weather is humid, the water vapor in the
air allows the static electric charge to dissipate,
and this project may not work.
Project #122 Static Tricks

Electricity vs. Gravity:
Electricity is immensely more powerful than gravity (gravity is what causes things
to fall to the ground when you drop them). However electrical attraction is so
completely balanced out that you don’t notice it, while gravity’s effects are always
apparent because they are not balanced out.
Gravity is actually the attraction between
Take a piece of newspaper or other thin objects due to their weight (or technically,
paper and rub it vigorously with a If you have two balloons, rub them to a
their mass). This effect is extremely small
sweater or pencil. It will stick to a wall. sweater and then hang the rubbed sides
and can be ignored unless one of the
next to each other. They repel away. You
objects is as big as a planet (like the earth).
could also use the balloons to pick up
Gravity attraction never goes away and is
tiny pieces of paper.
seen every time you drop something.
Electrical charge, though usually balanced
out perfectly, can move around and change
Note: This project works best on a quickly.
cold dry day. If the weather is humid,
the water vapor in the air allows the For example, you have seen how clothes
Cut the paper into two long strips, rub static electric charge to dissipate, can cling together in the dryer due to static
them, then hang them next to each other. and this project may not work. electricity. There is also a gravity attraction
See if they attract or repel each other. between the sweaters, but it is always Electricity Gravity
extremely small.
-59-
Project #123 Sunrise Light
LED (D1) is off, but if you wait a long time then it will eventually light
up. Uncover the photoresistor and the LED will light up in just a few
seconds. Push the press switch (S2) and reset the circuit.
The resistance of the photoresistor controls how long it takes to charge
up the 470mF capacitor (C5). Once the capacitor is charged, current
can flow into the NPN transistor (Q2) and turn on the LED. Pushing the
press switch discharges the capacitor.
Project #124 Light-controlled Lamp

Build the circuit to the left. Cover the photoresistor (RP), turn the slide switch
(S1) on, and notice that the lamp (L1) is off after several seconds. Place the
unit near a light and the lamp turns on. Cover the photoresistor again. The
lamp turns off. The resistance of the photoresistor decreases as the light
increases. The low resistance acts like a wire connecting point C to the
positive (+) side of the battery activating the music IC (U1).
Project #125
Motor-controlled Lamp
Use the circuit from Project #124. Remove the photoresistor (RP) and connect
the motor (M1) across points A & B. The lamp (L1) lights for a few seconds and
then turns off. Turn the slide switch (S1) on and turn the shaft of the motor and
the lamp will light. As the motor turns, it produces a voltage. This is because
there is a magnet and a coil inside the motor. When the axis turns the magnetic
field will change and generate a small current in the coil and a voltage across
its terminals. The voltage then activates the music IC (U1).
-60-
FROM THE CIRCUIT MAKER FAMILY OF PRODUCTS:

Circuit Maker Basic 40 Circuit Maker Sound Plus 200
Model CM-40 Model CM-200
Build Build
Contains over over 40 unique Contains over over 200 unique
17 parts! projects! 40 parts! projects!
Sample projects Sample projects
Light Fan
All at Once Launcher Playback & Record Synchronized Flasher
-61-
Page 34 for Project #59
Page 35 for Project #61
-62-
CM-125 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: [email protected]. Customer Service ● 150 Carpenter Ave.
Wheeling, IL 60090 U.S.A. Note: A complete parts list is on page 2 in this manual.

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CM-125_Manual_031514.

qxp_CM-125_Manual_031514 4/2/14 12:19 PM Page 1

Qty. ID Name Symbol Part # Qty. ID Name Symbol Part #

Base Grid r1 Motor 6SCM1

r3 1 1-Snap Wire 6SC01 r1 Q2 NPN Transistor 6SCQ2

r6 2 2-Snap Wire 6SC02 r1 R1 100W Resistor 6SCR1

r3 3 3-Snap Wire 6SC03 r1 R2 1KW Resistor 6SCR2

r1 4 4-Snap Wire 6SC04 r1 RP Photoresistor 6SCRP

r1 5 5-Snap Wire 6SC05 r1 S1 Slide Switch 6SCS1

r1 6 6-Snap Wire 6SC06 r1 S2 Press Switch 6SCS2

Battery Holder - uses

Red Light Emitting Alarm

How to Use Circuit Maker Skill Builder 125

About Your Circuit Maker Skill Builder 125 Parts

Slide & Press

About Your Circuit Maker Skill Builder 125 Parts

The electrical pressure exerted by a battery or other power source is called

The “power” of electricity is a measure of how fast energy is moving through a

The resistance of a component or circuit represents how much it resists the

DOs and DON’Ts of Building Circuits

WARNING: SHOCK HAZARD - Never connect Circuit Maker

Warning to Circuit Maker owners: Do not connect

Advanced Troubleshooting (Adult supervision recommended)

Project #1 Turn on the Light

Project #2 Up, Up, and Away!

Project #3 Super Circuit

This complex circuit is pictured

WARNING: Moving parts. Do not touch the

Project #4 Space War

The Space War, Alarm, and Music ICs contain

The photoresistor contains material that changes its

Project #7 Stick Around Saucer

WARNING: Moving parts. Do not touch the fan or

Project #8 Rotate & Roar

Resistors are used throughout electronics

Project #9 Spin & Dim

WARNING: Moving parts. Do not touch the fan or

Project #10 Balanced Buddies

WARNING: Moving parts. Do not touch the fan or

Project #11 The Diode Dude

+ LEDs are used in all types of electronic

Project #12 One Way Works

An electronic component that

Project #13 Clippy the Conductor

This detector can be used to see if a material like plastic is a

Project #14 Nifty Noises

A photoresistor is a light-controlled variable

Project #15 Mumbling Motor

+ to the motor. Why does the motor make sound?

A motor uses magnetism to convert electrical

WARNING: Moving parts. Do not touch the

Project #16 Lift Loss

WARNING: Moving parts. Do not touch the

Project #17 Hi-Low Fan

The principle of removing resistance to

Project #18 Fuse or Lose

Project #19 Magical Music

Musical integrated circuits are used to

Project #20 Press & Play

Having no resistor in series with the speaker