Elenco Green Projects - Manual (Page 6)

-5-
About Your Snap Circuits ® Green 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 battery (B4) contains a rechargeable
battery and some supporting parts. This battery
produces an electrical
voltage using a reversible
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” and so more
electricity flows.
The solar cell (B7)
contains positively
and negatively
c h a r g e d
s i l i c o n
crystals,
arranged
in layers
that cancel
each other out.
When sunlight shines on it,
charged particles in the light
unbalance the silicon layers and produce an
electrical voltage of up to 7V. The maximum
current depends on the type of light and its
brightness, but will be much less than a battery
can produce. Bright sunlight works best, but
incandescent light bulbs also work.
Most sodas
and fruit juices are
lightly acidic. The acid
is similar to the material
used in some types of batteries
but not nearly as strong. The acid will
react with the copper and zinc electrodes to
make an electric current, like a battery. Each of
the four compartments in the liquid holder
produces about 0.7V, but the current is very low
and may not last long.
SNAP WIRES & JUMPER WIRES
BATTERY
SOLAR CELL
LIQUID HOLDER & ELECTRODES
Radio uses electromagnetic waves to send
information through the air. Snap Circuits
®
includes a standard FM radio, and a battery
eliminator to use with it. The radio can also be
used with two 1.5V “AAA” type batteries (not
included). The battery eliminator has circuitry to
protect the radio from the higher voltages, which
you can produce with this kit, since these could
damage the radio.
RADIO & BATTERY ELIMINATOR
Solar Cell (B7)
Battery (B4)
Radio & Battery Eliminator
Liquid
Holder
Electrodes