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@The NYC Toy fair 2008 I met with Elenco, they make a series of kits called “Snap circuits” we’ve featured here on MAKE before. Elenco was founded more than 30 years ago by 2 engineers, they make/made test equipment and now they have learning kits for young folks who want to learn about electronics (no soldering required).
More:
12 thoughts on “Elenco’s electronic snap circuits”
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I have seen these Kits at Radio Shack and been temped to buy them to teach myself a bit more about electronics. The packaging doesn’t really reveal much about the nature of the activity.
I am curious if they provide good explanations of electronics principles with each project or is it more along the lines of “put the blue piece here, the red piece here, etc.)?
Regards,
Dug North
@dug – you can view the manuals here.
http://manuals.elenco.com/
My son has been frustrated with them – they don’t go into enough depth about the why for him, more of the snap-A-to-B type of activity.
We got one of these sets for our son a couple of years ago. IMO, it’s a good idea that wasn’t implemented particularly well. Some of the snaps separated from the circuit boards with repeated use, and some snaps are impossible to snap onto other stuff. Also, the quality of some of the materials is suspect — the light bulb holder came apart, and there was a little flying-disk-helicopter-blade-thingy that broke the first time we used it.
These have been great for working with my first-grade son. The diagrams are clear and easy to follow and the components are easy for his young hands to manipulate. Almost all of the circuits output sound or light, so there’s tangible feedback and at 7 he’s been able to do every project in the 100 & 300 manuals by himself.
I don’t think they’re sophisticated enough for a teen or adult hobbyist, though.
thease are great i love mine there great fun and easy to get into