ENG-CANSAT-V2-ASSEMBLY

Abstract

The original version of the CANSAT kit required many soldering operation. It's intimidating for newcomers with little experience with a soldering iron.

With the CANSAT V2 kit, things have been made easier than ever, no solder required!

Assembling the Cansat

The Pico is the MicroControler propeling the board.

It is soldered on the top of the Cansat Base Board, this can be done with Pin Header or directly flat on the board.

Lets starts to assemble it!

	Pick up the base board and place it with the top part up. You should see the message "Raspberry Pico (This side)" on the board. If you are more confortable with leveled board to work on then place the piece of cardboard under the board to help you when soldering.
	Cut two sections of pins, we will is them to align the Pico to solder it. Tip: Make a section of 8 pins, it can be reused to solder the powerboost. Place the long part of the PinHeader in the Pico holes (from under board) as shown on the picture.
	Place the Pico on the top of the board. It should be perfectly aligned thanks to the pin header.
	Solder two opposite pads on the board to make the Pico staying on the right place. Place the bit of iron just at the separation between the two boards. Melt solder... it will start to melt on the base board then also wet the Pico pad. Voilà! you just learn to solder a castelate pad. Repeat the same operation on the opposite side to secure the Pico on the base.
	Remove the pin headers then solder the remaining pads.

Lipo Booster soldering

The kit can be used either with a PowerBoost 500 Charger, either a PowerBoost 1000 Charger.

The soldering operation depends on the selected PowerBoost model.

PowerBoost 500 Charger Soldering

The PowerBoost 500 is the default powering system of this kit.

Let's solder it

	Pico up the base board with the back of the board on the desk. You should see Qwiic connector and the text "PowerBoost 500 Charger" written.
	Place a section of 8 pins into the connector (the short part into the connector). Tip: use a small piece a paper tape to maintain the connector right in place.
	Flip over the board and solder the connector in place.
	Flip the board again (to see the "PowerBoost" text). Slides the PowerBoost 500 on the connector, Solder it and cut-out the pin near of the board (with a diagonal cutter). WARNING: Electronic components must be visible on the breakout! Tip: Push on the PowerBoost breakout with the nail against the connector. This will flatten the breakout on the connector (and make it paralleled to the base board). Charge the tip of the iron with some solder. Tack a drop of solder on one pin to make the breakout staying right in place (no need to be perfect right now) Solder the other pins of the breakout Now solder the initial tacked pin (to have a nice & great solder join on that pin too)

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Written by Meurisse D. for MCHobby