The LVR and LVR Custom PCBs are very easy to assemble together. All you need is a 40-pin socket for the CPU, a 14-pin socket if you need the inverter to be installed, the DS1233 device and two 20-pin strips for the device connection to the board's CPU socket. The 40-pin socket should be a ladder-type socket, preferably with only one “rung” in the middle of the socket, so that it does not interfere with the placement of the DS1233 device, or the CPU socket pins.

Before we get started, you have to carefully decide on the type of pins you are going to use. If you use standard header-type pins which are commonly used with shorting blocks and look like this:

…those pins are quite a bit larger than standard IC legs and once you insert them into the socket on the board, you will permanently bend the fingers in that socket and that socket will no longer be useful if you remove the device. You should use the thinner strip pins, which are harder to find and are a bit more expensive, which look like this:

Since their pins are smaller, they are less likely to damage the socket. You will also need two 40-pin sockets - one for the PCB and one used help align and to protect the pins.

OK - now, identify which side of the board is which. The “parts” side is the side of the board with all of the silkscreen on it, and is where you will be doing most of the part-placing. Conversely, the “solder” side of the board is the side where most of the soldering takes place. On this PCB, you will placing parts and soldering on both sides.

First, you will position the socket that the CPU will plug into. On the parts side of the board, place the 40-pin socket on the board using the pins that are closest to the top of the board (the ones numbered 40-21), and the ones furthest from the bottom of the board. Lightly bend the corner legs a bit so that the socket remains in position when you turn the PCB over to expose the solder side - but do not solder this socket in yet! This will serve as a guide so that you know which holes to solder the pin strips into (the remaining 2 rows - in retrospect, I should have placed markings on the solder side to clearly indicate the holes to use).

To make sure the strips are aligned correctly and to help protect the pins before use, insert them into a spare 40-pin socket, leaving the shorter legs protruding from the socket. Now align the pins with the two rows of holes on the solder side of the board, turn everything over holding the pins in place, pull the socket off the parts side of the board, and solder the pin strips on the parts side of the board. Carefully remove the socket from the pins so you will be able to perform additional soldering.

Now, place and solder the DS1233 device. If you use the thru-hole version, leave enough of the leads above the board so that you can bend the device down at a just about a right angle so it fits in the void space that will be left when the socket is soldered in.

Lastly, place back the 40-pin socket that you first used on the parts side of the board, and solder it in place. To help protect the CPU pins, carefully place the other 40-pin socket back onto the pins.

If you have determined you need the inverter (see the Configure page) solder its socket and place it into the socket.

You can now configure the device, as detailed on the Configure page.