What are Snap Circuits?

Snap Circuits are electrical and electronic components mounted on colorful plastic shapes. Each colorful shape has a metal snap at key connecting points of the electrical and electronic component. The electrical and electronic component provides the specific function for the Snap Circuits part.

Therefore, a Snap Circuits part can be described as a functional block based on an electrical and electronic component mounted onto a plastic base. Figure 4.1 shows some example Snap Circuits blocks:

Figure 4.1 – Snap Circuits blocks

The Snap Circuits block designated by the number 2 is a wire block. You connect Snap Circuits blocks using this component. There are various types of wire blocks based on length. For example, there are wire blocks with lengths of 3, 4, and 5. The 1-wire snap is packaged into a plastic circle. You will use this snap component to provide an electrical stand-off to structurally align the other Snap Circuits and wire blocks properly. Figure 4.2 shows a 1-snap wire:

Figure 4.2 – Snap Circuits blocks

Besides using wire blocks to attach Snap Circuits components together, you can use jumper wires. Like the wire blocks, jumper wires provide a flexible approach to connecting Snap Circuits blocks remotely. For example, a pushbutton switch Snap Circuits block can be wired several inches from the main electrical sound, control, or amplifying circuit. You can create alarm circuits that require trip wires to be strategically placed in a designated detection zone. Some examples of Snap Circuits jumper wires are shown here:

Figure 4.3 – Snap Circuits jumper wires

To provide a stable platform to mount and attach the Snap Circuits blocks, you will use a base grid. You may think of the base grid as a printed circuit for wiring Snap Circuits. The Snap Circuits, wire blocks, and jumper wires are placed onto the base grid plastic stubs. The placement of these components provides mechanical rigidity and proper electrical conductivity for the Snap Circuits device. Figure 4.4 shows a Snap Circuits base grid:

Figure 4.4 – Snap Circuits base grid

Now that you understand Snap Circuits, in the next section, you will learn about the LED Display and Microcontroller (LED MC) module.