We’ll learn what all of the components are and use the breadboard to light some LEDs.
Materials:
2 coin cell batteries or 4 AA or AAA batteries and a battery holder
400 hole solderless breadboard
2 Alligator to male jumper wires
2 male to male jumper wires
Some LEDs in different colors and sizes
IMPORTANT: 5mm ones only. 6volts will blow out the 3mm ones. Or use single coin cell or 2 AAs. I’ll be adding that note to the video in a week or so
Lesson Two – Resistors
We’ll find out what resistors do and also make some sound.
Materials
2 coin cell batteries or 4 AA or AAA batteries and a battery holder
400 hole solderless breadboard
2 Alligator to male jumper wires
2 male to male jumper wires
Some LEDs in different colors and sizes
Some resistors ranging from 100ohm to 2.2k ohm
A buzzer with built in driver circuit
Lesson Three – 555 Timer
We’ll use a 555 timer to make our lights blink and use a speaker without a driver circuit.
Materials
2 coin cell batteries or 4 AA or AAA batteries and a battery holder
400 hole solderless breadboard
555 Timer
6 male to male jumper wires
One LED
Speaker[s] (for part 2)
One piezo speaker with an overridable driver circuit. — OR —
One piezo speaker with built in driver circuit.
One piezo speaker without built in driver circuit.
Resistors
2x 2.2 kΩ
470 Ω
220 Ω
2x 100 Ω
Capacitors
2200 μF
220 μF
33 μF
0.1 μF
555 Timer – Part 1 – LEDs
Ideas for Expansion
Switch out the resistors and capacitors.
Use the 2200μF capacitor to see how two resistors work in combination.
Add a stopwatch into the mix to time how long the LED stays on and off.
How fast can you make the light blink? How slow?
How “lopsided” can you make it in each direction? Can you get it to blink on real quick before shutting off for a longer time?
555 Timer – Part 2 – Sound
The speakers I found are circuit driven but can be overridden by an AC current. That changes the way they behave a bit. This video is still accurate, but I’ll probably redo it in the next month with the updated speakers.
Ideas for Expansion
Switch out the resistors and capacitors.
How high can you make the sound? How low?
Does making the resistors “lopsided” change the sound?
A photo resistor can be used to change the pace of the 555 timer and make your speaker change its frequency.
Materials
Everything for your 555 timer
Photo resistor
Ideas for Expansion
Switch out the resistors and capacitors.
Use the 2200μF capacitor and and LED to see how the photo resistor works differently based on which resistor you replace and which resistors you pair it with.
Lesson Five – Ideas for your Puppet
Your puppet can run on a coin cell battery or you can plug it into your breadboard to make it blink.
Materials
1 coin cell battery
2 3mm LEDs
Wooden puppet
Popsicle stick
12″ copper tape Plus
4 AA or AAA batteries and a battery holder
400 hole solderless breadboard
1 male to male jumper wires
2 alligator clip to male jumper wire
220 Ω resistors
Ideas for Expansion
Use your 555 Timer to make the bot blink!
Add a resistor to the popsicle stick to save the LEDs from too much battery power.
Swap the LEDs with different colors from your starter pack.