mini.ELC.001 : Project Info

⚡ Build Your Own Charger! | Project Basic Education

Education becomes a real experience when we combine theory with practice! 🎯 In this project, we won’t just read about how a charger works – we’ll build one from scratch, experiment, and learn through hands-on creation! 🛠️

🔹 What is this Project, and What Will We Build?

🛠 Your First Charger!

Think about how many times you've used a charger for your phone or tablet. But do you really know how it works? 🤔

In this project, we will build a fully functional charger from scratch using components and technologies that will help you understand the flow of electricity and energy transfer.

🔍 What Does a Charger Do?

A charger is a "bridge" that transfers electrical energy from the power outlet 🏠 to a device's battery, allowing it to function again without being plugged in.

Instead of just reading about it in a book, we will build it and see how it works in action!

🧪 The Workshop Process

In our workshop, we won’t just talk about theories! We will:

✔ 3D print the parts
✔ Assemble the circuit
✔ Experiment with real data
✔ Test it with phones, tablets, and other devices

But we don’t stop there! We will also conduct experiments to test its performance!

🔬 Experiments We Will Conduct

🔹 Fast Charging Performance Test ⚡
➝ We will measure how charging speed varies based on current intensity.

🔹 Battery Capacity Measurement 🔋
➝ We will examine how battery capacity affects charging time.

🔍 Investigation and Data Analysis

During our experiments, we won’t just take measurements! Instead, we will dive into debugging and result analysis:

✅ If something doesn’t work correctly, we will identify the cause and test solutions!
✅ We will apply the "Cause & Effect" method to understand how the circuit functions.
✅ We will analyze our data and find ways to improve efficiency!

🚀 What Will You Learn from This Project?

✔ How electricity and energy transfer work ⚡
✔ What Volts, Amperes, and Watts are 🏷️
✔ Why some chargers are faster than others 🏎️
✔ The difference between a fast charger and a regular charger ⏳
✔ How to safely connect electrical circuits 🔧

And, of course, you will have your own fully functional charger that you built yourself! 😃

🚀 Ready to Get Started?

Your journey into the world of creation begins now! 👇

📌 Read, experiment, and if you want the full hands-on experience, get the Project Kit to build your own charger!

After completing this project, you will never look at a charger the same way again! 😉

🚀 Project Implementation

I’m excited to embark on this journey with you! Below you’ll find all the steps and “buttons” you need to complete this project, along with related instructions.

Note: In many cases, I’ve included videos. If you don’t see a video yet, it means I haven’t uploaded it. Wait 1-2 days and check back to get the complete picture!

🔎 Navigating the Project “Tabs”

• 📚 Left Sidebar: Here you’ll find all the “lessons” you need to review (or show your students) to gain the knowledge required to complete the project.
• 🔝 Top Bar: Contains the main steps in the order you should follow to finish the project. Always start with the first “tabs,” as they’re the most crucial.

1. Project Kits

• This is where you’ll find all the kits you can purchase for this specific project.
• 🛠️ What will you need?
  • 📌 PCB with a USB port
  • 📌 Screws & threaded inserts
  • 📌 A small Allen key or screwdriver for assembly
  • 📌 A power supply
• I’ve designed different parts and models, all based on the same concept. Choose whatever excites you the most!
• For robotics workshops or classroom settings, you can find “bundles” of 10 (or more) kits at a better price, perfect for classes with multiple students.

2. 3D Print It

• In the “3D Print It” tab, you’ll find the files you need to print the parts for the workshop.
• ⏳ Tip: You can start printing at the same time you order your kits, so once your parts arrive, you’ll have the printed pieces ready!
• ❓ No 3D printer?
  • In this same tab, you can choose to purchase pre-printed parts.
• 🤔 Why get a 3D printer?
  • You’ll need it frequently since almost all workshops involve 3D-printed parts.
  • It’s more cost-effective and fun to print them yourself!

3. Assembly

• In the “Assembly” tab, you’ll find:
  • Instructions, photos, and possibly videos to guide your assembly.
  • Helpful tips for keeping your workshop organized, so students (or kids) stay on task and things don’t get chaotic! 🤪
• Follow the steps carefully. Assembly is the most exciting part, but it requires focus!

4. Experiments

• In the final tab (“Experiments”):
  • You’ll find the experimental procedures to follow.
  • 📝 Printable sheets for students to record their results.
  • ❓ Answers to common questions (FAQ) that come up during experiments.
• 🤩 Extra tip: If you get an unexpected question from students:
  • 🌐 “Search it on GPT/the internet”.
  • ✉️ Send me a message, and I’ll give you a detailed answer.
  • 🌟 Take note of the student’s name who asked. These kids are ideal “team captains” for robot battles and competitions!

