WAGO Miniature Electrical Grid
Description
PDFWhat is the best way to promote the WAGO splicing connectors? Exactly, by introducing them to electrial engineering students in their first lesson. While they are learning how the electrical grid works.
⚙ Components
This miniature electrical grid consists of three main elements based on the real electrical grid:
- Generation: solar panel and windturbine
- Transmission and distribution: power lines and interconnections
- Consumption: industry and residential
All components are build upon the same hexagon base tile for flexibility. Because of the WAGO 221-413 splicing connectors, the hexagon tiles are easily configurable and connectable. Therefore, different structures of the grid can be made and explained. This flexibilty and connection power shows one of the reasons to use the WAGO connectors!
⚡ Features
The solar panel tile provides the power (via USB-B) to the miniature grid. The houses are equiped with Light Dependend Resistors to automatically switch on their lights when it gets dark outside. The factory has a flashing blue LED for simulating energyconsuming processes like welding. A red LED is used in the windturbine for extra safety regarding aircraft. Both the factory and the windturbine use a 555 timer module.
🛠 Building your own
The components for recreating my setup are standard and easily sourceable from multiple suppliers. It takes some patience and insight to solder the components such that they are working correctly and fit in the tight spaces. Mabye use some superglue for the roof sections if the solid wires are a bit (too) stiff. The roof sections need a little bit of support for the overhangs, the towers can be printed with a brim to make sure they stay on the printing bed. See the schematic.
Besides 14 WAGO 221-413 connectors the required parts are in the table. (Optional: use the 221 green range for the sustainable energy sources.)
| 3D printed parts | Electrical components |
| 7 baseplate (dark grey) | Red solid wire 0.2mm² |
| 1 factory base (white) | Black solid wire 0.2mm² |
| 1 factory roof (blue) | 2 yellow LED |
| 2 house base (white) | 2 blue LED |
| 2 house roof (red) | 2 red LED |
| 1 solar panel base (black) | 1 white LED |
| 1 solar panel grid (white) | 5 220Ω resistor |
| 2 transmissiontower cap (white) | 1 2k2Ω resistor |
| 4 transmissiontower lineholder (white) | 2 10kΩ resistor |
| 2 transmissiontower tower (white) | 4 68kΩ resistor |
| 2 transmissiontower grass (green) | 2 100kΩ resistor |
| 1 windturbine box (white) | 2 GL5528 LDR (10kΩ - 1MΩ) |
| 1 windturbine tower (white) | 2 33μF electrolytic capacitor |
| 1 windturbine wing (white) | 2 2n2222 NPN transistor |
| 1 windturbine grass (green) | 2 555 timer module 8-pin |
| 1 USB-B female header breakout |
Further attachement of the pieces speaks for itself, but feel free to ask questions!
Thanks for reading, good luck!!
Paul
Tags
Model origin
The author marked this model as their own original creation.