Turtle Sense communicator housing final assembly

Overview

The main pieces of the system have been completed at this point:

• The Comm PCB and phone assembly
• The Smart Sensor
• The PVC pipe housing

The pieces now get assembled into one unit. The instructions below assume that the unit will be used in a severe weather environment, and that it may be subjected to dropping (by the Post Office, for example). Some of the instructions below are intended to prevent damage to the unit from those causes.

Materials used

• AA NiMH batteries, qty 8
• 8-AA cell battery holder
• 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" x 1/4" Wood blocks, qty 2
• Nylon cable ties, about 5"
• Parafilm
• Small bubble wrap (about 1/4" thick)
• Teflon tape
• Vaseline
• 10 gram dessicant package

Battery pack assembly instructions

1. Make sure the 8 AA cells are fully charged.
2. Install the batteries in the battery holder.
3. While holding the two wood blocks against the sides of the battery pack, secure a cable tie (or two in series) around the middle of the battery pack. The blocks help prevent the batteries from coming out of the holder accidentally.
4. Attach the battery cable to the battery pack.
5. Verify that the Comm board is functioning (blinking LED, etc.)
6. Secure a cable tie (or two in series) around the battery pack and the middle of the battery clip.
7. Wrap the battery pack tightly in Parafilm.
8. Wrap a piece of bubble wrap around the middle of the battery pack.
9. Wrap another layer of Parafilm around the entire battery pack.