Radio Shack Science Fair 200-in-1 Electronic Project Kit manual - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Skyfox
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2016, 09:44:14 pm
content: Hey all, long time no post.As something that's good for beginners and experienced tinkerers alike, I just wanted to let you all know that I scanned the manual for the 200-in-1 kit from Radio Shack (in the early 1980s) and put it together in a PDF file. After doing several Google searches I could never find it online and decided to do it myself.http://zetaweb.org/web/manuals/Radio%20Shack%20Science%20Fair%20200-in-1%20Electronic%20Project%20Kit.pdfOver the last several months life has seriously gotten in the way and I've had to put all my electronics learning and tinkering on the back burner. Hopefully this will be useful to someone even if I can't make use of it for the time being.Edit: file name changed to include Radio Shack in the name.

author: ProBang2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2016, 11:52:36 pm
content: The link does not work...

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2016, 12:02:31 am
content: Quote from: ProBang2 on January 01, 2016, 11:52:36 pmNot sure what he changed, but I did find it here, looks like the same link but this one works.http://zetaweb.org/web/manuals/Radio%20Shack%20Science%20Fair%20200-in-1%20Electronic%20Project%20Kit.pdfEdit: he changed the displayed link name but the link still points to the older name which is no longer there:http://zetaweb.org/web/manuals/Science%20Fair%20200-in-1%20Electronic%20Project%20Kit.pdf

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2016, 09:16:58 pm
content: You can still buy those from Elenco.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2016, 09:20:39 pm
content: http://www.elenco.com/admin_data/pdffiles/MX907.pdf

author: Skyfox
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2016, 07:14:47 am
content: Thank you. Link is fixed!Quote from: ProBang2 on January 01, 2016, 08:52:36 PM

author: Skyfox
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2016, 07:16:13 am
content: Yes, it seems that is exactly what happened. Somehow when I edited the post, the link text changed but the actual hyperlink didn't. It's fixed now!Quote from: miguelvp on January 01, 2016, 09:02:31 PM>Quote from: ProBang2 on January 01, 2016, 08:52:36 PMNot sure what he changed, but I did find it here, looks like the same link but this one works.http://zetaweb.org/web/manuals/Radio%20Shack%20Science%20Fair%20200-in-1%20Electronic%20Project%20Kit.pdfEdit: he changed the displayed link name but the link still points to the older name which is no longer there:http://zetaweb.org/web/manuals/Science%20Fair%20200-in-1%20Electronic%20Project%20Kit.pdf

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 03, 2016, 09:12:47 am
content: Awesome scan!

author: george graves
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2016, 09:25:41 am
content: Ditto! Is this under copyright law still? Or has it been long enough to enter the public domain?

author: vk3yedotcom
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2016, 09:56:17 am
content: This 200-in-1, currently sold by Altronics, looks like an exact copy apart from minor cosmetic differences.http://www.altronics.com.au/p/k2209-maxitronix-200-in-1-electronics-lab-kit/A UK supplier ishttps://www.quasarelectronics.co.uk/Item/200-in-1-electronic-projects-lab-kit-maxitronix-elenco-mx-907Does anyone know if the manual for these is the same as the original Radio Shack/Tandy one above?

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2016, 11:29:37 am
content: Quote from: george graves on January 03, 2016, 09:25:41 amNo, it'll still be under copyright.However, it's unlikely RS will do anything about it but they want it taken down, all they need to do is ask the host.

author: Hydrawerk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 20, 2016, 04:44:23 pm
content: Thank you very much for the scan. There is back-up copy here.https://www.ulozto.net/!hWJrdDBxY/radio-shack-science-fair-200-in-1-electronic-project-kit-pdf

author: boffin
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 21, 2016, 01:56:34 am
content: Quote from: Skyfox on January 01, 2016, 09:44:14 pmCan I suggest you email the guy who has the website with old Radio Shack Catalogues and offer it to him as well?

