CAN I HACK IT?
Can we hack a kids’ electronics kit?
t is easy to think that learning electronics is
now just about picking up an Arduino and
writing some code, but that is not the case.
From the 1970s, there have been electronics
kits that offered children the opportunity
to create simple circuits from a box of
components. Typically, these kits were laid out like
a board game, but in the early 2000s the kits were
reinvented and now come under many names, Snap
Circuit and Hot Wires being the two most popular.
But are they any good, and can we hack them? Well,
there is only one way to find out.GENERAL CONSTRUCTION
The components are formed into ‘bricks’ of many
different sizes and shapes. Each piece is made from
a thin plastic that can be easily broken, so take care
when taking them apart. But, when we do takeHot Wires?
Can I Hack It?
I
Les Pounder
@biglespLes Pounder loves
taking things to pieces
and seeing how they
work. He teaches
others how to be
makers and tinkerers at
events across the UK.
He blogs at bigl.esthem apart, we see a component – such as an LED,
button, or transistor – soldered to press studs. These
press studs are used to make physical connections/
circuits in the experiments, providing a firm, yet easily
disconnected, mechanical connection. The press
studs are the same as used in clothing, so finding
replacements and fitting is a relatively easy process.ELECTRONICS
The electronics kit comes with many different
components, all packaged in plastic bricks that
connect using press studs. However, inside
the bricks are common through-hole electronic
components. This means that they can be easily
replaced, should they break. Yes, you can buy
replacement parts online, but a capacitor brick
will set you back a few pounds, whereas soldering
a new capacitor will cost you 10p!YOU’LL NEED
Hot WiresCOST
£42.98WHERE
hsmag.cc/ZAFyhcHot Wires
Right
They fit together like
Lego and can be
used to build a series
of cool projects. Oh,
and we can hack it!