No! Not these! Electronic chips!
OK things didn't go perfectly... some of the (OK all but one) circuits didn't work properly... So - to make them work!
First, there is a typo on the instructions (oops!) but I think most people wired it correctly anyway because I was checking against a correctly wired and working prototype. The correct wiring is:
180k resistors C1-E2 C2-E3. If you have the resistors in the board in the wrong position (ie you followed the instructions )-: ) then the symptom is that the first LED will go on and stay on and none of the others work... (sound familiar..) so you can fix that by moving the two resistors. Also - make sure that the resistor connections are good - and that you didn't cut the resistors too short to fit in the breadboard properly! (gives same symptom).
Secondly, the 4017 chip if fine (I was worried that it was the wrong spec on the night but it is fine). It is however quite sensitive so before connecting the battery it is important that none of the diodes are are shorting out (touching) the contacts on the 4017 chip (larger black thing) or each other (amounts to much the same thing) as this could kill the chip!
If it is all too late for that advice... (oops!) ... I have half a dozen more 4017 chips so we could sort it out if you come around - give me a call in case you are number 7!
Here is the correct circuit:
Finally, I reckon you can replace the diodes with lengths of wire (plastic coated) and then there wont be a problem with wires touching each other! But I have not tried that yet...
(OK - now I have and it's fine - and easier as you don't have to worry about the wires touching)
We added light pipes (aka straws on the ends of the LEDs) to this pumpkin...!
Arghhh!!!!!!
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