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Once again the "150-in-One", etc. Science Fair Electronic Project Kits [1] (from Radio Shack in the US) are the genesis of someone's love for electronics. Add

Once again the "150-in-One", etc. Science Fair Electronic Project Kits [1] (from Radio Shack in the US) are the genesis of someone's love for electronics. Add me to that list. If there's a modern equivalent, I'm not sure I've seen it. Certainly there is nothing on the scale, of the same ubiquity as those kits. Best Christmas presents ever, mom. Thank you, again. (I've since tried to capture some of that joy, along with the "Engineer Mini-Notebooks" that Forrest Mims wrote (also for RadioShack), with a 555 Timer breadboard accessory and a Transistor Logic breadboard accessory. I've just been to lazy to post them.) [1] Manuals for Science Fair Electronic Project Kits here: https://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/flipbook/m-science_fair_kits_150-in-1_electronic_project_kit_28-248.html https://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/flipbook/m-science_fair_k...

buescher 2y ago
Elenco still makes them, but yeah, you can't buy them at a Radio Shack around the corner anymore.
- Bjartr 2y ago
  They are available at Macy's these days since they resurrected Toys R Us [1], not a common as RadioShack, but still brick and mortar. Amazon, of course, has tons of kits of that kind [2] [1] https://www.macys.com/shop/featured/elenco https://www.macys.com/shop/featured/elenco [2] https://www.amazon.com/s?k=elenco https://www.amazon.com/s?k=elenco
  - buescher 2y ago
    The Macy's link only has the "snap circuits" line which is not exactly the same thing. Might be better for all I know. Here is the kind of kit we're talking about: https://www.amazon.com/Elenco-Electronic-Playground-Learning-Center/dp/B0035XSZDI https://www.amazon.com/Elenco-Electronic-Playground-Learning...
    - JKCalhoun 2y ago
      There you go.
Pyrodogg 2y ago
I loved those kits as a kid too. I'm currently waiting for one of my brothers kids to actually tear into this to try and figure it out. It's more about boolean logic and I think there won't be too much illuminating if they try and open it but it's a good signal to provide more. https://computerengineeringforbabies.com https://computerengineeringforbabies.com
wmsmith 2y ago
I don't know how many vacuum cleaners I ruined with those little wires, and I still don't understand what a j/k flipflop foes, but I did spend three days wiring up a wheel of fortune circuit to marvel at what was possible with hardware! It was at this juncture that I decided that software was my discipline. Something that has stuck with me mu whole life.
mrandish 2y ago
Yep, I had one too. I loved it and did many of the projects in the included instruction book (some more successfully than others). Unfortunately, at the time I was probably slightly too young and also had no one in my extended family or friend circle who had any familiarity with electronics. So, I didn't really take away much (if any) tangible learning from the experience other than a basic familiarity with the idea that wires carry voltages to parts which change, combine or stop the voltages in ways that can be both useful and surprising. My technical progress went dormant until 10-ish years later when college-aged me got a shiny new 8-bit computer with 4K of RAM and I started down the path of teaching myself software (BASIC -> Assembler). That led to a long and fruitful career in computers, software and hardware, despite being entirely self-taught (or... in at least some ways, maybe because of being self-taught). Although I picked up more basic electronics knowledge over the years repairing and upgrading various 8 and 16-bit computers, I never really gained an intuitive understanding of electronics to the point I could actually design anything new from scratch. However, I can assemble things from other people's designs and do basic repair work on vintage computers, arcade cabs and pinballs (which is invaluable to me these days). However, having fond memories of that, "Wow! Anything's possible if you just know how to connect the wires properly" feeling did give me a lifelong willingness to open things up and tinker, along with a sense I can probably understand most electronic things with enough patience and effort. It also compelled me to ensure my own kid had every Elenco Snap Circuits kit she ever wanted, along with a willing 'lab partner'. I may have had more fun than she did! Later, when she was in middle school I got her a Raspberry Pi along with one of those companion electronics kits for beginners (like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Adeept-Ultimate-Raspberry-Electronic-Components/dp/B08ZHFNMPV/ https://www.amazon.com/Adeept-Ultimate-Raspberry-Electronic-...). I definitely had more fun than she did with that but it did result in a successful 8th grade school project. Also, I remember being impressed by the quality of the online PDF doc full of projects, so be sure to download that if you follow a similar path.

