circuleta

Circuleta is a term used mainly in Spanish-language electronics culture to describe a small, self-contained electrical circuit or a compact, ring-shaped device used for demonstration and education. The concept emphasizes portability, simplicity, and hands-on learning, often featuring a power source, a switch, one or more active components such as light-emitting diodes or small motors, and limited passive components. In some contexts, a circuleta refers to a circular Printed Circuit Board (PCB) that arranges components around a ring to illustrate circuit concepts in a compact form.

Etymology: The word is a diminutive form derived from circu- from circulus (Latin for ring or circle) and the Spanish suffix -leta, signaling a small or simple example. The term is regional, with usage concentrated in educational settings and maker communities in Spain and Latin America; it is not a formal engineering term.

Design and variants: Circuletas can be based on battery packs or USB power and may incorporate basic microcontrollers (for example, a tiny MCU to blink LEDs). They are commonly used in classrooms to teach Ohm's law, series and parallel circuits, and circuit assembly without a breadboard. Some circuletas emphasize modularity, allowing components to be swapped or expanded.

See also: Circuit, electronics education, microcontroller kit.