Installing Standard Headers
The shield comes with 0.1" standard header. Standard header does not permit stacking but it is mechanically stronger and they're much less expensive too! If you want to stack a shield on top, do not perform this step as it is not possible to uninstall the headers once soldered in! Skip down to the bottom for the stacking tutorial
Break apart the 0.1" header into 6, 8 and/or 10-pin long pieces and slip the long ends into the headers of your Arduino
Place the assembled shield on top of the header-ed Arduino so that all of the short parts of the header are sticking through the outer set of pads
Solder each one of the pins into the shield to make a secure connection
Next, you will attach the terminal blocks, power jumper and servo connections
Next, you will attach the terminal blocks, power jumper and servo connections
Installing Terminal Blocks and more
After you have installed either normal or stacking headers, you must install the terminal blocks.
Next we will install the terminal blocks. These are how we will connect power and motors to the shield. They're much easier to use than soldering direct, just use a small screwdriver to release/attach wires!
First, though, we must solder them in.
Slide the 3-pin terminal blocks into 2-pin terminal blocks so that you have 2 x 5-pin and 1 x 2-pin blocks. The two 5-pin sets go on either side. The 2-pin piece goes near the bottom of the shield. Make sure that the open holes of the terminal blocks face out!
First, though, we must solder them in.
Slide the 3-pin terminal blocks into 2-pin terminal blocks so that you have 2 x 5-pin and 1 x 2-pin blocks. The two 5-pin sets go on either side. The 2-pin piece goes near the bottom of the shield. Make sure that the open holes of the terminal blocks face out!
OK next up take the 2x3 pin header and place it with the short legs down into the top corner where it says SERVO 1 and SERVO 2
You might have to sort of angle the part a little to get it to fit into both sets of 3-pin holes. we did this so it wont fall out easily when you turn it over!
You might have to sort of angle the part a little to get it to fit into both sets of 3-pin holes. we did this so it wont fall out easily when you turn it over!
Finally, break off a 2-pin piece of header and place it next to the POWER terminal block, short legs down, tape it in place if necessary and solder it in.
We don't show soldering in the 2x3 stacking header but you should solder that in as well - even though this shield does not use it, the one above may need those pins!
Start by sliding the 10 pin, 2 x 8 pin and 6-pin stacking headers into the outer rows of the shield from the top. Then flip the board over so its resting on the four headers. Pull on the legs if necessary to straighten them out.
Tack one pin of each header, to get them set in place before more soldering. If the headers go crooked you can re-heat the one pin while re-positioning to straighten them up
