The Traffic Light Kit was fun to build and worked the first time I turned it on. The problem it has is that after several minutes of running the Red LEDs begin to flicker on and off. If I turn the project off for a minute or two, and then turn it on again, it works properly for just a few minutes. Then the same problem resumes, and the red lights flicker. Perhaps one of the capacitors is faulty and discharges internally? Certainly it would be best to use a really fine-tipped soldering iron because some of the soldering points are very close together. It is a fun kit, and good for practising soldering. I like to keep a hand in at that.
Scritto da: komed3
Schöner, kleiner Bausatz
Schöner, kleiner Bausatz, um sich einen Nachmittag zu vertreiben. Die Lötstellen sind sehr groß, womit die Verkehrsampel auch für Lötanfänger geeignet sein sollte. Einzige kniffelige Stelle ist der Einbau der LED der Rückseite. Indes Platine und Bauteile in bester Qualität, keine Mängel festgestellt.
Scritto da: Steve Dawkins
STOP here, order this kit, and GO have some fun putting it together. (See what I did there?)
The MK131 is a great kit if you want to mimic a real traffic signal. It could add realism to a model train layout or Matchbox car display. It could even make a great conversation piece sitting on your desk at the office. The circuit includes a potentiometer that allows you to adjust the timing rate of the LEDs, and an ON/OFF switch so that you don't have to remove the battery when you're not using it. I'm an electronics hobbyist, and have assembled kits for several years. In reading some of the previous reviews for this kit, others had problems with the solder pads lifting off the pc board. This usually happens when too much heat is applied to the board. When soldering this kit, you will have to use caution and the right tools to prevent problems. You cannot use a soldering gun or iron. You need to use a low wattage soldering pencil with a pencil tip or small chisel tip. Mine is 40 watts, but you could also use a 25 watt pencil. Use a small diameter rosin core solder, such as .031". Some of the solder pads are very close together. It is easy to create a solder bridge between two adjacent pads if you aren't careful. (Ask me how I know.) Although this is listed as a "Beginner" kit, I wouldn't recommend it as your first ever soldering project. The instructions are more pictorial than text, but if you pay attention to the caution notes and follow the directions, you shouldn't have any problems. I have two Velleman kits that I have assembled. One of those is the same MK131 Traffic Light MiniKit that I just purchased again. Why two of them? Because I like it that much! Actually, I don't plan on assembling this one. It will be used as spare parts to repair my first one (if that ever becomes necessary), or the components may get used for other electronics projects. That may sound crazy, but I live in a metropolitan area that used to have several electronics parts stores. The last one closed a couple of years ago. The only way to get electronic components around here now is to order them online. This kit has several components in it. If I had to buy them individually, the total cost would be more than the cost of the kit. The 9 volt battery holder also doubles as the base to support the traffic light kit. If my original battery holder breaks or wears out, I don't know if it could be found at one of the online electronics suppliers. But with this spare kit, I won't have to worry about that. BTW, one battery will last several days of continuous use, if anyone wonders. Now order this kit and have some fun!
Scritto da: Felix
Ungewöhnliches Produkt
Nachdem ich die Ampel 2x von verschiedenen Lieferanten gekauft habe und jedesmal nach der Montage keine Funktionen da war. Habe ich bei beiden über Amazon reklamiert. Einer der Lieferanten wollte Bilder von der nicht funktionierten Ampel. Bis heute keine weiteren Informationen. Der zweite Lieferant, Fa. Völkner, wollte die Ampel retourniert haben. Es wurde dann kulanter Weise ein neuer Bausatz gesendet. Dieser funktionierte dann wie beschrieben. An dieser Stelle, danke an Fa. Völkner.
Scritto da: Joshua S
Works Perfectly
No se ha podido cargar el contenido multimedia. This kit was perfect for me. It's the second thing I've ever soldered. The first one was a kit by another company last week, which was a mess. With this kit, I had no problem understanding the directions. The LED's at top were a tad confusing at first, but I did a simple google search and figured out that the flat side of the LED is the negative side. Once I got it all put together I thought for sure there would be some issue, but it worked perfectly as intended. This kit really helped build confidence in my soldering skills. Looking forward to doing more kits like this one.
