4M Green Science Potato Clock

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CHOCKING HAZARD

- Small parts.

Not for Children under 3 years.

WARNING:

A. SAFETY MESSAGES

To Parents: Read all instructions before providing

guidance to your children.

1. Please read through these instructions before you start.

2. Adult supervision and assistance are required at all times.

3. Intended for children of ages 8 and up.

4. This kit and its ﬁnished product contain small parts which may cause choking if misused. Keep away from

children under 3 years old.

5. Metal parts may have sharp edges. Adult assistance is required when assembling these parts.

6. Do not connect any of the parts provided to any AC wall socket or any batteries. This may cause electric shock or

a short circuit.

7. The LCD watch may temporary lose its function at electrostatic discharge environment, but it resumes its normal

function by resetting the device.

B. CONTENTS

H. FuN FACTS

Put some soft drink into the pots provided. Insert the

copper and zinc plates into the pots, as shown in the

diagram, taking care that the metal plates do not touch

each other. The clock should now start to work. You may

experiment with different liquid like salt water, fruit

juices; or fruit like lemon, orange, tomato etc. The fun

is unlimited.

G. FuRTHER EXPERIMENTS

Digital clock with wires

Pots

Transparent tapes

Copper and zinc strips

Connecting Wire

• The copper and zinc strips are called electrodes, and the potato is called an electrolyte.

• The potato battery works in the same way as the batteries used in electrical and electronic devices, such as torches,

radios and MP3 players. These batteries all contain different chemicals that produce electricity.

• Fruit and vegetables work well too. They contain plenty of particles that allow current to ow between the metal

strips.

• Battery types are named after the chemicals used inside them. Common types are zinc-carbon, nickel metal hydride

(NiMH), nickel cadmium (Ni-Cad).

• The chemicals in a battery are used up as the battery provides electricity. When no chemicals are left, the battery

is dead.

• Some batteries can be recharged when they are dead. Feeding electricity into a rechargeable battery reverses the

chemical changes inside the battery that happen when it produces electricity.

• The rst battery was made by Italian scientist Alessandro Volta (1745-1827). He built a pile of metal discs with

card soaked in salty water between them. It produced a small electric current. The battery is now known as a Voltaic

pile.

• A fuel cell is a special type of battery. It produces electricity by the reaction between two chemicals. For example,

a hydrogen fuel cell produces electricity from the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, which produces water. The

chemicals are constantly fed into the cell, so it never runs out.

• A non-rechargeable battery can’t be recharged. Never try!

• Batteries contain some dangerous chemicals. Never open them up or cut them open, and always try to dispose of

them properly at a recycling centre.

• Copper is a very good conductor of electricity. It is used to make wires and cables.

• Zinc is used to galvanise steel objects such as garden tools and screws. The objects are coated with zinc, which

protects the steel from rusting.

I. QUESTION AND COMMENTS

We treasure you as a customer and your satisfaction with this product is important to us. In case you have any

comments or questions, or you ﬁnd any parts of this kit missing or defective, please do not hesitate to contact

our distributor in your country, whose address is printed on the package. You are also welcome to contact our

marketing support team at Email: infodesk@4M-IND.com, Fax (852) 25911566, Tel (852) 28936241, Web site:

WWW.4M-IND.COM

41-03275/1

Need help?

Do you have a question about the 4M Green Science Potato Clock and is the answer not in the manual?

Summary

A. Safety Messages

Read Instructions Before Use

Read all instructions before starting the experiment or activity.

Adult Supervision Required

Adult supervision and assistance are necessary at all times during the activity.

Age Recommendation

This kit and its finished product are intended for children aged 8 and up.

Choking Hazard Warning

Kit contains small parts that pose a choking hazard; keep away from children under 3.

Sharp Edges Warning

Metal parts may have sharp edges; adult assistance is required during assembly.

Electrical Safety

Do not connect parts to AC sockets or batteries to avoid electric shock/short circuit.

Electrostatic Discharge

LCD may temporarily lose function due to static discharge; reset to resume.

C. Making the Potato Clock

Assemble Connection Pair

Connect copper and zinc plates with a wire to form a connection pair.

Connect Clock Wires

Connect the LCD clock's black wire to zinc and red wire to copper plate.

Insert Plates into Potatoes

Insert metal plates into potatoes, ensuring they do not touch each other.

D. Setting the Clock

Clock Setting Procedure

Step-by-step guide to setting the clock's time, date, and minute.

Viewing Clock Information

Learn how to view the current time, date, and seconds on the display.

E. Trouble Shooting

Weak Display Troubleshooting

Steps to resolve a weak display, including checking connections and plates.

Rust Removal

Use sandpaper to remove rust from metal plates to improve conductivity.

Plate Proximity Adjustment

Adjust metal plate distance to improve conduction, ensuring they don't touch.

Connection & Polarity Check

Verify all connection points and correct polarity for proper function.

Short Circuit Prevention

Check for touching metal plates or wires that can cause short circuits.

Summary

A. Safety Messages

Read Instructions Before Use

Read all instructions before starting the experiment or activity.

Adult Supervision Required

Adult supervision and assistance are necessary at all times during the activity.

Age Recommendation

This kit and its finished product are intended for children aged 8 and up.

Choking Hazard Warning

Kit contains small parts that pose a choking hazard; keep away from children under 3.

