Cut DotStar Strips

Remove the DotStar strip from the stock reel. Locate the beginning of the strip and cut off the wires.

Remove the silicone sheathing from the strip using a hobby knife.

Desolder the wires from the beginning of the strip. 

Count 32 individual LEDs to gauge the required length. Cut the strip in between the four solder pads.

Repeat this process to create a second strip with 32 LEDs.

Trim Cables

Reduce the length of the wires from the 4-pin cables using wire cutter so they're approximately 3 inches (76mm) long.

Solder Cables to DotStar Strip

Locate the first LED in the strip and the four solder pads. Use the plug connector to attach to the DotStar LED strip.

• Solder the red wire to the 5V pad.
• Solder the yellow wire to the CI pad.
• Solder the white wire to the DI pad.
• Solder the black wire to the G pad.

Wired DotStar Strips

Repeat the wiring process for the second DotStar LED strip.

Double check the wires have been properly soldered to the pads on the two DotStar LED strips.

Slip Ring Wires

Reduce the length of the wires from the tip of the slip ring to approximately 3 inches (76mm).

The wires on the bottom of the slip ring can remain the stock length. 

Use wire stripper to remove a bit of insulation form each wire, then tin the exposed wire using a bit of solder.

Solder Cables to Slip Ring Wires

The two 4-pin cables will share power, ground and data connections from the slip ring. This allows the two DotStar LED strips to share the same connections.

Add pieces of heat shrink tubing to each of the wires on the slip ring before soldering wires together.

• Solder the cables black wires to black wire on the slip ring
• Solder the cables red wires to the red wire on the slip ring
• Solder the cables white wires to the green wire on the slip ring
• Solder the cables yellow wires to the yellow wire on the slip ring

Slip Ring Heat Shrink

Slide the heat shrink over the solder joints and apply heat to seal. 

Wired Slip Ring

Double check the two 4-pin cables have been properly soldered to the wires on the tip of the slip ring.

Install FeatherWing Doubler Headers

Solder the two sets of socket headers to the FeatherWing Doubler.

Prep FeatherWing Wiring

The wires on the bottom of the slip ring will connect to the pins on the bottom of the FeatherWing Doubler PCB.

Connect Slip Ring to Doubler

Locate the pins on the FeatherWing Doubler by referencing the pin labels on Feather RP2040. Make the following connections on the bottom of the PCB.

• Solder the red wire from the slip ring to a 3V pin on the Doubler
• Solder the black wire from the slip ring to a GND pin on the Doubler
• Solder the yellow wire from the slip ring to the SCK pin on the Doubler
• Solder the green wire from the slip ring to the MI pin on the Doubler

Install Feather RP2040 and Motor FeatherWing Headers

Solder the headers onto the Feather RP2040 and Motor FeatherWing.

LED Power Test

Install the Feather RP2040 and Motor FeatherWing onto the FeatherWing Doubler.

Connect the two DotStar LED strips to the two 4-pin cables on the slip ring.

Provide 5V 1A power to the Feather RP2040 to test the circuit. The LEDs should start blinking.

DC Jack Wires

Prep two wires, preferably red and white, to connect the DC Power adapter to the Motor FeatherWing. Wires should measure to approximately 3 inches (76mm) in length.

Connect the red wire to the positive screw terminal block and the black to the negative screw terminal block.