Elenco Circuit Maker Skill Builder 125 - Manual (Page 5)

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About Your Circuit Maker Skill Builder 125 Parts
(Part designs are subject to change without
notice).
BASE GRID
BATTERY HOLDER
The base grid is a platform for mounting parts
and wires. It functions like the printed circuit
boards used in most electronic products, or like
how the walls are used for mounting the
electrical wiring in your home.
SNAP WIRES
The batteries (B1) produce an electrical voltage
using a chemical reaction. This “voltage” can be
thought of as electrical pressure, pushing
electricity through a circuit just like a pump
pushes water through pipes. This voltage is
much lower and much safer than that used in
your house wiring. Using more batteries
increases the “pressure”, therefore, more
electricity flows.
Battery Holder (B1)
SLIDE & PRESS SWITCHES
The slide & press switches (S1 & S2) connect
(pressed or “ON”) or disconnect (not pressed or
“OFF”) the wires in a circuit. When ON they
have no effect on circuit performance. Switches
turn on electricity just like a faucet turns on
water from a pipe.
Slide & Press
Switches
(S1 & S2)
RESISTORS
The photoresistor (RP) is a light-sensitive
resistor, its value changes from nearly infinite in
total darkness to about 1,000W when a bright
light shines on it.
Photoresistor (RP)
LAMP
CAPACITOR
The 470mF capacitor (C5) can store electrical
pressure (voltage) for a period of time. This
storage ability allows it to block stable voltage
signals and pass changing ones. Capacitors are
used for filtering and delay circuits.
A light bulb, such as in the 2.5V lamp (L1),
contains a special thin high-resistance wire.
When a lot of electricity flows through, this wire
gets so hot it glows bright. Voltages above the
bulb’s rating can burn out the wire.
Lamp (L1)
Resistors “resist” the flow of electricity and are
used to control or limit the current in a circuit.
Circuit Maker Skill Builder 125 includes 100W
(R1) and 1KW (R2) resistors (“K” symbolizes
1,000, so R2 is really 1,000W). Materials like
metal have very low resistance (<1W), while
materials like paper, plastic, and air have near-
infinite resistance. Increasing circuit resistance
reduces the flow of electricity.
Resistors (R1 & R2)
Capacitor (C5)
The blue snap wires
are wires used to
connect components.
They are used to transport
electricity and do not affect
circuit performance. They come in
different lengths to allow orderly
arrangement of connections on the base grid.
CM-125_Manual_031514.qxp_CM-125_Manual_031514 4/2/14 2:51 PM Page 5