LEGO Renewable Energy Meter User manual
LEGO, the LEGO logo, MINDSTORMS and the MINDSTORMS logo are trademarks of/sont des marques de commerce de/son de marcas registradas de LEGO Group.
©2010 The LEGO Group. 1
Renewable Energy
Getting Started
With the LEGO® Energy Meter
2
LEGO, the LEGO logo, MINDSTORMS and the MINDSTORMS logo are trademarks of/sont des marques de commerce de/son de marcas registradas
de LEGO Group. ©2010 The LEGO Group.
Table of Contents
1. Energy Meter Overview ........................................................................................... 3
2. Attaching the Energy Storage ................................................................................ 3
3. Charging and discharging the Energy Meter .................................................... 4
3.1 Charging and discharging with the
LEGO® Power Functions Battery Box ............................................................. 5
3.2 Charging and discharging with the
LEGO Power Functions Rechargeable Battery Box ................................... 7
3.3 Charging and discharging with the LEGO MINDSTORMS® NXT .............. 9
4. Removing the Energy Storage ............................................................................... 12
5. Using the Energy Meter ........................................................................................... 13
6. Troubleshooting .......................................................................................................... 16
7. Caring for your Energy Meter ................................................................................. 16
8. Technical Specifications .......................................................................................... 16
3
LEGO, the LEGO logo, MINDSTORMS and the MINDSTORMS logo are trademarks of/sont des marques de commerce de/son de marcas registradas
de LEGO Group. ©2010 The LEGO Group.
Energy Meter Overview
Energy Meter
Attaching the Energy Storage
To attach the Energy Storage, slide it onto the
bottom of the Energy Display as shown.
Front Back
LEGO® MINDSTORMS®
Output Port
Display
Directional control switch
On/Off button
Output plug
Energy Display
Energy Storage
Input plug
4
LEGO, the LEGO logo, MINDSTORMS and the MINDSTORMS logo are trademarks of/sont des marques de commerce de/son de marcas registradas
de LEGO Group. ©2010 The LEGO Group.
Charging and discharging the Energy Meter
Before using the Energy Meter for the first time, you must charge the Energy Meter three times in
quick succession in order to achieve the full capacity it was designed to provide.
The Energy Meter measures, stores and releases generated energy. The Energy Storage powers
the Energy Meter and stores energy generated during the course of your experiments.
To fully charge and power the Energy Meter, the following three energy sources can be used:
Power Functions
Battery Box
Power Functions
Rechargeable Battery Box
LEGO® MINDSTORMS®
NXT
IMPORTANT!
To maximise the life of your Energy Meter, it is essential that you read the following
information thoroughly:
Using the Energy Meter for the first time
Before using the Energy Meter for the first time, you must charge the Energy Storage
three times in quick succession in order to achieve the full capacity the Energy Storage
was designed to provide. The remainder of this section provides full instructions on
charging and discharging the Energy Storage using one of the devices listed above.
After long periods of inactivity
To prolong the life of your Energy Storage and ensure that it performs as designed, we
highly recommend that you charge it three times in quick succession either every six
months or following a longer period of inactivity, whichever occurs first.
Regular use
When used on a regular basis, the Energy Storage only needs a single charge, as and
when required. Do not manually discharge the Energy Storage unless you are using
it for the first time or charging it after long periods of inactivity. Remember to always
disconnect the Energy Storage after use.
5
LEGO, the LEGO logo, MINDSTORMS and the MINDSTORMS logo are trademarks of/sont des marques de commerce de/son de marcas registradas
de LEGO Group. ©2010 The LEGO Group.
Charging and discharging with the
LEGO® Power Functions Battery Box
Charging the Energy Meter
Step 1
Make sure that the Power Functions Battery
Box is fitted with six new batteries before
beginning. Rechargeable batteries can
beused.
Step 2
Connect the Power Functions Battery Box to
the Input plug at the back of the Energy Meter
with the Power Functions Extension Wire.
Step 3
Turn on the Power Functions Battery Box by
moving the orange slider button to the right or
left. The Battery Box is on when the green light
is on.
Step 4
Make sure the Energy Meter is on. Turn on the
Energy Meter by pressing the green On/Off
button. Charging will now begin.
Charging is complete when the display turns
off. Even though the display may show 100J,
the Energy Meter is not fully charged until the
display turns off.
Charging and discharging with the LEGO® Power Functions Battery Box
INFO
Remember that charging
and discharging the
Energy Meter must
always be done under
adult supervision.
INFO
A full charge normally
takes approximately one
to three hours.
6
LEGO, the LEGO logo, MINDSTORMS and the MINDSTORMS logo are trademarks of/sont des marques de commerce de/son de marcas registradas
de LEGO Group. ©2010 The LEGO Group.
Discharging the Energy Meter
Follow steps 5 to 9 only if this is the first time you are using the Energy Meter.
Step 5
To completely discharge the Energy Meter, first
disconnect all wires and devices.
Step 6
Turn on the Energy Meter by pressing the
green On/Off button.
Step 7
Press and hold the green On/Off button for
10 seconds until a blinking warning symbol
appears on the display (shown below right).
Discharging will now begin.
Discharging is complete when the display
turns off.
You can cancel the discharge at any time by
pressing the green On/Off button. Press the
button again to turn the Energy Meter on and
use as normal.
Step 8
Charge and discharge the Energy Meter a second time by repeating steps 2 to 7.
Step 9
Finally, charge the Energy Meter for the third and last time by repeating steps 2 to 4.
