Skip to content

Adding GPIO header to AIR-1

You'll open the case, attach the GPIO Header to the mezzanine connector on the board, and close it up in the new lid that came with the addon.

1. Unplug your AIR-1 from power and lift the top of the case or "lid".

AIR-1 in its white case with the lid on and the USB-C port facing forwardFingers lifting one side of the AIR-1 lidAIR-1 lid lifted, showing the circuit board inside the case

2. Remove the lid completely by grabbing the lid from the other side and gently lifting upwards.

Lifting the AIR-1 lid completely off from the other side

3. Hold the PCB and orient it correctly where Apollo (the dog) is facing you in.

AIR-1 circuit board held with the Apollo dog graphic facing you, sensor below

4. Gently slide the pcb out by sliding it to the left as shown in the images below.

AIR-1 circuit board being slid to the left out of the lidAIR-1 circuit board slid further left, almost free of the lid

5. Flip the PCB over and identify the Top Right corner where the small black mezzanine connector lives. You will see an "X" indicating which corner needs to be lined up with the PCB of the GPIO Header. There is an X on the GPIO Header's PCB as well, you can see it in the images below.

Back of the AIR-1 board with a tool pointing at the top right mezzanine connectorGPIO header addon board with an X marked in one corner

6. Match up the X on the PCB of the GPIO Header and the X on the AIR-1 PCB and then gently push the GPIO Header onto the black mezzanine connector.

GPIO header held next to the AIR-1 mezzanine connector with the X marks lined upPressing the GPIO header onto the AIR-1 mezzanine connectorGPIO header seated on the top right connector of the AIR-1 board

7. Flip the AIR-1 PCB over and gently slide it back into the new AIR-1 Lid which came with your GPIO Header addon! Please do not use much force, the PCB should slide in relatively smoothly, with a tiny bit of force needed. There are three channels in the plastic where the PCB slides into!

AIR-1 circuit board being slid into the new lid for the GPIO headerAIR-1 circuit board seated in the new lid with the Apollo dog graphic facing out

8. Gently push the case back together as shown below.

New AIR-1 lid with the GPIO header being lowered onto the caseClosed AIR-1 case with the GPIO header showing through the lidTop of the closed AIR-1 lid with the GPIO header in its cutout

9. You are now done and your AIR-1 is now able to be used with the GPIO Header addon! Here is the pinout image below and here's a great wiki article showing you how to add a small led strip!

Warning

If you plan to use a lot of leds or your gpio project requires a lot of power then you need to use a dedicated power supply and not try to use too much power (under 350mA) from the GPIO of the device! You can power the AIR-1 via the vcc (5v) and GND pins but please do not power it via the pins AND the USB-C port, it should be one or the other.

AIR-1 GPIO header pinout: GND, IO18, IO19, IO4, IO2, IO6 on the left; 5V, IO7, SDA, SCL, GND, 3V on the right