Each n00d has two connection points: a cathode, or positive lead, and an anode, or negative lead. You can think of it as one big, noodly LED and treat it accordingly.
Connect the cathode (+) lead to Sw and the anode to Gnd on the coin cell breakout. How to tell which is which? One clue is that there is a tiny dot on the cathode side. But the surest way to tell is to connect the ends to a coin cell battery and just see which configuration makes the n00d light up. You won't hurt it by hooking it up backwards -- it just won't turn on.
Soldering
The leads on these single-ended n00ds are WICKED hard to solder to. Not only is it hard to tell which is which, but they are only connectable on one side, and the n00ds like to roll around on your table and get you all confused. Here are some tips to make it easier.
- Take a deep breath and give yourself some time! I've been soldering for years and it still took me around 20 minutes to get these things working.
- Don't worry about color coding red and black wires to the anode/cathode. Just use two different colored wires on the two pads and figure it out later.
- The pads are delicate and like to wrinkle up and twist and break. Instead of soldering directly to the wires, I used a little metal ferrule from my jewelry making kit. I filled it with solder, then used my soldering iron to melt the solder into a little puddle, then pushed the tab into the molten solder until it was buried.
Solder the metal ferrules onto the pins. Be sure to get solder touching both the top and the bottom of the solder pads. Only one of those sides is "active" and I found it was most reliable to just bury the pads in solder.
Solder two different colored wires into the other end of the crimps.
Strip a little shielding off the other end of the wires. Test your connections by touching the bare ends of the wires to each side of a coin cell battery. If it doesn't light up, try flipping the battery around and touching the other sides.
If you use the connection pads instead of the battery, make sure the switch is "ON".
Once you've got light, take a look and note which wire is on the + side -- this is your positive, or cathode wire. The other is your anode, or negative / ground wire.
Solder your cathode (+) to SW on the coin cell breakout, and solder your anode (-) to G. Insert your battery and flip the switch to "on" and your n00d should light up!
Remove the stem from the flower by unscrewing it. The rest of the flower will want to fall apart. Use a blob of E6000 glue on the end of the screw to secure it back together.
Finish up by winding the n00d around in between the petals and secure the other end with another dab of glue in the center of the flower.
Glue the coin cell breakout to the back of one of the petals, and glue a hair clip onto the back of the flower so you can clip it to your hair or a hat.
Page last edited March 24, 2025
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