fischertechnik E-Tec

Making the basics of electrical engineering understandable and sustainable!

With this in mind, we will guide you through the 11 models. We recommend that you build and work on the models and tasks in the order given. We hope you enjoy building the models and working through the tasks.

Your fischertechnik team

Tasks

Build the first model using the assembly instructions and wire the individual components.

In electrical engineering, the circuit is always represented as a circuit diagram. Symbols have been defined for the individual components for this purpose.

For the simple circuit you need a battery holder, a 9V block battery and a Rainbow LED. These are connected using the plugs and wires supplied. We will of course explain the electrical components used.

Battery

A battery emits electrical current. This can be used to power many technical devices, even if you don't have a power socket. Cars, computers, cell phones, cameras and many other devices need a battery.

Batteries consist of different chemicals and always have a positive and a negative pole. When these poles are connected via a lamp, for example, they exchange electrons. This is how a current begins to flow. A normal battery runs out at some point, at which point it has to be replaced.

Check the internet. There you will find a lot of information and interesting explanatory videos.

LED

An LED is like a small light bulb, but it uses much less power and lasts longer. Think of an LED as a tiny sandwich where the filling is made of special materials that light up when electricity flows through them.

When you connect the LED to a battery, current flows from the anode to the cathode through the LED chip. This causes the electrons (tiny particles with a negative charge) to move and collide with other particles in the chip. When they collide, light is produced. You then see this light as the glow of the LED.

The diagram shows you the structure of an LED.

Task 1 - Simple circuit

The first task for the circuit is the "simple circuit".

Before you connect the two connections (red and green plugs) to the battery holder, move the switch on the battery holder to the right of the plug connections. Then connect the two plugs (green - rear, red - front).

The LED lights up until you disconnect one of the two plugs again.

Task 2 - Simple circuit with pole reversing switch

You do not have to modify the model to do this, but take a closer look at the switch on the battery holder. You will notice that it can also be switched in the other direction, i.e. to the left. Try it out! The LED does not light up.

Swap the two connections once and the LED will light up again. We have taken a photo of the inside view of the switch. Here you can see the view of the circuit board from below onto which the switch has been installed and soldered. You can also see the two connections that lead to the battery. The switch has 6 soldering points which are connected in such a way that in one position of the switch the positive pole is connected to the right-hand socket and the negative pole to the left-hand socket. If you switch the switch in the other direction, the positive pole is connected to the left-hand socket and the negative pole to the right-hand socket.

By using a pole reversing switch, for example, you can turn a motor to the left or right.

The two circuit diagrams illustrate the two switch positions.

OK, that´s it. You can now dismantle the model and move on to the next model.

Build the model using the assembly instructions and wire the individual components using the circuit diagram.

To interrupt the circuit from the battery to the LED, install a switch in the "positive line". This is shown in the circuit diagram as shown in the picture. The three pictures show you a push-button and its switching states as a switching symbol.

Task 1 - Switching on the LED

Actually quite simple. When you press the movable tab (red 15x75 construction plate) downwards, the two metal parts of the plugs meet and thus close the circuit. When you let go, the LED goes out again.

Task 2 - Switching of the LED

To do this, first press the tab under the 2nd connector as shown in the picture. The LED lights up continuously. If you interrupt the circuit (press the tab down or return the tab to its original position as in task 3), the LED goes out again.

Build the model using the assembly instructions and wire the individual components using the circuit diagram.

The game is very simple. You have to throw the ball at the green target area. If you hit it, it tips over backwards. The two contacts are closed and the LED lights up.

As far as the circuit is concerned, you have used a simple on/off switch.

For the next model, you will have to dismantle the throwing game. Make sure that you do not lose any components.

Assemble this model using the assembly instructions and wire the individual components using the circuit diagram.

In addition to the visual alarm (LED), this time you also install an audible alarm, a buzzer.

A Buzzer is an electrically controlled acoustic signaling device that can produce a buzzing or (depending on the pitch) a beeping sound.

There is also a separate circuit symbol for the circuit diagram layout.
The circuit diagram looks as shown in the picture.

You already know the push-button from the "simple circuit" model.

What happens in this model?

The weight of your cell phone pushes the button plate down. This opens the contact. If someone takes your cell phone out of the holder without permission, the contact is closed, the warning tone sounds and the LED lights up.

Tip: To ensure that the alarm is not triggered when you remove the cell phone from the holder, switch off the power supply using the switch on the battery holder.

Build the model using the assembly instructions and wire the individual components using the circuit diagram.

The continuity tester, also known as a test buzzer, is used to test electrical cables for continuity. The continuity tester is actually a simple circuit without a switch. When you connect the two plugs, the buzzer or LED is switched on. If you want to test a power line for continuity, hold the green plug to one end of the line and the red plug to the other end.

