Elenco Snaptricity® - Manual (Page 5)

-4-
About Your Snaptricity ® Parts
(Part designs are subject to change without
notice).
The base grid is a platform for
mounting parts and wires.
It functions like the
printed circuit
boards used in
most electronic
products, or like how
the walls are used for
mounting the electrical
wiring in your home.
BASE GRID
The blue snap wires
are wires used to
connect components.
They are used to
transport electricity and do not
affect circuit performance. They
come in different lengths to allow orderly
arrangement of connections on the base grid.
The red and black
jumper wires make
flexible connections
for times when using
the snap wires would be difficult.
They also are used to make
connections off the base grid (like the projects
using water).
Wires transport
electricity just like
pipes are used to
transport water.
The colorful plastic coating protects them and
prevents electricity from getting in or out.
The batteries (B3) produce an electrical voltage
using a chemical reaction. This “voltage” can be
thought of as electrical pressure, pushing
electricity through a circuit just like a pump
pushes water through pipes. This voltage is
much lower and much safer than that used in
your house wiring. Using more batteries
increases the “pressure”, therefore, more
electricity flows.
The funny marking on the battery holder is the
standard battery symbol used in electrical wiring
diagrams. These wiring diagrams are called
schematics , and are used in everything from
house wiring to complex radios.
The press switch (S2)
connects (pressed,
“ON”) or
disconnects (not
pressed, “OFF”)
the wires in a circuit.
When ON it has no effect on circuit performance.
It turns on electricity just like a faucet turns on
water from a pipe.
The electrical symbol for a press switch is shown
here.
The slide switch
(S5) connects
(ON) the center
snap to one of the
other two snaps.
When connected it has
no effect on circuit
performance. It directs electricity just like a value
controls water in a pipe.
The electrical symbol is shown here. It resembles
the symbol for a door used in architect drawings
for a house.
Engineers call this type of switch a SPDT
(Single-Pole Double-Throw), representing how
one point can be connected to either of two
others.
SNAP WIRES & JUMPER WIRES
BATTERY HOLDER PRESS SWITCH
Press Switch (S2)
SLIDE SWITCH
Slide Switch Symbol
Slide Switch (S5)
Battery Symbol
Battery Holder (B3)
Press Switch Symbol