Elenco Basic Electricity User Manual

Basic electricity, Model scp-10, 1a 5v

If you have any problems, contact Elenco

(800) 533-2441 Fax: (847) 520-0085 ● e-mail: [email protected] ● Website: www.elenco.com or www.snapcircuits.net

WARNING: SHOCK HAZARD

Never connect Snap Circuits

to the electrical outlets in your

home in any way!

WARNING:

Always check your wiring before

turning on a circuit. Never leave a circuit

unattended while the batteries are installed.

Never connect additional batteries or any other

power sources to your circuits.

Basic Electricity

Model SCP-10

753159

Snap Circuits

uses electronic

blocks that snap onto a base

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 by

placing all the parts with a black

1 next to them on the clear base

grid first. Then, assemble parts

marked with a 2. Install three (3)

“AA” batteries (not included)

into the battery holder (B3).
Set the meter (M5) to the 1A

setting.
Turn on the slide switch (S1).

The lamp (L4) comes on, and

the meter measures how much

electric current is flowing.

Project 1

Lamp Current

Project 2

Batteries in Series

Electricity is the movement of sub-atomic charged

particles through a material due to electrical pressure

across the material, such as from a battery. Power

sources, like batteries, push electricity through a circuit,

like a pump pushes water through pipes. Wires carry

electricity, like pipes carry water. Devices like lamps use

the energy in electricity to do things. Switches control the

flow of electricity like valves and faucets control water.
The electrical pressure exerted by a battery or other

power source is called voltage and is measured in volts

(V). The “+” and “–” signs on a battery indicate which

direction it will “pump” electricity.
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 resistance increases, less current flows.

Resistance is measured in ohms (W).

If desired, use the voltage measured here (with 3 batteries) and the

current measured in project 1 to calculate the resistance and power of

the lamp:
Resistance equals Voltage divided by Current, and should be about 15

ohms. Power equals Voltage times Current, and should be about 1 Watt.
Your results may be different, because M5 is a simple meter with low

accuracy, and your battery voltage can vary.

Set the meter (M5) to the 5V setting, and turn on the slide

switch (S1). The lamp (L4) comes on, and the meter measures

the voltage from the 3 batteries.
Part B: Remove the left battery from the holder (B3), then snap

one side of the red jumper jumper on as shown, and touch

metal on the other end to the left spring in the battery holder.

Read the voltage on the meter, measuring 2 batteries, and

notice how the lamp is dimmer.
Part C: Now also remove the center battery from the holder and

touch metal on the end of the red jumper wire to the center

spring in the holder. Read the voltage on the meter, measuring

1 battery, and notice how the lamp is dimmer.

Placement

Level Numbers

Quiz answers:

1. B

. B

. C

. A

. B

Batteries are like electrical pressure, pushing electricity

through a circuit. Adding more batteries increases the

flow of electricity, making the lamp brighter.

Part B:

Part C:

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