Locktronics

Operation

Widely used in schools across the UK, Locktronics are at the most popular kits which can be used to teach the majority of electric and electronic principles at GCSE and A-level. The kits use real electrical and electronic components presented in an easy to understand format. They enable students to construct working circuits easily and without using up too many wires etc.

Pupils can use the green baseboards to lay out their circuits, inserting the component pieces between the metal stems. Where, in a normal circuit, wires would be used to join these components, ?straights? or wire pieces are used.

Some baseboards come with battery housings which allow the user to construct a completely enclosed circuit whereas others need to be connected to an external battery or lab pack to power the circuit.

One of the main advantages to the Locktronics system is that most of the components display the universal component symbols so that students and technicians alike can see how drawings of circuit diagrams relate to these real circuits. This also makes it easier for us when making up a demo circuit from a book as from above, the two look near identical.

Literally thousands of parts are available either through lab suppliers or directly from the Locktronics website: www.tqlocktronics.com.

Whole sets can be purchased comprising baseboards and general components but you can slao purchase single components and replacement parts.

If these are being used as a class set, it is important to make sure students have enough parts, especially straight wire pieces. For a set of 12 baseboards, 200 wire parts is the minimum generally required as in the worst case scenario, the biggest circuits they will probably make will use about 15 each. Over time some will go walkabouts and some will be bent or otherwise broken.

Regularly test components to ensure they are in full working order. Details of components can be found in our Info Library. Make sure batteries are fully charged and that if using labpacks, they are locked to the maximum voltage allowed for the components they are using. This will protect and extend the life of components.

Locktronics kits can be expensive to buy, especially in full class sets but they do make the teaching and setting up of circuits a lot easier, are robust if used in the correct manner and provide solutions to many electronic and electrical lessons, whether in making circuits or simply demonstrating a component or principle.

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