Big Digit Driver Assembly Instructions

This page walks through the basic assembly process for building the Big Digit Driver.

Bill of Materials, or, "What's in the kit?"

Line	Ref Des	Description	Type	Vendor	Vendor Part Number	Quantity per Board
1	N/A	PCB	Big Digit Driver board	EMS	N/A	1
2	R25	Current Sense Resistor for DP	22 ohm, substituting 24 ohm 1/4 watt carbon film resistor	Digikey	24QBK-ND	1
3	R1 through R5	DP Load Resistors	68 ohm 1/4 watt carbon film resistors	DigiKey	68QBK-ND	5
4	R11,R13,R15,R17,R19,R21,R23	Current Sense Resistors	16 ohm 1/4 watt carbon film resistors	Digikey	16QBK-ND	7
5	R12,R14,R16,R18,R20,R22,R24,R26,R27	Base Resistors, Power LED Resistor	1k ohm 1/4 watt carbon film resistors	Digikey	1.0KQBK-ND	9
6	D1, D2	Linear Regulator Load, DP Load (Diodes)	1N4740A, 10V, 1 watt	Digikey	1N4740A-ND	2
7	U9	Shift Register Socket	16 pin 0.3" Socket	Digikey	A100206-ND	1
8	U10	Schmitt Trigger Socket	14 pin 0.3" Socket	Digikey	3M5462-ND	1
9	JP1 thru JP5	Data Out Schmitt Trigger Bypass	Zero ohm 'Resistors'	Digikey	0.0QTR-ND	5
10	Q1 thru Q8	Digital Control Transistors	2N3904, NPN Transistor, 40V, TO-92	Digikey	2N3904-APCT-ND	8
11	U1 thru U8	Current Regulators	LM317L, Adjustable Linear Regulator, 0.1A, TO-92	Digikey	LM317LZ-ND	8
12	U11	Linear Regulator	TL750L05, 5V, 150mA, TO-92	Digikey	296-8002-5-ND	1
13	C2	Bypass Capacitor	10uF Ceramic Capacitor	Digikey	445-4816-ND	1
14	C1, C3, C4	Bypass Capacitors	0.1uF Ceramic Capacitor	Digikey	BC1148TR-ND	3
15	LED1	Power LED	3mm Yellow LED	Digikey	754-1212-ND	1
16	J2, J3	Screw Terminal	2 position euro-style screw terminal	DigiKey	ED2635-ND	2
17	J5, J6	SPI Headers	6 pin (2x3 DIL) 0.1" Header	Digikey	609-3202-ND	2
18	J4	Power Jack	2.1mm ID Barrel Jack	Digikey	CP-002AH-ND	1
19	U9	Shift Register	74HCT595, 8-bit 16DIP	Digikey	568-1560-5-ND	1
20	U10	Schmitt Trigger	74ACT14, 16DIP	Digikey	296-4368-5-ND	1
21	J1	Display Connector	11 Position/22 Contact 0.156" pitch board edge connector	Digikey	EBM11DSAN-ND	1
22	N/A	Display Top Standoffs	Standoff, 7/8" round	Digikey	1848K-ND	2
23	N/A	Display Bottom Standoffs	Standoff, round, 3/4"	DigiKey	3488K-ND	2
24	N/A	Display Top Standoff Washers	1/16" thick Nylon Washers, #6 screw	McMaster	90295A090	2
25	N/A	Display Bottom/Driver Board Standoffs	1/8" tall Nylon standoff	McMaster	94639A407	2
26	N/A	Display Bottom/Driver Board/Mounting Screws	Screw, Button Socket Cap 6-32 x 1/2"	McMaster	92949A148	6
27	N/A	Display Top	Screw, Button socket Cap 6-32 x 3/8"	McMaster	92949A146	2
28	N/A	Delrin Insulator	Delrin Insulator	EMS	N/A	1

Assembly procedure

Looks a bit imposing, huh? Don't worry, looks can be deceiving. We'll show you where each part goes.

