Hi everyone,
I am hoping that you might be able to help my 10-yr old complete a science project that she has been diligently working on over Christmas break. She decided to try to build a flashing LED sign like the one shown here: http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2008/10/ultimate_led_fan_sign_pdf.html
BACKGROUND:
She has enjoyed electronics summer camps the past couple of years where she learned some basic circuitry and how to solder. But we both agreed that the schematic for the Ultimate Fan Sign was too ambitious for us to complete from scratch. I really wanted this to be "her" project so I purchased a kit that I thought she could assemble with minimal adult intervention and that would accomplish a similar outcome. She just completed assembly and it looks great. Even though the instructions were not written for a 10-yr old, I am 98% sure that it was properly assembled and that her solder joints are effective. She understands how the circuit/components work and is so excited by what she has 'almost' accomplished.
PROBLEM:
I have no background in electronics and the instructions don't explain how exactly to calculate the amount of power that the circuit needs NOR do they explain how to connect power to the 3-input terminal (especially if I need to use 3x9Vs to power 100 LEDs). I don't know what hole is positive, ground (I think is the middle, but what do I connect that to?), negative, etc. We hope that once we get some step-by-step guidance on how to connect the power, we will be up and running. Of course, it is possible that we have bigger issues...but for now we just want to get power to the circuit and see where we are at.
HELP NEEDED:
1) we could use some detailed instructions on where/how/how much to connect the power.
I am attaching the schematic and pictures of both the top/bottom of the circuit that my daughter assembled and soldered.
Thanks for your help!
Stacy (mom to Katie, future "Juice" major)
I am hoping that you might be able to help my 10-yr old complete a science project that she has been diligently working on over Christmas break. She decided to try to build a flashing LED sign like the one shown here: http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2008/10/ultimate_led_fan_sign_pdf.html
BACKGROUND:
She has enjoyed electronics summer camps the past couple of years where she learned some basic circuitry and how to solder. But we both agreed that the schematic for the Ultimate Fan Sign was too ambitious for us to complete from scratch. I really wanted this to be "her" project so I purchased a kit that I thought she could assemble with minimal adult intervention and that would accomplish a similar outcome. She just completed assembly and it looks great. Even though the instructions were not written for a 10-yr old, I am 98% sure that it was properly assembled and that her solder joints are effective. She understands how the circuit/components work and is so excited by what she has 'almost' accomplished.
PROBLEM:
I have no background in electronics and the instructions don't explain how exactly to calculate the amount of power that the circuit needs NOR do they explain how to connect power to the 3-input terminal (especially if I need to use 3x9Vs to power 100 LEDs). I don't know what hole is positive, ground (I think is the middle, but what do I connect that to?), negative, etc. We hope that once we get some step-by-step guidance on how to connect the power, we will be up and running. Of course, it is possible that we have bigger issues...but for now we just want to get power to the circuit and see where we are at.
HELP NEEDED:
1) we could use some detailed instructions on where/how/how much to connect the power.
I am attaching the schematic and pictures of both the top/bottom of the circuit that my daughter assembled and soldered.
Thanks for your help!
Stacy (mom to Katie, future "Juice" major)
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