Prepare Strips
Remove the end caps from both ends of the NeoPixel strip.
Use a hobby knife to cut through the silicone and carefully remove the end caps and bits of hot glue.
Remove Wires
Use a soldering iron to desolder the stock wires from both ends of the NeoPixel strip.
Use a hobby knife to cut an opening to better reach the solder pads.
Install Strips
Begin press fitting the NeoPixel strip into the sign.
Gauge how long each section of the sign will need to be used.
Plan a good location for the NeoPixel strips to start and end.
Locate Strip Cutoff Sections
With the NeoPixel strip installed, locate where in the strip that needs to be cut.
Locate Solder Pads
Reveal the solder pads in the strip. If needed, use the knobby knife to cut a larger opening.
Use flush diagonal cutters to cut off the section of NeoPixel strip.
Solder Wires
Locate the end of the strip with the DATA IN pad.
Create a 3-pin wire using the silicone cover stranded ribbon cable.
Solder the 3-pin wire to the three pads on the NeoPixel strip.
Wired Strips
Create a second set of silicone wires for the other NeoPixel strip.
Solder the 3-pin wire to the second NeoPixel strip.
Prep USB Extension Cable
Remove the connectors from USB extension cable.
Use a hobby knife or wire strippers to remove an inch (25mm) of sheathing from the cable on both ends.
Tin Wires
Use the wire strippers to remove a small bit of insulation from each of the wires.
Use a soldering iron to tin each wire with a bit of solder.
Solder Voltage and Ground
Use the soldering iron and solder to attach the black wire from the extension cable to both ground wires from the NeoPixel strips.
Solder the red wire from the extension cable to the 5V wires on the NeoPixel strips.
Use heat shrink tubing to insulate the exposed wired connections.
Connect Data Wires
Solder the data in wire from the first NeoPixel strip to the white wire on the extension cable.
Solder the second data in wire rom the other NeoPixel strip to the green wire on the extension cable.
Wired Cable
Double check the wires have been properly soldered to the corresponding pads on both NeoPixel strips.
Headers for QT Py
Use the following headers to secure the QT Py onto the Perma Proto board.
- 2x 1x7 male header pins
- 2x 1x7 short socket headers
Solder Headers on QT Py
Install the two strips of headers to the pins on the QT Py.
Solder all 13 pins on the QT Py.
Use a breadboard to help keep the board sturdy while soldering.
Installing Socket Headers
Fit the two socket headers onto the male header pins of the QT Py.
This will help keep the pins sturdy while soldering to the Perma Proto board.
Connect Socket Headers to Perma Proto
Place the QT Py with the socket headers onto the pins of the Perma Proto.
Solder all 13 pins to the Perma Proto board.
Solder Ground and Voltage Rails
Create a 2-pin wire from the silicone ribbon cable.
Solder the cable to the ground pin on QT Py and connect it to the ground rails on the Perma Proto
Solder the remaining wire to the 5V pin on QT Py and connect it to the voltage/power rails on the Perma Proto.
Prep Cable
Use wire cutters to shorten the lengths of the wire on both sets of the 4-pin cables.
Use soldering iron to add a bit of solder to the strips. This helps keep the strands of wires from fraying when soldering.
Connect Cable to Perma Proto
Remove the QT Py from the Perma Proto board and solder one set of the 4-pin cable to the 5V, GND and data pin on QT Py.
Install the QT Py back onto the Perma Proto when ready.
Attach Connector to Extension Cable
Use the second 4-pin cable and solder it to the wires on the end of the extension cable.
Use pieces of heat shrink tubing to insulate the exposed wires.
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