OK, I've got all my parts in hand for a stand-alone 4.1 setup and am taking a hold-on-a-second moment, given that this is my first electronics project of any significance.
I get the impression from the forum that there are probably plenty of others in the same boat, so I thought I'd start this thread and try hard to not self-filter my embarrassingly simple questions ...
I understand the basics of soldering and have successfully built a couple of beginner project kits and built/fixed stereo wires on occasion, watched plenty of online videos, etc.
-- How am I most likely to irrecoverably mess this thing up?
-- I'm rocking a 25 watt ECG soldering iron and just picked up a fresh tip for it at Fry's but was eying the fine-point tips available for other brands which seem like they would make it much easier to keep from dribbling gobs of solder around every connection. Is it worth considering? What are the indispensable accessories -- desoldering braid/pump? flux pen?
-- I have not ordered a case yet. Looking at Bryan's assembly note about test fitting the LEDs -- should I really really order the case before I start, or is it reasonable to measure the lead heights to install everything for later placement in a case. Similarly, I'm planning to get it running and tested stand-alone and add the rPi later. Bad ideas?
I'm sure to have more questions, but I'll stop for now. Any tips anyone has to offer are most appreciated.
Kelly
I get the impression from the forum that there are probably plenty of others in the same boat, so I thought I'd start this thread and try hard to not self-filter my embarrassingly simple questions ...
I understand the basics of soldering and have successfully built a couple of beginner project kits and built/fixed stereo wires on occasion, watched plenty of online videos, etc.
-- How am I most likely to irrecoverably mess this thing up?
-- I'm rocking a 25 watt ECG soldering iron and just picked up a fresh tip for it at Fry's but was eying the fine-point tips available for other brands which seem like they would make it much easier to keep from dribbling gobs of solder around every connection. Is it worth considering? What are the indispensable accessories -- desoldering braid/pump? flux pen?
-- I have not ordered a case yet. Looking at Bryan's assembly note about test fitting the LEDs -- should I really really order the case before I start, or is it reasonable to measure the lead heights to install everything for later placement in a case. Similarly, I'm planning to get it running and tested stand-alone and add the rPi later. Bad ideas?
I'm sure to have more questions, but I'll stop for now. Any tips anyone has to offer are most appreciated.
Kelly