🔎 Additional Content in the Left Sidebar

• ⚡ Measurement Device

  • If any students want to delve deeper into measuring current and voltage, you can open this section.
  • You’ll find info on how the measuring device works, allowing you to level up the experimentation!

• 🏅 Workshop License

  • If you’d like your workshop (or school) to join the official network that uses my tools, there’s a small subscription:
    • €3/child, with a minimum monthly fee of €280.
    • You gain access to a huge library of files, projects, lessons, and ready-made answers.
  • I’ll be thrilled to feature your center in my store as an official partner!

🚀 Enjoy & Get Creative! 🚀

Now that you know exactly how the project tabs work, it’s time to begin! You have:

• Project Kits: To get your components.
• 3D Print It: To print what you need.
• Assembly: To put everything together into a complete product.
• Experiments: To discover how everything works in practice!

Take the first step and good luck! Your students (or your child) will love this process, and you’ll have enjoyed a dynamic and exciting learning experience!

⚡ A Little Caution for a Big… Adventure!

Although the project itself is super simple, let’s take a look at some “warnings” before we begin. Not to scare you, but to save hands, cables, and… hair from unwanted accidents! 🤪

👶 Age & Requirements

• Why not younger grades?
  • Children under 10-11 years old usually don’t have phones (or don’t use them frequently).
  • They won’t really appreciate the “charger/energy/battery” aspect because they’re not part of their daily life in the same way.
• Ideal age: At least 11-12 years old, where they can:
  • Assemble with a bit of guidance.
  • Collect data from experiments.
  • Handle debugging without getting exhausted after 5 minutes.

🎨 Give Them the Freedom of… Colors!

• Let the kids (or students) choose the colors for their chargers!
• The more “personal” it feels, the more enthusiastic they’ll be to finish it.

🔥 “Spicy” Details & Tool Handling

• Inserts & Heat

  • If you want the kids to install the inserts themselves (using a soldering iron), remember that the soldering iron is hot.
  • If you don’t want to risk it, do it yourself. (If you’re careless, you’ll be the one getting burned. 😅)

• Screws & “weird” incidents

  • Yes, there’s a story of a child who somehow… screwed their hand between the box and the screw. 🤷
  • Don’t be surprised by anything. Better keep an eye on them.

• Power Supply & 220V

  • Use certified power supplies (CE, etc.) with the necessary protections.
  • Before you bring out the power supplies, remove all Allen keys, screws, or any metal objects that might be shoved into a socket!
  • If (just if) some child has the bright idea to do “socket experiments,” they should know they’ll end up seeing stars and looking like Albert Einstein post-electrocution. ⚡

💡 Want to Add Something?

• If you’ve experienced similar hilarious (or dramatic) moments, feel free to share them with your learners or colleagues.
• Even though the vibe is laid-back, supervision and caution (especially with electricity and hot tools) are non-negotiable.

🏆 Final Note

This project is simple, safe, and perfect for teaching children the basics of assembly, energy, and experimentation. However, there’s always that one “star” who’ll try to… discover new laws of physics. So, it’s better to be prepared than to chase after them later!

Pro Tip: Stay calm, be prepared, and… enjoy the process! The rest, you’ll learn “in the field.” Good luck and… happy screwing!

🎯 The Goal of Project-Based Education

Learning emerges naturally when it stems from creation. When a child experiences knowledge, it ceases to be mere information and becomes a lasting experience. In Project Basic Education (Print, Build, Hack, Break, Learn, Repeat), enthusiasm is key: when students get excited about what they’re building, they learn without even realizing it. 🚀

🔎 Why Did We Choose a Charger?

• 🔌 It’s a familiar object – Children and young people use it every day.
• ⚡ It hides important physics & electronics principles – Perfect for demonstrating how electricity and energy transfer work in practice.
• ✅ It’s useful – By creating something they use daily, students feel they’re learning something practical with immediate application.

This approach makes learning interactive, fun, and meaningful! ✨

⚙️ The Workshop Process

In the workshop, we aim to give students a comprehensive experience: from assembling a real object to conducting experiments and finally analyzing the results.

1. Assembly: The Joy of Creation

• 🤔 Why assembly?
  Many children have never held a screwdriver in their hands. They may be used to building things with plastic bricks, but not something electronic with real screws and tools.

• 🎯 What do we achieve?

