Data Sheet

-10-
A. Snap Circuits
®
uses electronic blocks that snap onto a clear
plastic grid to build different circuits. These blocks have different
colors and numbers on them so you can easily identify them.
Build the circuit shown by placing all the parts with a black 1 next
to them on the board first. Then, assemble parts marked with a
2. Install a 9V battery into the 9V battery holder, plug it into the
connector on the Snapino
TM
module (U31), and turn on the switch
on the battery holder. A small green light (usually labeled “ON”)
on the Snapino
TM
module should be on, indicating that it has
power. Alternately you may power the circuit using the USB cable
instead of the 9V battery.
Push the press switch (S2), and the red LED (D1) lights.
B. Use the preceding circuit but
replace the 3-snap wire with the
red/yellow LED (D10, in either
orientation). The red LED is a
little dimmer now.
C. Use the preceding circuit but
replace the red/yellow LED
(D10) with the 10kW resistor
(R4). The red LED (D1) is much
dimmer now.
D. Use the preceding circuit but
replace the 10kW resistor (R4)
with the phototransistor (Q4, “+”
towards S2). Vary the brightness
of light on the phototransistor to
change the red LED brightness.
E. Replace the red LED (D1)
with the green LED (D2) in any
of the preceding four circuits.
Educational Note: The voltage
from the Snapino
TM
module
(U31) is now split between the
two LEDs, making the red one
dimmer.
Educational Note: The green
LED needs a little more voltage
to turn on than the red LED, so
it will be a little dimmer.
Educational Note: The
resistance of the photo-
transistor varies depending on
how much light is shining on it.
Educational Note: Resistors
“resist” the flow of electricity, so
the LED is much dimmer now.
Educational Note:
When you press the press switch, electricity flows from the
Snapino
TM
module, through the switch and back to the Snapino
TM
module through the red LED. If the switch is not pressed, the
flow of electricity is blocked, and the red LED won’t light.
For this and the next few circuits, the Snapino
TM
module is used
only to provide power to the rest of the circuit. Snapino
TM
is
powered using a 9V battery or through the USB, and produces
a 5V output to operate other Snap Circuits
®
components.
NOTE: This circuit (and many others in this book) have an LED
being used without a resistor or other component to limit the
electric current through it. Normally this could damage an LED,
but your Snap Circuits
®
LEDs include internal protection resistors
and will not be damaged. Be careful if you later use other
electrical sets with unprotected LEDs.
SCSNAPINO_Manual_112816.qxp 12/30/16 2:00 PM Page 11