buescher 2y ago

Elenco still makes them, but yeah, you can't buy them at a Radio Shack around the corner anymore.

Bjartr 2y ago
They are available at Macy's these days since they resurrected Toys R Us [1], not a common as RadioShack, but still brick and mortar. Amazon, of course, has tons of kits of that kind [2] [1] https://www.macys.com/shop/featured/elenco https://www.macys.com/shop/featured/elenco [2] https://www.amazon.com/s?k=elenco https://www.amazon.com/s?k=elenco
- buescher 2y ago
  The Macy's link only has the "snap circuits" line which is not exactly the same thing. Might be better for all I know. Here is the kind of kit we're talking about: https://www.amazon.com/Elenco-Electronic-Playground-Learning-Center/dp/B0035XSZDI https://www.amazon.com/Elenco-Electronic-Playground-Learning...
  - JKCalhoun 2y ago
    There you go.

Pyrodogg 2y ago

I loved those kits as a kid too. I'm currently waiting for one of my brothers kids to actually tear into this to try and figure it out. It's more about boolean logic and I think there won't be too much illuminating if they try and open it but it's a good signal to provide more. https://computerengineeringforbabies.com https://computerengineeringforbabies.com

wmsmith 2y ago

I don't know how many vacuum cleaners I ruined with those little wires, and I still don't understand what a j/k flipflop foes, but I did spend three days wiring up a wheel of fortune circuit to marvel at what was possible with hardware! It was at this juncture that I decided that software was my discipline. Something that has stuck with me mu whole life.

mrandish 2y ago

Yep, I had one too. I loved it and did many of the projects in the included instruction book (some more successfully than others). Unfortunately, at the time I was probably slightly too young and also had no one in my extended family or friend circle who had any familiarity with electronics. So, I didn't really take away much (if any) tangible learning from the experience other than a basic familiarity with the idea that wires carry voltages to parts which change, combine or stop the voltages in ways that can be both useful and surprising. My technical progress went dormant until 10-ish years later when college-aged me got a shiny new 8-bit computer with 4K of RAM and I started down the path of teaching myself software (BASIC -> Assembler). That led to a long and fruitful career in computers, software and hardware, despite being entirely self-taught (or... in at least some ways, maybe because of being self-taught). Although I picked up more basic electronics knowledge over the years repairing and upgrading various 8 and 16-bit computers, I never really gained an intuitive understanding of electronics to the point I could actually design anything new from scratch. However, I can assemble things from other people's designs and do basic repair work on vintage computers, arcade cabs and pinballs (which is invaluable to me these days). However, having fond memories of that, "Wow! Anything's possible if you just know how to connect the wires properly" feeling did give me a lifelong willingness to open things up and tinker, along with a sense I can probably understand most electronic things with enough patience and effort. It also compelled me to ensure my own kid had every Elenco Snap Circuits kit she ever wanted, along with a willing 'lab partner'. I may have had more fun than she did! Later, when she was in middle school I got her a Raspberry Pi along with one of those companion electronics kits for beginners (like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Adeept-Ultimate-Raspberry-Electronic-Components/dp/B08ZHFNMPV/ https://www.amazon.com/Adeept-Ultimate-Raspberry-Electronic-...). I definitely had more fun than she did with that but it did result in a successful 8th grade school project. Also, I remember being impressed by the quality of the online PDF doc full of projects, so be sure to download that if you follow a similar path.