This guide assumes that you have had some soldering experience. If not, or it's been a while, you may also want to look at pages 2 and 5-7 of the Bulbdial clock assembly instructions, which go over basic tools and technique. And, if you really are a beginner, there are plenty of good tutorials on line, like this one.

1. The circuit board

Here's what the bare circuit board looks like:

(Photo here.)

We'll be adding components to the labeled locations there.

When we refer to locations on the board and say things like 'look on the left-hand side of the board', we assume the board is being held with the silk-screen side up (we'll be calling this the 'front side') and with the text right side up.

2. Decimal Point Current Sense Resistor

Let's start with an easy one!

Locate the 24 ohm resistor (color code: Red/Yellow/Black/Gold). This will go in location R25 - it's right above the power jack footprint on the right-hand side of the board.

Bend the leads as shown.

Drop it in place (location R25), and bend the leads over by about forty-five degrees on the back of the board. With these resistors the orientation doesn't matter.

Solder the excess and clip off the extra wire.

This is the general procedure we'll follow for all the parts in this kit.

3. Decimal Point Load Resistors

Let's finish off the decimal point resistors.

We'll be installing 68 ohm resistors (color code: Blue/Gray/Black/Gold) in locations R1 through R5. All of these locations are immediately to the left of the power jack footprint on the right-hand side of the board.

Bend the leads...

Drop in place, bend the leads over on the backside...

Solder and clip!

4. Other Current Sense Resistors

Next, let's install the current sense resistors for all the other segments. These will go in locations R11, R13, R15, R17, R19, R21, and R23 (in a big line across the middle of the board) and are 16 ohms resistors (color code: Brown/Blue/Black/Gold).

5. Base resistors

Getting the hang of this? Great!

Next, locate all the 1k ohm resistors (color code: Brown/Black/Red/Gold) and install them into locations R12, R14, R16, R18, R20, R22, R24, and R26 (again, in a big line across the middle of the board).

You may have noticed that we didn't use all the 1k ohm resistors available. Thats okay, we'll use it in step 6!

6. LED Resistor

Last resistor, we promise!

It's a 1k ohm (Brown/Black/Red/Gold), exactly like the resistors in step five. This resistor goes in location R27, between the large IC footprint near the top-middle of the board.

7. Zener Diodes

Be careful with these - the resistors we installed above could be installed in any orientation, but not so with these diodes!

Look at the board for a second, and locate locations D1 and D2 (upper left-hand side of the board). Notice the thick white lines inside the footprint, on the left of the box?

Take a look at the diodes. See how they have black lines wrapped around one end of the glass cylinder?

These are polarity markings - when installing these parts you need to match up the black line on the diode with the white line on the footprint. Installing the diode backward could cause your Big Digit Driver to be damaged when you plug it in!

Other than keeping an eye on the polarity, installing the diodes in very similar to the resistors above: bend the leads, drop them in place, bend the leads over by about forty-five degrees, solder, and clip off the excess.

8. Optional: Schmitt Trigger Bypass

Big Digit Drivers can be linked in series via the SPI ports on either side of the board. For long runs of digits (three or more) we've included a footprint for a Schmitt trigger - this IC will 'boost' the signals that run down the series of drivers and helps eliminate synchronization issues due to noise and attenuation.

If, for whatever reason, you don't want to use the Schmitt trigger you can instead install four jumpers in locations JP1, JP2, and JP3 (look in the upper right-hand side of the board). For this we'll use zero-ohm 'resistors' - they have no real color code, they look like resistors with a single black stripe instead of five or more. They're not really resistors either (well, they do have a resistance - like all wire - but it is very low!) and each could actually be replaced with a length of wire if you prefer.

They go in like the resistors in the steps above: bend the leads, drop in place, bend leads on back to hold them in place, solder, and clip off the excess.

There is no harm is using the Schmitt trigger on short runs of digits and using the bypass jumpers may work just fine for longer runs, but DO NOT use both at the same time! Using both shouldn't cause any damage, but the behavior of digits down the line will be strange and unpredictable.

