Everything you need to know about your Tinderbox Makerbox Jingle Baubells kit!
Before getting started
Please note that the materials in your kit may differ slightly from the images shown, however they all work in the same way.
Here are the extra materials you’ll need:
- Glue
- A pair of scissors
- Bluetack
Here’s what your kit comes with:
- Battery pack – to power your circuit
- CR2032 3V lithium coin cell battery – to power your circuit
- 2mm 3V DC vibration motor
- Plastic bauble (to hold everything together)
- Tiny bells (to make noise)
- Tissue paper (for decorating)
- Pipe cleaner (for decorating)
- Googly eyes (for decorating)
For ages 8 years +
WARNINGS – kit contains:
CHOKING HAZARDS – Small, detachable and sharp parts.
COIN CELL BATTERY – Keep out of reach of young children. Swallowing may lead to serious injury or death.
UNLOCKABLE COIN CELL HOLDER – Be aware that battery is easy to insert and remove.
Not suitable for children under 3 years.
Keep parts clean and dry – do not get wet.
Use with adult supervision only.
Here’s what you’ll need to do before starting the kit:
- Test the battery, battery pack and motor.
Make sure the battery pack is switched off.
Insert the 3V coin cell battery into the battery pack (positive (+) side up).Connect the motor to the battery pack like so:
– connect the red wire of the vibration motor to the positive (+) terminal on the battery pack
– connect the blue or black wire of the vibration motor to the negative (-) terminal on the battery packTurn the battery pack switch on. If it’s working correctly, the vibration motor will turn on and start to shake!
If nothing happens, check the connections between the battery pack and the motor, or try changing the battery, or contact admin@tinderboxcollective.org if you have any questions or problems.
When you’re done testing, remember to switch off the battery pack to preserve the battery life.
You’re good to go!
Instructions
Time to Make: 1-2 hours
Electronics Basics
What is electricity?
A type of energy or power fueled by the transfer of electrons from positive and negative points within a conductor.
Electricity is measured in power units called Watts (W).
Current is the rate at which an electric charge flows. Imagine the charged electrons as a river – current is how quickly the river is flowing.
Current is measured in Amperes/Amps (A).
Voltage is what makes electric charges move – it is the ‘push’ or pressure from the circuit’s power source that moves charged electrons (current) through a conductor. As a river, voltage would be its force or power.
Voltage is measured in Volts (V).
Resistance is a measurement of how much the component will reduce the current flow. Resistance is like a pipe that current flows through – a bigger resistance means a smaller pipe, so the current flow is less.
Resistance is measured in ohms (Ω).
What is a circuit?
An electrical circuit is a path in which electrons from a voltage or current source flow.
An electrical circuit includes a device that gives energy to the current, such as a battery; devices that use current, such as lights or motors; and the connecting wires between devices.
Direct current (DC) is one-directional. The positive charge flows away from the positive terminal of the power supply (e.g. the battery) towards the negative terminal, moving through the circuit to get there.
This is why some components need to be connected in a certain way, for example batteries, which have positive and negative markings to show you.
Some components, like LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) have one long ‘leg’ or (the positive pin, or anode) and one short pin (negative, cathode), so that you know which way they are “facing” in the circuit and what direction the current should flow through them. Other components may also have an anode/cathode but will be marked a different way.
Some components, again like LEDs, require extra resistance to be added to circuits too (in the form of resistors) to limit the current through the LED and prevent it burning out.
In your Tinderbox Makerbox kit, you have all the components to make a simple circuit and they are marked by the manufacturer to show you how to connect them.
Always be careful when working with electronics and practicing circuits.
More information
This project uses sewabale and wearable electronics.
You can find out more about these components and other projects here:
Lilypad examples: here or here
Kitronic: here
Pimoroni: here
For more information on the Tinderbox Makerbox kits please go here or contact lab@tinderboxcollective.org or admin@tinderboxcollective.org
Partners & Supporters
This project has been supported by:
- The University of Edinburgh Local Community Grants Scheme
- Creative Scotland
- North Edinburgh Arts
- Amazing Harmonies
Design Team
These kits have been designed by our amazing team of apprentices at the Tinderbox Lab:
Series One:
- Rhona Sword
- Dominika Jackowska
- Liam Dempsey
- Saskia Singer
With special thanks to Helen Leigh for consulation & support of the kits.
Series One:
Supported by Edinburgh Local Community Grants Scheme & Creative Scotland
