Elenco Green Projects - Manual (Page 10)

-9-
Advanced Troubleshooting
(Adult supervision recommended)
Elenco ® Electronics is not responsible for
parts damaged due to incorrect wiring.
If you suspect you have damaged parts,
you can follow this procedure to
systematically determine which ones need
replacing:
1. Hand crank (HC), solar cell (B7), and
meter (M6):
Place the meter directly across
the solar cell and set it to the 5V setting.
Place the solar cell in sunlight or near a
bright light source (incandescent light bulbs
are best); the meter pointer should move.
Then place the meter directly across the
hand crank and turn the crank handle
clockwise; the meter pointer should move for
all the meter switch settings (5V, 0.5mA, and
50mA).
• If the 5V meter setting works with the hand
crank but not the solar cell, then the solar
cell is damaged. Be sure you used a bright
light source and removed any protective
plastic wrap covering the solar cell.
• If the 5V meter setting works with the
solar cell but not the hand crank, then the
hand crank is damaged.
• If the 5V meter setting does not work with
either the solar cell or the hand crank,
then the meter is damaged.
• If the 5V meter setting works with the
hand crank but the 0.5mA or 50mA meter
settings do not, then the meter is
damaged.
2. Red & black jumper wires: Set the meter
to the 5V setting and use this circuit to test
each jumper wire. Place the solar cell (B7)
near the same light source you used in step
1. The jumper wire is damaged if the meter
pointer does not move.
3. Snap wires: Set the meter to the 5V setting
and use this circuit to test each snap wire,
one at a time. Place the solar cell (B7) near
the same light source you used in step 1.
The snap wire is damaged if the meter
pointer does not move.
If you prefer, you can test all the snap wires
at once using this circuit. If the meter pointer
does not move, then test the snap wires one
at a time to find the damaged one.
4. Press switch (S2): Set the meter to the 5V
setting and build this circuit. Place the solar
cell (B7) near the same light source you
used in step 1. If the meter pointer does not
move when you press the switch, the switch
is damaged.
5. Red and yellow LEDs (D1 & D5): Place
each LED directly across the hand crank
(HC), without snapping it on. Make sure the
“+” side of the LED matches the “+” side of
the hand crank. Turn the crank handle
clockwise; the LED will light unless it is
damaged.