Questions tagged [electronics]

Electronics are the branch of physics and technology concerned with the design of circuits using transistors and microchips, and with the behavior and movement of electrons in a semiconductor, conductor, vacuum, or gas.

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Is it possible to build simple logic gates with LEGO mechanics?

I built a simple bitshifter in Minecraft yesterday. I wondered if something like this could be built with LEGO? Maybe there is a possibility to build gates with rubber bands and those movable ...
Sibbo's user avatar
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25 votes
1 answer
7k views

What are the electrical properties of electric LEGO systems?

Several electric LEGO systems exist: LEGO Trains LEGO Technic Power Functions (PF) LEGO Mindstorms (in several versions) ...? How do these systems differ in electrical properties and which systems ...
Jakob's user avatar
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19 votes
2 answers
12k views

Is it possible to change the battery in a 54604 light brick?

I got 4 of these in in a bulk lot of Lego, but the lamp is getting quite dim in a couple of them. Is it possible to change the battery in a 54604 light brick? It looks like the brick should open, ...
Kramii's user avatar
  • 9,121
18 votes
3 answers
7k views

Lego set for 17 year old

This might sound a little bit silly, but I'm 17 and I've never built a LEGO toy, so I was looking for a first one, to see what it's about. What sets would you recommend I should look at, that are ...
Grewe Kokkor's user avatar
14 votes
1 answer
5k views

Can I use a generic (non-Lego) transformer with a rechargable Power Functions battery?

I've recently ordered a LEGO® 8878 Rechargeable Battery Box: I was wondering if I really need to get the (rather expensive) LEGO® Power Functions Transformer or if I can substitute a (cheaper) ...
Kramii's user avatar
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13 votes
1 answer
4k views

How much current do the LEGO motors draw?

I'm building a project with Raspberry Pi and some other electronics driving the LEGO Power Functions M-Motor (8883) and I need to know how much current those motors draw under load. Has anyone done ...
Robbie Wxyz's user avatar
12 votes
1 answer
4k views

What internal electronics do Spike Prime and Mindstorms Robot Inventor use?

What electronics live inside the SPIKE Prime hub? How powerful is the hardware?
jncraton's user avatar
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12 votes
1 answer
2k views

Replace Battery in LEGO Dino Attack Light-Up T-Rex Head?

Is it possible to replace the battery of the LEGO Dino Attack T-Rex head? There's a button on the top of the head that makes the eyes and tongue light up red, presumably via a red LED. There doesn't ...
Alexander O'Mara's user avatar
11 votes
1 answer
2k views

What electronics are inside the LEGO Powered Up hub?

I'm curious what the internals of the new Powered Up hub look like? What components are inside?
jncraton's user avatar
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11 votes
4 answers
7k views

Which programming environments or APIs are available for the LEGO BOOST?

Over the holidays I tried the following Python library: https://github.com/undera/pylgbst but I couldn't get it to work. Then again my knowledge of Python is very limited. I'm more experienced with C+...
Michael Verschaeve's user avatar
11 votes
1 answer
4k views

Why are there 4 wires leading to the Power Functions LEGO train motor?

Does anyone know what the wires do? If the Power Functions train motors are simple DC only 2 wires would be needed or is it more complex than that?
Quorneng's user avatar
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10 votes
1 answer
4k views

What internal electronics does LEGO Boost use?

What specific electronic components are present inside the Boost Move Hub?
jncraton's user avatar
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10 votes
2 answers
5k views

Homemade methods for interfacing a Servo with LEGO bricks

I'm looking for non-destructive way to structurally attach a standard servo with LEGO bricks. I'm interested in answers for either Large, Medium or Small size servos. I'm using LEGO Mindstorm/...
pcantin's user avatar
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9 votes
1 answer
1k views

white-coloured light brick for the iron man sets

I've recently built the Marvel Iron Man Figure (76206) which comes with a light brick to power the 'arc reactor' in the set I find it problematic that the light brick lights up orange, rather than ...
Michael Verschaeve's user avatar
9 votes
2 answers
642 views

Duplo Locomotive: What is this inner part used for?

Background I was forced to completely disassemble a duplo locomotive. My son played with it in a sand box and, guess what, it was not working anymore. I used a small brush to clean every single part (...
Benoit's user avatar
  • 193
9 votes
1 answer
2k views

What is inside the LEGO Powered Up M motor?

What is inside the M motor in the new Powered Up system? How is it different from the older Power Functions motor?
jncraton's user avatar
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8 votes
3 answers
2k views

Recommendation on how to build a "brick presence detector"?

