WeatherDuino Forum

Here's some hints for assembling the WeatherDuino Pro 2 system.
I'll add to the list as I think of things. Please feel free to add/ask things also.

• Use a fine soldering iron tip. I prefer a chisel tip.
• Keep you tip clean. Use a sponge or swarf type of iron cleaner. I clean my tip after every five or so joints.
• Use a magnifying glass or loupe to inspect joints for bridges and dry joints as you go.
• Be conscious of electrostatic charges damaging components such as the IRLZ44N FET transistor and the Nano. It’s a good idea to use an antistatic wrist strap and a grounded tip on the soldering iron, especially in environments where you get static shocks yourself.
• Start with the lowest components first. IE; Resistors then capacitors, Nano, jumper pins, LEDs, Transistors and IC’s, connectors, ASK OOK RF Wireless Receiver Module, Real Time Clock board, Barometric Pressure Sensor Board.
• Ensure joints are hot enough and have enough solder to allow it to make a good joint on both sides of the Printed Circuit Board.
• If you have doubt about your ability to solder heat sensitive components, leave the leads longer and possibly use an alligator clip (Crocodile in Australia ) as a heat sink.
• It’s safer to alternate the solder of pins on IC’s like the Nano to avoid overheating of the chip. IE; Don’t solder them 1,2,3,4,5 etc, instead do like 1,16,8,2, 14,7,15 etc. You’ll get the idea.

uncle_bob, nice topic!

I will sugest one more: Get all the parts before starting building any of the pcb's, it's a lot more easy assembling one board in just one session.

PS: If you think it's better put all hints on the first topic, I can delete this one.

Thanks uncle_bob, all good sound advice. From my own experiences over the years I'd like to suggest a couple of general additions:

(1) I usually scrape the leads of components with either the blade of knife or small piece of very fine emery paper (when I can find it!) before soldering. It's surprising how much surface dirt there can be.

(2) Make sure it's clean and grease-free to begin with, then avoid touching the "soldering side" of the pcb, greasy fingerprints can make soldering more difficult and/or effective. Same applies to leads of components etc once cleaned as above.

Allan.

Hi, everybody,

I prepared a new block diagram example image of WeatherDuino Pro2 - it is especially for v1.5, but you can use it for another version too. I hope the scheme will help someone understand the basic principles:

[Image: WeatherDuino_Pro2_Block_Diagram-upr-sm.png]

Good luck in building!