Ultra PicoKeyer
27 January 2017 (Firmware V2.2)
Page 14 of 21
components and circuit boards can be damaged by too much heat for too long. If you have never soldered
electronic components before, it would be a good idea to find some scrap parts and PCB and practice on
them first. Also, it’s a great idea to find someone more experienced to help you learn this skill!
4.
Once the part is in place and the solder has cooled, use a pair of fine pointed cutters to trim the excess
component leads close to the PCB.
During normal use, the included battery should last at least a year or two (perhaps longer). If you wish to use
external power (really only needed for beacon duty), there are a pair of solder pads near the corner of the board
and – for a DC power supply not to exceed 3.3 volts. Do
not
under any circumstances connect an
external power source without first removing the battery! Connecting external power while a battery is installed
can result in component damage and could even cause the coin cell battery to heat up and burn or explode.
Step-By-Step Assembly Instructions
Locate the printed circuit board (PCB). Orient the PCB with the
component side (the side with the white markings) on top and the
lettering right-side up as you look at it.
Locate and install the battery clip. Make sure the open side of the
battery clip faces the edge of the board. You won’t be able to install
the battery if you solder it on backwards.
The battery clip supplied with your kit is a through-hole part. You
can just solder it in place like any other part. You may want to use a
small clamp or clothespin to hold the part in place while you solder.
The battery clip will get HOT while you solder, so don’t try to hold
it in place with your fingers! Tape or rubber bands are probably not
a good idea either as they may melt or smoke.
It is not necessary to apply solder to the top side of the board. The
pictures on the right show a surface-mount version of the battery
clip, which was supplied with only a few of the very early kits. Just
soldering the pins on the bottom of the board like any other through-
hole part is enough.
