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

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:

AC Theory

Electrical Signal Types

Electrical Waveforms

What is a Signal Generator



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.

 



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:

Signal Tracer

DIY 062 Oscilloscope by JYE Tech

 

I enjoyed assembling the Do It Yourself 062 Oscilloscope kit by jyetech. The surface mount components came pre-soldered. I soldered the through-hole components. I found, I had to use magnification to solder the through-hole components. The probe was easy to assemble. I had never assembled a probe before, and I learned that the plug's core is always positive on the connector end. Later, I upgraded to a BNC probe kit. I had to install a BNC connector and remove the old installed connector. Oscilloscopes are used in science, engineering, medicine, and telecommunication. The oscilloscope is a tool used to measure voltage and frequency of an electrical signal.

 

 

Assembled
 

Startup
 




Home made probe test



BNC connector
 

BNC probe test

 

062 Digital Storage Oscilloscope DIY Kit
JYE Tech Products

 

 

IR Light Barrier by Velleman

This is the Velleman IR Light Barrier. A IR transmitter and IR receiver. The IR receiver detects the absents of IR light, buzzing to give notice. Watch the video staring my father.



IR Transmitter and Receiver
 

Infrared Light is visible through a digital camera
 

 

Further Study:

Infrared Light Information

Infrared Light Signals

Turning Frog by Elenco

The Turning Frog kit was not hard to assemble. The Turning Frog is controlled with sound. Some of the components making up the robot include a microphone attached to a variable resistor for controlling sound sensitivity, and two integrated circuit: 4069 hex inverter and 4017 counter. The mechanical parts are small but come together on a wood chassis attached to two gear boxes. When the microphone detects sound, the robot executes four moves in the following pattern: forward, stop, left turn, stop, right turn, stop. I had some help from Marc of Elenco email customer service. I lost two very small parts. Marc had them to me in a few days. In closing, I think the Turning Frog is just as complex as the last three Robots, it was simpler, but just as fun. Watch the video staring: Turning frog and voice by my father. I had fun recording this with him.