Ground Wires
Create four wires for the green and red LED noodle ground connections. These should have a length of 5 inches (12.7cm) each.
Voltage Wires
Create four wires for the green and red LED noodels voltage connection. These should have a length of 13.5 inches (34cm) each.
Solder Voltage Wires
Attach the voltage wires to the anode pins of the LED noodles with solder. The anode pins can be identified by a teeny-tiny hole in the metal end tab.
Wired LED Noodles
Check the wires have been properly soldered to the cathode pins on each LED noodle.
Install Noodles
Add the green LED noodles to the outer spirals of the tree by pressing them into the channels.
The red LED noodles can then be added to the inner spirals of the tree. Precision tweezers or a fine tipped tool can be used to help assist in pressing the noodles into the inner channels.
Tree Tip
Ensure the LED noodles are fully seated in the channels so the voltage wires are pointing out towards the tip of the tree.
Heat Shrink
Grab a piece of heat shrink tubbing, preferably a white color from the multi-colored pack. The diameter of the tube should accommodate the eight voltage wires.
Carefully insert the eight voltage wires through the heat shrink tubbing.
Install Heat Shrink
Insert the end of the heat shrink with the eight wires through the hole in the top of the tree. Push the tubing through the opening until the wires are fully fed through.
Installed Heat Shrink
Ensure the voltage wires have been fully inserted through the opening in the tip of the tree.
Optionally add another piece of heat shrink tubing to cover the full length of the voltage wires.
Install Wires to Bottom Cover
Get the bottom cover ready. Insert the eight voltage wires through the center hole of the cover so there's enough slack to solder them to the AW9523 board.
Install Bottom Cover
Carefully fit the bottom cover into the tree by pressing the mount tabs through the tree's ring.
The tree's ring may need a bit of flexing to push the bottom cover tabs through.
Line up the mounting tabs with the tree's mounting holes.
Coincell Test
Use the CR2032 coin cell battery to test each LED noodle.
This helps determine the LED noodles matching ground and voltage wires.
To achieve a sequential fading effect, the wires from the LED noodles will need to be ordered sequentially with the pins on the AW9523 board.
Solder Wires to AW9523
Attach the ground wires to pins 15 – 4.
Attach the voltage wires to the corresponding voltage pins.
Solder the 220ohm resistors inline with the ground wires of the green LED noodles.
Remember to use to the coin cell battery to test the order of the LED noodles to your desired sequence.
Mount QT Py RP2040
Install the QT Py into the 3D printed PCB mount by fitting it into the holder.
Fit the front edges of the PCB underneath the clips.
Slightly flex the mount to get the back edges of the PCB to snap over.
Ensure the USB-C port is facing the correct orientation.
Mount the AW9523 Board
Place the AW9523 PCB over the built-in standoffs on the 3D printed PCB mount with the mounting holes lined up.
Use four M2.5 x 6mm long machine screws to secure the board to the mount.
Secure the PCBs
Ensure the QT Py RP2040 and AW9523 are secured to the 3D printed PCB mount.
Connect the boards together using the short STEMMA QT cable.
Secure PCB Mount
Place the PCB mount over the two mounting holes in the bottom base with the holes lined up.
Insert the M3 x 6mm long screws to attach the PCB mount to the bottom case. Use two M3 hex nuts to secure the mount.
Installed PCB Mount
Take a moment to inspect the PCB mount has been properly secured to the bottom base.
Install Tree
Carefully fit the tree onto the bottom base with the mounting holes lined up.
Ensure all of the the wires are fitted inside the bottom case.
Secure Tree
Use four M3 x 10mm long machine screws and hex nuts to secure the bottom base to the tree and bottom cover.
Rubber Feet
Get the four rubber feet ready to stick onto the bottom of the tree assembly.
Peel off the rubber feet from the pack and stick them onto desired spots on the bottom of the base.
Install Tree Toper
Glue the two halves of the star together using super glue or your preferred adhesive.
Press fit the stem of the star into the top hole of the tree topper.
Place the tree topper over the tip of the tree. Optionally use mounting tack or tape to secure the tree topper in place.
Page last edited March 08, 2024
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