SNAP CIRCUITS BRIC: STRUCTURES, Instruction Manual

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Battery Holder (B3)
The batteries (B3) 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.
The blue 3-snap wires and jumper wires (blue &
orange) are wires used to connect components.
They are used to transport electricity and do not
affect circuit performance. The 3-snap wires
make rigid connections, while the jumper wires
make flexible connections.
Wires transport electricity just like pipes are
used to transport water. The colorful plastic
coating protects them and prevents electricity
from getting in or out.
The slide switch (S1) connects (“ON”) or
disconnects (“OFF”) the wires in a circuit. When
ON it has no effect on circuit performance.
Switches turn on electricity just like a faucet
turns on water from a pipe.
The color, blue, blink red, and color2 LEDs
(D8, D9, D11 & D12) are light emitting diodes,
and may be thought of as a special one-way
light bulbs. In the “forward” direction, (indicated
by the “arrow” in the symbol) electricity flows
if the voltage exceeds a turn-on threshold
brightness then increases. The blink red LED
contains a microcircuit that turns it on and off.
The color and color2 LEDs contain red, green,
and blue LEDs, with a micro-circuit controlling
them. A high current will burn out an LED, so the
current must be limited by other components
in the circuit (Snap Circuits
®
LEDs have internal
resistors added, to protect them in case you
make wiring mistakes). LEDs block electricity in
the “reverse” direction.
A light bulb, such as in the 4.5V lamp (L4),
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.
The melody IC (U32) contains a specialized
sound-generation integrated circuit (IC), a small
speaker, and a few supporting components.
The IC has a recording of the melody, which it
makes into an electrical signal for the speaker.
The speaker converts the signal into mechanical
vibrations. The vibrations create variations
in air pressure, which travel across the room.
You “hear” sound when your ears feel these air
pressure variations.
SNAP WIRES & JUMPER WIRES BATTERY HOLDER
SLIDE SWITCH
LEDs
SOUND MODULE
LAMP
(Part designs are subject to change without notice).
About Your Snap Circuits
®
Parts
4