Elenco Electronics SCP-10 User Manual

If you have any problems, contact Elenco
®
Copyright © 2014 Elenco
®
Electronics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. ● 150 Carpenter Ave. ● Wheeling, IL 60090
(800) 533-2441 Fax: (847) 520-0085 ● e-mail: elenco@elenco.com ● Website: www.elenco.com or www.snapcircuits.net
W
ARNING: SHOCK HAZARD -
Never connect Snap Circuits
®
to the electrical outlets in your
h
ome in any way!
WARNING: Always check your wiring before
t
urning on a circuit. Never leave a circuit
unattended while the batteries are installed.
N
ever connect additional batteries or any other
power sources to your circuits.
Basic Electricity
Model SCP-10
753159
Snap Circuits
®
uses electronic
blocks that snap onto a base
grid to build different circuits.
These blocks have different
colors and numbers on them so
that you can easily identify
them. Build the circuit shown by
placing all the parts with a black
1 next to them on the clear base
grid first. Then, assemble parts
marked with a 2. Install three (3)
“AA” batteries (not included)
into the battery holder (B3).
Set the meter (M5) to the 1A
setting.
Turn on the slide switch (S1).
The lamp (L4) comes on, and
the meter measures how much
electric current is flowing.
Project 1 Lamp Current Project 2 Batteries in Series
Electricity is the movement of sub-atomic charged
particles through a material due to electrical pressure
across the material, such as from a battery. Power
sources, like batteries, push electricity through a circuit,
like a pump pushes water through pipes. Wires carry
electricity, like pipes carry water. Devices like lamps use
the energy in electricity to do things. Switches control the
flow of electricity like valves and faucets control water.
The electrical pressure exerted by a battery or other
power source is called voltage and is measured in volts
(V). The “+” and “–” signs on a battery indicate which
direction it will “pump” electricity.
The electric current is a measure of how fast electricity
is flowing in a wire, just as the water current describes
how fast water is flowing in a pipe. It is expressed in
amperes (A) or milliamps (mA = 1/1,000 of an ampere).
The “power” of electricity is a measure of how fast energy
is moving through a wire. It is a combination of the voltage
and current (Power = Voltage x Current). It is expressed in
watts (W).
The resistance of a component or circuit represents how
much it resists the electrical pressure (voltage) and limits the
flow of electric current. The relationship is Voltage = Current
x Resistance. When resistance increases, less current flows.
Resistance is measured in ohms (W).
If desired, use the voltage measured here (with 3 batteries) and the
current measured in project 1 to calculate the resistance and power of
the lamp:
Resistance equals Voltage divided by Current, and should be about 15
ohms. Power equals Voltage times Current, and should be about 1 Watt.
Your results may be different, because M5 is a simple meter with low
accuracy, and your battery voltage can vary.
1A
5V
Set the meter (M5) to the 5V setting, and turn on the slide
switch (S1). The lamp (L4) comes on, and the meter measures
the voltage from the 3 batteries.
Part B: Remove the left battery from the holder (B3), then snap
one side of the red jumper jumper on as shown, and touch
metal on the other end to the left spring in the battery holder.
Read the voltage on the meter, measuring 2 batteries, and
notice how the lamp is dimmer.
Part C: Now also remove the center battery from the holder and
touch metal on the end of the red jumper wire to the center
spring in the holder. Read the voltage on the meter, measuring
1 battery, and notice how the lamp is dimmer.
Placement
L
evel Numbers
Quiz answers:
1. B 2. B 3. C 4. A 5. B
Batteries are like electrical pressure, pushing electricity
through a circuit. Adding more batteries increases the
flow of electricity, making the lamp brighter.
Part B:
Part C:
SCP-10_021714.qxp_SCP-10_Instructions 3/7/14 2:35 PM Page 1

Elenco Electronics SCP-10 Specifications

General

Manufacturer	Elenco Electronics
Model	SCP-10
Category	Microcontrollers
Operating Voltage	5V
Clock Speed	16 MHz
Analog Input Pins	6
PWM Outputs	6
Communication	UART, SPI, I2C
Program Memory	32 KB
RAM	2 KB
EEPROM	1 KB
Digital I/O Pins	14

Summary

Project 1 Lamp Current

Fundamentals of Electricity

Explains voltage, current, power, and resistance in electrical circuits.

Circuit Setup and Meter Configuration

Details building the circuit, installing batteries, and setting the meter.

Observing Lamp Current Flow

Explains turning on the switch to light the lamp and measure current.

Project 2 Batteries in Series

Voltage Measurement with Two Batteries

Demonstrates measuring voltage after removing one battery.

Voltage Measurement with One Battery

Shows measuring voltage with only one battery installed.

Battery Configuration and Brightness

Explains how battery configuration affects electrical flow and lamp brightness.

Project 3 Triple Voltage Divider

Voltage Measurement Points A-E

Measures voltage at specific points in the circuit.

Impact of Press Switch on Voltage

Analyzes voltage changes when using the press switch.

Kirchhoff's Voltage Law Explained

Details Kirchhoff's Voltage Law for circuit analysis.

Project 4 Heavy Load

Measuring Battery Voltage

Sets meter and observes battery voltage with lamps off.

Impact of Load on Voltage

Observes voltage drop when lamps are activated.

Testing Battery Condition

Compares voltage changes with new vs. old batteries.

Project 5 Heavy Flow

Circuit Setup and Meter Setting

Modifies circuit and sets meter to measure current.

Parallel Lamp Configuration

Explains current division among parallel lamps.

Impact of Lamp Removal

Observes current changes when removing lamps.

Battery Condition and Current

Tests circuit with new vs. old batteries.

Project 6 Loop

Series Circuit Operation

Explains series connection, current flow, and battery voltage division.

Circuit Rearrangement Effects

Tests effects of rearranging components in a series circuit.

Switch Replacement for Lamp

Replaces a lamp with a press switch and observes current.

Project 7 Find Your Own Parts

Material Conductivity Testing

Tests various materials for conductivity using meter and lamp.

Low Current Measurement

Switches meter to mA setting for very small currents.

Finger Conductivity Test

Tests finger conductivity, including with wet fingers.

Project 8 Fast Bright, Slow Dim

Voltage Measurement with Press Switch

Measures voltage across two lamps with a press switch.

Effect of Removing Lamp B

Tests circuit with lamp B removed, observing brightness and voltage.

Effect of Replacing Lamp C

Replaces lamp C with a wire, observing full battery voltage.

Incandescent Bulb Filament Properties

Explains bulb filament resistance changes with temperature.

Project 9 Current Divider

Parallel Circuit Current Measurement

Measures current from batteries and through parallel branches.

Kirchhoff's Current Law

Explains Kirchhoff's Current Law for circuit analysis.

Measuring Branch Current A

Measures current through circuit branch A.

Measuring Branch Current B

Measures current through circuit branch B.