We ship Feathers fully tested but without headers attached - this gives you the most flexibility on choosing how to use and configure your Feather
The first option is soldering in plain male headers, this lets you plug in the Feather into a solderless breadboard
Another option is to go with socket female headers. This won't let you plug the Feather into a breadboard but it will let you attach featherwings very easily
A few Feather boards require access to top-side components like buttons or connectors, making stacking impractical. Sometimes you can stack in the opposite order—FeatherWing underneath—or, if both Feather and Wing require top-side access, place the boards side-by-side with a FeatherWing Doubler or Tripler.
We also have 'slim' versions of the female headers, that are a little shorter and give a more compact shape
Finally, there's the "Stacking Header" option. This one is sort of the best-of-both-worlds. You get the ability to plug into a solderless breadboard and plug a featherwing on top. But its a little bulky
Prepare the header strip:
Cut the strip to length if necessary. It will be easier to solder if you insert it into a breadboard - long pins down
Add the breakout board:
Place the breakout board over the pins so that the short pins poke through the breakout pads
And Solder!
Be sure to solder all pins for reliable electrical contact.
(For tips on soldering, be sure to check out our Guide to Excellent Soldering).
Tape In Place
For sockets you'll want to tape them in place so when you flip over the board they don't fall out
Flip & Tack Solder
After flipping over, solder one or two points on each strip, to 'tack' the header in place
And Solder!
Be sure to solder all pins for reliable electrical contact.
(For tips on soldering, be sure to check out our Guide to Excellent Soldering).
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