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Sunday, November 18, 2012

Elenco's PK-201 Experiment #4: Parallel Pipes

In general, this experiment shows that the more resistors that are in parallel in a circuit, the lower the total resistance; subsequently, more current will flow through the circuit. The formula and calculations are at the bottom showing the total resistance in each example.

3.2k ohm's

2.5k ohm's

770 ohm's
 


Friday, November 16, 2012

Elenco's PK-201 Experiment #3: Resistors In Series

Resistors in a series add together to increase the total resistance of a circuit. In addition, the larger resistor in that series will control the flow of current in said circuit.

3.3k and 100k ohm resistors = 103.3k ohms

3.3k and 10k ohm resistors = 13.3k ohms

3.3k and 1k ohm resistors = 4.3k ohms

Elenco's PK-201 Experiment #2: The Brightness Control

In this experiment the focus is understanding the Variable Resistor (0 to 50k ohm). A device that has three pins (terminals to run electrical current through) and a dial. The dial is for increasing or decreasing resistance. When the dial is set to a minimum, the resistance is 0 ohms. Turn the dial to maximum then the resistance is set to 50k ohms. In the pictures, the Variable Resistor is wired from the center pin to left pin, center pin to right pin, or left pin to right pin. This means, depending on how the Variable Resistor is wired, that the resistance is measured between two of the three pins (left to center, right to center, or left to right). In the picture left to right, the resistance is between the left and center post. By turning the Variable Resistor to the right, one would increase the resistance hence dimming the light. In the picture right to left, the resistance is from right to center. By turning the resistance to the left, one would increase the resistance hence dimming the light. In the last picture, the resistance is 50k ohms. This is because the wiring is from left post to right post causing a lose of the variable attribute.

High Resistance (Left to Right)

Low Resistance (Left to Right)

High Resistance (Right to Left)

Low Resistance (Right to Left)


Full Resistance (None Variable)
 
 

Elenco's PK-201 Experiment #1: The Light Bulb

This experiment teaches how changing resistance in a circuit can increase or decrease the current passing through it.

10k ohm resistor

1k ohm resistor

100k ohm resistor

Friday, November 9, 2012

Signal Generator by Velleman

The Signal Generator by Velleman can be used to produce four different signal waveforms: sine, triangle, square, and integrator. The signal frequency is fixed at 1kHz and output level is adjustable via a potentiometer (0 to 100mVrms). Signal waveforms are a variation of voltage over time. A Signal Generator is used for testing and repairing electronic devices. In addition, Signal Generators may be used in prototyping a circuit. More over, in computer architecture, a waveform that switches between two voltage levels represent two states of a value 0 and 1.   


Signal Generator

Sine

Square
 
Integrator


Triangular

 
 Further Study:


Thursday, November 8, 2012

Elenco's Sound Reversing Car

The Elenco Sound Reversing Car is a voice controlled robot car. The car is made up of transistors, capacitors, and resisters. In addition, a microphone and a few mechanical parts. The car will move forward until a sound is detected then the car moves backwards to the left for about two seconds before moving forward again. The two major components of the car are a microphone and a 15 degree pivoting front wheel, which position is dependent on the current direction of the car.


Sound Reversing Car


Front


Top




Finished Printed Circuit Board


Gear Box and PCB

Below is the movement of the front wheel.

 


Sunday, November 4, 2012

K7000 Signal Tracer / Injector Kit by Velleman

 

 The K7000 signal tracer is a sine wave generator. A signal tracer can be used to inject a signal into a circuit to find a fault or locate a defective component. Commonly used with an audio circuit, such as, amplifiers, radios, musical instrument pickups, and speakers.
 
 
K7000
 
 
Sine wave on the oscilloscope

 
 

General Information: