Experiments: Example Projects

These projects are examples of how Locktronics can be used for introducing, expanding on, or reinforcing a variety of concepts when teaching electricity and electronics. In addition, the functioning circuits produced by students boost their interest and help their understanding.

All prices are in pounds sterling and are exclusive of VAT.

The Burglar Alarm Experiment

For this project you will need the following Locktronics equipment:

• Re-caps latching and potential dividers.
• Students build and test a burglar alarm circuit.
• They look at the function of the latching and test its re-set.
• They then investigate altering the potential divider section to change the function (e.g. use of an LDR or reed switch, swapping the components over).

The Dusk Detector Experiment

For this project you will need the following Locktronics equipment:

• Covers input devices and how their resistances changes.
• Includes potential dividers, how differing a ratio of resistances changes the sharing of the voltage.
• Shows that a small base current is needed to switch on a transistor, and that a protective resistor is needed on the base.
• Students assemble the dusk detector and test it in different light levels, and consider how it could be improved.

Temperature Dependent Switch

For this project you will need the following Locktronics equipment:

• Reviews input and output transducers and potential dividers.
• Students build and test the first circuit.
• They then consider the effect of swapping the two resistors in a potential divider.
• Students then build a second "reverse" circuit.
• To finish, students build a third circuit, with a variable resistor controlling the switching temperature.

A Time Delay Circuit

For this project you will need the following Locktronics equipment:

• Reviews latching and potential dividers.
• Students build and test a circuit, and discuss the function of the latching and test its re-set
• Students then try altering the potential divider section to change the function (e.g. use of an LDR or reed switch, swapping the components over).

A Tone Generator

For this project you will need the following Locktronics equipment:

• Reviews capacitor charging and the NOT gate.
• Students build and test a circuit.
• They then consider the function of the circuit, and try to explain how varying the resistance causes the tone to change.