I want to build a model of a complex machine with Lego and Arduino or a Raspberry. The machine model also features several accessories that can be added or removed during operation of the machine ...
Norbert's user avatar
  • 183
8 votes
2 answers
4k views

Custom Power Functions plug design

I'm considering the possibility of making my own Power Functions-compatible sockets for a project. I'm designing a module board for a single-board-computer with motor drivers and would like to encase ...
Shadocko's user avatar
  • 445
8 votes
3 answers
5k views

Running Power Functions Train Without IR Receiver/Remote

I recently bought 10254 Winter Holiday Train and wanted to get it running around the provided circle of track. I was wondering if there is any way to do this without incorporating the IR receiver and ...
Matt's user avatar
  • 83
8 votes
2 answers
2k views

How do the Infrared Towers work?

I've seen a few Mindstorms "infrared transmission towers" listed on Brick Owl, Bricklink and other sites. However, I cannot find any good documentation that how they work, how they are used ...
EJ Mak's user avatar
  • 450
8 votes
2 answers
842 views

How to integrate hardware/embedded button with LEGO?

I have two different buttons (B3F-1000 and 3a250vac switch) which I want to integrate into a LEGO "machine" which I'm powering with an Arduino. Since the rest is integrated into LEGO plates, ...
bogen's user avatar
  • 825
8 votes
2 answers
2k views

Is the PWM on the PF Servo motor different than the PWM from an Arduino?

I have a Arduino motor shield connected to XL, L and M motors and can control the speed with PWM (Pulse Width Modulation). I made my own connector by cutting a Lego PF connector in half and wiring up ...
tooshel's user avatar
  • 2,478
8 votes
1 answer
528 views

Classic 9V battery box current limiter?

Recently I disassembled a classic 4760c01 Electric 9V Battery Box Small Complete Assembly to see what was inside. Battery Box: Disassembled: In the switch component, we find what appears to be a ...
Alexander O'Mara's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
1k views

What is inside the Technic Powered Up XL motor?

What components are inside the new Technic Powered Up XL motor? Is it the same as the PF XL motor, except with a different connector?
jncraton's user avatar
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7 votes
1 answer
1k views

Where can I get replacement cables of this kind?

What I'm looking for: This is a 4.5 V cable which is part of an old set I once had. I don't have any parts number, but I know this comes in different lengths. Google told me about bricklink.com and I'...
Torben Gundtofte-Bruun's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
238 views

AA Battery Packs 54950c01 vs 59510c01

What is the difference between these two battery boxes, 54950c01: and 59510c01: except for the on/off button? Which electrical connectors are compatible with each of those? Is there a counterpart ...
mike's user avatar
  • 503
7 votes
1 answer
235 views

What is the max current for the EV3 I/O port's VCC pin (pin 4)?

The LEGO EV3 Hardware developer kit says that the fourth pin of input or output port provides a voltage of 5 volts but doesn't give the the maximum current that can be drawn from the pin. What is the ...
amreo's user avatar
  • 159
6 votes
2 answers
1k views

Arduino-izing LEGO Technic - ideas for a car / vehicle to choose

I am starting a project - Arduino-izing LEGO Technic - and now I need some ideas for a car / vehicle to choose. This project starts out as a quest to find a way to combine the ease of LEGO Technic ...
zero's user avatar
  • 173
6 votes
2 answers
3k views

What are the differences between NiMH and Alkaline batteries for the EV3?

Currently I am using six rechargeable batteries for my Lego Mindstorms EV3. A few seconds after I start a motor the EV3 gives a notification that that the battery is low. I know that good batteries ...
Thomas Vos's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
1k views

What electronics are inside the SPIKE Prime angular motors?

Is there any information available about the internals of the SPIKE Prime and Robot Inventor angular motors? What Hall-Sensor is used by the SPIKE motors? To be more precise: I'd like to get ...
user18913's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
694 views

LEGO Scalextric?

I have a couple of these car parts in my collection but cannot find anything about them. They are copyright 2003 and show a number 3213 on the back axle. Interesting is that they have 3 electrical ...
Alan Jones's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
330 views

What is this 11x6 white and dark grey motorized LEGO piece with blue buttons and a transparent blue panel?

My brother bought a big tub of LEGO recently and found this piece inside. He doesn't know what it is and we can't find anything about it online so we were wondering what it is. He says it isn't in any ...
Shannon's user avatar
  • 61
6 votes
2 answers
4k views

Repairing disintegrated old 9V wire

I have a number of old technic motors and battery boxes I would like to use however the wires have disintegrated in storage to the point that the metal conductors touch and short out. Does anybody ...
Ralph's user avatar
  • 183
6 votes
2 answers
839 views

Stacking motors on the Powered Up hub or Boost hub

The way the Boost/Powered Up connectors are designed, it's not possible to have multiple motors on the same output of a hub like it was possible with 9V or Power functions. However, since I only want ...
Michael Verschaeve's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
800 views

How to fix the 4.3V output supply of a NXT 2.0?

