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The Top-Mounted Components
The rest of the parts are mounted on the "top" of the board, that is, the side that you're going to
see when you hook things up. You may find that a "third hands" board holder will come in
handy... you're going to be turning the board over and soldering the parts to the "top" side,
but some of the parts are through-hole parts so the solder joints will be on the "bottom" side, so
it isn't really practical to tape the board down, especially when you mount the WiFi module
because it goes all the way to the left edge of the board.
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Mount the ESP8266-12 WiFi Module
Carefully remove the ESP8266-12 WiFi module from the baggie in which it was shipped. (Be
sure to keep the baggie, it has the passkey that you'll need to connect to your WiFi device.)
Note that one end has a "squiggly" line and sticks out, this is the antenna side, be sure to line it
up with the left side of the PC board.
Locate the space where the WiFi module will be mounted, there's a large rectangular marking
with eight pads on either side. Cut a piece of paper masking tape so that it fits between the row
of pads where the WiFi module goes, from the edge just past the pads to the opposite edge of
the module. This will provide insulation from the vias on the PC board that are underneath the
WiFi module.
Turn the PC board over so that the BOTTOM side (the one with the optoisolators, etc.) is "up".
Prop the board up so that there's about 1/8" or so underneath the board. Take one of the 1/8W
resistors and put it into one of the corner holes where the WiFi modules pads are.. Yes, it will
stick up a lot. Solder the lead to the pad, then clip the lead off at the pad. Insert the resistor's
leads into the next three corners, soldering them to the pads.
When you are done, you will have a wire sticking out of each corner on the TOP of the board,
the side that the WiFi module is going. Slide the WiFi module over the four wires, one in each
corner, then tape the board down temporarily so it won't move. With a pair of diagonal
cutters, cut the wires flush with the top of the WiFi module's four corner pads. Note if you
look at them in a magnifying glass, there will still be a little sticking up; that's fine, if not
preferable.
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