1. STELR Solar Car construction notes Based on slides provided by Helen Marussinszky, Mitcham Girls HS, South Australia

2. The basic circuit board Some circuitry is in place. Some components have been soldered on.

3. Let’s do the gearbox 2 nuts 2 washers 2 bolts gearbox

4. Let’s do the gearbox place the gearbox on the circuit board so that the axle is over the white line put one bolt through the slot (right) put the other bolt through the hole (left) thread the washer and nut onto each bolt

5. Let’s do the gearbox Line up the axle with the white line on the circuit board.

6. Let’s do the gearbox Tighten the bolts, keeping the axle aligned.

7. Strip the wires - practice Cut a piece of wire Attach an alligator clip to the wire about 1 cm from the end Hold the wire with pliers and twirl the alligator clip 10 – 15 times Pull the alligator clip off the end, stripping off the insulation Try again with the other end of the wire

8. Strip the wires - motor Take care! Hold the wires close to the motor with pliers so the wires are not pulled out of the motor.

9. Attach the motor wires

10. Attach the solar cells Use the rubber bands to attach the solar cells to the power board (car body).

11. Attach the solar cell wires Strip the wires of both cells and attach to the circuit board Red - positive Black - negative

12. Connect the solar cells Cut a strip a piece of wire. Use it to connect the two solar cells as shown.

13. Connect the capacitor with the solar cells Cut a strip another piece of wire. Use it to connect the motor to the positive terminal of solar cell 1, as shown.

14. Connect the capacitor with the motor Cut a strip another piece of wire. Use it to connect the positive terminal of the capacitor to the positive terminal of the motor, as shown.

15. Connect the capacitor with the switch Cut a strip another piece of wire. Use it to connect the negative terminal of the capacitor to switch 2 (far right screw), as shown.

16. Connect the switches Cut a strip another piece of wire. Use it to connect switch 2 to switch 1 (middle two screws), as shown.

17. Connect the switches with the solar cells Cut a strip another piece of wire. Use it to connect switch 1 (middle screw), to the negative terminal of solar cell 2, as shown.

18. Connect switch 1 with the motor Cut a strip another piece of wire. Use it to connect switch 1 (far left screw), to the negative terminal of the motor.

19. Rear wheel suspension Click the three yellow pieces into the circuit board (car body) as shown.

20. Rear axle and wheels Click in the axle and push on the wheels.

21. Front wheels Push on the front wheels. Add a tiny amount of vaseline to the cogs in the gear box.

22. Final check Does your look like this?

23. Final check Does your look like this?

24. Let’s race!

25. Challenges Who can make the fastest car? On a straight track On a circular track (adjust the front axle position) Who can make the most powerful car? Climb the steepest hill Carry the heaviest load Who can make the best looking car?