Housing Assembly

This section explains the step-by-step process to assemble the Tech-Box.io LCD Alarm Clock housing

 

Table of Contents - LCD Alarm Clock Instruction Guide

 

Housing Assembly

With all of the connections tested and the 20x4 LCD Screen (Part B) calibrated, it is time to assemble the housing (Part A) of the LCD Alarm Clock. Each piece of the housing (Part A) is labeled in the image below as Parts A-1 through A-9.

• (Part A-1) Housing Front
• (Part A-2) Housing Rear
• (Part A-3) Housing Bottom
• (Part A-4) Housing Top
• (Part A-5) Housing Left Side
• (Part A-6) Housing Right Side
• (Part A-7) 2x - Housing Alarm Buzzer Bracket
• (Part A-8) Housing Right LCD Screen Bracket
• (Part A-9) Housing Left LCD Screen Bracket

 

Follow the steps below to complete the assembly and start using your new Tech-Box.io LCD Alarm Clock. Be cautious to not knock any of the wires or components on the breadboard loose during the assembly process, or your kit may not work correctly! (Note: Some housing pieces have tabs that are inserted into slots and snap into place to hold the housing together; When disassembling these pieces, the tabs must be pinched -- like removing a belt buckle -- to be removed from the slots they were inserted in. If they are not compressed before removal, the tabs may become damaged):

1. First, unplug the Mini USB Cable (Part K) from your PC if it is still connected, but leave the Mini USB cable (Part K) connected to the Nano Board (Part C). While assembling the housing (Part A), the LCD Alarm Clock must be disconnected from power.
   
   
2. Locate the two Alarm Buzzer Brackets (Parts A-7) and insert them into the cutouts on the bottom of the LCD Alarm Clock housing (Part A-3), as shown in the image below. Ensure that the buzzer brackets (Parts A-7) are oriented as shown, with the colored sides faced outward and the latching tabs snapping into place nearest the breadboard (Part F). The Alarm Buzzer Brackets (Parts A-7) should now hold themselves into the bottom of the LCD Alarm Clock housing (Part A-3).
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Gently spread the two Alarm Buzzer Brackets (Parts A-7) apart and rotate the Alarm Buzzer (Part H) into the cutout slots on the brackets (Parts A-7), as shown in the left image below. Ensure the wires of the Alarm Buzzer (Part H) are extending downward toward the bottom of the housing (Part A-3), as highlighted by the blue arrow in that image. Once the Alarm Buzzer (Part H) is inserted into the cutout slots, push the two Alarm Buzzer Brackets (Parts A-7) back together into a vertical position to hold the Alarm Buzzer (Part H) securely, as highlighted by the white arrows in the right image below.
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Locate the two LCD Screen Brackets (Parts A-8 and A-9) and insert them into the cutouts on the bottom of the housing (Part A-3) while angled away from the breadboard (Part F), as shown in the top image below. Ensure that the LCD Screen brackets (Parts A-8 and A-9) are oriented as shown, with the colored sides facing outward toward the edges of the housing. Then, rock the LCD Screen Brackets (Parts A-8 and A-9) backward into place, as highlighted by the white arrows in the bottom image below.
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Ensure that the Breadboard Wires (Part N) connected to the 20x4 LCD Screen (Part B) are routed to the left of the left LCD Screen Bracket (Parts A-9), as highlighted by the blue arrow in the image below. Also, ensure that the wires connected to the Dial Potentiometer (Part J) and the front of the housing (Part A-1) are routed between the right-most LCD Screen Bracket (Part A-8) and the front-most Alarm Buzzer Bracket (Part A-7), as highlighted by the white arrow below. Lastly, ensure that the Mini USB Cable (Part K) is routed toward the rear of the housing, as highlighted by the yellow arrow below.
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. Locate the top of the housing (Part A-4) with the 3-Position Rocker Switch (Part G) attached. While holding the top of the housing (Part A-4), insert the LCD Screen Brackets (Parts A-8 and A-9) into the cutouts on the top piece (Part A-4), as highlighted by the arrows in the upper image below.
   
   Then, rotate the top of the housing (Part A-4) downward and guide the Alarm Buzzer Brackets (Part A-7) into the cutouts on the top piece of the housing (Part A-4) allowing them to snap and latch into place, as highlighted by the arrows in the lower image below. (Note: The housing has been rotated in the lower image for better clarity)
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. Locate the LCD Screen (Part B) and slide it into the cutouts of the left LCD Screen Bracket (Part A-9), as highlighted by the white arrows in the upper image below. Ensure that the pin labels on the LCD Screen (Part B) are oriented toward the top of the housing (Part A-4), as highlighted by the blue arrow in the upper image below. The breadboard wires (Part N) connected to the LCD Screen (Part B) should be routed around the left side of the left LCD Screen Bracket (Part A-9).
   
