# Reindeer Solder Kit by Phyx

## Overview

![A hand holding the fully assembled Reindeer Solder Kit by Phyx](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/141/241/medium800/customer___partner_projects_PXL_20251114_185208464.jpg?1763636904 )

Welcome to the step-by-step guide for assembling Reindeer Solder Kit by Phyx. Gather your supplies and get to it! This kit is built around 1 red flickering LEDs, a switch and a CR2032 battery (which is not included, [get yours here](https://www.adafruit.com/product/654)).

## Preparatory Guides
### Adafruit Guide To Excellent Soldering

[Adafruit Guide To Excellent Soldering](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-guide-excellent-soldering)
## Parts

Currently the Reindeer solder kit is only available through [Lectronz](https://lectronz.com/products/reindeer-solder-kit).

Featured
### CR2032 Lithium Coin Cell Battery

[CR2032 Lithium Coin Cell Battery](https://www.adafruit.com/product/654)
A perfect match for our [sew-able coin cell holder](http://www.adafruit.com/products/653). This non-rechargeable coin cell is CR2032 sized: 20mm diameter, 3.2mm thick. It has a nominal voltage output of 3V (although it starts a little high at 3.2V and slowly drifts down to 2.5V as...

In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/654)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/654/guides)
![Front shot of CR2032 Lithium Coin Cell Battery upright.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/654-02.jpg)

## Tools
 **Soldering Iron:** You'll need a decent soldering iron. Adafruit has a selection [here](https://www.adafruit.com/category/559).

**Solder:** We typically use 0.8mm or thicker solder wire for this. See on Adafruit [here](https://www.adafruit.com/category/631).

Featured
### Simple pliers

[Simple pliers](https://www.adafruit.com/product/146)
Simple needlenose pliers for twisting, pulling and pliering your project.

In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/146)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/146/guides)
![Red and black needle-nose pliers](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/146-04.jpg)

### Optional

- File or sand paper to smooth the rough edges
- Helping Third Hand (this can be mechanical or from an actual person). Check out some at Adafruit [here](https://www.adafruit.com/category/579).
- Solder Sucker and/or Solder Wick

Featured
### Solder sucker

[Solder sucker](https://www.adafruit.com/product/148)
Strangely enough, that's the technical term for this desoldering vacuum tool. Useful in cleaning up mistakes, every electrical engineer has one of these on their desk.

To use, depress the end to engage the vacuum. Then heat up the to-be-desoldered joint until it is liquid. With your...

Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/148)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/148/guides)
![Long thin solder sucker with knurled handle](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/148-04.jpg)

Featured
### Solder wick - 1.5mm wide and 1.5m / 5 feet long

[Solder wick - 1.5mm wide and 1.5m / 5 feet long](https://www.adafruit.com/product/149)
Used along with the solder sucker to clean up soldering messes. Wick really comes in handy when soldering or desoldering surface-mount parts. Even if you don't have the best iron for SMT work, a bit of wick will fix it up.

1.5mm wick, and 1.5m long, so you have plenty to work...

Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/149)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/149/guides)
![Spool of solder wick with 1.5mm wide wick coming out.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/149-07.jpg)

# Reindeer Solder Kit by Phyx

## Solder it!

Here is an overview of parts included in the kit (note the CR2032 coin cell battery is [**not included**](http://www.adafruit.com/product/654)). You'll need to get one separately.

- 1 red flashing LED
- 1 CR2032 SMD battery holder
- 1 slide switch
- 1 PCB

![The contents of the solder kit spread out on the table showing the PCB, LED, switch and battery holder. ](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/141/269/medium640/customer___partner_projects_PXL_20251119_183724906.jpg?1763754924)

Breaking apart the PCB and remove the rough "mouse bites" on the boards with pliers. Start by soldering the battery holder. Take note of the chamfered corner on the battery holder, this should point towards the tail.

Solder it by first applying solder on one pad, then heat up this pad and move the component in place. Let the solder joint cool down and solder the other connection.

![The body PCB with the battery holder next to it. ](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/141/270/medium640/customer___partner_projects_PXL_20251119_184020115.jpg?1763755067)

![Body PCB with the battery holder mounted.](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/141/271/medium640/customer___partner_projects_PXL_20251119_184139574.jpg?1763755250)

Next up, mount the slide switch which will allow you to turn on the LED. Put it in the designated spot, flip the board over and solder the 5 solder joints.

