SUPA-4x3 Assembly Instructions
Use the following photo as a reference as you assemble the SUPA-4x3 Universal Programming Adapter.
Parts List (All parts are available at JRHackett.net.)
| Label | Description |
| D1 | Diode, BAT85 |
| R3 | Resistor, 22k, 1/6 Watt |
| R2 | Resistor, 10k, 1/6 Watt | R1 | Resistor, 180 ohm, 1/4 Watt |
| None | Stereo Connector, High-Profile |
| None | Header, Male, Snap (4 pins or two 3-pins) |
Note: As you can see in the following two photos, D1 and R3 are installed on the top of the PC board and soldered on the bottom; R1 and R2 are installed on the bottom of the PC board and soldered on the top. There would actually be enough room underneath the stereo connector to fit R1 and R2, but placing them on the bottom of the PC board enables it to sit level when it is installed on the breadboard.
The easiest way to assemble the SUPA-4x3 is to install the parts in the order in which they are arranged in the parts list. The BAT85 diode is polarized; make sure it's inserted in the proper orientation (as shown in the photo) before soldering. Also, the stereo connector requires some modificaton before soldering it in place. The following photo shows two high-profile stereo connectors.
In the photo, the connectors are upside down and viewed from the back. The one on the left is unaltered; the one on the right has been modified. If you hold a connector in the same orientation, you will see a large black plastic support and a third pin between the pin on the left edge and the pin on the right edge of the connector. The support and the middle pin need to be snipped off as close to the body of the connector as possible. In the photo, this has already been done to the connector on the right.
When you have soldered all the parts in place, except for the male header(s), make sure all the excess leads have been clipped from the bottom of the board. At this point you may want to rub the bottom of the board a few times on a piece of emery-type sandpaper to remove any sharp edges. You can use flux remover to clean the bottom of the board, but I have found that ordinary paint thinner and a tooth brush works just as well for this purpose, and it's easier on your hands.
Now you're ready to insert and solder the male header(s). Decide which configuration you want to use, and then insert the longer ends of one 4-pin header or two 3-pin headers into a breadboard accordingly (see the first photo above). Next, mount the SUPA-4x3 on the short ends of the header(s) and solder all the header pins on the top of the PC board.
To test your SUPA-4X3, set up a simple LED-blinking program on the breadboard and connect the correct SUPA pins to the Sin and Sout pins of your PICAXE processor. (Don't forget to connect one of the SUPA's ground pins to the ground rail on the breadboard.) If you have any problems getting your SUPA-4x3 to function properly, email me at Ron@JRHackett.net and I will do what I can to help.
Note: If you compare the first photo on this page with the close-up of the bare SUPA-4X3 board, you can see that (in the first photo) I have filed a small notch in each side of both boards. I usually do this so that I can see the wire connections clearly, but it's not at all necessary. You can certainly install the connecting jumpers first and then insert the SUPA-4X3. If you do file away the little labels next to the SUPA-4X3 pins, you may want to paint the tops of the pins as shown in the photo to remind yourself of the function of each pin. Either way works fine - it's up to you!