   Then, rotate the LCD Screen (Part B) inward toward the breadboard (Part F) until it aligns with the cutout in the right LCD Screen Bracket (Part A-8). Once aligned, slide the LCD Screen (Part B) to the right and into the cutout on the right LCD Screen Bracket (Part A-8), as shown by the blue arrow in the lower image below. Ensure the LCD Screen (Part B) is fully inserted into both LCD Screen Brackets (Parts A-8) as highlighted by the white arrows in the lower image below.
   
   
   
   
   
   
8. Locate the front of the housing (Part A-1) which has the Dial Potentiometer (Part J) located on it, and place it onto the top (Part A-4) and bottom (Part A-3) of the housing. Allow the tabs on the top (Part A-4) and bottom (Part A-3) pieces of the housing to slide into the slots on the front of the housing (Part A-1), as highlighted by the blue arrows in the image below. Ensure that the Dial Potentiometer (Part J) and colored side of the housing faces outward and is oriented as shown. The LCD Screen (Part B) should slide securely into the large cutout on the front of the housing (Part A-1). Ensure that the breadboard wires (Part N) attached to the LCD Screen (Part B) are routed around the left edge of the left LCD Screen Bracket (Part A-9), as highlighted by the white arrow in the image below.
   
   
   
   
   
   
9. Locate the left side of the housing (Part A-5) and connect it to the front (Part A-1), top (Part A-4), and bottom (Part A-3) sides of the housing, allowing the tabs on all three pieces to slide into the cutout slots on the left side of the housing (Part A-5), as shown in the image below. Also, ensure that the latches of the front of the housing (Part A-1) snap securely into place, as highlighted by the blue arrows below. If the breadboard wires (Part N) attached to the LCD Screen (Part B) block the left side of the housing (Part A-5) from latching, gently push the breadboard wires into the housing, and attempt to connect it again.
   
   
   
   
   
   
10. Gently tuck any remaining wires (Parts M and N) into the inside of the housing and locate the rear side of the housing (Part A-2). Install the rear piece of the housing (Part A-2) by sliding it into the left side of the housing (Part A-5) while it is slightly rotated outward, until the latches snap into place, as marked by the blue arrows below. Be sure to match the orientation shown. With the rear piece of the housing (Part A-2) still rotated outward, push the Mini USB cable (Part K) into the slot at the bottom of that piece (Part A-2), as highlighted by the white arrow below.
    
    
    
    
    
    
11. Slowly rotate the rear of the housing (Part A-2) toward the top (Part A-4) and bottom (Part A-3) pieces of the housing, allowing the tabs on the top (Part A-4) and bottom (Part A-3) to slide into the slots on the rear piece (Part A-2), as highlighted by the arrows in the image below.
    
    
    
    
    
    
12. Lastly, install the right side of the housing (Part A-6), making sure to orient the alarm buzzer opening in the manner shown in the image below, with the opening biased toward the rear of the housing (Part A-2). Begin by snapping the top two latches of the front (Part A-1) and rear (Part A-2) pieces of the housing into place, as highlighted by the white arrows below.
    
    
    
    
    
    
13. Rotate the right side of the housing (Part A-6) toward the bottom of the housing (Part A-3) and snap the remaining 2 latches from the front (Part A-1) and rear (Part A-2) sides into place, as highlighted by the arrows in the image below. All 4 latches should now be snapped into place and each of the tabs from the top (Part A-4), rear (Part A-2), bottom (Part A-3), and front (Part A-1) should have slid into the slots on this piece (Part A-6).
    
    
    
    
    
    
14. You can now remove the protective film from the front of the 20x4 LCD Screen (Part B) if it is still attached. Then, connect the Mini USB Cable (Part K) to the provided US Wall Plug (Part L) if it was selected at the time of purchase, as shown in the image below, or you can connect it to another USB port on any device and your LCD Alarm Clock is ready for use!
    
    
    
    
    
    

Congratulations! Your assembly is complete! You can connect your Tech-Box.io LCD Alarm Clock to power and put it to work OR you can start customizing the time display, the alarm buzzer sound, or anything you can imagine! Start Making your way!