The watermelon.

[muniosi]

Looking good!

[abrugsch]

Hey is your tin the retro one like mine?

[Holydohnut]

Seems to be! Must be a UK thing. My mate who gave me them, said they came from Morrisons. Some time ago I'd guess given the sell by date!

[Holydohnut]

Ooooooh! Things are hotting up! Some juicy progress done tonight. Amazing what you can do when one of the kids is at the parents in law!

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IT'S ALIVE!!!

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I can't tell you how happy I was when I saw it booting up!

And now. The watermelon begins!

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Soldering the pi in went like a dream with only one notable exception. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get the ground pin to connect. In fact, given the ease in which the rest connected, I wonder if maybe there was actually something up with the pad in the first place. Anyway! A simple tiny wire sorted that out.

In bad news though, I'm STILL waiting on my sound card and speaker! C'mon China! Hurry up!

[dryja123]

Soldering the pi in went like a dream with only one notable exception. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get the ground pin to connect.

You may have to leave the soldering iron tip in the hole for an additional second to make a bond with the ground pad. For whatever reason the ground pins on the Pi require just a little bit more time and heat to make a good connection.

[Dukana]

Soldering the pi in went like a dream with only one notable exception. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get the ground pin to connect.

You may have to leave the soldering iron tip in the hole for an additional second to make a bond with the ground pad. For whatever reason the ground pins on the Pi require just a little bit more time and heat to make a good connection.

I was having the same issue! Here's the solution I came up with:

ground wireShow

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Wermy asked why I didn't just use a test pad on the back of the board. You know, I never did come up with a good reason. Works well, though! Nice and thin, just barely runs out of the way of the screws.

[Holydohnut]

For whatever reason the ground pins on the Pi require just a little bit more time and heat to make a good connection.

I'm no expert but I would imagine that's coz the ground traces run all all over the board so the heat has more places to dissipate. But even saying that, I left it in and on for plenty long enough. It just never seemed to connect.

I was having the same issue! Here's the solution I came up with:

I like how it snakes round the side! Mine is direct from the gpio to the main gnd on the board but if it turns out that it hits the battery and prevents closing, I might look to pinch your idea! Thanks!

[Holydohnut]

More progress! Got the lipo, battery and switch all hooked up tonight and had my first sneaky game on it, self powered and in the tin! BUT still no audio, and no L Or R switches either, because the big box of assorted sized tack switches I bought has gone missing! And I know it'll be like that damn tri wing screwdriver where I won't be able to find it until I order a new one, then it'll turn up right in front of me!!

[Holydohnut]

Bit the bullet and bought more tack switches. So with the exception of audio, she's all complete! I've also ordered some proper screws so the ones in the pics are only temporary.

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Love the fact that the activity light on the Pi is green! Adding to the colour scheme!

I've really enjoyed this project. Though it did feel more like assembly than an actual build. So for my next attempt, I've ordered a 2.2" screen and some copper tape! After all. When you complete normal difficulty, you move on to hard! I look forward to Wermy's next build guide!