Simon Says Assembly Guide

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Contributors: Joel_E_B, QCPete, bboyho
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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

SparkFun Simon Says - Through-Hole Soldering Kit

KIT-10547
$28.95 $21.71
42
SparkFun Learn to Solder - Simon Says

SparkFun Learn to Solder - Simon Says

KIT-13708
$50.95
4

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.

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.

Polarity

An introduction to polarity in electronic components. Discover what polarity is, which parts have it, and how to identify it.

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:

SparkFun Simon Says - Through-Hole Soldering Kit

SparkFun Simon Says - Through-Hole Soldering Kit

KIT-10547
$28.95 $21.71
42
Solder Lead Free - 15-gram Tube

Solder Lead Free - 15-gram Tube

TOL-09163
$3.95
4
Diagonal Cutters

Diagonal Cutters

TOL-08794
$2.75
3
Solder Wick #2 5ft. - Generic

Solder Wick #2 5ft. - Generic

TOL-09327
$2.75
4
SparkFun Safety Glasses

SparkFun Safety Glasses

SWG-11046
$4.95
3
Soldering Iron Stand

Soldering Iron Stand

TOL-09477
$6.50
4
Soldering Iron - 30W (US, 110V)

Soldering Iron - 30W (US, 110V)

TOL-09507
$10.95
7

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

Simon Components

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.

Solder to Iron

Here's a close up of the solder once the solder is able to melt on the soldering iron tip.

Closeup Solder on Iron

The next bit of advice is always keep your iron in its stand while you're 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.

Iron In Stand

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 lose its ability to melt and flow properly. It can also build up a nasty residue on your iron tip and corrode it to the point where 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 your 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 your tip, which ultimately ruins 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.

Cleaning Soldering Iron

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 1

Soldering Advice: How to Create an Ideal Solder Joint

Below are some tips on creating the best solder connection possible.

Soldering Advice 1

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.

How to Solder: Through-Hole Soldering

September 19, 2013

This tutorial covers everything you need to know about through-hole soldering.

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

Locate the 10kΩ resistor.

10kOhm Resistor

If you look closely, it has a specific pattern of stripes on it: BROWN, BLACK, ORANGE, GOLD.

Color Code for 10KOhm Resistor

Bend the legs downward.

Legs Bent

Locate the 10kΩ resistor position on the board

Bend Resistor Legs

Insert the resistor into the PCB.

Find Resistor's Position on PCB

Push the resistor in so it is nearly flush with the board.

Resistor Flush

Slightly bend the legs outward to hold it in place.

Bend Legs Apart

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.

Heat Through Hole

Feed solder into the joint.

Feed Solder Joint

First, pull away the solder. Second, pull away the iron.

Pull Solder and Iron Back

Your solder joints should look like this - a tiny volcano.

Ideal Solder Joint

Clip off any excess legs.

Clip Excess Legs

Capacitors

Locate the two 0.1uF decoupling capacitors. These look a little different than resistors. They have two leads than come down off the bottom of the component, and they have the markings “104” on them. (also note, the bottom side may have some other letters, like “K5M”). They look like this:

0.1uF capacitors

Locate their positions on the PCB:

Capacitor Location

Insert the capacitors, flip the board over to the bottom side, and solder the pins just like the resistor.

Microcontroller

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.

Locate the microcontroller. This component is polarized, which means we need to take extra care to place it in the board properly. Notice the notch on the image below.

Atmega328

Looking at the bottom of the board, insert the microcontroller . Make sure that the notch on the chip aligns with the white silkscreen on the board. To avoid having it inserted backwards, we cut off a pin.

Locate Atmega328 on Board

Flip the board over and solder all of the microcontroller's pins to the board.

Buzzer

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.

Locate the piezo buzzer.

Buzzer

Locate the position on the PCB. Note the "+" on the buzzer . The "+" on the buzzer should align with the white "+" on the board.

Buzzer Position

Flip the board over and solder the buzzer's pins.

LEDs

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.

Locate the four LEDs.

LEDs

The LEDs are polarized. This means there are “-” and “+” legs. Each LED has a short leg and a long leg. The short leg goes into the hole labeled "-". Locate their positions on the PCB.

LED Position

Insert the four LEDs into the top of the board. Also, make sure each of them sits flush with the PCB. Then solder them into place.

Battery Clips

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.

Locate the four battery clips.

Battery Clips

Locate their positions on the PCB. Insert the battery clips . Make sure clips point toward each other so the battery fits.

Battery Clip Positions

Ensure clips are flat against the board. Then solder from the bottom of the board.

Switches

Locate the two slide switches.

Slide Switch

Locate their positions on the PCB. Looking at the top of the board, insert the switches. Keep the iron tip away from the black plastic! Plastic melts easily.

Switch Position

Flip the board over. Then begin to solder.

Final Assembly

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.