  1. Enthusiasm & Confidence: “I built something on my own!”
  2. Experiential learning: The child touches, assembles, and sees how the parts fit together—laying the groundwork for the next steps.

• 💡 How do children react?

  1. Curiosity: “What is this part for?”
  2. Excitement: “Can I screw it in myself?”
  3. Sense of accomplishment: “I did it!”

2. Experimental Process: From Theory to Practice

• 🔬 Why experiments?
  Instead of starting with theory, here we build first, test next, and then delve into the theory. This makes knowledge more tangible and engaging.

• 🧪 What do we do in practice?

  1. Charger comparison: How much energy does the phone consume with different chargers?
  2. Battery capacity measurements: How much current does each phone or device draw?
  3. Fast charge vs. regular charge: Where do we notice a difference?

• ✨ How do children react?

  1. Excitement: “Mine charges faster!”
  2. Friendly ‘competition’: “Which battery has the highest capacity?”
  3. Curiosity: “Why does this happen? How does it work?”

This stage is full of fun, questions, and anticipation for answers! 🎉

3. Explanation & Analysis of Results: The Moment of Learning

After assembling the charger and experimenting with it, children are finally ready to learn the “why” and “how.”

• 📌 What do we analyze?

  1. How does our charger work?
  2. How is the outlet’s current converted into safe energy for the device?
  3. Why do different chargers produce different charging times and specifications?

• 🤝 How do we connect theory to practice?

  1. Link measurements (Volts, Amps, Watts) with the results the children obtained.
  2. Explain the Physics behind these numbers.
  3. Encourage discussion: “What if…? How can we improve the circuit?”

• 🏆 Why is this so important?

  1. Completing the experience: Kids see that numbers and theories are not just abstract concepts.
  2. Developing critical thinking: They learn to explain why things happen.
  3. Motivating further exploration: “I want to build more things!”

🚀 And This Is Only the Beginning

This specific project (building a charger) is just the first step. It’s the most effective way to show children, parents, and educators how exciting learning can be when it starts with practical work and leads to theory.

• Learn through creation: Building something sparks questions, questions lead to answers, and thus knowledge is anchored in the mind.
• Motivation for learning: A simple screwdriver becomes a “ticket” to a whole new world of creation and experimentation.
• Multiple applications: We can use the same philosophy to design many other activities (3D printing, robotics, etc.), offering children new stimuli to explore.

💡 Final Message

Project-Based Education is more than a single lesson; it’s an entire mindset. A child (or learner) is invited to “get their hands dirty” with creative processes, experiment, make mistakes, and learn from them.

When enthusiasm is the driving force, you learn without even realizing it.

Thanks to this methodology, the child walks away with much more than just a charger; they walk away with skills, confidence, and a new perspective on the world of science and technology! 🌟

🔑 You Are the Key to Success!

I created this project with great care and enthusiasm. I designed the USB charger, developed its step-by-step process, and produced all the videos and instructions you’ll find on this platform.

However, if the teacher or parent doesn’t invest the time and willingness to properly follow the educational process, even the best material won’t bear fruit. The secret to success lies in your own effort to implement everything I’ve prepared!

• You will take the knowledge and put it into practice.
• You will assemble, experiment, and discover alongside the children.
• You will instill the confidence that “yes, we can build this!”

🤝 We Are Together at Every Step

• If you have any questions before you begin, don’t hesitate to contact me.
• I’m here to support you on this journey.
• During or after the project, if you need anything, you know where to find me!

🚀 This Project Is Only the Beginning

Continue the Magical Journey of Creation!

• Individual Projects / Monthly Subscription to the Workshop
• One Project at a Time

This project is just the first step into a whole new world of 3D printing, electronics, robotics, and more!

• I have at least 20 unique projects prepared—some smaller, some larger, to suit all interests.
• When enthusiasm takes the lead, you learn without even realizing it!

✨ The Value of the Teacher & the Parent

The main reason I’ve organized the information on different levels (one for students, another for parents/educators) is to give you the confidence you need. When you feel sure about what you say and do, students (or children) will trust you and follow your example.

“Ένας χαρούμενος εκπαιδευτικός σωστές γνώσεις και αυτοπεποίθηση και έχοντας τα σωστά εργαλεία στα χέρια του μπορεί να εμπνεύσει ακόμα και το πιο δύσκολο μαθητή του εγώ θα σου δώσω τα εργαλεία εσύ πρέπει να κάνεις τα υπόλοιπα”

This motto sums up the entire philosophy of Project Basic Education:

• A happy educator: When you enjoy the process, children sense it and participate more enthusiastically.
• Proper knowledge & confidence: I’ve made sure you have all the information you need to feel secure.
• The right tools: They’re available, either as physical kits or in the form of instructions and videos.