author: Red Squirrel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2016, 06:26:11 am
content: Wow that's awesome! Nice scan. That must have been a lot of work.I still have mine in the basement somewhere, I should dig it up, as back as a kid I just followed the instructions and did what it said with absolutely zero understanding of what was going on, if I went through it again I'd probably actually understand stuff more. Pics i took a while back when this subject came up on another forum.I remember doing radio related stuff and used to find it so cool. Like one was a crystal radio, other was actually a small transmitter. I'd mess with my mom when she had the stereo on lol.

author: Hydrawerk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2016, 07:24:38 pm
content: Does somebody have the full user manual for thisMaxitronix 500 in 1kit?http://www.elenco.com/search/searchdetails/500-in-1_electronic_project_lab=Mjg3Well, I found a half of the pdf manual.http://www.zpag.net/Electroniques/Kit/500Book1_01.pdfThis is probably a sample.https://www.pololu.com/file/download/500_in_one_manual_sample.pdf?file_id=0J478

author: Hydrawerk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2016, 07:35:00 pm
content: There is some collection of electronic kit manuals.http://www.zpag.net/Electroniques/Kit/Electronic_Kit.htmThere is the first half of Maxitronix 500 in 1.http://www.zpag.net/Electroniques/Kit/500Book1_01.pdfhttp://www.zpag.net/Electroniques/Kit/500Book1_02.pdfhttp://www.zpag.net/Electroniques/Kit/500Book1_03.pdfUnfortunately, the scan quality is mediocre.I do not own thewww.zpag.net.

author: Skyfox
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2017, 11:32:16 pm
content: That's exactly how it was with me. Either with this kit or my 60-in-1 kit, I'd follow the instructions and put the projects together, but I really never understood anything but the most basic basics. The manuals describe how transistors amplify things but don't describe exactlyhowthey amplify things. When using a 3-leg or 5-leg transformer, the manual doesn't describe how or why it works. And there's no real description of how and why the various components work together in the way they do to get the desired results, such as for a very simple oscillator. Even now, past 40 years old, my electronics knowledge is really not much better than it was when I was a kid playing with these kits, so I'm still essentially a beginner.Quote from: Red Squirrel on August 21, 2016, 02:26:11 AM

author: Frankje
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2017, 08:01:38 am
content: Hi all,If you're still looking for the manual of the Gakken 150 project kit in wooden box, I can scan it for you.This project kit has some unusual circuits, like frequency doubler and regenerative radio receiver.Nowadays, I use the Maxitronix 300 in 1 kit. I have also a scanned manual. For this kit I've made small wire bridges in different colours, so the breadboard is not too crowded.Greetingshttps://flic.kr/p/TjkMrs

author: Frankje
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2017, 04:52:47 pm
content: Hi all,So I've scanned the manual of the Gakken aka Neckermann kit. It seems that some parts are placed differently, but the numbered connections are the same.Sorry, only in German, because this kit was published by Neckermann in the seventies.I remember staring at this project kit in their catalogue back then;My parents told me then I was to young, so I got an Electricity kit with lamps and motors insteadBut thanks to ebay, they can purchased relatively cheap these days.I will try to publish a photo one of these days.So, here are the links of the manual, even and uneven pages.http://freepdfhosting.com/f668fcf0a4.pdfhttp://freepdfhosting.com/90ef05b99a.pdfGreetings

author: Frankje
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 22, 2017, 09:37:34 am
content: As promised, a picture of the Neckermann version of the 150in1 kit.Thanks to Wilfred who combined the 2 pdf's into one, here you can download the combined zip :https://www.dropbox.com/s/9z2ibe9lp7ccyxa/Gakken-150in1-german.pdf?dl=0

author: Frankje
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 23, 2017, 09:06:58 am
content: @wilfredHi, the spring bases are thin, shiny and rigid plastic plates. The components are connected at the bottom to these springs.It has several free springs too to connect your own transistors, etc. It even has a ground loop to connect shorter wires.Gakken made a few of these back then, I also have the Gakken 200in1 kit ( here it was available under the brand Lindy ).Here are some pictures, more can be found on my flickr pagehttps://flic.kr/p/FCjs5phttps://flic.kr/p/GxBEDnhttps://flic.kr/p/GrNptnhttps://flic.kr/p/FC6vMGhttps://flic.kr/p/GxBDK8https://flic.kr/p/GxBDFaAns some detailed pictures of the Neckermann kitGreetings

