Getting Started with Angel 74
Alright, so today I finally got around to working on this little project I’ve been calling ‘Angel 74’. It’s nothing too fancy, just a small custom indicator light setup I wanted to build for my workbench. Been meaning to do it for ages.
First thing I did was clear off a space on my desk. You know how it gets, stuff just piles up. Found all the bits and pieces I’d ordered a while back, plus some stuff I had lying around in my parts bins. Had to check the list twice to make sure I wasn’t missing anything crucial. Laid everything out: the little circuit board, LEDs, resistors, some wire, the power connector. Basic stuff.
Putting it Together
Then came the actual assembly. I started by placing the main components on the board. The resistors went in first, easy enough. Then the LEDs. Had to be careful with the polarity on those, always double-check that. Learned that lesson the hard way a few times before.
Soldering was next. Fired up my trusty old iron. Took my time with each joint. Some of the pads on this board were pretty small, so needed a steady hand. Had one joint that looked a bit iffy, so I wicked the solder off and did it again. Better safe than sorry, right? Then I connected the power wires. Used some heat shrink tubing to keep things tidy and prevent shorts.
- Placed resistors
- Checked LED polarity
- Soldered components
- Cleaned up a bad joint
- Connected power wires
Testing and Finishing Up
Moment of truth time. Hooked up the power supply. Kept my fingers crossed. And… yes! The lights came on, exactly as planned. Always a good feeling when something works on the first try. Let it run for a bit just to make sure nothing got hot or flickered out.
After confirming it worked fine, I did a quick cleanup. Trimmed the component leads on the back of the board nice and short. Gave the board a quick wipe to get rid of any flux residue. Didn’t bother with an enclosure for this one yet, might 3D print something small later if I feel like it. For now, it’s just sitting there, doing its job.
So yeah, that was my little ‘Angel 74’ adventure for the day. Simple little build, but satisfying to get it done. Always good to spend some time making something, even if it’s small.
