Introduction
IN THIS LESSON
Become familiar with the Microtrainer card and its components.
This first module introduces the Microtrainer Series and Parallel Card, a self-contained learning board designed to demonstrate how voltage, current, and resistance behave in simple electrical circuits.
Students will explore the three built-in circuit sections, locate test points, and practice using a multimeter to measure voltage at labeled points. No wiring or circuit building is required.
Power Section
Power Source: One CR2032 (3 V) coin cell
Voltage Step-Up: Circuitry boosts the voltage from 3V to 5 V for the demonstration circuits.
Master Switch (upper-left corner): Turns power on or off for the entire card.
Power Rail
Test Points: Silver pads labeled 3 V, 5 V, and GND used for voltage measurements.
Simple Circuit
Contains one switch, one resistor, and one LED.
Demonstrates the basic idea of controlling current flow and observing a voltage drop across a single load.
Series Circuits
Contains one switch, two LEDs, and two resistors in series.
Shows how total resistance increases as components are added in series and how voltage divides across multiple loads.
Includes a sub-section with two resistors in series to practice measuring total resistance.
Parallel Circuits
Contains one switch, two LEDs, and two resistors in parallel.
Demonstrates how current divides between parallel paths while voltage remains the same across each branch.
Includes a sub-section with two resistors in parallel for measuring combined resistance.
Resistor Bank
A row of surface mounted resistors for students to measure with the DMM in resistance mode.
Used to reinforce meter setup and resistance reading skills.