FIELD TESTHot Wires?
Above
There are a series
of components
in the box, from
standard resistors
and LEDs, to NPN/
PNP transistors and
custom ICs
Below left
Using some easily
found crocodile clip
to header pin cables,
we controlled a
circuit using a spare
Arduino board
Below
The components are
standard but soldered
to press studs used
for mechanical
connectionsHACKABILITY
Oh boy, this is a fun kit to hack! Let’s start with the
basics – we can connect the components to boards
such as Adafruit’s Gemma M0 and Circuit Playground
Express using crocodile clips. So this means we can
power the circuit and use the GPIO (general-purpose
input/output) pins to control and react to the same
components. But, what if we wanted to make circuits
using Hot Wires and Raspberry Pi or Arduino boards?
Well, for that we need to use some crocodile clip to
female or male header wires, which can be bought for
under £10. So this means that an electronics kit made
for kids can be used to help children learn more about
electronics with computers and microcontrollers.
But let’s do a little more hacking. Remember that
the plastic bricks can be taken apart. Well, this means
that we can replace the components with others.
So, if you really want NeoPixels, rotary encoders,
or anything else, then so be it. In fact, with a little
3D printing or laser cutting, we can make our own
compatible bricks. An Arduino or Raspberry Pi brick
would be awesome!
Hot Wires are designed for children to learn
simple electronics skills, but they can grow with the
child as their learning progresses. By adding new
components, and connections to powerful devices
such as Raspberry Pi, we can introduce the child
to new ideas while still ensuring their safety. We
wouldn’t introduce a bare resistor or LED to a small
child, but with the bricks, we can easily do so. By
making your own bricks, using a laser cutter or 3D
printer, there is no limit as to what you can do with
Hot Wires. The easily found press studs also provide
a strong mechanical connection, while still remaining
easy to use for little hands.
If you have a little engineer in the family, then this
would be a good start to their career.SMALL BEGINNINGS
Your author has first-hand experience of the power
of Hot Wires and Snap Circuits. Children who attend
Blackpool Raspberry Jam have been using them for
four years, and they have proven to be an excellent
tool. When a new child comes to the Jam, we like
to make them feel welcome, and so we dig into the
big box of circuits and build something together.
The helicopter launch project is always a big hit!
Learning electronics is a lifelong skill and every
day we will learn something new, even about things
which we are already experts in. These bricks offer
children, and adults, a safe and engaging entrance
into electronics. We have often used them to
design circuits and work out ideas before creating
more traditional projects. Their greatest strength is
their simplicity – it removes any doubt when trying
something new. We simply focus on building, rather
than doubting.