Build guide

Light Meter (LM324 bar graph)

18×32 @ 2.54mm pitch · 18 components · 21 wires

1. Prepare

Verify component pinouts against each manufacturer’s datasheet before wiring. Label cut wires with their wire numbers; the same numbers follow them through every stage. Wire colors are written out for black-and-white printing. Custom colors can be named in the wire library.

Progress is saved on this browser for this board revision. Changes to the board or measurements start a new checklist. Printed diagrams are references, not life-size templates.

21 wires to prepare; 787mm total wire, including end allowances.

Parts List

8 unique parts

Ref DesPartValueManufacturerPart NumberQtyLink
C1Ceramic Cap100nF——1Amazon
J1Power Input (2-pin)——1—
J2Screw Terminal 2P (5.08mm)——1—
LED1, LED2, LED3, LED4LEDred 5mm——4Amazon
R1, R2, R3, R4, R5Resistor (axial)10k——5Amazon
R6Resistor (axial)22k——1Amazon
R7, R8, R9, R10Resistor (axial)330——4Amazon
U1DIP-14——1—

Links may include affiliate referrals.

2. Cut wires

Cutting quantities by color and length

21 wires · +5mm per end for lead-through

Cut#NetColorRouteCut LengthBends
6OUT4BlackM23 → M1628mm—
18GNDBlackG8 → F1428mm20mm (90°)
12SENSEBlackP5 → H1966mm8mm (90°), 43mm (90°)
17GNDBlueE8 → E420mm—
5OUT2BlueH22 → E1633mm13mm (90°)
11SENSEBlueP3 → J1966mm8mm (90°), 48mm (90°)
16VCCGreenL3 → C333mm—
4T3GreenJ13 → K1938mm13mm (90°), 28mm (90°)
10SENSEGreenQ4 → H1561mm33mm (90°)
1OUT1RedF23 → F1920mm—
13VCCRedN13 → I1528mm18mm (90°)
19GNDRedE15 → I1930mm15mm (90°)
7T2RedH7 → G1533mm8mm (90°)
15VCCWhiteN11 → K435mm13mm (90°)
3T1WhiteE12 → G1938mm8mm (90°), 25mm (90°)
9SENSEWhiteO4 → J1551mm33mm (90°)
21GNDWhiteD14 → D3051mm—
2OUT3YellowL23 → L1920mm—
8T4YellowL7 → K1533mm8mm (90°)
14VCCYellowO12 → F1335mm8mm (90°)
20GNDYellowF7 → Q840mm33mm (90°)

Total wire: 787mm (31.0in)

3. Bend wires

Use the straight-line ruler to mark bend points on the wire before bending. Use the bent shape as a visual reference while bending.

Bend ruler and shape for wire 1
Cut 20mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 2
Cut 20mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 3
Cut 38mm. Bend 90° down at 8mm. Bend 90° right at 25mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 4
Cut 38mm. Bend 90° down at 13mm. Bend 90° left at 28mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 5
Cut 33mm. Bend 90° up at 13mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 6
Cut 28mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 7
Cut 33mm. Bend 90° down at 8mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 8
Cut 33mm. Bend 90° down at 8mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 9
Cut 51mm. Bend 90° left at 33mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 10
Cut 61mm. Bend 90° left at 33mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 11
Cut 66mm. Bend 90° down at 8mm. Bend 90° left at 48mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 12
Cut 66mm. Bend 90° down at 8mm. Bend 90° left at 43mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 13
Cut 28mm. Bend 90° down at 18mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 14
Cut 35mm. Bend 90° left at 8mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 15
Cut 35mm. Bend 90° up at 13mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 16
Cut 33mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 17
Cut 20mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 18
Cut 28mm. Bend 90° left at 20mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 19
Cut 30mm. Bend 90° right at 15mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 20
Cut 40mm. Bend 90° down at 33mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 21
Cut 51mm.

4. Place wires

Component side. Select a wire to emphasize its route in its own color and highlight its endpoints. Wires follow number order, matching the bend guide and solder checklist.

W1 · F23F19
W2 · L23L19
W3 · E12G19
W4 · J13K19
W5 · H22E16
W6 · M23M16
W7 · H7G15
W8 · L7K15
W9 · O4J15
W10 · Q4H15
W11 · P3J19
W12 · P5H19
W13 · N13I15
W14 · O12F13
W15 · N11K4
W16 · L3C3
W17 · E8E4
W18 · G8F14
W19 · E15I19
W20 · F7Q8
W21 · D14D30
W1 · F23F19W2 · L23L19W3 · E12G19W4 · J13K19W5 · H22E16W6 · M23M16W7 · H7G15W8 · L7K15W9 · O4J15W10 · Q4H15W11 · P3J19W12 · P5H19W13 · N13I15W14 · O12F13W15 · N11K4W16 · L3C3W17 · E8E4W18 · G8F14W19 · E15I19W20 · F7Q8W21 · D14D30

5. Solder connections

Bottom view: horizontally mirrored. Coordinate names still identify the same physical holes. Highlights mark wire endpoints; wire routes belong on the component side. Check each connection and the listed solder bridges.

Board is horizontally mirrored. Column A is on the right.

W1 · F23F19
W2 · L23L19
W3 · E12G19
W4 · J13K19
W5 · H22E16
W6 · M23M16
W7 · H7G15
W8 · L7K15
W9 · O4J15
W10 · Q4H15
W11 · P3J19
W12 · P5H19
W13 · N13I15
W14 · O12F13
W15 · N11K4
W16 · L3C3
W17 · E8E4
W18 · G8F14
W19 · E15I19
W20 · F7Q8
W21 · D14D30
W1 · F23F19W2 · L23L19W3 · E12G19W4 · J13K19W5 · H22E16W6 · M23M16W7 · H7G15W8 · L7K15W9 · O4J15W10 · Q4H15W11 · P3J19W12 · P5H19W13 · N13I15W14 · O12F13W15 · N11K4W16 · L3C3W17 · E8E4W18 · G8F14W19 · E15I19W20 · F7Q8W21 · D14D30