Reference
Last revision 2026/01/14
This guide explains how to correctly solder the Beetle controller onto its shield, focusing on pin alignment, polarity, and addressing version-specific errors. It includes tips for using additional pins on the Beetle controller.
Other Supplementary Information
For Beetle shield versions lower than v1.1 the label for D9 and D11 is switched. The pin labeled with D9 on the shield goes to D11 on the Beetle and D11 on the shield is going to D9 on the Beetle. Please take the labels on the Beetle controller as the right ones. We have fixed this error in v1.1*
To attach the Beetle to the shield it requires some soldering work. Align the holes of the Beetle with the pins on the shield. Make sure the Beetle controller is showing the microcontroller chip and the USB socket facing up to ensure the correct polarity and pin assignment after soldering it to the shield.
Push the Beetle down onto the pins and let the pins looking out for ca. 1mm. Solder the eight pins at the pads of the Beetle using a soldering iron or soldering gun.
If you want to use the additional pins (RX, TX, SCL and SDA) broken out to the Pads on the backside of the Beetle controller you might need to solder them before you solder the Beetle to the shield.
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