This PiCowbell assembly method uses female socket headers on the PiCowbell to create a standalone sandwich when attached to a Pico with standard male headers. 

This page assumes you have already soldered standard male headers to your Pico. If you have not, please return to the Pico assembly page and follow the steps there.

Follow the steps below to solder socket headers to your PiCowbell.

Although these pages show the PiCowbell Proto, the soldering instructions are applicable for all PiCowbell boards.

Assembly Steps

Place a standard-header-soldered Pico upside down on the table, so the long side of the header pins are facing up. Press the female sockets onto one of the rows of standard headers attached to the Pico, until both are fully attached. 

Ensure the PiCowbell is oriented correctly before beginning assembly. The PiCowbell should be top-down, so that you are looking at the bottom of the Cowbell. The STEMMA QT connector should be on the same end as the Pico USB connector, and the reset button should be on the opposite end with the Pico debug pins.

The PiCowbell pins must match the pinout on the Pico.

Remember, the pins are labeled on the bottom of the Pico. In this case, that works well because they are labeled on both sides of the PiCowbell, allowing for direct comparison before attaching the PiCowbell to the stacking header assembly.

Ensure the PiCowbell is oriented properly before beginning soldering! If you solder it on upside down or backwards, it will not function properly!

Press the PiCowbell onto the pins sticking up from the socket headers. You may need to push the stacking header pins in or out a bit to get the PiCowbell attached.

Solder the pins on each end of each socket header, so that the opposite four corners of the PiCowbell are soldered on.

Solder the rest of the pins onto the PiCowbell.

That's it, you're done! 

This guide was first published on May 10, 2023. It was last updated on Mar 29, 2024.

This page (Socket Headers) was last updated on Mar 08, 2024.

Text editor powered by tinymce.