9. Optional: SPI header ground connections

Since Big Digit Drivers can be wired in series essentially indefinitely, we also include the option of isolating the board from the the ground line on the SPI headers.

We recommend that you install these jumpers unless you are positive that you need to isolate drivers for some reason. Isolating the ground lines will only be useful to people who are driving a large number of digits for two or more power supplies.

Once again we'll be using zero ohm 'resistors' - just like above in step 8. We'll be installing them in locations JP4 (upper right-hand side of the board, below the Schmitt trigger bypass) and JP5 (upper left-hand side of the board, just below the diodes).

10. Shift Register and Schmitt Trigger Sockets

We don't recommend soldering chips directly to the board, and the kit include sockets for your convenience.

There are two IC footprint (U9 and U10) and they are slightly different sizes (U9 is 16 pins, and U10 is 14 pins). Make sure you have the right socket for the right footprint! If it doesn't drop in, or if the socket doesn't seem to cover the entire footprint, double check that you have the correct socket.

Take a look at the board - notice the 'notch'/semicircle on one end of the footprint? This is a polarity marking. Match this mark with the notch in the end of of the socket.

Drop the socket into its respective footprint and flip the board over (you can either hold the socket in place or use the surface of a table/desk/bench to hold it in place).

Now there is a bit of a trick to getting the socket flush the with the board. First, we bend over two pins in order to hold the socket mostly in place - notice how the bent pins are on opposite rows and opposite ends of the footprint.

Then, solder TWO pins - either the two bent pins or the pins directly across from them. Flip the board over and check that the socket is flush with the board. If not, apply light pressure to the socket on the 'high' end and reheat the solder joint. The socket should 'snap' into place. Remember to give the solder a moment to cool before you take your hand away!

At this point you can solder the rest of the pins. Trim what excess you can - it'll save wear-and-tear on the insulators when you mount the display.

11. Digital Control Transistors

These transistors are little black cylinders with one side flattened and have three leads coming out one end. They should come attached to a strip of paper tape, but double check their markings just to be sure. They should have the number '2N3904' on the flattened side of the cylinder.

We will be installing these into locations Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6, Q7, and Q8 (in a line across the middle of the board). Note that orientation matters! Take a peek at the board.

See how the footprint is a circle with a flat side? That flat side matches up with the flat side on the part itself (the side with the text on it) - in other words, the flat side of the part should be facing toward the top of the board.

You may have noticed that the transistors also come with pre-bent leads - all you need to do is cut them loose from the paper strip and drop them in place.

Like the other parts in the kit, bend the leads over on the back side of the board, solder, and clip off the excess.

12. Five Volt Linear Regulator

These will look similar to the transistors in step 11, except: they will have the number '750L05' on them, do not come attached to paper tape, and do not have their leads pre-bent.

Make sure you have the right part! There is only one voltage regulator and it will look very similar to the current regulators used in step 13. We will install this part in location U11 (upper left-hand side of the board, look for the words '5 Volt Regulator').

Like with the transistors in step 11, orientation matter! Again, line up the flat side of the regulator with the flat side of the footprint on the board (the flat side should be facing toward the top of the board).

Getting the leads into the proper holes may prove a bit tricky - you may want to pre-bend them yourself before attempting to install the part. Otherwise, follow the same procedure here as will the other parts: install, bend the leads over on the back side of the board, solder, and clip off the excess.

13. Current Regulators

These regulators will look very similar to the 5 Volt Regulator in step 12. Identical, in fact, except that they will have the number 'LM317' on them.

Install these in locations U1, U2, U3, U4, U5, U6, U7, and U8. Once again, orientation matter! Be sure to line up the flat side of the regulator with the flat side of the footprint on the board (the flat side should be facing toward the top of the board).

As usual, install, bend the leads on the back, solder, and trim off the excess wire.

14. Linear Regulator Output Capacitor

This part will be a little blue blob with two leads coming out of it. We'll be installing it in location C2 (look in the upper left-hand side of the board, under the '5 Volt Regulator' label).

Orientation doesn't matter with this part, so you can just drop it in, bend the leads, solder, and trim any excess.

