Building Zynthian MINI V2

To assemble zynthian mini V2 version you will require:

• PCB that need to be produced based on KiCad design that you can find in zynthian hardware repository.
• Components that need to be soldered to this PCB.
• 5" Screen
• Raspberry Pi 4 with heatsink
• optional: zynthian MINI V2 3d printable case

1 Assembling the PCB

NOTE: Do not be confused that some of the instruction images shown here do not fully align to V2 PCB layout. This is because they are taken with original MINI V2 PCB that had few issues that are now fixed and therefore some small change will be there. Always read the label of the component on the PCB if confused.

1.1 Components required

1. Capacitors - Electrolytic - Polarized

   Value: 470u 10V  
   PCB label: C1 
   Package: CP_Radial_D8.0mm_P3.50mm  
   Quantity: 1  
   Where to buy: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003189675117.html

2. Capacitor - Electrolytic - Polarized

   Value: 100u  
   PCB label: C4  
   Package: CP_Radial_D6.3mm_P2.50mm  
   Quantity: 1  
   Where to buy: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003189675117.html  

3. Capacitor - Film - Non-Polarized

   Value: 100n  
   PCB label: C2,C3,C5,C6,C7  
   Package: C_Rect_L7.0mm_W2.0mm_P5.00mm  
   Quantity: 5  
   Where to buy: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005894912292.html

4. Capacitors - Ceramic - Non-Polarized 100n and 10n

   Value: 100n  
   PCB label: C22,C16,C19,C13,C23,C20,C9,C26,C27,C32,C8,C18,C21,C34,C33,C17,C25,C11,C24,C31,C12,C15,C10,C14  
   Package: C_Rect_L4.0mm_W2.5mm_P2.50mm  
   Quantity: 24  
   Where to buy: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002290441861.htm  
   Value: 10n  
   PCB label: C30,C29,C35,C37,C38,C28,C39,C36  
   Package: C_Rect_L4.0mm_W2.5mm_P2.50mm  
   Quantity: 8  
   Where to buy: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002290441861.htm  

5. Diode

   Value: 1N4148  
   PCB label: D1  
   Package: D_DO-35_SOD27_P7.62mm_Horizontal  
   Quantity: 1  
   Where to buy: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32660088529.html

6. MIDI Connectors - PCB mountable

   PCB label: MIDI-OUT-J1,  MIDI-IN-J1, MIDI-THRU-J1  
   Package: MultiDIN5  
   Quantity: 3  
   Where to buy: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005773478404.html

7. Resistors

   Value: 220R  
   PCB label: R1,R3,R5,R4,R6  
   Package: R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P7.62mm_Horizontal  
   Quantity: 5  
   Where to buy: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005669886834.html  

8. Resistor

   Value: 1k  
   PCB label: R2  
   Package: R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P7.62mm_Horizontal  
   Quantity: 1  
   Where to buy: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005669886834.html

9. Resistor

   Value: 10k  
   PCB label: R8,R7  
   Package: R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P7.62mm_Horizontal  
   Quantity: 2  
   Where to buy: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005669886834.html

10. Digital Optocoupler

   Value: H11L1M  
   PCB label: U2  
   Package: DIP-6_W7.62mm  
   Quantity: 1  
   Where to buy: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32867427644.html
 

11. Hex inverting Schmitt trigger

   Value: 74HCT14  
   PCB label: U1  
   Package: DIP-14_W7.62mm  
   Quantity: 1  
   Where to buy: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33020259485.html

12. Sound Card PCM5102

   Value: GY-PCM5102  
   PCB label: A1  
   Package: GY-PCM5102  
   Quantity: 1  
   Where to buy: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002898278583.html

13. I/O Expander

   Value: MCP23017_SP  
   PCB label: MCPMCP23017_SP1, MCPMCP23017_SP2  
   Package: DIP-28_W7.62mm  
   Quantity: 2  
   Where to buy: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005363863079.html

14. 2x20 Pin Header - male and female

   Male:  
   PCB label: HAT1  
   Package: PinSocket_2x20_P2.54mm_Vertical  
   Quantity: 1  
   Where to buy: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000133266617.html  
   Female:  
   PCB label: RPi1  
   Package: two spacer female 40pin vertical header  
   Quantity: 1  
   Where to buy: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001095693537.html  

15. Encoder with a Switch

   Value:   
   PCB label: Enc2,Enc4,Enc1,Enc3  
   Package: RotaryEncoder_Alps_EC12E-Switch_Vertical_H20mm  
   Quantity: 4  
   Where to buy: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006142236380.html

16. Encoder Cap

   Value: encoder caps  
   PCB label: Encoder caps  
   Package: Encoder caps  
   Quantity: 4  
   Where to buy: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005835327286.html

17. Push Button

   Value:   
   PCB label:SW14,SW9,SW16,SW20,SW6,SW10,SW8,SW2,SW17,SW4,SW12,SW19,SW5,SW1,SW13,SW18,SW15,SW7,SW11,SW3 
   Package: push-button  
   Quantity: 20  
   Where to buy: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32912263133.html

18. 5" DSI Screen for Raspberry Pi

   Value: Screen  
   PCB label: RPI 5" screen  
   Package: RPI screen  
   Quantity: 1  
   Where to buy: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005353135304.html

19. Raspberry Pi 4 4GB with heatsink

    Where to buy heatsink: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004774833369.html  

20. 1/4 Stereo jack

   Value: J1  
   PCB label: J1  
   Package: Jack_6.35mm_Neutrik_NMJ6HFD2_Horizontal  
   Quantity: 1  
   Where to buy: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001266094691.html  

21. RCA Stereo jack

   Value: J2  
   PCB label: J2  
   Package: RCA RS-234 
   Quantity: 1  
   Where to buy: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001629197904.html   

1.2 Soldering

First get PCB and all components sorted by their type. Check their values using digital multimeter to make sure that you have them properly sorted.

Heat up the solder iron and make sure that its tip is clean. If not put some solder on it and clean it with wet sponge. It has to be shiny silver tip.

Start by soldering back side of the PCB. Order of soldering is always from smallest to tallest components.

First solder resistors and diode and microchips such as Digital optocoupler (H11L1M), hex inverting schmitt trigger (74HCT14) and I/O Expander (MCP23017). Pay attention to orientation of these microchips.

Solder the ceramic and film capacitors at the back of PCB (orientation not important - they are non polarized).

Then solder film and ceramic capacitors at the front (orientation not important - they are non polarized).

Then solder female and male headers

Then solder two electrolytic capacitors. Pay attention to their orientation.

Then solder sound card. First solder male header pins that came with the card and the solder it to PCB board.

Make sure that you have cut sound card pins - they are too long and they will touch the screen if you leave them as it is.

Then solder three MIDI connectors.

Then solder the switches.

Finally solder the encoders. After soldering them cut any excess wires because that side will be very close to RPI heatsink so any contact to it must be avoided.

You have finished the hard part - soldering. Now you just need to assemble everything together.

1.3 Assembling the PCB for the test

This instruction here are just assembling everything for testing. You should test it before assembling into the case.

First remove two screen posts that are not necessary and could touch some of the PCB components.

Then connect longer cable that comes with a screen to the screen and attach the screen to PCB.

Then screw appropriate hex mounts to PCB for Raspberry Pi. Do not connect Raspberry Pi yet. The type of hex mounts will depend on heatsink that you use. Also connect the screen cable to RPI.

Then connect heatsink to raspberry pi.

Then connect raspberry Pi to PCB.

1.4 Configure Zynthian MINI V2 for testing

Once everything is configured and working it is a time to put zynthian into the enclosure.