Assemble the FeatherWing Doubler

Plug the Feather M4 into the FeatherWing Doubler.

Then, plug the AirLift FeatherWing into the FeatherWing Doubler

Plug the PM25 sensor into the adaptor breakout.

Test-Fit Enclosure

Next, you'll want to make sure the enclosure fits the hardware you assembled and check the lengths of the wires you soldered.

Using a phillips head screwdriver, open the enclosure.

Place the PM25 sensor inside the enclosure. It should fit between the four mounting standoffs.

Make sure the sensor's fan faces the bottom of the enclosure and the cable faces the top of the enclosure (the side with the cable glands).

Place the FeatherWing on top of the PM25 sensor and cover it with the lid. 

If you noticed the cables you cut were too long or if the solder joints broke, you'll want to fix them now.

Add Air-Holes to Enclosure

Next, you will use a handheld drill, a drill press, or a rotary tool to add some holes to the bottom of the enclosure. This will allow air particles to enter the enclosure. 

The PM2.5 sensor's fan intake is located on the bottom right hand side of the enclosure. The BME280 sensor will also be placed in the same location.

Using a marker and ruler, mark a few spots at the bottom right of the enclosure.

Use a drill and a small-diameter drill bit to drill holes into the enclosure. Be sure to use a slow speed on your drill, the enclosure's material is softer than it seems and you can accidentally drill through too quickly.

Do NOT add a filter to the bottom of the enclosure - it will prevent dust particles from being picked up by the fan.

Using an adhesive of your choice - affix the PM2.5 sensor to the bottom of the case.

We used 3M Command Strips for a more temporary hold. If you're also using Command Strips - be sure to place the wall (black) side against the enclosure.

Cut a Micro-USB cable in half with a pair of wire cutters.

Thread the Micro-USB end through the right cable gland.

You'll need to strip and splice together  the two ends of the USB cable. For more information about splicing wires, see this Learning System Guide.

Add two adhesive strips to each side of the FeatherWing Doubler and insert the USB cable into the Feather M4.

You may need to re-organize cables at this point. We stored all of the cables in the top section in the case. Then, press the FeatherWing Doubler onto the PM2.5 sensor.

Tighten the cable gland to form a weatherproof seal around the USB cable. Make sure the left cable gland is also tightened. 

Place the transparent cover over the enclosure, ensuring the gasket which runs around the enclosure is properly sealed.

Secure the cover to the enclosure using the four machine screws included with the enclosure.

That's it! Your air quality sensor is assembled and wired. The next steps will cover adding code to the Feather M4 and using the air quality sensor with Adafruit IO.

This guide was first published on Oct 16, 2020. It was last updated on Mar 27, 2024.

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

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