Build guide

Stranger Things Lights

17×28 @ 2.54mm pitch · 13 components · 28 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.

28 wires to prepare; 725mm total wire, including end allowances.

Parts List

13 unique parts

Ref DesPartValueManufacturerPart NumberQtyLink
C1Electrolytic Cap10uF——1Amazon
J1Power Input (2-pin)——1—
LED1LEDRed——1Amazon
LED2LEDYellow——1Amazon
LED3LEDBlue——1Amazon
LED4LEDGreen——1Amazon
LED5LEDOrange——1Amazon
LED6LEDPink——1Amazon
R1Resistor (axial)1k——1Amazon
R2Resistor (axial)10k——1Amazon
R3Resistor (axial)47k——1Amazon
U1DIP-16——1—
U2DIP-8——1—

Links may include affiliate referrals.

2. Cut wires

Cutting quantities by color and length

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

Cut#NetColorRouteCut LengthBends
18LEDKBlackH9 → F915mm—
12DISCHBlackI24 → E2420mm—
24GNDBlackO9 → L1221mm—
6Q3BlackJ4 → J1128mm—
17LEDKBlueK6 → J920mm13mm (90°)
5Q0BlueF4 → F1128mm—
239VBlueK20 → N2530mm18mm (90°)
11TIMINGBlueN20 → E2038mm8mm (90°), 30mm (90°)
16LEDKGreenF5 → D515mm—
4Q2GreenH8 → G1120mm8mm (90°)
10TIMINGGreenL25 → F2428mm20mm (90°)
229VGreenC23 → C1433mm—
28GNDGreenM22 → D2038mm18mm (90°), 23mm (90°)
1Q1RedD8 → E1120mm13mm (90°)
19LEDKRedI10 → M1020mm—
13DISCHRedK24 → L1925mm18mm (90°)
7Q5RedB4 → C1233mm25mm (90°)
25GNDRedK11 → G1540mm10mm (90°), 20mm (90°)
15LEDKWhiteJ5 → H515mm—
9TIMINGWhiteM24 → M2118mm—
27GNDWhiteN23 → O2518mm8mm (90°)
219VWhiteH21 → D2428mm13mm (90°)
3RSTWhiteH11 → E1538mm18mm (90°), 28mm (90°)
209VYellowI20 → G2015mm—
14LEDKYellowN4 → L518mm10mm (90°)
2CLKYellowF20 → F1523mm—
8Q4YellowL8 → J1533mm23mm (90°)
26GNDYellowP8 → O2248mm41mm (90°)

Total wire: 725mm (28.5in)

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 90° right at 13mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 2
Cut 23mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 3
Cut 38mm. Bend 90° down at 18mm. Bend 90° right at 28mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 4
Cut 20mm. Bend 90° down at 8mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 5
Cut 28mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 6
Cut 28mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 7
Cut 33mm. Bend 90° right at 25mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 8
Cut 33mm. Bend 90° left at 23mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 9
Cut 18mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 10
Cut 28mm. Bend 90° up at 20mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 11
Cut 38mm. Bend 90° left at 8mm. Bend 90° down at 30mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 12
Cut 20mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 13
Cut 25mm. Bend 90° right at 18mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 14
Cut 18mm. Bend 90° down at 10mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 15
Cut 15mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 16
Cut 15mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 17
Cut 20mm. Bend 90° left at 13mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 18
Cut 15mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 19
Cut 20mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 20
Cut 15mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 21
Cut 28mm. Bend 90° left at 13mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 22
Cut 33mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 23
Cut 30mm. Bend 90° right at 18mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 24
Cut 21mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 25
Cut 40mm. Bend 90° down at 10mm. Bend 90° left at 20mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 26
Cut 48mm. Bend 90° left at 41mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 27
Cut 18mm. Bend 90° down at 8mm.
Bend ruler and shape for wire 28
Cut 38mm. Bend 90° up at 18mm. Bend 90° left at 23mm.

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 · D8E11
W2 · F20F15
W3 · H11E15
W4 · H8G11
W5 · F4F11
W6 · J4J11
W7 · B4C12
W8 · L8J15
W9 · M24M21
W10 · L25F24
W11 · N20E20
W12 · I24E24
W13 · K24L19
W14 · N4L5
W15 · J5H5
W16 · F5D5
W17 · K6J9
W18 · H9F9
W19 · I10M10
W20 · I20G20
W21 · H21D24
W22 · C23C14
W23 · K20N25
W24 · O9L12
W25 · K11G15
W26 · P8O22
W27 · N23O25
W28 · M22D20
W1 · D8E11W2 · F20F15W3 · H11E15W4 · H8G11W5 · F4F11W6 · J4J11W7 · B4C12W8 · L8J15W9 · M24M21W10 · L25F24W11 · N20E20W12 · I24E24W13 · K24L19W14 · N4L5W15 · J5H5W16 · F5D5W17 · K6J9W18 · H9F9W19 · I10M10W20 · I20G20W21 · H21D24W22 · C23C14W23 · K20N25W24 · O9L12W25 · K11G15W26 · P8O22W27 · N23O25W28 · M22D20

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 · D8E11
W2 · F20F15
W3 · H11E15
W4 · H8G11
W5 · F4F11
W6 · J4J11
W7 · B4C12
W8 · L8J15
W9 · M24M21
W10 · L25F24
W11 · N20E20
W12 · I24E24
W13 · K24L19
W14 · N4L5
W15 · J5H5
W16 · F5D5
W17 · K6J9
W18 · H9F9
W19 · I10M10
W20 · I20G20
W21 · H21D24
W22 · C23C14
W23 · K20N25
W24 · O9L12
W25 · K11G15
W26 · P8O22
W27 · N23O25
W28 · M22D20
W1 · D8E11W2 · F20F15W3 · H11E15W4 · H8G11W5 · F4F11W6 · J4J11W7 · B4C12W8 · L8J15W9 · M24M21W10 · L25F24W11 · N20E20W12 · I24E24W13 · K24L19W14 · N4L5W15 · J5H5W16 · F5D5W17 · K6J9W18 · H9F9W19 · I10M10W20 · I20G20W21 · H21D24W22 · C23C14W23 · K20N25W24 · O9L12W25 · K11G15W26 · P8O22W27 · N23O25W28 · M22D20