author: sos_sifou
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 06, 2017, 11:27:38 am
content: Dear community memebers, id love if someone can share the manual of this unit, I had it from my childhood but I lost the manual.Électronique 2000 made by JoustraThanks in advance

author: Frankje
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2017, 05:08:03 pm
content: Hi there !Unfortunately, I don't have this kit, but wouldn't it be challenging to write it yourself ?Since this kit comprises only basic components, it wouldn't be hard to design your own circuits.If it would help you, I have the radio shack 10 in 1 kit and has the exact same components. If you are interested, I could always scan this manual for you. So you can use this as a guide.Perhaps Joustra used this Radio Shack kit and revamped it for their own brand.Greetings

author: sos_sifou
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 07, 2017, 09:02:30 pm
content: Quote from: Frankje on August 06, 2017, 05:08:03 pmHello!Thank you, its a good idea, i sure can use your manual as a refrence and make my own circuits, I know that they all have the same design, your printed copy would be very usefulSent from my SM-T585 using Tapatalk

author: Frankje
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2017, 07:57:20 pm
content: Hi !I've found some time to scan the manual.You can download it following this link :http://freepdfhosting.com/8dcfa0d861.pdfYou need to fold the printed papers to assemble a booklet.In the meantime, I will try to invent some more circuits for this kit.Would you share some ideas here also ?Greetings

author: sos_sifou
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 12, 2017, 09:17:46 pm
content: Quote from: Frankje on August 12, 2017, 07:57:20 pmThank you very much Frankje, I sure will share anything interesting on this thread.RegardsSent from my SM-T585 using Tapatalk

author: Frankje
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2017, 07:21:50 pm
content: Hi,It's a bit intriguing to find more circuits around the few components we have in this kit. So I came up with more circuits for you to experiment with :1. An electrical field detector : Find electrical wires in the walls with this sensitive circuit. Use the Variable Capacitor to adjust sensitivity.2. An adjustable audio generator, Use the Variable Capacitor to tune.3. A Marconi experiment : See how it all started to transmit wireless comunication

author: ruthieroth
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 22, 2019, 04:50:11 pm
content: The link to print off the owner's manuals for the 200 in 1 Electronic Projects Lab Kit worked perfectly..thank you.I am trying to buy some extra wire to use with this kit, for a friend and don't know what to look for! Can anyone help me with this?Thank you.

author: wilfred
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2019, 12:49:53 am
content: They used to supply stranded hook-up wire with the ends soldered to stop them fraying. If you have a soldering iron you can cut strip and solder your own.These days one idea that is cheap and readily available on sites like Ebay are pre made cables in 10cm 20cm and 30cm lengths with male connecting pins pre fitted. I haven't tried them and they might slip out of the spring terminals a little more easily than the original wires. However they are so cheap that they must be worth trying. They come in a rainbow coloured ribbon but they are easily separated.https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/40x-Dupont-Cable-M-F-M-M-F-F-Jumper-Breadboard-Wire-Cord-For-Arduino-Breadboard/132679504234?hash=item1ee450916a:m:m68D4n08tnVu5u44jA6ZpCw:rk:1:pf:0Search on Dupont M-M jumper and you should find more than enough.You could buy some short female-female ones to join the male-male ones together.These are also availablehttps://www.ebay.com.au/itm/10pcs-24AWG-Dupont-Wire-Breadboard-Various-Color-Length-M-M-M-F-F-F-for-Arduino/132902467555?hash=item1ef19ab7e3:m:m7c9CE3T4SNXWtLKDPNwFhA:rk:6:pf:0The benefit is they can be bought in different colours and you could match colours to lengths for example.