You are now ready to start using your fully charged Energy Storage.
Always remove the Energy Storage from the Energy Display when not in use
(see ‘Removing the Energy Storage’).
INFO
A full discharge normally
takes approximately
30-90 minutes.
INFO
Always store the
Energy Storage at room
temperature in a clean,
dry place.
Charging and discharging with the LEGO® Power Functions Battery Box
7
LEGO, the LEGO logo, MINDSTORMS and the MINDSTORMS logo are trademarks of/sont des marques de commerce de/son de marcas registradas
de LEGO Group. ©2010 The LEGO Group.
Charging and discharging with the LEGO®
Power Functions Rechargeable Battery Box
Charging the Energy Meter
Step 1
Make sure that the Power Functions
Rechargeable Battery Box is fully charged
before beginning.
Step 2
Connect the Power Functions Rechargeable
Battery Box to the Input plug at the back of
the Energy Meter with the Power Functions
Extension Wire.
Step 3
Connect the Rechargeable Battery Box to a
power source using the LEGO® transformer
asshown.
Step 4
Turn on the Power Functions Rechargeable
Battery Box by pressing the green On/Off
button. The Rechargeable Battery Box is on
when the green light is on.
Turn on the output power by turning the
orange dial all the way to the right or left.
Step 5
Make sure the Energy Meter is on. Turn on the
Energy Meter by pressing the green On/Off
button. Charging will now begin.
Charging is complete when the display turns
off. Even though the display may show 100 J,
the Energy Meter is not fully charged until the
display turns off.
INFO
Remember that charging
and discharging the
Energy Meter must
always be done under
adult supervision.
Charging and discharging with the LEGO® Power Functions Rechargeable Battery Box
TIP
When fully charged,
the Power Functions
Rechargeable Battery
Box can charge up to
three Energy Meters at a
same time.
TIP
A full charge normally
takes approximately one
to three hours.
8
LEGO, the LEGO logo, MINDSTORMS and the MINDSTORMS logo are trademarks of/sont des marques de commerce de/son de marcas registradas
de LEGO Group. ©2010 The LEGO Group.
Discharging the Energy Meter
Follow steps 6 to 10 only if this is the first time you are using the Energy Meter.
Step 6
To completely discharge the Energy Meter, first
disconnect all wires and devices.
Step 7
Turn on the Energy Meter by pressing the
green On/Off button.
Step 8
Press and hold the green On/Off button for
10 seconds until a blinking warning symbol
appears on the display (shown below right).
Discharging will now begin.
Discharging is complete when the display
turns off.
You can cancel the discharge at any time by
pressing the green On/Off button. Press the
button again to turn the Energy Meter on and
use as normal.
Step 9
Charge and discharge the Energy Meter a second time by repeating steps 2 to 8.
Step 10
Finally, charge the Energy Meter for the third and last time by repeating steps 2 to 5.
You are now ready to start using your fully charged Energy Storage.
Always remove the Energy Storage from the Energy Display when not in use
(see ‘Removing the Energy Storage’).
INFO
A full discharge normally
takes approximately
30-90 minutes.
Charging and discharging with the LEGO® Power Functions Rechargeable Battery Box
INFO
Always store the
Energy Storage at room
temperature in a clean,
dry place.
9
LEGO, the LEGO logo, MINDSTORMS and the MINDSTORMS logo are trademarks of/sont des marques de commerce de/son de marcas registradas
de LEGO Group. ©2010 The LEGO Group.
Charging and discharging with the
LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT
Charging the Energy Meter
Step 1
Make sure that you have the LEGO Converter
Cable, Power Functions Extension Wire, LEGO
transformer, Energy Meter and MINDSTORMS
NXT as shown.
Step 2
Connect the LEGO Converter Cable to Port A
of the MINDSTORMS NXT and then connect the
LEGO Converter Cable to the light grey end
of the Power Functions Extension Wire. Now,
connect the dark end of the Power Functions
Extension Wire to the input plug at the back
of the Energy Meter. Finally, connect the
MINDSTORMS NXT to a power source using
the LEGO transformer as shown.
Step 3
Build the following program in the
MINDSTORMS NXT Software:
• Configure a Move block for motor A with the
duration set to unlimited and power to 100
• Configure a Loop block to run forever
• Place a Keep Alive block inside the Loop
block so the MINDSTORMS NXT does not
power down during
charging
Step 4
The MINDSTORMS NXT must be on. Turn on the
MINDSTORMS NXT by pressing the orange On/
Enter button.
Step 5
Attach the MINDSTORMS NXT to a computer
using either a USB cable or Bluetooth
connection.
INFO
Remember that charging
and discharging the
Energy Meter must
always be done under
adult supervision.
TIP
Show the complete
palette to locate the
Keep Alive block.
Charging and discharging with the LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT
TIP
When fully charged,
the MINDSTORMS NXT
can charge up to three
Energy Meters at the
same time.
10
LEGO, the LEGO logo, MINDSTORMS and the MINDSTORMS logo are trademarks of/sont des marques de commerce de/son de marcas registradas
de LEGO Group. ©2010 The LEGO Group.
Step 6
Open the program you created in the
MINDSTORMS NXT Software and press
Download and run.
Step 7
Make sure the Energy Meter is on. Turn on the
Energy Meter by pressing the green On/Off
button. Charging will now begin.
Charging is complete when the display turns
off. Even though the display may show 100 J,
the Energy Meter is not fully charged until the
display turns off.
INFO
A full charge normally
takes approximately one
to three hours.
Charging and discharging with the LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT
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