Building the IR Array
There is just a few things to remember right away when building the IR Array, One being that the IR LED's have a Positive and Negative post, if you put them in backwards they will not work. Also the BG1 Array board is marked so that you know where Positive and negative post's go. We will get the LEDs soldered into the board first.
So How do I know what is Positive and Negative? Very easy, there are 3 ways, I will tell you two ways and they are the easiest ways to tell. The Positive post of the LEDs is the long post, and the Negative is the short post. Also notice that on the bottom edge of the LED itself there is a Flat Edge, the flat edge is the Negative side.
Now looking at the BG1 Array board, you can see that there is little + signs denoting where the positive leg goes. Also remember this little bit of very useful info The BG1 Array board has 2 sides ! The board is split down the center, there are 9 rows with 6 LEDs Per row. half the board is positive on one side, then the other half of the board Positive is the opposite.
In this picture your looking at the FRONT of the board, meaning you will be doing all your soldering on the flip side. (Note the two Big holes, on both sides of the board and next the each row is for Resistors, dont solder anything into them).
What I like to do is solder my LEDs flush with the board, this is much easier. Also I start out by putting 4 LEDs in the board, one to each corner.. Turn the board upside down on your table and solder them in.
Then from here it is personal preference, But I like to put in a full row, turn it over on the table, solder them in, pick it up and make sure the LEDs are flush, if not, I use my index finger to push on the LED, and touch each pad with my soldering iron, it will push up flush. once that row is how I like it, I snip off the legs on the back down to the soldering joint.
Here is an Example with 3 rows finished.
And the front, Continue until all the LEDs have been soldered in.
The LEDs have all been installed, now you have 2 rows of Resistors to install, one row at each end of the board. There is no wrong or right way to install these, they can be installed either way. The picture below shows how I installed mine.
And the finished board below
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