More Wires and Watts: Understanding and Using Electricity

School Library Journal

Gr 6-9-- This updated version of Wires and Watts (Scribners, 1981) resembles its predecessor in format and approach but provides a new, more modern set of projects for experimenters and hobbyists. The first five of the book's ten chapters are virtually identical to the original, but incorporated into the material on the history of electricity, its basics, power sources for experiments, measurement of electricity, and useful tools are new mentions of rechargeable batteries, solar power, and VOM multimeters. The major changes, though, lie in the last five chapters, which present instructions for the new projects. These projects emphasize solid state devices and include directions for building sensors for light, temperature, and moisture; a fire alarm; weather instruments; photographic equipment; and games. Explanations and directions are clear; diagrams and schematics look useful, and, like the original, the book is attractively presented. Projects are not overly elaborate and are inexpensive to build, although some of the auxiliary equipment and tools could be costly. Because of the difference in the projects presented, this revision does not render the original obsolete; both can live happily side-by-side on library shelves, offering readers the most flexible assortment of projects from which to choose. --Jeffrey A. French, Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library