More, Do’s and don’ts of building circuits – Elenco Upgrade Kit SC500 to SC750 User Manual
Page 6
![background image](/manuals/735981/6/background.png)
-5-
MORE
DO’s 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 concepts
are introduced throughout them. Every circuit will include a power source (the
batteries), a resistance (which might be a resistor, lamp, motor, integrated circuit, etc.),
and wiring paths between them and back.
You must be careful not to create “short
circuits” (very low-resistance paths across the batteries, see examples below) as this
will damage components and/or quickly drain your batteries.
Only connect the IC’s
using configurations given in the projects, incorrectly doing so may damage them.
Elenco
®
is not responsible for parts damaged due to incorrect wiring.
Here are some important guidelines:
ALWAYS
USE EYE PROTECTION WHEN EXPERIMENTING ON YOUR OWN.
ALWAYS
include at least one component that will limit the current through a circuit,
such as the speaker, lamp, whistle chip, capacitors, ICs (which must be
connected properly), motor, microphone, photo resistor, or fixed resistors.
ALWAYS
use the
7-segment display
, LED’s, transistors, the high frequency IC, the
SCR
, the antenna, and switches in conjunction with other components
that will limit the current through them. Failure to do so will create a
short circuit and/or damage those parts.
ALWAYS
connect the adjustable resistor so that if set to its 0 setting, the current will
be limited by other components in the circuit.
ALWAYS
connect position capacitors so that the “+” side gets the higher voltage.
ALWAYS
disconnect your batteries immediately and check your wiring if something
appears to be getting hot.
ALWAYS
check your wiring before turning on a circuit.
ALWAYS
connect
ICs
, the
FM module
, and the
SCR
using configurations given
in the projects or as per the connection descriptions for the parts.
NEVER
try to use the high frequency IC as a transistor (the packages are similar, but
the parts are different).
NEVER
use the 2.5V lamp in a circuit with both battery holders unless you are sure
that the voltage across it will be limited.
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.
For all of the projects given in this book, the parts may be arranged in different 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.
Examples of SHORT CIRCUITS -
NEVER DO THESE!!!
You are encouraged to tell us about new circuits you create. If they are
unique, we will post them with your name and state on our website at
www.snapcircuits.net/kidkreations.htm. Send your suggestions to
ELENCO
®
.
Elenco
®
provides a circuit designer so that you can make your own Snap
Circuits
®
drawings. This Microsoft
®
Word document can be downloaded
from www.snapcircuits.net/SnapDesigner.doc
or through the
www.snapcircuits.net web site.
WARNING: SHOCK HAZARD
- Never connect Snap Circuits
®
to
the electrical outlets in your home in any way!
Placing a 3-snap wire directly
across the batteries is a
SHORT CIRCUIT.
This is also a
SHORT CIRCUIT.
When the slide switch (S1) is turned on, this large circuit has a SHORT
CIRCUIT path (as shown by the arrows). The short circuit prevents any
other portions of the circuit from ever working.
NEVER
DO!
Warning to Snap Rover owners: Do not connect your parts to the
Rover body except when using our approved circuits, the Rover
body has a higher voltage which could damage your parts.
!
!
NEVER
DO!
!
!
!
NEVER
DO!
NEVER
DO!