Dance Pad ProjectBy: David Dorsten

Understand Electric Engineering Project = Dance Pad and Light Bulb Station

• This activity will demonstrate the engineering design process. Each team has built a

dependable, functional electric circuit. Depending on which specified part of the dance pad is

stepped on, electricity will flow to the corresponding numbered light making it flash. An open

circuit turns off the appliance.

• Build a ¼ scale (11 x 17 inches) dance pad that students step on to flash a light according to

specifications.

Materials 6V Battery pack (4 AA batteries) or 6V Lantern Battery

ÿ Aluminum foil

ÿ Four light bulbs

ÿ Four light sockets

ÿ 2 11 x 17 inch sheets of corrugated cardboard

ÿ Duct tape

ÿ Electrical wire

ÿ Scissors, Tape, Construction paper

ÿ Wire strippers

ÿ Diodes

ÿ Electrical connectors and solder

ÿ Electrical Tape

ÿ Foam peanut packing material (or some other soft, flexible, durable spacer)

ÿ Shoe box (For lights)

Concept Dance Pad Mania:

Electricity flows to the light and it flashes. An open circuit turns off the appliance.

Hint: use the dance pad to open and close the circuit – it becomes the switch! As

you build, make sure the circuit works and that it will be able to stand up to some

rugged treatment. How do I build the pad so that when it is stepped on a light

will turn on and when it is released, the light will turn off? How will I wire it so

that it works according to specifications? How will I build a switch into my pad to

turn the light on and off? How can I make it sturdy enough to withstand constant

stomping? How will I wire it to fulfill the assignment requirements? Build the

pad, then test it with a single light bulb for each section. Step on it several times

in a row to turn a light on and off. How well did it work? For example, loose wires

will make the pad stop working.

Light Bulb Station

Hint: Connect the battery and light bulbs outside the station first. Investigate

different connection methods. How do you connect electricity to the light bulb to

make it work? How do I make a light bulb station so the light bulbs are fixed, don’t

move, and work as required? How big do I make the station? How do you make

the individual lights work? How do you make multiple lights work with the same

intensity

Prototypes

How it Works • There are 6 different light options marked separately on the dance pad cardboard

and shown below:

1. Lights 1 and 4 light up simultaneously

2. All four lights light up together (1 through 4 light up)

3. Number 1 only

4. Number 2 only

5. Number 3 only

6. Number 4 only

• When each separate pad number option is pressed down, tin foil with the positive

wire contacts tin foil on the other half of the switch, allowing electricity to flow to

the light and the negative side of the light goes to the negative side of the battery,

thus completing the circuit.

• When the pad is released, the wires lose their connection and the light turns off.

• All of the positive wires are routed to a connector that has a common positive

wire. All the negative wires are routed to a connector that has a common negative

wire.

• Regarding the pad that controls multiple lights, each wire leading from the switch

has a diode which prevents electricity from flowing back and turning on any undesired lights

How it Works 2 The 5 volt diodes allow electricity to flow one way but do not allow it to flow back.

• All of the wires labeled “1” connect to the switches numbered 1 (both pads) and have a

connector routing a common 1 wire to the light bulb labeled 1. The diode on the wires

coming from the pad that has 1 and 4 and 1,2,3,4 prevents lights 2,3 and 4 from turning

on when 1 is pressed.

• All of the number “2” wires connect to the #2 pad. They connect with a connector

routing a common 2 wire to the light bulb labeled 2. The diode on the wire from the

1,2,3,4 switch prevents lights 1,3 and 4 from turning on when 2 is pressed.

• All of the number “3” wires connected to the 3 pad connect with a connector routing a

common 3 wire to the light bulb labeled 3. The diode on wire leading from the 1,2,3,4

switch prevents lights 1,2 and 4 from turning on when 3 is pressed.

• All of the number “4” wires on both pads that have a “4” on the switch (4 on the large

pad, 1 & 4, 1,2,3,4 on the smaller pad) to the 4 pad connect with a connector routing a

common 4 wire to the light bulb labeled 4. The small pad has diodes on both “4” wires

leaving the switch to prevent electricity to “bleed” back to the other wires. These diodes

prevents lights 1,2 and 3 from turning on when 4 is pressed..

How it Works 3 • Numbers 1 and 4 each have two diodes because 1 & 4

can light up 3 different

ways.

1. Each number 1 or 4 can light up by itself

2. Numbers 1 and 4 can light up together

3. 1,2,3 and 4 can all light up together

The diodes prevent electricity from flowing back to the switches and activating

other undesired lights. Think of them as a one way valve.

How it Works 4 The 4 light bulbs all are connected to a common negative wires to the battery.

• The 1+4 pad and the 1,2,3,4 pad have their own separate wire from the positive

battery.

• The 4 individual numbers connect to a common positive wire on the top board

which connects back to the battery.

• Each foil acts as a switch when the two separate pieces make contact.

• There is foam packing material and rolled up duct tape between the bottom

and top pads to allow support, protect the wires and allow the pad to be used

without breaking it and to provide space to keep the switches (aluminum foil)

from touching.

• To keep the wires from becoming loose, I used duct tape and electrical tape to

hold them in place.

Testing

• While designing and testing, I used a meter to

test that electricity would flow from the foil

to another foil, and wires to the foil. Once the

test was successful, I put the switches in place

and secured them with electrical tape, then

tested everything again. Each step was tested

at least twice to make sure that the switches

and wires would work and everything was

repeatable.

Light Bulb Assembly

• I used card board to secure my light bulb

assemblies. I punched a small hole then made

it slightly larger and fit the bulb assemblies

(socket, connectors, and bulb) and secured

them with electrical tape on both sides. I used

the underside to store some of the wiring.

Size of Project This station can really be almost any size. I

used a 11”X17” dance pad, 13”X 3.5” and a

a sheet of cardboard (measuring 8” by 10”.

This project can be much

larger or even smaller.