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These are step by step instructions for assembling the 8x8 LED Board kit from moderndevice.com.
I had never played with LED displays before using this kit. I suggest reading through all the assembly steps BEFORE starting to solder because assembly order DOES matter with this kit.
Overall, this is a very simple assembly. It does have a few points which require special attention.
I had never played with LED displays before using this kit. I suggest reading through all the assembly steps BEFORE starting to solder because assembly order DOES matter with this kit.
Overall, this is a very simple assembly. It does have a few points which require special attention.
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Signing UpStep 1Solder the LEDs
This is, by far, the most time consuming part of assembly.
Pay special attention to the polarity of each LED and make certain you have no cold solder joints.
You will be placing IC sockets over several of the solder joints and, if you get something wrong, it will make repair very difficult.
I chose green LEDs as they were the cheapest I could find. You may use other colors, but be aware of current requirements both in resistor choices and power supply.
The LEDs are placed on the NON-printed side of the board. I got ahead of myself when I first started and put a couple of rows on the wrong side of the board. De-soldering is NOT fun!
Moderndevice.com describes the following testing procedure for the LEDs. Truth be know, I just went through and closely examined the solder joints and orientation of each LED before the next step. If you skip testing, be aware you may find yourself with a complicated de-soldering project if something goes wrong.
Testing:
Clip a 470 - 1000 ohm resistor into a black alligator-clip test lead. Connect the other end of this test lead to the ground side of a 5-6V power supply. Next connect one end of a red colored alligator clip test lead to the positive, +5V side of your power supply. Clip the other end of this red, positive lead to one of the "+5V" labeled holes on the side of the 8x8LED board. Looping a piece of wire through the hole and twist it back on itself, will make a convenient terminal to which to clip the positive test lead.
Using the far end of the ground-lead resistor as a probe, carefully light up each LED in order. This can be done conveniently from the pads on which the driver chips will eventually mount.
Pay special attention to the polarity of each LED and make certain you have no cold solder joints.
You will be placing IC sockets over several of the solder joints and, if you get something wrong, it will make repair very difficult.
I chose green LEDs as they were the cheapest I could find. You may use other colors, but be aware of current requirements both in resistor choices and power supply.
The LEDs are placed on the NON-printed side of the board. I got ahead of myself when I first started and put a couple of rows on the wrong side of the board. De-soldering is NOT fun!
Moderndevice.com describes the following testing procedure for the LEDs. Truth be know, I just went through and closely examined the solder joints and orientation of each LED before the next step. If you skip testing, be aware you may find yourself with a complicated de-soldering project if something goes wrong.
Testing:
Clip a 470 - 1000 ohm resistor into a black alligator-clip test lead. Connect the other end of this test lead to the ground side of a 5-6V power supply. Next connect one end of a red colored alligator clip test lead to the positive, +5V side of your power supply. Clip the other end of this red, positive lead to one of the "+5V" labeled holes on the side of the 8x8LED board. Looping a piece of wire through the hole and twist it back on itself, will make a convenient terminal to which to clip the positive test lead.
Using the far end of the ground-lead resistor as a probe, carefully light up each LED in order. This can be done conveniently from the pads on which the driver chips will eventually mount.
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