Locate the button pad, bezel, screws, standoffs, and AA batteries. You will need to:

  • Attach the button pad to the top of the board. Make sure to lay the rubber button over the LEDs.
  • Attach the bezel over the button pad with notches for the screws pointing up.
  • Insert the screws through the bezel and button pad. Then twist standoffs onto the protruding screw. No screwdriver is necessary. Hand tighten.
  • Insert the batteries , following "+" and "-" indicators on the board.

Insert the components as shown in the image below.

Final Assembly

With that, you should have a fully functional Simon Says that you built yourself! Turn it on by flipping the "Power" and "Sound" switch to the "On" position to see if it works.

Assembled Simon Says

If something is not working (i.e. an LED won't light up), please check out our troubleshooting section.

BONUS: Extra Fun!

Did you know that your Simon is much more than it seems? As an example of how the Simon is more than just a game, we have included special features in the code. Just for fun, try this out. Don't worry, it won't change your Simon permanently.

Turn the power switch to the "Off" position.

Switch Off

Press any one button.

Press any one button

While holding the button down, turn the Simon Says back on to test out one of the special modes that we have included!

Button Down Power Up

Troubleshooting

If your Simon doesn't work right off the bat, don't fret. There are many ways that your board could have an error on it. Look over these troubleshooting tips to help diagnose the problem. This section also goes over how to use the solder wick that came with your kit. This is like an eraser for soldering mistakes, and it can come in very handy if a mistake is made.

LEDs

LED(s) not lighting up even though you have a sufficient solder joint? Don't fret, there is an easy way to fix it! The most common cause of a failed LED is incorrect polarity. We have designed a special trick into the Simon PCB's design. You can simply cut the two traces and close two jumpers. This will swap the polarity without having to remove the LED.

Close Up Simon PCB's LED

Using a hobby knife, cut both exposed traces directly over the white dots. To test, try using a multimeter set to measure continuity to probe the trace between the pads and LED pins. This can help determine if the traces have been fully cut.

PCB Hobby Knife

Using a soldering iron, close both jumper pads with some solder. The image below shows an example of one of the pads being closed.

Close jumpers

Solder Jumpers

Did you accidentally solder a jumper between two legs where it should not be included? Don't fret. Here is a simple process using solder wick to remove the excess solder.

Solder jumper

Locate a solder wick.

Solder Wick

Place solder wick on top of solder.

Wick on Solder

Place iron on top of solder wick. Hold for 3-4 seconds.

Iron, Wick, Solder

Once the solder begins to flow into the wick, pull the wick and iron away at the same time.

Pull Wick and Iron Away

Resources and Going Further

Wrapping It All Up

I hope this has been a fun learning adventure. Soldering is a much easier than it may seem, and can be a useful tool for many trades and hobbies. If you still feel like you need some more help you can check out the video below. It goes over the same steps as are mentioned here, however, sometimes seeing someone else do it is easier than trying to explain it.

Bootloader Note: Reprogramming the ATmega328P Microcontroller w/ Arduino!

Now that you've successfully got your Simon Says up and running, it's time to incorporate it into your own project!

Arduino IDE

This ATmega328P comes pre-programmed with the Simon code as well as the STK500 serial bootloader. This serial bootloader will allow you to re-program the Simon game using the Arduino IDE. Selecting the "LilyPad Arduino w/ ATMega328" bootloader that was burned to the Atmega328P chip allows the Simon to be re-programmed to do many different things! You can write code to change your Simon into a new unique project. Try browsing our GitHub repository containing the default example code and additional examples:

Parts to Upload Code

To upload new code to the board, we require additional components that are not included in the kit.

SparkFun FTDI Basic Breakout - 3.3V

SparkFun FTDI Basic Breakout - 3.3V

DEV-09873
$16.95
66
Break Away Headers - Straight

Break Away Headers - Straight

PRT-00116
$1.75
20
SparkFun USB Mini-B Cable - 6 Foot

SparkFun USB Mini-B Cable - 6 Foot

CAB-11301
$4.50
3

To learn how to use the Simon Says with the Arduino IDE, we have a few tutorials. To get started, it is recommended to start with this tutorial:

Simon Says Experiments

October 21, 2010

So you've built up a Simon Says kit? What next? This tutorial will get you up and running with Arduino software, guide you through a few example sketches, and send you on your way to create your own. Careful, this stuff is highly addictive. :)

For more information, check out the resources below:

Need some inspiration for your next project? Check out some of these related tutorials:

Simon Splosion Wireless

This is a tutorial demonstrating one of many techniques to "hack" the Simon Says. We will highlight the technique to take your Simon Says Wireless.

Simon Tilts Assembly Guide

This tutorial will guide you through assembling your Simon Tilts PTH Kit.

Simon Says Experiments

So you've built up a Simon Says kit? What next? This tutorial will get you up and running with Arduino software, guide you through a few example sketches, and send you on your way to create your own. Careful, this stuff is highly addictive. :)

Or check out these blog posts for ideas

If you still have any questions or comments, please leave them below in the comments section. Happy soldering!