sparkfun Simon Says User manual
Simon Says Assembly Guide
Introduction
If you've found yourself here, chances are you've purchased one of our many Simon Says Through-Hole soldering
kits. This tutorial will help you become familiar with the tools you'll need to build the Simon Says, show you how to
build it, and show you how you can take this simple, yet fun, game further with a little bit of programming know-
how. The different kits encompassed in this tutorial include:
SparkFun Simon Says - Through-Hole Soldering Kit
KIT-10547
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A
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These kits are all very similar. The only difference is that SparkFun Simon Says - Through-Hole Soldering Kit, you
will need to provide your own tools to build it. If you do not have the necessary tools, the Learn to Solder kit comes
with everything you need to get started. To make things simple, we'll cover everything from the tools to building the
Simon Says all in this tutorial. If you feel comfortable enough with soldering and are just looking for some detailed
instructions on how to put your kit together, you may want to skip ahead. However, if you would like to know more
about soldering, which tools are best for the job, and how to properly maintain those tools, then read on!
Suggested Reading
If you aren’t familiar with the following concepts, we recommend checking out these tutorials before continuing.
SparkFun Learn to Solder - Simon Says
KIT-13708
How to Solder: Through-Hole Soldering
This tutorial covers everything you need to know about
through-hole soldering.
Resistors
A tutorial on all things resistors. What is a resistor, how
do they behave in parallel/series, decoding the resistor
color codes, and resistor applications.
Required Tools
If you've purchased the Simon Says - Through-Hole Kit or Retail Kit, the following is a recommended list of
materials you'll need to complete the build. If you have a Learn to Solder: Simon Says, your kit should include all
of the following:
Polarity
An introduction to polarity in electronic components.
Discover what polarity is, which parts have it, and how
to identify it.
SparkFun Simon Says - Through-Hole Soldering
Kit
KIT-10547
Solder Lead Free - 15-gram Tube
TOL-09163
Solder Wick #2 5ft. - Generic
TOL-09327
Soldering Iron - 30W (US, 110V)
TOL-09507
Inside the Simon Says Through-Hole kit, you'll find all the parts for the Simon Says. This includes:
ATmega328 - pre-programmed with Simon firmware
Buzzer
0.1μF Cap (x2)
10K Resistor
LEDs (x4) (blue, yellow, red, green)
Slide Switch (x2)
Battery Clips (x4)
AA Batteries (x2)
Button pad
Bezel
Standoffs and screws (x4)
Simon Says - Through-Hole PCB
Soldering Iron Stand
TOL-09477
SparkFun Safety Glasses
SWG-11046
Diagonal Cutters
TOL-08794
Missing any parts? Sometimes one of those tiny little components can get misplaced. If you're missing any parts
contact our customer service team, and we'll get you the missing parts in a jiffy.
Quickstart - Soldering Basics and Advice
There are some basic tips that will help you achieve the best solder connection possible, help keep your soldering
iron in good condition and also keep you safe. For starters, it is best to keep your iron unplugged when not using it.
Leaving soldering irons on for long periods of time will wear out the tip much quicker. They are also very easy to
forget about when left plugged in and can be a potential fire hazard.
With that said, put on your safety glasses and plug your iron in to let it warm up before using it. Allow it to warm up
for about 30 seconds - 1 minute. The tip of the iron is normally 700°F, hot enough to melt metal solder. It is normal
for the handle of the soldering iron to heat up a bit. Hold it like a pencil and move your hand further away from the
tip if the heat is uncomfortable.
There isn't any indicator to let you know when the iron is ready. NEVER TOUCH THE TIP OF THE IRON TO SEE
IF IT'S ON. The best way to test if your iron is warmed up and ready is to melt a little solder on the end. If it melts
easily, you're good to go. The solder smokes because the rosin inside the solder is burning off - it’s not harmful. If
you have trouble getting the solder to melt on the tip, let it warm up a little bit longer.
Here's a close up of the solder once the solder is able to melt on the soldering iron tip.
The next bit of advice is always keep your iron in its stand while your not using it. Setting down your iron on your
workspace can be a major hazard. Not only can you burn the other items on your workbench, but you can also set
your arm down on it and get a gnarly burn (I speak from experience). Your iron has a home, and we're all better off
when you keep it there.
Maintaining Your Soldering Iron
You'll notice that on your stand there is a little pool with a sponge in it. This sponge plays a very important role in
soldering. As you solder, old solder tends to clump up and loose it's ability to melt and flow properly. It can also
build up a nasty residue on your iron tip and corrode it to the point were it won't accept solder any more. That's
where the sponge comes in handy.
Dampen it in a sink or using a water bottle. It doesn't need to be soaked, just wet enough to pull solder off you iron.
Now, very gently, wipe the excess solder off onto the sponge. Avoid jamming the tip into the sponge or leaving the
tip on the sponge for more than a few seconds. Doing so could result in holes in you tip, which ultimately ruin your
iron. You should periodically clean your tip as you're soldering. This will make your solder connections look nicer
and will increase the life of your iron. To increase the life of your iron even more, we recommend using a brass
sponge instead of a regular one. Expansion and contraction of the tip, from the cool water, tends to wear it out
over time.
Now that we've covered proper soldering iron handling and care, let's go over how to properly use it. There is a
correct way to solder, and it takes lots of practice to master. Getting it right early on will make your soldering
experience a lot more fun. Be sure to follow these bits of advice while your putting your kit together.
Soldering Advice: How to Properly Use a Soldering Iron
Below are some tips that show how to properly use the iron.
Soldering Advice: How to Create an Ideal Solder Joint
Below are some tips on creating the best solder connection possible.
If you still have some uncertainties about soldering, check out the tutorial below. There is a video for those of you
who are of the visual learning variety.
Quickstart - Your First Component
We'll go over over in detail how to solder on the first part. Then we'll show you which parts go where and let you
have at it. The booklet that comes with the Simon Says has been carefully crafted and goes over the assembly in
lots of detail. We'll follow along here. Click on the image for a larger view, or you can download the entire guide
here.
10kΩ Resistor
How to Solder: Through-Hole Soldering
SEPTEMBER 19, 2013
This tutorial covers everything you need to know about through-hole soldering.
Locate the 10kΩ resistor.
If you look closely, it has a specific pattern of stripes on it: BROWN, BLACK, ORANGE, GOLD.
Note: The patten can be in the opposite order; this is still the correct resistor. To further understand resistor
markings, please check out the following tutorial: Decoding Resistor Markings.
Bend the legs downward.
Locate the 10kΩ resistor position on the board
Insert the resistor into the PCB.
Push the resistor in so it is nearly flush with the board.
Note: This component is not polarized and so it does not matter which leg goes into each hole. Some
components in this kit are polarized and we will take extra care when we get to them to ensure they are
plugged in properly. These components will be denoted with a note and highlighted in yellow instead of
green:
Polarized
Component
Pay special attention to the component’s markings indicating how to place it on the PCB.
Polarized components can only be connected to a circuit in one direction.
To learn more about what it means to be polarized, please check out this tutorial: Polarity.
Slightly bend the legs outward to hold it in place.
Flip the board over. Hold the soldering iron's “Sweet Spot” so it touches both the leg and the metal ring. Hold for 2
seconds.
This manual suits for next models
1
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