Assembly Instructions
The HelvePic32 is designed entirely using PTH parts that can be soldered by a beginner for soldering. Kids starting at the age of 10-12 should be able to assemble the kit under the supervision of an adult.
Although the assembly is easy, the soldering iron will have temperatures of up to 400 Celsius!
Please protect your eyes and do not inhale the soldering fumes.
The picture shows the parts needed to build the HelvePic32. They are standard parts with no special features, so the normal handling rules apply.
Protect the chip against static electricity by keeping is in the anti-static foam until inserted into the socket.
Observe the polarity of certain parts when soldering. Inserting the chip in the wrong direction will destroy the chip. However, if you destroy the chip accidentally, we can provide you with an
replacement
The Eagle design files are available here:
Parts list:
- PCB
- IC- socket
- PIC32MX250F128B
- 2 diods
- 2 resistor 1 kOhm
- 4 resistor10 kOhm
- 2 resistor4.7 kOhm
- 1 resistor220 Ohm
- 1 voltage regulator 5 Volt
- 1 voltage regulator3.3 Volt
- 2 momentary switch
- 1 USB socket
- 1 power jack
- 1 crystal 8 MHz
- 3 LED
- 1 Elco 10 μF
- 1 Tantal 10 μF
- 3 ceramic capacitor 100 nF
- 2 ceramic capacitor33 pF
- Header
This picture shows the PCB enlarged to make the location of the parts easier.
A later version offers to insert two additional Led at your convenience. As these Led add a resistor to the pin, this is an optional feature. If you solder headers at the resistors, you can
select them as jumpers.
Solder the resistors in place
Solder the diodes, observe the polarity shown by a white marker
solder the push buttons. The have a preferred orientation and the picture illustrates the placement
Solder the USB port. This is the trickiest part with the closest pin spacing. Take care not to shorten the pins
Solder the crystal and the 33 pF capacitors and the CPU socket
Solder the 100 nF capacitors
Solder the elco, the tantal and the led.
The tantal elco has a polarity that is hard to see: if you can read the markings on the capacitor, the positive pin is on the right.
The normal elco has the marking on Ground! This is the usual way elcos are marked. Solder the elco in lying position as shown on the picture
Solder the power jack and the voltage regulators.
The voltage regulators are of the type MCP1702. If these are replaced by others, please ensure that the pin layout is the same (GND-In-Out)
Solder the headers and carefully insert he chip.
Double check the orientation of the parts, especially the chip!
The new version adds two Led that can be soldered in as option.