Radio Shack Science Fair Goofy-Lite 28-130 Instruction Manual

ELECTRONIC PROJECT #28-130 GOOFY-LITE

Science Fair Goofylite is an amazing device which seems to blink forever on one set of batteries. It will, in
fact, go several weeks without changing batteries, especially when Radio Shack Alkaline Enercells are used. The
neon lamps ordinarily fire at a voltage of 60 volts or more. Since it requires a high voltage to fire them, and since they
discharge rapidly after firing, they can be used to control blinking or oscillating circuits. Oscillation is the principal use
in this particular unit.

Since the battery voltage is only 6 volts, it is first necessary ti build up to the sixty volts required to fire the
lamp. The transistor, Q1, the capacitor C6 and C7, and the transformer T1, comprise the oscillation circuit. This
oscillator circuit converts the direct current coming from the battery to an alternating current. The transformer then

steps up the alternating 6 volt current to almost 200 volts at the transformer’s secondary stage. This voltage is high,

however the current very low and is not dangerous in any way. The voltage then passes through the resistors R1-R5
and is stored in the capacitors C1-C5until sufficient voltage fires a particular neon bulb. The speed at which the bulb
fires is determined by the particular characteristic of the bulb. If all the bulbs are connected alike then the bulbs will
fire at random. If a special sequence of capacitor connection is made, however, the bulbs will fire in sequence. You
have the option of wiring this kit so that it will blink either randomly or in sequence.

Entire Contents Copyrighted 1968 by Radio Shack, A Tandy Corp, Co. Printed in U.S.A

Science Fair

TM

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

PRICE: 50

₵

T
C

PICTORIAL DIAGRAM RANDOM TOP VIEW

PARTS LIST

Quantity Description Identification Part No. Price

1 Diode D1 625-RGP10GE-E3 $0.50
1 Transistor (2N2222) Q1 512-PN2222ATF $0.20
1 Transformer T1 546-161C10 $6.93
5 .22 MFD 400V Poly Film Capacitor C1-C5 667-ECQ-E4224JF $0.77 ea
1 .22 MFD 250V Poly Film Capacitor C6 667-ECQ-E2224KF $0.44
1 .47 MFD 250V Poly Film Capacitor C7 667-ECQ-E2474KB $0.55
5 4.7 Meg Resistor R1-R5 660-CFS1/4CT52R475J $0.15 ea
1 10K Resistor R6 660-CFS1/4CT52R103J $0.15
1 15 Ohm Resistor R7 660-CFS1/4CT52R150J $0.17
5 NE2 Neon Lamp 606-A1A $0.28 ea
1 Battery Holder 12BH348-GR $1.28
2 Battery terminal block 534-8730 $0.31 ea
1 Project case 546-1591GS-BK $5.13
1 Perf Board 589-7100-45 $4.99
1 22 Ga Solid Hookup Wire, Black

All part numbers and prices listed above are from Mouser as of March, 2016.

RECOMMENDED PARTS SUPPLIER LIST

Joe Knows Electronics, www.joeknowselectronics.com

Mouser, www.mouser.com

Digikey, www.digikey.com

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2 5 6
1 3 4

C1

C2

C3

C4

C5

R1

R2

R3

R4

R5

T1

D1

R6

C6

C7

R7

NE2-

1

NE2-

2

NE2-

3

NE2-

4

NE2-

5

-

6V

Q1