In this detailed guide you’ll learn how to construct a sizeable permanent split‑capacitor induction motor that can serve as an engaging, hands‑on exhibit. The design is simple yet demonstrates the core principles of AC induction motors, making it ideal for educators, hobbyists, and engineering stude

Parts & Materials AC power source: 120 VAC Capacitor, 3.3 µF (or 2.2 µF) 120 VAC / 350 VDC, non‑polarized 15–25 W incandescent lamp or 820 Ω, 25 W resistor #32 AWG magnet wire Wooden board ≈ 5 in. square AC line cord with plug 1.75‑inch diameter cardboard tube (toilet‑paper roll) Lamp socket AC p

Project Parts and Materials Automotive alternator (one required, but two recommended) Used alternators can be sourced cheaply from wrecking yards, where many units are already removed for convenience. A new alternator is not necessary; a well‑conditioned used unit delivers the same performance fo

PARTS AND MATERIALS Audio detector equipped with headphones CROSS-REFERENCES Lessons In Electric Circuits, Volume 2, chapter 7: “Mixed‑Frequency AC Signals” LEARNING OBJECTIVES Understand the influence of electrostatic (capacitive) coupling on AC signals. Identify and apply effectiv

PARTS AND MATERIALS Audio detector with headphones Electromagnet coil from relay or solenoid A high‑turn count coil is essential to maximize induced voltage from stray magnetic fields. Coils salvaged from old relays or solenoids provide an ideal, readily available option. CROSS-REFERENCES Lessons

Parts and Materials Closed‑cup audio headphones with a high sensitivity rating (dB) Female headphone jack (e.g., Radio Shack catalog #274‑312 or equivalent) Small step‑down transformer (120 V → 6 V); use the 6‑V secondary winding Two 1N4001 rectifier diodes 1 kΩ resistor 100 kΩ potentiometer (audio

Parts and Materials Paper tube (e.g., a toilet‑paper roll) Bar of iron or steel, large enough to almost fill the tube’s diameter 28 AWG “magnet” wire Low‑voltage AC power supply Incandescent lamp rated for the supply voltage Cross‑References Lessons In Electric Circuits, Volume 1, chapter 14: “Ma

PARTS AND MATERIALS Steel flat bar, 4 pieces Miscellaneous bolts, nuts, washers 28‑gauge “magnet” wire (thin‑enamel insulated) Low‑voltage AC power supply (≤12 V) Magnet wire is specifically insulated for use in electromagnets. Its thin enamel coating allows many turns to be wound in a compact coi

Transformer‑Based Power Supply This guide walks you through assembling a 12 VAC power supply from a 120 VAC step‑down transformer. It covers the necessary parts, wiring practices, fuse selection, and safety checks to ensure a reliable and secure circuit. Parts and Materials 120 VAC to 12 VAC step‑d

AC stands for Alternating Current, referring to voltage or current that periodically reverses direction. This module introduces key AC concepts. Household wall outlets deliver 110–120 V AC (RMS), which poses a significant shock risk. To safely harness this energy, the first project is a simple power

PARTS AND MATERIALS Two 6 V batteries 0.1 µF capacitor (Radio Shack catalog #272‑135) 1 MΩ resistor Single‑turn, 5 kΩ linear potentiometer (Radio Shack catalog #271‑1714) While any linear potentiometer will function, a lower‑resistance unit tends to provide a cleaner response. In practice I’ve use

Materials Needed for the Capacitor Charging & Discharging Experiment To carry out the experiment, gather the following items: 6‑V battery Two electrolytic capacitors, 1 000 µF minimum (e.g., Radio Shack catalog #272‑1019, 272‑1032, or equivalent) Two 1 kΩ resistors One single‑pole, single‑throw (SP

Overview A potato battery demonstrates the fundamentals of electrochemistry in a simple, hands‑on experiment. By inserting two dissimilar metals into a potato, you create a tiny cell that generates a measurable voltage. Parts and Materials One large potato (any variety works; larger potatoes yield

Simple Analog Averaging Circuit Components & Materials Three batteries of differing voltages Three identical resistors (10 kΩ–47 kΩ) When selecting resistors, use an ohmmeter to pick three that are as close in value as possible. Precision is critical for this experiment. Cross‑References “Lessons

PARTS AND MATERIALS 6‑volt lantern battery Electromagnet coil or a long spool of wire with accessible ends Precision ammeter capable of measuring ≥5 A (recommended) Ideally, use two meters—a voltmeter and an ammeter. If only one multimeter is available, it can still be used by switching between cu

Parts & Materials Two 6‑V batteries Single‑turn, 10 kΩ linear potentiometer (Radio Shack #271‑1715) Two high‑value resistors (≥1 MΩ each) Sensitive voltage detector (from the previous experiment) Analog voltmeter (from the previous experiment) The potentiometer value is flexible—anywhere from 1 kΩ

PARTS AND MATERIALS High‑quality closed‑cup audio headphones Female headphone jack (Radio Shack #274-312) Small step‑down power transformer (Radio Shack #273-1365 or equivalent; use the 6 V secondary tap) Two 1N4001 rectifying diodes (Radio Shack #276-1101) 1 kΩ resistor 100 kΩ potentiometer (Radio

Parts and Materials Meter movement (Radio Shack catalog #22‑410) Selector switch, single‑pole, multi‑throw, break‑before‑make (Radio Shack catalog #275‑1386, a 2‑pole, 6‑position unit works well) Multi‑turn potentiometers, PCB mount (Radio Shack catalog #271‑342 – 15‑turn, 1 kΩ; #271‑343 – 15‑turn,

Parts and Materials Length of bare (uninsulated) copper wire Length of bare (uninsulated) iron wire (or aluminum if unavailable) Candle Ice cubes Cross‑References Lessons In Electric Circuits, Volume 1, Chapter 9: “Electrical Instrumentation Signals” Learning Objectives Illustrate how a thermoc

PARTS AND MATERIALS Multiple 10 kΩ fixed resistors One 10 kΩ linear‑taper potentiometer (Radio Shack catalog # 271‑1715)   CROSS‑REFERENCES Lessons in Electric Circuits, Volume 1 – Chapters 5, 7, 8   LEARNING OBJECTIVES Determine series‑parallel resistance combinations. Apply calibratio