I have a Mindstorm NXT 2.0 from 2007 (PCB code: 62115.40H) at which the sensors except the simple "Touch sensor" are no longer working. Also the tacho-signal of the motors do no longer work. (The ...
Holger's user avatar
  • 131
6 votes
1 answer
789 views

Train with two Powered Up hubs

I'm building a motorized train. The locomotive has two Powered Up train motors, one at each end. However, no matter where I place the hub inside the locomotive, the wires on the train motors are too ...
user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
123 views

Is there a way to buy just the robotic parts?

I apologize if this is a silly question. My kids recently went to a LEGO robotics workshop at our local science museum and LOVED it. Is there a way to buy just the robotic parts (motor, sensors, ...
Becky Brown's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
2k views

Identify brick with internal battery, light and sound

I just bought a bulk lot of second-hand bricks and found this odd one inside. It has a black panel on one side and when pressed it plays a screeching sound. Through the transparent purple top I can ...
Craig's user avatar
  • 3,231
5 votes
1 answer
274 views

EV3 not recognizing resistance correctly (MicroPython)

I recently tried measuring the resistance of a thermistor using the .resistance() method, the results are sadly not accurate. I measured the resistance with a multimeter and it showed 100kΩ, while the ...
C-Brick's user avatar
  • 53
5 votes
1 answer
1k views

What is inside BuWizz 2.0?

I'm interested in Buwizz PCB and components. Can someone share good photos of the Buwizz PCB (both sides)? It will be very cool to see Buwizz 2.0 but older versions will also be good.
Joviallix's user avatar
  • 151
5 votes
2 answers
2k views

What is a good third party battery box and receiver?

I got the LEGO 4x4 crawler for my birthday and I love it. But there is one slight thing which I hate: it has terrible range when using it outside. I know there is BuWizz which is a third party ...
Kyogre's user avatar
  • 53
5 votes
1 answer
239 views

From what series is this brick? Duplo machine piece with yellow button, copyright 2007

We have ten of these, but I don't know from which series! When pressing the yellow button it makes a sound that could be a train or a tractor or something like that. We are curious. Does anyone know?
Jacob Rohde's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
596 views

Are there any difference between the Power Functions 88003 and 99499 L motors?

I am planning to attempt a couple of RC MOCs and was looking up the power functions L motor on BL and found that there are actually 2 types of the L motor, namely the "88003 Power Functions L Motor" ...
Fong's user avatar
  • 51
5 votes
1 answer
395 views

Apart from the LEGO brick, is there any other hardware that has an NXT firmware written for it?

I am trying to find out if you can upload LEGO NXT byte-code to any other hardware, so I am just checking to see if anyone has ever written the LEGO firmware for any other hardware. Maybe hardware ...
frazras's user avatar
  • 159
5 votes
1 answer
1k views

Continuous power supply for the SPIKE Prime or Robot Inventor hubs?

The hubs present in the Mindstorms Robot Inventor or SPIKE Prime sets have 2100mAh lithium-ion batteries which can be charged with the accompanied cable with a micro USB connector on one end and a ...
Michael Verschaeve's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
230 views

How does the 8365 Tuneable Racer work?

The set 8365 Tuneable Racer has tunability as its main feature, meaning the motor's parameters can be changed by adding, removing or swapping certain additional elements. However, these parts seem to ...
zovits's user avatar
  • 15.6k
5 votes
1 answer
2k views

What internal electronics does the Control+ Technic Hub (88012) use?

I'm interested in comparing to the other Powered Up hubs, which are already documented here: Mindstorms v4 / spike prime What internal electronics do SPIKE Prime and Mindstorms v4 use? train 6AAA hub ...
some bits flipped's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
176 views

How could I provide power and/or data coupling between train cars?

I'm trying to find a way to create a power/data coupling between train cars that can be connected/disconnected like the car coupling magnets. Has anyone done anything like this? Background: This is ...
Arlo's user avatar
  • 51
5 votes
1 answer
7k views

Why is the LEGO IR Receiver V2 not widely produced? Or are they?

Basically, there are 2 different major versions of the LEGO IR Receiver, the unmarked V1 and the labeled V2. I've also read somewhere there was also a small hardware upgrade to the V1 Receiver at some ...
Alexander O'Mara's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
1k views

Is it possible to build a decimal to binary converter (binary counter) with LEGO?

I have seen many papers on logic gates built with LEGO, but I want to make a decimal to binary converter. There should be a counter as an input, with each press of the counter, the output 8 block ...
Parth Raghav's user avatar