From here on out, the next step is up to you. I’m sure you’ll do great!

🎉 Welcome to mini250.gr Educational platform!

mini250.gr is a unique educational platform packed with projects, categories, and materials, all designed to guide you step by step through hands-on learning. Whether you’re an educator looking to enrich your curriculum or a parent searching for creative activities for your child, you’ve come to the right place!

Because parents are the first educators of their children, while educators become the “second parents” in the classroom.

👀 Before You Begin: Use a Computer

• 🔎 Why not a phone?
  The platform has a lot of information and was designed to work best on a larger screen.
• 🖥️ No computer available?
  Consider getting a used or budget-friendly laptop (around 250€). It will make navigation and learning so much easier!

🏆 Think of It as a Giant Board Game

Imagine mini250.gr as a big game board filled with squares.

• 🎯 Goal: Reach the final square on the right!
• 🔑 How to play: You start from the left (the first “square” or section) and move step by step to the right.
• 💡 What will you find? Each “square” reveals new articles, videos, files, and instructions to help you achieve your goal!

Don’t worry if it seems like a lot of information. I’ve organized everything step by step to make your journey feel like playing a game!

🔝 The Top Red Bar (Navigation Bar)

This red bar at the top of the website is your gateway to all the main topics the platform offers:

1. 3D Design & 3D Printing

   • Everything you need to understand and create parts with a 3D printer.
   • Each project includes instructions for printing and designing, so you can build your own components.

2. Programming

   • 🚧 (Under construction!) Soon, this section will feature content for learning programming from scratch.

3. Mini Electronics

   • This is where your first project—the charger!—lives. 🔌⚡
   • In general, you’ll find how to build small electronic devices and how to combine circuits with practical builds.

4. RC Block (Remote Control & Modeling)

   • When kids (or your students) reach around age 14 and get bored with “simple” projects, they’ll love bolder creations: drones, rovers, battle bots, etc.

5. DIY Blocks

   • A “hybrid” category for those who want to get their hands even dirtier, creating imaginative projects with printed parts and aluminum rods.

6. 3D Farm

   • Here you can find ready-made 3D-printed products and gifts, which you can buy or make yourself if you own a 3D printer.

🗺️ Navigating Within a Project

When you enter a specific project (for example, the charger), you’ll see a vertical side bar on the left.

• 📑 What’s in there?

  • All the information and steps you need to follow.
  • Links to purchase or acquire the necessary materials (Order List).
  • Assembly instructions.
  • Sections for experiments, programming (when required), or anything else your project might need.

• 🔢 How many steps are there?

  • Small projects: Usually 5-10 steps.
  • Bigger workshops: They may have 40-50 steps!

🧩 Why Is It Designed This Way?

I want you to follow the sequence I’ve laid out:

1. Project Info: Learn what you’ll build and why.
2. Order List: Gather all the materials.
3. Assembly / Experiments: Learn by doing!
4. (If applicable) Programming: If your project requires code.

Think of it as a journey! If you rush to the “final square” without going through the first one, you might get lost. Move forward with enthusiasm, and you’ll reach the goal!

🎁 Additional Events & Hidden Surprises

• 🎁 Creator Challenge & Easter Eggs
  Soon, we’ll launch challenges and contests, hiding Easter Eggs, gift codes, and other offers throughout the site.
• 🕵️ Look everywhere
  You might find them in unexpected corners of the site or within instructions. Stay alert because big rewards are on the way!

The goal? To make the platform even more playful and interactive, keeping you engaged!

🙋 For Parents & Educators

Whether you’re a parent (the child’s first educator!) or a teacher (the “second parent” in the classroom), the key points are:

1. Explore the entire platform and understand how it works.
2. Choose projects that excite you and suit your children’s (or students’) needs.
3. Follow the steps in the recommended order, giving children time and space to experiment.
4. Encourage questions, “mistakes,” and trials. That’s where real learning happens!

🎉 Final Tip 🎉

• See mini250.gr as a giant game packed with knowledge, experimentation, and creation.
• Proceed step by step, remembering the goal isn’t just to “finish” quickly but to enjoy the process.
• If any questions or issues come up, don’t hesitate to reach out!

Together, we’ll turn learning into an unforgettable adventure! Thank you for being here, and I can’t wait to see what you’ll build! ✨