Here are some important dates for this years popcorn sale:

The theme for the fall camporee is It’s Electric. Scouts will have the opportunity to learn about electricity and earn their Electricity Merit Badge. Each troop will have to design, build and test their own 12 volt DC generator which will be tested and judged for Amp output at 12.0 VDC and originality. This will cover “the build a generator requirement” portion of the merit badge for the Scouts. If a troop decides not to build a generator, each Scout wanting to earn the merit badge must build a hand crank generator and light a light bulb to fulfill the requirements outlined in the merit badge handbook.

Each Scout MUST read and understand the electricity handbook as a prerequisite. This can be found online or at the Scout Store.

In preparation for the camporee as a troop, we will begin to discuss how to build a generator. We must adhere to the following rules:

1. Troop Generators
   The Troop built generators must be 1 of three designs. Powered by wind, water or solar. NO MAN or GAS POWERED generators.
2. All generators must be designed and built by the troop. This is a learning experience for the Scouts. No commercially build devices, please.
3. Each troop will be limited to a $500 budget. Although many of the parts may be donated, in an effort to keep it fair, each part of the generator must be documented on a build sheet listing the price of each part as listed on the NAPA Auto Parts web site or Amazon web site. For example. If a 100 amp GM alternator is donated to your troop for free if a new one on the NAPA web site costs $100 you will deduct $100 from your build budget. This includes wood, screws, bolts, belts etc
4. All generators must have positions where a pair of jumper cables can be attached for testing.
5. Testing will be done by lighting a series of light bulbs. These lights will be lit one at a time and recording the Amps generated as the voltage drops to 12.00 VDC.
6. Water powered generators will be tested with a 5 gal. bucket with a 1/2 tube in the bottom. The bucket will be kept full with a garden hose.
7. Wind-powered generators will be given a 36-inch box fan to provide a steady wind.
8. Solar testing has yet to be determined but may involve 110-volt flood lights or possibly sun lamps.
9. Batteries MAY NOT be part of your design or connected to your generator. They hold electricity and do not generate it. Batteries would make it very difficult to quickly or fairly judge the generators.

Tonight we will be doing prep for the Heritage Festival Campout this weekend.

We will also be discussing current Eagle projects.