Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

I have redid the breadboard several time and the pump will still not turn on
I have tried every solution posted: Rotating the potentiates, changing the resistors, troubleshooting etc....
we know that the pump works because we tried several times to turn the pump on using batteries.
Are there any other ways to get the pump working.

Hi,
I am very sorry to hear that you are running into issues with the project.
Is there any way that you can post a picture of the breadboard that you have built please? We may be able to spot / identify the issues using the picture and give you better feedback.

Thanks!
Willey

I won't let me attach the image. It says that there is an error when I tried to add the image.Is there another way I can send it to you.

Hi,
Can you try attaching the picture as a pdf? (You can "print" the picture to a pdf file. Or insert it into MS Word)

Thanks!
Willey

I printed it to PDF
It said that the image is to large

Hi,
So sorry to hear that. Can you adjust the resolution of the picture down so that we can make the file size smaller?
Willey

Hi,
I am sorry about this but the image you posted is too small.
Can you do a picture of the breadboard (in color) and one of the overall circuit like the one you posted please?

(Sorry, I just thought of this: Please take a look at the following links for how to reduce picture size)
https://support.office.com/en-us/articl ... 4109eb9535

There are also a number of youtube instruction video on how to do this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAMplAHLfSo

Thanks!
Willey

Hi - Being able to see a really clear and close up photo looking down at the breadboard will help Willey (and other Experts) troubleshoot with you. If you can take a few photos, you can email them to scibuddy@sciencebuddies.org, and I'll make sure they get passed to Willey.

Amy
Science Buddies


[I've forwarded the photos you sent to Willey.]

Thank you
I hope he can find the issue

Hi,
Thank you for the pictures! They really helped. I looked at the circuit board and it looks to me that you have everything connected correctly. I do have a question on the battery pack though. In the picture, IMG_7370, I am seeing only 3 batteries. Can you confirm that when you have all 8 batteries installed that the pump still won't run please? (The circuit needs the full 12V (8 * 1.5V per battery) to operate).

Thanks!
Willey

Yes the pump does not work with all eight batteries. We just take one battery out when we are not using the circuit for safety purposes.
***If all the wiring is correct what should we do to get the pump to work when connected to the breadboard.***
Also, for the neutralized solution can we just use water.

Hmm... that's strange. Sorry, I forgot to ask one more question. There were two picture of the breadboard. The short one looks to have the correct circuit. The longer breadboard, IMG_7362, show the yellow wire going to 4d? (instead of 1d as shown in the short breadboard.) Would you happen to know why that change was made? Can you try moving that back to 1d?

In terms of next step, do you have access to a Digital multi-meter? we will need to take some measurement and see where the circuit may be giving us trouble. If that's not available, we may need to start switching out components.

We are using the short breadboard. We redid the breadboard several times, so we are going with the short breadboard.

Also, we do have access to a digital multi meter. What would be our next steps.