littleBits i35 Delay Bit: What It Does and When to Use It

Quick answer

The littleBits i35 Delay Bit sits between an input and an output and holds the signal before passing it along, so the next Bit reacts a moment later instead of instantly. Use it when you want a sequence rather than a simultaneous reaction, such as a light that waits before turning on or a motor that starts after a sensor trips. Place it after your input, set your delay, then confirm the timing with a simple test build before adding more Bits.

Most littleBits circuits react the instant a signal arrives, which is exactly what you want until you need something to happen second. The i35 Delay Bit solves that by inserting a pause between cause and effect, turning a single trigger into a timed sequence. That one behavior unlocks projects that feel choreographed rather than instant.

This guide walks through what the Delay Bit does, where it belongs in a circuit, and how to tune it without guessing. You will also see how it pairs with common Bits like the p7 power, the w19 split, and the o26 speaker, and which mistakes tend to make a delay circuit look broken when it is actually just miswired.

What the Delay Bit actually does

The i35 Delay Bit is a timing Bit. It receives a signal from an input, waits for the interval you set, then releases that signal to whatever comes next in the chain. Nothing about the signal itself changes; only its timing does. That distinction matters because it means you can drop a delay into an existing circuit without altering how your sensor or button behaves.

Because it is a pass-through Bit, placement is everything. Put it before the output you want to slow down, not after. If you want two outputs to react at different times, you need the delay on only one branch, which is where a split becomes useful. The delay does not create a repeating pulse on its own; it shapes the timing of a signal that already exists.

• Think of the Delay Bit as a pause button on the signal path, not as a new signal source.
• If your circuit has no input triggering anything, a delay has nothing to delay.

Where the Delay Bit fits in a timing circuit

A reliable littleBits timing circuit follows a simple order: power, input, delay, output. Power comes first because every circuit starts with electricity. The p7 power Bit uses a 9 volt battery to provide that electricity, and it does not include a battery, so plan for one before you build. From there, your input (a button, sensor, or trigger) feeds the Delay Bit, which then feeds the output you want to stagger.

If you want one input to control two outputs on different schedules, the w19 split is the clean solution. The split lets you connect a single Bit to two others, and if you place an input before the split, it controls both outputs at once. Put the Delay Bit on one of those two branches and you get one output that reacts immediately and one that waits. The flexible wires also let you position the Bits farther apart, which helps when you are laying out a build on a large surface.

• Sketch the chain on paper before snapping Bits together; it saves rebuild time.
• Keep the delay branch and the instant branch visually separate so you can trace them later.

Setting and testing your delay

Start with a short delay and work upward. Long delays make it hard to tell whether the circuit is pausing or simply not working. Trigger your input, watch the output, and count the gap. If the output never fires, the problem is almost always wiring order rather than the delay setting. Recheck that the input feeds the Delay Bit and the Delay Bit feeds the output.

Once the basic pause works, add feedback so you can hear or see the timing clearly. The o26 speaker Bit takes electrical signals from the modules and translates them into vibrations, or sound, and it includes a slider for volume control. Pairing a delay with sound makes the pause obvious, which is far easier than squinting at an LED and guessing whether it lagged.

• Test with one input and one output before adding a split or a second output.
• If timing feels inconsistent, simplify the circuit rather than adjusting the delay repeatedly.

i35 bit projects worth building

Good i35 bit projects share one trait: they depend on sequence, not just reaction. A greeting card that lights up, waits, then plays a sound is a classic. A model car that starts moving a beat after you press a button is another. In both cases the delay is doing narrative work, making the build feel intentional rather than twitchy.

You can also use the Delay Bit to protect a mechanism. If an output needs a moment to settle before a second action begins, a delay prevents the two from fighting each other. That is a practical use rather than a theatrical one, and it is often the reason builders keep a delay in their parts bin even after the novelty wears off.

• Sequence-based builds show off the delay best; simultaneous builds do not need it.
• If a project works identically with and without the delay, the delay is not earning its place.

Step-by-step: building and tuning a delay circuit

1. Step 1: Confirm your power source: Snap in the p7 power Bit and insert a 9 volt battery. The p7 power Bit does not include a battery, so a missing battery is the most common reason a new build appears dead. Checkpoint: if nothing lights or moves at all, stop here and fix power before touching the delay.
2. Step 2: Add your input: Connect the trigger you want to start the sequence, such as a button or sensor. Trigger it once and confirm the output reacts immediately, before any delay is added. Checkpoint: a working instant reaction proves the input and output are wired correctly.
3. Step 3: Insert the Delay Bit between input and output: Place the Delay Bit after the input and before the output you want to slow down. Keep the chain linear for now and avoid adding a split until the basic pause works. Common mistake: putting the delay after the output, which does nothing useful.
4. Step 4: Set a short delay and test: Begin with a brief pause, trigger the input, and watch the output. Increase the delay gradually once you can clearly see or hear the gap. Checkpoint: if the output never fires, the issue is wiring order, not the delay setting.
5. Step 5: Add sound or a second output if needed: Use the o26 Speaker to make the pause audible, or the w19 split to run one instant branch and one delayed branch from a single input. Next step: once the sequence is reliable, rebuild it into your final project layout.

Bits that pair well with the Delay Bit

• littleBits p7 power: Every circuit starts with power. It uses a 9 volt battery to provide the electricity that makes your Bits spin, buzz, blink, and shine. This p7 power Bit does not include a battery. You cannot test a delay circuit without power, so confirm you have a 9 volt battery on hand before troubleshooting anything else.
• littleBits w19 split: The split lets you connect a single Bit to 2 others. If you place an input before the split, it will control the 2 outputs at once, like a single light sensor controlling 2 motors. The flexible wires on the split also allow you to place your Bits farther apart and position them how you like. This is how you give one input two different reaction times: delay one branch and leave the other instant.
• littleBits o26 Speaker: The speaker Bit is like a translator that amplifies your sonic explorations. It takes electrical signals from the modules (or from the input jack) and translates those signals into vibrations (sound). The o26 speaker Bit features a slider for volume control. Sound makes a delay audible, so you can confirm the pause is real instead of guessing from an LED.

The littleBits i35 Delay Bit is a small part with a specific job: it turns instant reactions into timed sequences. Wire it between your input and the output you want to stagger, test with a short delay first, and add sound or a split only after the basic pause works. Get that order right and your builds stop feeling twitchy and start feeling deliberate.