Build Instructions

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• 1

  Assembly

  Once the parts are printed assembly is required.

  Place the Neopixel support board against the baseplate with the flat surfaces facing each other.

  Using four M2 x 6mm screws one in each of the 2mm holes in the corners secure the two boards together.

  A commercially available baseplate could be used but would require cutting to the required size and holes drilled to allow the parts to fit together and light from the LED's to pass through.

• 2

  Wiring

  The Neopixels need to be mounted to enable a seven segment display to be realised.

  This is achieved using 14 Button LED's with 2 per segment all wired in series.

  Each LED is connected together using 21 AWG enamelled copper wire these are cut to the required length, stripped and tinned prior to soldering to the solder pads

  With the castellations of the Neopixel support board uppermost, place an LED with the PCB uppermost into the pocket.

  Orientate the LED's to enable direct connection to 5V, 0V and DO to DI.

  Make the connections to each LED in turn (refer to diagram), 2 LED's per segment.

  Some melting of the plastic will occur during soldering of the wires and this will hold the completed assembly in place.

  However, a little hot glue at the back of the LED's will help if required to hold things in place.

  Soider 3 wires to the input LED to enable connection to Edge Connector Breakout and connect to 5V, 0V and P0 by the CR circuit on the stripboard.

  Connect a total of four MDE's in series to form the display.

• 3

  Back Panel

  The components are attached to a baseplate (95(W) x 128(L) mm), which is fitted to the back of the MDE's with M3 X 25mm bolts and 10mm standoffs.
  

  Four bolts are fitted through the holes in the Neopixel support board and the standoffs fitted to attach the baseplate at the corners, 3mm holes are made in the baseplate to align with the bolts.

  Position and drill holes for the Edge connector Breakout (2 x 3mm), the RTC (2 x 2mm), and the switch ensuring to leave space (20 x 40mm), to mount the right angle brackets which act as feet.

  Connections to the RTC are made with 4 Junior jumpers F/F and the RTC is secured with 2 x M2 bolts.

  Connections to the switch are made with 2 Junior jumpers F/M and the switch is fitted through a 5mm hole.

  Connections to the CR protection circuit for the Neopixels is made with 3 Jumpers F/F and from this to the Neopixels with 3 jumpers F/M, this is attached to the board with a cable tie fed through one of the holes in the board.

  Fit the angle bracket feet to the baseplate with 4 bolts. (The lower corner M3 bolts for attaching the baseplate can be used to hold the feet in place with a 2nd bolt in the lower hole of the bracket.

  To prevent scratching the surface on which the clock will sit, attach stick on pads or a couple turns of tape.

  The baseplate can now be fitted on to the corner support bolts and secured with nuts.

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