Simple Circuit Activities
- One quick and useful way to build simple circuits is to buy educational electronics kits. They are very inexpensive, typically include every part except the battery and many times include data sheets on the components and schematics for the project you are to build. Detailed explanations on how the circuit works are usually present as well.
The kits may be snap-ons or may require some soldering. Great bargains for electronics kits can be found on eBay or Amazon.
To make a simple circuit from scratch, limit the components to elements such as resistors and capacitors that are combined with a load. The load could be a mini-lamp, a low-voltage hobby motor, a buzzer or an LED with an appropriate current-limiting resistor. You should have on hand a few basic materials that you will use in nearly every circuit you make. This material will constitute your electronics kit. - To make your own kit, begin by purchasing a breadboard, some jumper wires and some alligator clips. For power sources, purchase at least one 9-volt and a few C and AA batteries. Depending on your breadboard, you may need some battery holders as well.
You can buy a basic component kit that includes about 50 standard parts such as capacitors or resistors, or you can make your own. Do this by purchasing tiny bags of mixed resistors and capacitors. Add other parts such as potentiometers, diodes, transistors, inductors and switches as needed.
To round your kit off, buy a low-end multimeter. Multimeters are essential for testing individual components and circuits.
Once you have your kit constructed, you can begin by experimenting with a few circuits. - Simple circuit
One simple circuit involves a low-voltage mini-lamp.
Connect the positive end of the battery to the breadboard, and attach the mini-lamp to the circuit board to this side. Attach the negative side of the battery to the other side of the mini-lamp. The mini-lamp should light up. - Repeat the above experiment, but substitute a low-voltage hobby motor in place of the min-lamp. The motor will spin when connected properly. Be sure to follow the directions on the manufacturer's package and use the proper voltage. For example, if the motor needs 3 volts to operate, one AA battery will not be enough.
- Always exercise caution when building electrical circuits to avoid burning yourself or damaging your equipment. Never order parts online unless the checkout page is on a secure server.
