eleprac Support
Learn electronics by placing part blocks on a grid, building circuits, and running them in a simulation
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q. What is eleprac?
- eleprac is an iPhone and iPad app for learning electronics and circuit diagrams. Place part blocks such as batteries, resistors, LEDs, and switches on a grid to build a circuit, then tap Run to see it work in a simulation. It suits people starting electronics as a hobby as well as middle and high school students learning about electricity.
- Q. What can I learn?
You progress chapter by chapter by solving puzzles.
- Bulbs and Batteries: a complete loop lights the bulb, series and parallel, the danger of short circuits
- Lighting an LED: LED direction, choosing a resistor to limit current (Ohm's law)
- Working with Sensors: a CdS cell whose resistance changes with light
- Capacitors: storing electricity and letting it out little by little
- Transistor Switches: a small current switching a larger one
We plan to add more chapters and puzzles in future updates.
- Q. How do I use it?
- Pick a part from the parts box and tap a square (or drag it) to place it. Use Turn to rotate a part and Remove to take it off. When you're ready, tap Run to send current through the circuit, then Check to see if you solved the puzzle. While running, tap a part to see its voltage, current, and other values.
- Q. Can I show circuit symbols?
- Yes. Switch between Parts and Symbols at the top right of a puzzle or under Parts view in Settings. Building with symbols is good practice for reading circuit diagrams. The Parts & Symbols Guide lets you review each symbol and what the part does. Symbols follow the IEC style.
- Q. What kinds of puzzles are there?
- Some puzzles ask you to build a circuit from a diagram, some ask you to build a circuit that does something (such as lighting up when it gets dark), and some ask you to choose a part's value. There are also challenge puzzles with parts that won't work mixed in, and Repair puzzles where you find and fix a wiring mistake.
- Q. I'm stuck. What should I do?
- Tap Show a hint. Hints start with how to think about the problem and become more specific step by step. After you check your answer, an explanation shows why the circuit behaves the way it does.
- Q. Are the simulated values the same as real parts?
- The app uses simplified models of each part for learning. The values are a guide to the ideas and may differ from real parts, which vary from one to another and with temperature.
- Q. Can children use it?
- The early puzzles are designed so that elementary school children can try them with a parent. There is no account to create, and the app never asks for a name or other personal information.
- Q. Is it free?
- The first chapters (Bulbs and Batteries, Lighting an LED) are free. We plan to make the other chapters available through an all-access paid plan (subscription) in the future. Details such as the price will be shown in the app when it becomes available. There are no ads.
- Q. Where is my progress stored?
- Solved puzzles and hint steps are stored only on your device and are never sent elsewhere. Deleting the app also deletes your progress (it is included in your iPhone backup).
Related page: eleprac Privacy Policy
Please Note
- Circuits in the app are on-screen simulations. When you build a circuit with real parts, check each part's instructions and ratings.
- With real parts, a shorted battery or an LED without a resistor can break or get hot. Never use household mains electricity.
Contact Us
If you need further help, or want to report a problem or a mistake in a puzzle, please email us. For puzzles, including the chapter and puzzle name helps us a lot.