![Body PCB with the battery holder mounted and switch next to the PCB](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/141/272/medium640/customer___partner_projects_PXL_20251119_184218611.jpg?1763755624)

![Body PCB with the battery holder, switch and LED mounted](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/141/273/medium640/customer___partner_projects_PXL_20251119_184441935.jpg?1763755689)

The time has come to mount the LED on the nose. The LED has one long lead (The Anode or "+") and one short lead (the cathode or "-"). Make sure to slide the  **long lead** through the hole marked by the " **+**". Before soldering the LED, make sure to bend the LED. You can bend the LED a bit forward, or keep it in the general direction of the head face angled down, like a nose.

Once both pins are soldered, you can clip the legs with a flush cutter. Hold the leads when cutting to prevent them flying away. Preferably you should **wear eye protection during this step**.

![Close up of the head with the LED next to it.](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/141/274/medium640/customer___partner_projects_PXL_20251119_184324025.jpg?1763755817)

![Closeup of the head with the LED mounted](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/141/275/medium640/customer___partner_projects_PXL_20251119_184441935.jpg?1763756003)

Warning: You should use eye protection when cutting parts to avoid injury.

For the legs, you can either opt to glue them in place with some hot glue, or solder them in place. On the example here I've opted to solder them in place. **Don't be stingy with the solder on these joints!** Due to the placement of solder pads, you cannot fit the legs on the wrong side.

![The assembled body next to the 2 legs.](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/141/276/medium640/customer___partner_projects_PXL_20251119_184502810.jpg?1763756342)

![Legs mounted on the body](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/141/277/medium640/customer___partner_projects_PXL_20251119_184644292.jpg?1763756395)

Similar to the legs, you can choose to either glue or solder the antlers in place. The example here shows the antler soldered down on both sides.

![Assembled body and legs next to the antler PCB](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/141/278/medium640/customer___partner_projects_PXL_20251119_184655646.jpg?1763756857)

![The fully assembled reindeer with antlers soldered in place.](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/141/279/medium640/customer___partner_projects_PXL_20251119_184752831.jpg?1763756928)

Some caution is required when mounting the battery. Slide it underneath the hooks on the back side with the " **+**" side facing up before pressing down.

![Closeup of the battery mounted](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/141/280/medium640/customer___partner_projects_PXL_20251119_184752831.jpg?1763757057)

The only thing left to do is slide the switch to the "ON" position and marvel at your work!

![Fully assembled and lit up reindeer solder kit.](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/141/281/medium640/customer___partner_projects_PXL_20251119_184825978.jpg?1763757346)

# Reindeer Solder Kit by Phyx

## Download

You can find the source files for this design on [GitHub](https://github.com/phyx-be/REINDEER).

## Files for revision 01

- [Schematic in PDF](https://github.com/phyx-be/REINDEER/blob/main/design/REINDEER_01/OUTPUT/REINDEER_01.PDF)
- [Gerber files of the PCB](https://github.com/phyx-be/REINDEER/tree/main/design/REINDEER_01/OUTPUT/Gerber)
- [Source files (Altium Designer)](https://github.com/phyx-be/REINDEER/tree/main/design/REINDEER_01)


## Guide Products

### CR2032 Lithium Coin Cell Battery

[CR2032 Lithium Coin Cell Battery](https://www.adafruit.com/product/654)
A perfect match for our [sew-able coin cell holder](http://www.adafruit.com/products/653). This non-rechargeable coin cell is CR2032 sized: 20mm diameter, 3.2mm thick. It has a nominal voltage output of 3V (although it starts a little high at 3.2V and slowly drifts down to 2.5V as...

In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/654)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/654/guides)
### Simple pliers

[Simple pliers](https://www.adafruit.com/product/146)
Simple needlenose pliers for twisting, pulling and pliering your project.

In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/146)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/146/guides)
### Solder sucker

[Solder sucker](https://www.adafruit.com/product/148)
Strangely enough, that's the technical term for this desoldering vacuum tool. Useful in cleaning up mistakes, every electrical engineer has one of these on their desk.

To use, depress the end to engage the vacuum. Then heat up the to-be-desoldered joint until it is liquid. With your...

Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/148)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/148/guides)
### Solder wick - 1.5mm wide and 1.5m / 5 feet long

[Solder wick - 1.5mm wide and 1.5m / 5 feet long](https://www.adafruit.com/product/149)
Used along with the solder sucker to clean up soldering messes. Wick really comes in handy when soldering or desoldering surface-mount parts. Even if you don't have the best iron for SMT work, a bit of wick will fix it up.

1.5mm wick, and 1.5m long, so you have plenty to work...

Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/149)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/149/guides)

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