Task 1 - Continuity tester with LED

Actually quite simple. Hold the two metal plug ends together. The circuit is thus closed and the LED lights up.

Experiment: Check the electrical conductivity with different materials, e.g. plastic, glass, copper.

Task 2 - Continuity tester with buzzer

Replace the LED with the buzzer and test the continuity tester. You can also test various materials for electrical conductivity here.

Task 3 - Continuity tester with LED and buzzer

In addition to the LED, install a buzzer in the circuit using the circuit diagram and test the continuity tester.
You can also test different materials for electrical conductivity here.
And now you have a new model.

Build the model using the assembly instructions and wire the individual components using the circuit diagram.

You can also find interesting explanatory films on this topic on the Internet.

If you look at the circuit structure or the circuit diagram, you will see that you have to press both buttons for the LED to light up. Check this once. If you press button 1, the LED does not light up; if you press button 2, nothing happens either. Only when you press both buttons does the LED light up.

In digital electronics, this is referred to as an AND circuit.

A specific symbol and a truth table are used for this purpose.

The table shows you that only if eA "and" eB are a 1, i.e. the buttons are pressed, is a 1 also present at the output. You will use AND logic more often if you want to start programming fischertechnik models. The following command lines are taken from Python programming with ROBO Pro Coding

Before the motor runs, the program waits until two conditions are met. The mini switch on I1 must be closed "AND" the mini switch on I2 must also be closed. Then the motor starts.

In the next model, you apply the AND circuit in practice.

Build the model using the assembly instructions and wire the individual components using the circuit diagram.
The game is very simple. You have to throw the ball at one of the green targets. If you hit it, it tips over backwards.

Then you have to try to make the second target tip over. When all contacts are closed, the LED lights up.

As far as the circuit is concerned, you have used two simple on/off switches in conjunction with AND logic. Come up with your own rules for this game.

Build the model using the assembly instructions and wire the individual components using the circuit diagram.

You can also find interesting explanatory films for this circuit on the Internet.

Take a look at the circuit structure or the circuit diagram for this task too. You will notice that you have to press a button for each LED to light up. Check this once. If you press button 1, the LED lights up, if you press button 2, the LED also lights up. If you were to press both buttons at the same time, the LED would also light up. Only when no button is pressed does the LED not light up.

In digital electronics, this is also referred to as an OR circuit.

A specific symbol and a truth table are used for this purpose.

The table shows you that if eA "or" eB is a 1, i.e. a button is pressed in each case, a 1 is also present at the output. You will use OR logic more often if you want to start programming fischertechnik models.

First, the program waits for the mini-pushbutton I1 OR (OR) the mini-pushbutton I2 to be pressed. If this is the case, the motor runs. In the next model, you implement the OR function again.

Build the "balance game" model using the assembly instructions and wire the individual components. The aim of this game is to move the ball through the course. You have to try to keep the seesaw horizontal so that no contact is made.

The LED lights up and the buzzer sounds when one of the two contacts is closed. The circuit therefore corresponds to the OR function.

In the last models, you worked with the series and parallel connection of push-buttons. You will find the same function in the next model - only with the LED and the buzzer.

First build the model of the series circuit using the assembly instructions and wire the individual components using the circuit diagram.

Explanatory videos can also be found on the Internet for this circuit.

What happens in the circuit if you connect an LED first? Assume that you are using a new battery with 9V. The electrons move from the positive terminal of the battery to the LED and on to the negative terminal. The LED lights up at full strength, 9V voltage from the battery is applied to it. However, the LED consumes energy from the battery. After a certain time, the energy becomes less and less, the LED becomes dimmer until it goes out completely - the voltage goes to 0V. This means that the battery capacity is exhausted and you have to replace it.

With the buzzer in the circuit, the LED becomes much dimmer as the voltage is distributed to both loads. This means that the buzzer cannot emit the entire volume.

So you can see that the series connection of LED and buzzer is unsuitable for your model.

Therefore, try out the parallel connection of LED and buzzer.

First build the model of the parallel circuit using the assembly instructions and wire the individual components as shown in the circuit diagram.

There are also interesting films on the Internet for this circuit, which explain the parallel circuit very clearly.

You have probably noticed that this circuit design is the best solution to ensure that both LED and buzzer components work at full power.
Take a special look at the connection of the positive lead. You will notice that this is connected to a load in each case. This means that the 9V battery voltage is applied to both the buzzer and the LED. This means that both the LED and the buzzer have full power available.

With this knowledge, you can now tackle the last model

Build the "hot wire" model using the assembly instructions and wire the individual components.

The circuit diagram should once again illustrate the function of the model. The left-hand connection is connected to the copper wire and the right-hand connection to the eyelet. If you touch the copper wire with the eyelet, an audible and visual alarm is triggered.

You then have to start the game all over again. If you guide the eyelet through the course without triggering the alarm, you have won the game.

Model: Hot wire

Instructions for bending wire