Elenco Snap Circuits SnapMicro ® I Standard User Manual
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About this manual
The Snap Circuit Micro-Controller manual is designed to quickly move the user into the world of micro-
controllers without any heavy mathematics or science background. All that is required is a computer with
a Windows XP
®
/ 2000
®
/ 98 / 95 operating system and the Elenco
®
SCM400 starter kit.
The manual is divided into four separate sections:
Section 1 - Getting Started (Electronic Components)
Section 2
– Flow chart programming and Snap Circuit
®
basics
Section 3 - Programming for Snap Circuits
®
.
Section 4
– Audacity
®
and Sound Circuits.
The first section provides general information for getting started with Snap Circuits
®
and the program
editor. No prior understanding of micro-controllers is required. Most electronic components will be
explained using comparisons to easy to understand water pipe systems. In Section 2, a series of easy to
follow tutorials introduce the main features of both Flow Chart programming and the Snap Circuit
®
system. In Section 3, the programming is extended to control some clever and practical Snap Circuits
®
.
In Section 4 an audio recording and editing program is introduced and used to gather data. This data is
then used to control a light with the sound of a clap. The software used for programming the micro-
controller is called the ‘Programming Editor’. The software and the programs that match this manual
are on the CD. Updated versions are free to download from www.picaxe.co.uk
under “Software,” the
most updated version will be the first one on the top.
For more specific information on flow chart programming, syntax and examples of each BASIC
Command please see sections 1 & 2 ‘Getting Started & BASIC Commands’ located in the help file of the
programming editor. For more advanced micro-controller circuits that do not use Snap Circuits
®
, and
example programs, please see ‘Interfacing Circuits’ in the help file of the programming editor. If you
have a question about any command please post a question on the forum at www.picaxe.co.uk
For more information on Snap Circuits
®
or electronic components please run the water pipe analogies
included on the Snap Circuits® CD or visit the websites at www.elenco.com, www.snapcircuits.com
or www.emailschool.com.