Stage 2/6: Building the Freader Hardware

Now that you’ve finished soldering the Freader Board you can begin building the remaining Freader Hardware. This should take 1 hour or less.

This step involves combining the Freader Board with a standard garden Bird Feeder, connecting these to the Freader Coil and making the whole assembly waterproof. At its most complex it involves drilling a few holes, screwing some things together and making one cut with a mini hacksaw.

Instructions

2.1 Make sure you’ve got everything by laying it all out on the printable sheet provided here.

2.2 Cable tie the Freader Coil to the seed feeder - there are two methods to do this depending on which type of feeder you. The first seven images show the first method, and the last image suggests the alternative method.

2.3 Drill a 6mm hole in the centre of the food container lid. ​

2.4 Drill a 4mm hole toward the edge of the food container lid as shown above ​

2.5 Feed the cable through the 4mm hole in the food container lid. ​

2.7 Screw the plastic bolt element of the ‘Freader board holder / bolt’ from the kit all the way into the underside of the Seed Feeder. 

2.8 Thread the M6 metal bolt with the spring washer, through the board holder element of the  ‘Freader board holder / bolt’ and the food container lid. Add the rubber ‘O’ ring to the end of the M6 bolt (on the outside of the lid).

2.9 Screw the M6 bolt / board holder / lid assembly into the plastic bolt until secure with a cross-head screwdriver. 

2.10 Attach the circuit board to the plastic board holder with the two M3 machine screws and nuts using pliers and a cross-headed screwdriver.

Note: the top of the circuit board with the coil terminal should face towards where the cable comes through the hole.

2.11 Separate and expose the wires on the two sides of grey cable. ​

2.12 Connect the two cable ends to circuit board by clamping them into the red and black  terminals, this cable connection does not have a specific polarity and so the cable can be connected either way around. 

2.13 Pull the cable tight so there is no slack on the topside of the lid (the a squirrel could grab). Seal the cable hole on the underside of the lid with Sugru.

2.14 Insert four rechargeable AA batteries into the battery holder. ​

2.15 Screw the food container base onto the lid.

2.16 This step and the next step disable the other Seed Feeder hole and perch, so that birds can only land on the Freader Coil. To start with, cut off the perch on the side opposite from the Freader Coil with a small hacksaw.

2.17 Plug the Feader hole with Sugru. Two sachets of Sugru mixed together should be enough, or alternatively you could block the hole with 1 or 2p coin and then seal it with Sugru, hot glue or DIY silicone.

2.18 Add a silica gel pouch to the inside of the food container to protect against moisture .

2.19 Your fully assembled Freader should look like this.

2.20 As an additional step towards weather-proofing your circuit board you can paint all the exposed metal connections, top and bottom, with nail varnish. However you should test the board (Stages 3 to 5) first WITHOUT varnish to check that it's fully functioning before attempting this step. 

You’ve now completed Stage 2/6 ‘Building the Freader Hardware’. When you’re ready please move onto Stage 3/6 ‘Creating a Freader Hub’.