Build Instructions
Building the EZ-Expander shield is easy and is great soldering practice. There are 80
through-hole solder connections to make, but don't let that intimidate you. The shield
can be assembled in about 20-30 minutes depending on your soldering experience.
Parts List
One printed circuit board
Two 16-pin IC sockets
Two 74HC595 ICs
Two .1uF ceramic capacitors
One 16-pin female header
One 8x2 pin double row female header
One 16-pin male header
Step 1: Solder the .1uF capacitors into place
First we'll solder the two small .1uF capacitors into place. They go in the two spots on
the board marked C1 and C1. These capacitors are not polarized so you don't have to
worry about placing them backwards. Bend the leads outward to hold the capacitors
flush against the board.
Turn the board over and solder the capacitors into place. Then snip off the leads close to
the solder joint.
Step 2: Solder the IC sockets into place
The IC sockets are in the center of the board. IMPORTANT: Notice that the ICs are not
positioned the same. They point opposite directions. The board silkscreen shows the
positions of the notched ends of the socket and IC. A white dot also shows the location
of pin number 1 on the IC. Position the IC sockets on the PCB such that the notches in
the sockets match with the notches on the board.
To solder the sockets in place, I use blue painter's tape to hold them against the board
while I solder on the bottom. Any sort of masking tape will do. Make sure the socket is
flat against the PCB when you solder it into place.
Here are the IC sockets in place on the board:
Step 3: Solder 8x2 female header into place
This two-row header is soldered into place on the right side of the IC sockets. One row is
for the new pins numbered 20-27. The row closer to the edge of the board brings up the
Arduino pins 8-13, GND, and AREF. Since pins 8, 12, and 13 are used by the EZExpander shield, they are not available for use and are marked with an 'X'. Again, some
tape will help keep it in place when you solder the pins on the bottom of the board. You
can do it.
Step 4: Cut the 16-pin female header
Cutting a female header into two pieces is tricky and involves making a sacrifice of at
least one pin. The EZ-Expander kit comes with a 16-pin header, but you only need 14
pins total, so it's OK. Carefully cut the 16-pin header in to an 8-pin header and a 6-pin
header. Trim it up nicely with diagonal cutters or a utility knife. I recommend watching
Lady Ada's demonstration video on this subject.
Step 5: Solder the 8-pin and 6-pin female headers
into place
The 8-pin header goes on the left side of the chip sockets and gives you access to EZExpander pins 28-35. The 6-pin header is flush next to it and provides access to the six
pins from the Arduino board (VIN, GND, GND, 5V, 3.3V, and RST). Some tape can be
used to hold these in place while you solder them.
Step 6: Break or cut the 16-pin male header
The male headers will be soldered to the bottom of the EZ-Expander shield so that it can
be positioned on the Arduino. Using a pair of pliers or diagonal cutters, break or cut the
16-pin male header into an 8-pin header and a 6-pin header. You will have two pins left
over. They are my special gift to you.
Step 7: Solder the male headers into place
If you've gotten this far, you're home free. Put the male headers on the bottom of the
EZ-Expander PCB and solder them into place on the top of the board. I find it easiest to
put the male headers into breadboards and simply place the PCB on top for soldering.
Step 8: Insert the shift register ICs into the IC
sockets
IMPORTANT: Recall that they must be oriented correctly! The notch at one end of the IC
corresponds with the notch in the socket and on the PCB.
IMPORTANT:Be careful of static electricity! Make sure you touch something grounded
before handling the ICs. I usually touch a screw on the wall plate on an electrical outlet
to zap away any static discharge. I also have some copper pipes handy in my
subterranean laboratory -- pipes are grounded also.
I usually need to slightly bend in the pins on the IC before inserting into the socket. If
you accidentally bend a pin badly, don't worry; you can straighten it with needlenose
pliers.
Step 9: Bask in the glory of a successful build
Congratulations, you did it. Wow, 80 soldering points! Enjoy a cool beverage. Now you
can test your shield using the EZ-Expander software library and some imagination.
© 2011 nootropic design