Sharp Edges Warning

Metal parts may have sharp edges; adult assistance is required during assembly.

Electrical Safety

Do not connect parts to AC sockets or batteries to avoid electric shock/short circuit.

Electrostatic Discharge

LCD may temporarily lose function due to static discharge; reset to resume.

C. Making the Potato Clock

Assemble Connection Pair

Connect copper and zinc plates with a wire to form a connection pair.

Connect Clock Wires

Connect the LCD clock's black wire to zinc and red wire to copper plate.

Insert Plates into Potatoes

Insert metal plates into potatoes, ensuring they do not touch each other.

D. Setting the Clock

Clock Setting Procedure

Step-by-step guide to setting the clock's time, date, and minute.

Viewing Clock Information

Learn how to view the current time, date, and seconds on the display.

E. Trouble Shooting

Weak Display Troubleshooting

Steps to resolve a weak display, including checking connections and plates.

Rust Removal

Use sandpaper to remove rust from metal plates to improve conductivity.

Plate Proximity Adjustment

Adjust metal plate distance to improve conduction, ensuring they don't touch.

Connection & Polarity Check

Verify all connection points and correct polarity for proper function.

Short Circuit Prevention

Check for touching metal plates or wires that can cause short circuits.

This document describes the "Green Science Potato Clock," a kit designed to demonstrate how to generate electricity using potatoes or other natural materials. It functions as a digital clock powered by an electrochemical cell created from metal strips and potatoes.

Function Description

The Potato Clock operates as a digital timepiece, displaying the current time, date, and seconds. Its primary function is to illustrate the principles of electrochemistry by using common household items to generate enough electricity to power a low-voltage device. The clock itself is a digital LCD display with wires for connection. The power source is created by inserting copper and zinc strips (electrodes) into potatoes (electrolytes), forming a simple battery. Two potatoes are typically required to generate sufficient voltage to run the clock. The chemical reaction between the metals and the potato's internal particles produces an electric current, which then flows through the connecting wires to power the clock.

Usage Features

Assembly and Setup:

Connection Pair Assembly: Begin by connecting a copper and a zinc plate with a connection wire. Thread the wire's exposed metallic end through the hole on the plate and twist it gently to secure. Cover this connection with adhesive tape for stability.
Clock Wiring: Connect the black wire (negative terminal) from the LCD clock to one of the zinc plates. Then, connect the red wire (positive terminal) from the LCD clock to a piece of copper plate.
Potato Insertion: Insert the assembled copper and zinc plates into the potatoes as shown in the diagram, ensuring that the metal plates do not touch each other within the potato. Once properly inserted, the clock should begin to work.

Clock Operation:

Initial Display: When the metal plates are first inserted, the LED screen will light up and display "12:00." Press button A once to start the clock, and the two dots in the middle will begin flashing.
Setting the Time:
- Press button B twice to enter the set month mode. Use button A to adjust to the correct month. Press B to confirm.
- The display will switch to the set day mode. Use button A to adjust the day. Press B to confirm.
- The display will switch to the set hour mode. Use button A to adjust the hour. Press B to confirm.
- The display will switch to the set minute mode. Use button A to adjust the minute. Press B to confirm.
- After confirming the minute, press A once to display the set time.
Viewing Date and Seconds:
- To view the date, press button A once. The clock display will show the date for 2 seconds before resuming the current time.
- To view the seconds, press button A twice. Press A again to return to the current time display.

Experimentation: The kit encourages further experimentation beyond potatoes. Users can try different liquids like salt water, fruit juices (lemon, orange, tomato), or other fruits and vegetables to power the clock. This allows for exploration of various electrolytes and their effectiveness in generating electricity.

Maintenance Features

Troubleshooting Weak Display: If the potato clock produces a weak display, several steps can be taken:

Allow Time: Sometimes the signal is weak initially but strengthens after a short while.
Check for Rust/Oxidation: Examine the metal plates for rust. If present, use sandpaper to remove any rust, as this can impede electrical conduction.
Adjust Plate Distance: Try placing the metal plates closer together within the potato, ensuring they do not touch each other. Shorter distances can improve conduction.
Verify Connections and Polarity: Ensure all connection points are correctly and firmly placed. Double-check that the negative (black wires) and positive (red wires) terminals are connected properly to their respective plates.
Prevent Short Circuits: Confirm that the metal plates or wires are not touching each other, as this will cause a short circuit and prevent the clock from working.

General Care and Safety:

Adult Supervision: Adult supervision and assistance are required at all times, especially during assembly and experimentation.
Small Parts: The kit contains small parts that may pose a choking hazard. Keep away from children under 3 years old.
Sharp Edges: Metal parts may have sharp edges; adult assistance is needed during assembly.
Electrical Safety: Never connect any parts of the kit to an AC wall socket or any other batteries, as this can cause electric shock or a short circuit.
Electrostatic Discharge: The LCD watch may temporarily lose function in an electrostatic discharge environment but will resume normal function by resetting the device.
Battery Disposal: While the potato clock itself doesn't use traditional batteries, the manual highlights that batteries contain dangerous chemicals and should never be opened or cut. They should always be disposed of properly at a recycling center.
Material Properties: The manual notes that copper is a good conductor of electricity and is used for wires and cables, while zinc is used to galvanize steel objects to protect them from rusting. These facts provide context for the materials used in the kit.