Kit Component List
This is what you should find in your BEAM Photovore Photopopper kit:
1 - Printed Circuit Board (the PCB). This will be the body and brains of your Photopopper, so DON'T LOSE IT!
2 - 2.2 kOhm resistors (band colours red, red, red, gold). These tune the Solarengines for optimal performance.
2 - 680 kOhm resistors (band colours blue, grey, yellow, gold). These set the degree of influence the touch-sensors have
over the Solarengines.
2 - 2N3906 PNP Transistors (one for each Solarengine).
2 - 2N3904 PNP Transistors (one for each Solarengine).
2 - 1381 Triggers (one for each Solarengine). These are what actually measure the stored power and tell the Solarengine
when to fire.
2 - 0.22µF (µF - microfarad) capacitors. These work with the triggers and optics to sense which direction is the brightest.
2 - Photodiode sensor optics. These are essentially the “eyes” of the Photopopper.
1 - 100 kOhm trimmer potentiometer. This is usually called a “trim pot”, and is used here to tune the Photopopper optics
so it knows what light “straight ahead” looks like.
1 - 4700µF 6.3 volt capacitor. This is where the Solarengine stores the power from the solarcell until the Solarengine fires.
3" - Fine twisted pair of wire to be attached to the solarcell.
2" - Copper wire for structural support
2 - Augat sockets. These look like pins with a little socket on the end. These will be turned into touch-sensors for the
Photopopper.
2 - Sensor springs. These will be used with the Augat sockets to be the touch-sensors.
2"- 1/16" Heat-shrink tubing. This will be used in the construction of the touch-sensors and also be used for the wheels for
your Photopopper
2 - High-efficiency low-voltage, high-speed coreless motors.
2 - Fuse-clips.
1 - Solarcell. Well, it a solar-powered robot.
1 - Instruction guide. If you don't have this, stop right now and find it. (That's a joke...)
You will require:
- Basic electronics and soldering skills, as this is not a beginner's kit
- A soldering iron and solder
- A multimeter (optional - for testing & debugging purposes)
- Safety glasses (use whenever there's snipping going on)
- Matches or a lighter
- A razor or sharp knife
- A small flat-head screwdriver
- Glue (hot glue, epoxy, superglue - whatever you have handy)
- A pair of needle-nose pliers
- Wire cutters/strippers
- A tiny bit of a sense of humour. We will not be held responsible for any joke, good or bad. So take that.
is
One thing we have to stress - read the
before starting construction, as this will
decrease the amount of potential errors. And always use the appropriate safety equipment, like safety
glasses and a proper soldering-iron holder.
entire manual
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