On this page you will find instructions on how to assemble your PiScreen Ki. These instructions cover the through hole PiScreen Kit.

If you have purchased this kit then you would already know that some assembly and soldering is required. If you didn’t, don’t fret, as this is an easy task and some of you may enjoy doing it. A soldering iron and solder are required.

The PiScreen kit contains the following items;

• 1 x TFT Module
• 2 x 74HC4094 shift registers
• 1 x 74HC4040 Binary counter
• 1 x 74HC04 hex converter
• 1 x Switch
• 1 x Female header
• 3 x Male header
• 4 x Capacitors
• 1 x PCB
• 1 x Ribbon cable
• 2 x Stylus
• 1 x small PCB for key ring
• 2 x PCB Standoffs

Example;

Before we start, there are a few things you need to know:

Pin numbers on Dual Inline Packages

When placing components on a PCB, most components are required to be placed at a specific orientation so that the pins on the component match up with what has been printed on the PCB.

This is the case for the Integrated Circuits (IC) used on PiScreen.

PiScreen uses ICs that come in the form of a Dual Inline Package(DIP).
IC manufactures will place a notch or circle near PIN 1 to help with working out where pin 1 is. You can see an example of this in the image below;

Looking at the locations on the PCB where the above chips go, you can see that this notch or circle is also seen. You will use these as a guide with placing the ICs into the PiScreen PCB.

Straightening the Pins on the Dual Inline Packages

Before inserting DIPs into the PCB, the pins will need to be straightened so that they are perpendicular to the chip.

This is illustrated in the image below. The pins drawn in black show the position that they are in when received from the manufacture.  The red pins show the position they need to be in before they are inserted into the PCB.
Very gently, squeeze the pins together.

1. Solder backlight switch

Solder the switch in first.  You can see the switch in the above image in the bottom left and corner. Make sure that switch is added to the side that is label SW1.

2.Solder integrated circuits

First straighten the pins on your ICs. And insert them into the PCB. Make sure you insert the right IC into the right holes.  The chips and PCB will be labeled with;
– 74HC4094N
– 74HC4040N
– 74HC04N

Please also take note of the notch of each IC and the correct orientation of each IC is they are inserted into the PCB.

I would solder one pin of each IC and then confirm that the ICs are all flat and I would recheck that the notches on the ICs match up with the notches on the PCB silk screen.

3. Solder capacitors

The capacitors can be inserted into the PCB in any orientation.

Once you have soldered the capacitors to the PCB, you will need to snip off the feet of the capacitors.

4. Solder headers used by the spare GPIO

These will be placed on the PCB where it is labeled Spare_GPIO and the right angle headers will be used.

5. Solder the Raspberry Pi headers

There are two sets of headers that on PiScreen that are used to connect PiScreen to the Raspberry Pi.   Straight Male and Female.

First you need to prepare your male headers. You would have received one long row of straight male headers in your kit.

This needs to be broken down to two pieces with 13 pins each.

Placement on the PCB for both male and female headers

5. Solder TFT to PCB

Before you can solder the TFT to the PCB, you will need to apply a small piece of tape to the back of the TFT to insulate the transistor.

Before with the transistor highlighted;

 And after, with a black strip of tape added;

And finally, solder the TFT to your PCB