General Information and Tips
This is a collection of general information. If you have a tip about hanging icicle lights so they hang straight or know a trick to keep viewers from walking around the display area let us know and post it here.
General Info
DIYC Beginners Info: Info or beginners about DIYC and PCB boards and Controllers available
Qwiki Tips: Tips to help make your display brighter and better!
7 Steps to Selecting a Controller
DIYC Electronic Tools: General, Basic and Advanced Tools for this Incredible Experience.
How to design most RGB pixel projects from start to finish
Troubleshooting/Solutions When things go wrong, these solutions to common problems could get your going again quickly
How to make a dipole FM transmitter antenna: Easy step-by-step construction of this valuable tool
Part Substitutions: Alternate Parts to use when your vendor does not have the right parts
Ohm's Law: Voltage, Current and Power explained
Snubbers: Using a resistor to help eliminate flicker on LED string channels
Cables and Pinouts
Renard Data Cables: How to make a data cable
Pinouts: Standard Cable and port pinouts
SPT Wire and Vampire Plugs: How to Make Extension Cords using SPT and Vampire Plugs
IC Orientation: How to figure out the pin numbering on integrated circuits
Soldering
Soldering is Easy: Comic book format beginners guide to soldering
SMT Soldering Comic book beginners guide to soldering Surface Mount Devices SMT
Soldering Renard Boards WayneJ's Video Instructions for soldering a Renard PCB
Curious Inventor's Soldering Basics Video tutorial that contains useful guidance on soldering, soldering tip hygene and technique.
Curious Inventor's SMT Soldering Tutorial Video tutorial that contains guidance on SMT soldering techniques.
SparkFun SMT soldering tutorial PDF tutorial show techniques and methods for SMT soldering.
EEVblog #180 - Soldering Tutorial Part 1 - Tools
EEVblog #183 - Soldering Tutorial Part 2
EEVblog #186 - Soldering Tutorial Part 3 - Surface Mount
How to Program a PIC
Beginners_Guide_To_Programming_A_PIC: Beginners Guide To PIC Programming
WayneJ's video series on PIC programming: This is a series of videos on "How to program a PIC" using a Microchip Programmer hosted by Do It Yourself Christmas Forum member WayneJ.
Microchip PIC References: Books and other online references for learning how to use/program Microchip PIC Microprocessors.