Elenco Snap Circuits® Deluxe Sound & Light Combo - Manual (Page 82)

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Project 155 Mini Battery Project 154
Charging & Discharging Project 153
Mini
Capacitor
Project 152
Adjustable
Charging &
Discharging
Turn on the slide switch (S1) for a few seconds, then
turn it off. The red LED (D1) is dimly lit for a few
moments but goes completely dark as the batteries
(B1) charge up the 100mF capacitor (C4). The
capacitor is storing electrical charge.
Now press the press switch (S2) for a few seconds.
The white LED (D6) is initially bright but goes dim as
the capacitor discharges itself through it.
The C4 capacitor value (100mF) sets how much
charge can be stored in it, and the R3 resistor value
(5.1kW) sets how quickly that charge can be stored or
released.
Now swap the locations of the white & red LEDs, and
try the circuit again. Both LEDs have the same
electrical current flowing through them, but white LED
is much brighter than the red LED because it is a
super-bright LED while the red one isn’t.
Use the project 152 circuit but
replace the 100mF capacitor (C4)
with the 0.1mF capacitor (C2).
The circuit works the same, but
the LEDs will only light very
briefly, because the smaller
0.1mF capacitor stores much less
electricity than the larger 100mF
capacitor.
Modify the project 152
circuit to be this one,
which has the adjustable
resistor (RV) instead of
the 5.1kW resistor (R3).
Use the lever on RV to
adjust the capacitor
charge & discharge rate,
setting it towards the red
LED (D1) will make the
LEDs flash brighter but
get dim faster.
This circuit is similar to the
preceding one, but may be
easier to understand. Set the
lever on the adjustable resistor
(RV) towards the 100mF
capacitor (C4). Place the white
LED (D6) across the points
marked B & C; the LED lights
as the capacitor charges. Next,
place the white LED across
points A & B instead; now the
LED lights as the capacitor
discharges. Move the white
LED back to B & C and repeat.
Use the lever on RV to vary the
charge / discharge rate.
The capacitor is storing energy
like a mini battery.
SCC-350_Manual_Part_B.qxp 7/25/14 2:05 PM Page 26