Elenco Green Projects - Manual (Page 9)

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 lamp, motor, electromagnet, 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.
Elenco ® Electronics 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 an LED, clock, or horn.
ALWAYS use the 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 disconnect your batteries immediately and check your wiring
if something appears to be getting hot.
ALWAYS check your wiring before turning on a circuit.
NEVER connect to an electrical outlet in your home in any way.
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
® Electronics: [email protected].
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 your Snap
Circuits ® set to the electrical outlets in your home in any way!
This is also a SHORT CIRCUIT.
-8-
!
NEVER
DO!
Warning to Snap Circuits ® owners: Use only parts
included in this kit to prevent damage. Our website
www.snapcircuits.net has approved circuits that you
can use.
Placing a 3-snap wire directly across a
power source is a SHORT CIRCUIT.
!
NEVER
DO!
!
NEVER
DO!
When the switch (S2) 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.