Make Power, Use Power

1. Project Overview

I was subcontracted to design, fabricate and install all the electronic systems in the “Make Power, Use Power” activation for expERIEnce Children’s Museum.

The activation, targeted at elementary to middle school ages, aims to educate visitors on how renewable energy sources can be used to generate electricity, store that power in a battery for later use, and then consume that power on demand to power common household appliances.

To initiate this educational activation, I designed two encoder dials (engineered to withstand the forces applied by curious children pulling on the dials). As each dial is rotated, an LED sun begins to glow and the wind begins to blow, each generating “renewable electricity” represented by LEDs leading to a rechargeable battery.

Once fully charged, visitors can discharge the battery with a button press allowing the to power flow into a pegboard. Acting a continuity test circuit, visitors could build circuits on the pegboard using aluminum plates, choosing which of the home appliances where turned on. The appliances, would continue to run until the battery is fully discharged, at which point the story arc can begin again.