The Electricity Merit Badge is one of the original merit badges from 1911. Over 728,000 scouts earned the Electricity Merit Badge between 1911 and 2007. The IEEE emeritbadges.org team and the IEEE CPMT Society performed a peer review of the newly revised Electricity Merit Badge.

Completing the requirements for the Electricity Merit Badge is a great way boys and girls to study the basics of:

• Electricity
• Electrical history
• How to respond to electrical emergencies
• Energy management techniques

The IEEE emeritbadges.org team has developed instructional material to be used in conjunction with the Boy Scouts of America Electricity Merit Badge pamphlet.

The IEEE emeritbadges.org Project will sponsor the Electricity Merit Badge Booth at the 2010 National Scout Jamboree.  The booth will be located on the Merit Badge Midway.  We will be providing instruction that will allow Scouts attending the 2010 National Scout Jamboree to complete the Electronics Merit Badge. 

Scouts, Staff and visitors are invited to visit our Electronics Merit Badge Booth to:

• Learn about technical career options
• View demonstrations in the areas of power, communications, computers and electronics
• Use Free WIFI

Look for the pink Flamingos surrounding our booth!

Requirements are as follows:

1. Demonstrate that you know how to respond to electrical emergencies by doing the following:

a. Show how to rescue a person touching a live wire in the home.
b. Show how to render first aid to a person who is unconscious from electrical shock.
c. Show how to treat an electrical burn.
d. Explain what to do in an electrical storm.
e. Explain what to do in the event of an electrical fire.

2. Complete an electrical home safety inspection of your home, using the checklist found in this pamphlet or one approved by your counselor. Discuss what you find with your counselor.

3. Make a simple electromagnet and use it to show magnetic attraction and repulsion.

4. Explain the difference between direct current and alternating current.

5. Make a simple drawing to show how a battery and an electric bell work.

6. Explain why a fuse blows or a circuit breaker trips. Tell how to find a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker in your home. Show how to safely reset the circuit breaker.

7. Explain what overloading an electric circuit means. Tell what you have done to make sure your home circuits are not overloaded.

8. On a floor plan of a room in your home, make a wiring diagram of the lights, switches, and outlets. Show which fuse or circuit breaker protects each one.

9. Do the following:

a. Read an electric meter and, using your family’s electric bill, determine the energy cost from the meter readings.
b. Discuss with your counselor five ways in which your family can conserve energy.

10. Explain the following electrical terms: volt, ampere, watt, ohm, resistance, potential difference, rectifier, rheostat, conductor, ground, circuit, and short circuit.

11. Do any TWO of the following:

a. Connect a buzzer, bell, or light with a battery. Have a key or switch in the line.
b. Make and run a simple electric motor (not from a kit).
c. Build a simple rheostat. Show that it works.
d. Build a single-pole, double-throw switch. Show that it works.
e. Hook a model electric train layout to a house circuit. Tell how it works.

Instructional Materials Information

The IEEE emeritbadges.org team has developed instructional material that can be used by global students - boys and girls, scouts, merit badge counselors and science & technology educators and the general public. Student and Instructor material has been developed. If you use this material, we would appreciate hearing from you. You can contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Student Materials:

• Electricity Merit Badge -- Class 1
• Electricity Merit Badge -- Class 2
• Electricity Merit Badge -- Class 3
• Electricity Merit Badge -- Class 4

Instructor Materials:

• Class 1 Staff Materials
• Class 2 Staff Materials
• Class 3 Staff Materials
• Class 4 Staff Materials