15. Other Capacitor

These parts will be yellow brown blobs with two wires coming out of them, and come on paper tape (similar to the tape the transistors came in). These will go in locations C1, C3, and C4.

Orientation doesn't matter with these parts, so you can just drop it in, bend the leads, solder, and trim any excess.

16. Power Indicator Lamp

The Big Digit Driver board has a power light. Nothing fancy, just a yellow LED. It goes in location LED1 - between the two IC footprint in the upper middle of the board.

Note that orientation matters for this part: the long lead goes into the square hole.

17. Screw Terminal Power Connectors

These are the green plastic blocks with screws in the top of them. You can install them in any orientation, but it's probably better to install them with the wire slots facing outwards.

These go in locations J2 and J3, on either sides of the board. Getting them to stay in place when solder is a bit tricky - we recommend placing the connector pins-up on a flat surface and laying the board onto it.

Only solder one pin at first. Check to make sure the connector is lined up correctly before soldering the other pin.

18. SPI headers

These are also a bit tricky. The SPI header is a two by three block of straight pins. These should drop right into locations J5 and J6, on the left-hand and right-hand side of the board.

Solder one pin on the back and then flip the board over. Make sure that the header is perpendicular to the board and the black plastic block is seated on the board.

Once you're sure the header is seated properly, solder the rest of the pins on the back.

19. DC Power Barrel Jack

This part goes in location J4, on the right-hand side of the board.

Use the solder sparingly - just enough to tack it down. Flooding the holes may cause solder to bridge the gap between the holes and cause a short circuit.

20. Insert Shift Register

The shift register is a 16 pin IC that has '74HCT595N' on it. You may need to fiddle with the pins a bit to get it to plug into the socket at U9. Carefully pressing the side of the pins against a flat, hard surface is a good way to do this.

Orientation matters with this part! See that notch on one end of the IC? That should line up with the notch/semi-circle on the IC footprint on the board.

21. Optional: Insert Schmitt Trigger

If you didn't install the Schmitt trigger bypass jumpers in step 8 you should install the Schmitt trigger at this point.

The Schmitt trigger is the 14 pin IC that has 'SN74ACT14N' written on it, and it goes in location U10. Like the shift register, Orientation matters: the notch on one end of the IC should line up with the notch/semi-circle on the IC footprint on the board.

12. Display connector

Almost done!

This part is the huge blue card edge socket with pins at a right angle. It goes in location J1.

Make sure you put it in the correct side of the board! The socket actually sits on the back of the board, not the front (i.e. not the side with all the other components).

Make sure the socket is completely seated on the board before you solder it down. Clip off any excess wire.

13. You're done with the electrical stuff!

Good work, the board is finished. Now lets get it attached to a display, eh?

14. Attach The Display

The driver board slides onto the back of the display. The card edge connector at location J1 should be sufficient to align.

15. Delrin Insulator

The plastic insulator goes between the driver board and display. Note that the insulator has two holes - these line up with the middle pair of holes on the driver board (specifically, the holes that are slightly farther from the edges than the other four and line up with the mounting holes in the display).

Be careful with the insulator! It is resistant against punctures, but is actually rather brittle. Don't twist or warp it unnecessarily.

16. Board Spacers And Standoffs - Bottom of Display

To secure the driver board to the display we use a 1/8 inch nylon washer, 1/2 inch long 6-32 screw, and a 3/4 inch threaded standoff. The washer goes between the display and the driver board, either on top of or under the Delrin insulator (your choice). Pass the 1/2 inch screw through the display board, insulator, washer, and driver board. Screw the standoff onto it.

17. Board Spacers And Standoffs - Top of Display

To match the height of the stack-up on the bottom of the display, use the 1/16 inch nylon washer, 7/8 inch threaded standoff, and 3/8 inch 6-32 threaded screw. Pass the 3/8 inch screw through the display board and washer, and screw the standoff onto it.

18. Really done this time!

That's it, you're completely done! Hang it on a wall and plug it in! The kit includes four extra 1/2 inch 6-32 screws for mounting purposes.