Thames & Kosmos Technology and Electronics Electronics Workshop 1

by Thames & Kosmos

Product Features

• Technology and electronics
• Assemble simple circuits with blinking LEDs and resistors
• Build moisture sensors
• Repair multifunction sensors on robots
• Ages 10 and up

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 21.3 x 14.6 x 3.8 inches ; 4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B001ALNDUM
• Item model number: 615512
• Our recommended age: 10 years and up
• Manufacturer recommended age: 10 years and up
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #102,669 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Electronics Workshop I, Introduction to Electronics. Discover the digital world with this unique introduction to electronics. Follow the story of Robert M-3, a young robot in the year 2069, who is beginning his education in electronics with an apprenticeship to Sirius Armstrong, the chief electrical engineer on an enormous space station orbiting Earth. As you read about Robert's lessons in electronics, you will conduct experiments alongside him using your Electronics Workshop console. Start by assembling simple circuits with blinking LEDs and resistors, as Robert travels from Earth to the space station. Once there, he goes from department to department, fixing electrical systems and devices, while you work alongside him. In the Mars Department, you attend to tasks in the space station's oxygen supplying greenhouses, such as building moisture sensors for the planters and a timer for controlling oxygen levels. Here, you learn about current, voltage, and resistance. In the Uranus Department, you repair malfunctioning sensors on robots, build a battery tester to test Robert's power supply, and conduct experiments with his transistors and capacitors. You continue through six more departments, learning about the space station's security, communications, cleaning, entertainment, and educational systems, while getting increasingly advanced lessons in electronics. By the end, you and Robert will have earned the rank of Space Electronics Assistant First Class. Electronics Workshop I is a captivating combination of reading and science, with fanciful stories that enliven the experiments, making for a fun learning experience. Full-color, 68-page experiment manual.

Product Description

Discover the digital world with this unique introduction to electronics. Follow the story of Robert M-3, a young robot in the year 2069, who is beginning his education in electronics with an apprenticeship to Sirius Armstrong, the chief electrical engineer on an enormous space station orbiting Earth. As you read about Robert's lessons in electronics, you will conduct experiments alongside him using your Electronics Workshop console. Start by assembling simple circuits with blinking LEDs and resistors, as Robert travels from Earth to the space station. Once there, he goes from department to department, fixing electrical systems and devices, while you work alongside him. In the Mars Department, you attend to tasks in the space station's oxygen-supplying greenhouses, such as building moisture sensors for the planters and a timer for controlling oxygen levels. Here, you learn about current, voltage, and resistance. In the Uranus Department, you repair malfunctioning sensors on robots, build a battery tester to test Robert's power supply, and conduct experiments with his transistors and capacitors. You continue through six more departments, learning about the space station's security, communications, cleaning, entertainment, and educational systems, while getting increasingly advanced lessons in electronics. By the end, you and Robert will have earned the rank of Space Electronics Assistant First Class. Electronics Workshop 1 is a captivating combination of reading and science, with fanciful stories that enliven the experiments, making for a fun learning experience. Full-color, 68-page experiment manual.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Better than most, but not as good as it could be, February 5, 2009

By 

G. R. Jackson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:2.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:3.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Thames & Kosmos Technology and Electronics Electronics Workshop 1 (Toy)

I have purchased other electronics experiment type kits for my son, most of which are marginal at best. This one is better, but for the money it still comes up short. Wire lengths are just long enough to reach, but in saving a penny they still make it hard to open the shell of the console and not pull the wires out. The battery compartment is marginal, has no actual retention feature. The led lights (all 2 of them) do not fit snuggly in the console holes, and fall out with the slightest bit of pressure (ie, when you open the console shell since the wires are too short). BTW, the warning that you will burn out an LED if you fail to place a resister in line with the battery is documented, but the fact is that a child will no doubt make the mistake and place it in line without the resister -> time to go to Radio Shack. Why not throw in a handfull of LED's? They are cheap (a lot cheaper than the gas to drive to Radio Shack), and then your customer can learn by messing it up - a time tested and honored learning tool. The console allows you to place the unused selection of components above the work area, which is nice - however, the console is hinged, and it really could be improved if there was the ability to place the unused components inside the clamshell design with a similar setup - this would again be very inexpensive since it would only require properly spaced holes to slide the resistors, caps, etc into. With that said, the premise is great, the implimentation of a test bed is very well done, and the workbook that comes with the set is the best that I have seen anywhere. It shows considerable thought and is relatively comprehensive. Again, it is much better than the $30 kits, but it should be for $100. Some minor design changes and this would be a must have.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Educational Electrical Kit, January 6, 2012

By 

Caring Dad - See all my reviews

= Durability:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Thames & Kosmos Technology and Electronics Electronics Workshop 1 (Toy)

My daughter worked on picking this exact kit out. She wanted one with actual wires, not just the plastic snap kits. Because of the bare wires, I would not consider this "toy" extra durable, because they can break. She's very exicted to be doing the experiments, and the book is very educational, as it explains what each of the devices are, and the basics of how they each work.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing garbage, December 29, 2011

By 

Danamo - See all my reviews

= Durability:2.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:1.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:1.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Thames & Kosmos Technology and Electronics Electronics Workshop 1 (Toy)

The pieces don't fit together, poor build quality and esoteric instructions. Skip the frustration and disappointment that your children will face and buy a different kit. Thames and Kosmos spend their time and energy creating fancy packaging with garbage inside. Just worthless.