Elab Volume 2

ELAB – Electronics Lab Volume 2 takes young learners from building circuits to truly understanding them. The second level of the ELAB STEM program (ages 11–14) introduces real measurement with a multimeter — included in the kit — along with advanced components: transistors, capacitors, diodes, phototransistors, and DC motors. Across 12 chapters and more than 30 hands-on experiments, students learn to measure, calculate, and control real circuits, culminating in the final project: a walking robot with twin motors that follows the light. Recommended after Volume 1, but accessible to anyone with basic electronics fundamentals.

The illustrated manual is available in English and Italian

From observation to measurement. From theory to control.

ELAB Volume 2 takes electronics to the next level. Where Volume 1 taught how to build your first circuits, Volume 2 teaches how to understand, measure, and control them. With a real multimeter in hand, young learners become true explorers of electronics.

New components — capacitors, transistors, diodes, phototransistors, and DC motors — open the door to more complex and dynamic systems. The path culminates in the construction of a robot that follows the light, integrating every skill acquired along the way.

The multimeter changes everything

Volume 2 is built around the fundamental instrument of every electronics engineer: a digital multimeter, included in the kit together with probes and alligator clips. Students learn to measure DC voltage, current, resistance, and continuity — and every experiment follows the real scientific method: form a hypothesis, calculate with Ohm's Law, measure with the multimeter, and verify the result. Not just building circuits, but genuinely understanding them.

A structured learning path

The illustrated manual contains 12 chapters, each building on the previous one:

1. More Milestones in the History of Electronics
2. What Is Electricity?
3. The Multimeter — the richest chapter in the manual: voltage, resistance, current, and continuity
4. A Deeper Look at Resistors — E12 series, tolerance, series and parallel connections
5. A Deeper Look at Batteries — battery types, series and parallel, capacity in mAh
6. A Deeper Look at LEDs — calculating the protection resistor, forward voltage and current
7. What Are Capacitors? — charge, discharge, and timed LED circuits
8. What Are Transistors? — BJT and MOSFET as electronic switches
9. What Are Phototransistors? — light-controlled circuits
10. The DC Motor — transistor driving and flyback diode protection
11. Diodes — one-way conduction and circuit protection
12. Let's Build Our First Walking Robot! — the final project with twin motors and light sensors

For students, families, and teachers

• Young learners (11–14): the natural next step for students who have completed Volume 1 or already know the basics. They learn to measure, analyze, and build real electromechanical systems.
• Parents and families: the perfect follow-up gift for a young inventor who loved Volume 1. A screen-free, advanced educational activity that ends with the thrill of seeing your own robot walk.
• Teachers and schools: the second year of the ELAB three-year program. It introduces real measurement, advanced components, and electromechanical systems, with lessons that fit standard 45–60 minute class periods. One kit is recommended for every 3–4 students.

Safe by design

All activities run on low voltage (9V), no soldering is required, and the kit is CE marked. Motors and transistors are used in fully safe conditions, and every experiment is designed to be safe and repeatable.

Supported by software

The kit is complemented by ELAB's support platform, including an AI assistant, a circuit-drawing engine, and real-time help for both teachers and students.

Part of a complete program

Volume 2 is the second step of a three-volume path: Volume 1 covers the fundamentals of electricity and breadboard circuits, while Volume 3 introduces programming with microcontrollers. Each volume is self-contained but designed to build into a complete, progressive electronics curriculum.

What's in the box

Over 90 electronic components, including a digital multimeter — everything needed to complete all 12 chapters of experiments:

• 1x Digital multimeter with probes and alligator clips
• 1x Breadboard, 830 tie points
• Jumper wires in assorted lengths
• 1x 9V battery clip with header
• 50x 4-band resistors (10 each: 100 Ω, 220 Ω, 330 Ω, 470 Ω, 1 kΩ)
• 25x colored LEDs (5 each: blue, red, green, yellow, white)
• 5x RGB LEDs (common cathode)
• 5x Pushbuttons
• 4x Transistors (MOSFET, used as electronic switches)
• 4x Capacitors, 1000 µF
• 4x Diodes
• 4x Phototransistors (light sensors)
• 2x DC motors + 2x wheels (for the walking robot project)
• 1x Illustrated manual, 114 pages, 12 chapters with theory, guided experiments, and final project

Note: the 9V batteries (one for the circuits, one for the multimeter) are not included for shipping safety reasons; they are easily available in any supermarket or electronics store.