Ploytec PL2 User manual

πλ² Synthesizer
Manual for Assembly Kit
Features
2 Oscillators
4 Waveforms
32 Presets
32 User presets
Specifications
Power supply: +5V DC/5 mA
Dimensions: 1 x 1 x 23mm

Congratulations on purchasing our PL2 Synthesizer assembly kit!
For a successful an effortless assembly of our pro uct,
please rea the following instructions carefully!
1. The right equipment
Before you start, make sure you have the right tools.
We suggest the following:
Soldering iron with a tapered tip
Damp sponge (for cleaning the tip of the soldering iron)
Tin-solder
Side cutter
Needle-nosed pliers
Pair of tweezers
Multimeter (optional)
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2. A vice for sol ering novices
Make sure the tip of the soldering iron is always clean. You can
clean it by wiping it on the damp sponge.
Try to do the actual soldering as quickly as possible. If sensitive
devices are exposed to too much heat for extended periods of
time, they may get damaged.
To solder, place the tip of the soldering iron against the tin-solder
as well as the wire you wish to solder on the printed circuit board
(PCB) simultaneously. The tin-solder will quickly begin to flow
and form a solder joint between the wire and PCB. Once this has
occurred, withdraw first the tin-solder and after another moment
the soldering iron too. Do not touch or move the soldered
components for a few seconds to allow for the soldered joints to
harden in place. The finished solder joint should be cone-shaped
with a shiny and slightly concave surface.
Following the soldering, trim the excess leads by cutting them off
close to the solder joints.
When soldering semi-conductors, LED and ICs, please take care
that you do not heat the pins of these components for longer than
two seconds as they may get damaged otherwise. Please also
remember to check for the correct polarity before soldering these
parts.
Once you have completed the assembly process, please check that
the components on the PCB have all been placed as required and
that the polarity is correct.
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3. Assembling your synthesizer
To ensure the correct assembly of your synthesizer, please follow the
subsequent instructions in the same order as listed for every
component:
First, place the PCB in front of you with the imprint facing you. This
is the top side that you will slot all the leads of the assembly parts
into. These will then be soldered on the blank bottom side of the
PCB.
If necessary, bend the ends of the leads according to the respective
distance between the corresponding drills on the PCB into a right
angle.
Now slot the (bent) leads into the drills provided on the PCB.
Caution: for some components, their specific orientation on the PCB
is crucial; you will find detailed information on this in the next
section.
Gently hold the inserted components onto the PCB with one finger
while turning the PCB over and carefully placing it down again. (We
suggest you only insert as many components in one go as you are
able to hold in place when turning the board over.)
On the blank bottom side of the PCB which is now facing you,
carefully solder the leads to the PCB.
Once the new solder joints have cooled and hardened, you can trim
excess leads close to the solder joints.
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4. Correct or er of assembly
In order to make the soldering as easy as possible, we recommend
you assemble it as described in the following (i.e. beginning with the
smallest components).
Caution! For some components, their specific orientation on the
PCB is crucial. In the list below, you can identify these components
easily by this  symbol, which is followed by detailed instructions.
4.1 Resistors
 Make sure you orientate all resistors according to their colour
codes and that all resistors of the same kind follow the same
orientation!
●The 7K5 and 15K resistors look very alike but do in fact have
different colour codes:
◦15K – brown, green, black, red, brown
◦7K5 – purple, green, black, brown, brown
●For packaging reasons, your assembly kit includes more
resistors than you will need for your assembly.
4.2 Capacitors
Please check for the correct polarity of these components (for
electrolytic capacitors only).
4.3 LED
● LED1
Please check for the correct polarity of these component.
4.4 Voltage regulator
 IC3
 Please check for the correct polarity of these component.
4.5 Crystal
 Q1
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4.6 Potentiometer
 P1
4.7 ICs
 IC1, IC2, OK1
Please check for the correct polarity of these components.
4.8 USB, DIN5, RCA & TRS
5. Bill of materials
5.1 Resistors (see section 4.1 of this manual)
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Part Value Marking
R1 – R8 7K5 Violet, green, black, brown, brown
R9 – R25 15K Brown, green, black, red, brown
R26 – R32 7K5 Violet, green, black, brown, brown
R33 22 R Red, red, brown, gold
R34 1K Brown, black, red, gold
R35 75 R Violet, green, black, black, brown
R36 7K5 Violet, green, black, brown, brown
R37 51K Green, brown, black, red, brown
R38 1 K Brown, black, black, red, brown
R39 12K Brown, red, black, red, brown
R4 7K5 Violet, green, black, brown, brown
R41 15K Brown, green, black, red, brown
R42 15K Brown, green, black, red, brown
R43 7K5 Violet, green, black, brown, brown
R44 7K5 Violet, green, black, brown, brown

5.2 Capacitors (see section 4.2 of this manual)
5.3 Electronic capacitors (see section 4.2 of this manual)
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Part Value Marking
C1 1 nF 1 4
C2 1 nF 1 4
C3 1nF 1nK1
C4 2,2nF 2n2K1
C5 4,7nF 4n7K1
C6 1 nF 1 nK1
C7 1 nF 1 nK1
C8 6,8nF 6n8K1
C9 33nF 33nK1
C1 68nF 68nK1
C11 22pF 22
C12 22pF 22
C13 1 nF 1 4
C14 68nF 68nK1
C15 33nF 33nK1
C16 6,8nF 6n8K1
C17 1 nF 1 nK1
C18 1 nF 1 nK1
C19 4,7nF 4n7K1
C2 2,2nF 2n2K1
C21 1nF 1nK1
C22 1 nF 1 4
C23 1 pF 1 1
C24
C25
C26 1 pF 1 1
C27 1 pF 1 1
C28 1 pF 1 1
C29 1 nF 1 4
- ( Jumper )
- ( Jumper )
Part Value Marking
C3 22µF 22µF16V
C31 22µF 22µF16V
C32 1 µF 1 µF16V
C33 1 µF 1 µF16V
C34 22µF 22µF16V
C35 22µF 22µF16V

5.4 Other components (see sections 4.3 - 4.8 of this manual)
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Part Value Marking
IC1 MEGA8515 ATM EGA8515L8PU
IC2 74AHC 4N SN74AHCU 4N
IC3 TS295 CT-3.3 TSC295 33
J1 6,3mm jack socket
J1 1 RCA
J1 2 RCA
LED1 LED 5mm green
OK1 CNY17 CNY17-3
Q1 8MHz 8. MHz
T1 Potentiometer 5 K 5 K
X1 USB connector
X2 MIDI connector

6. Colour co es of resistors
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6. Layout
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Important notes
The PL2 Synthesizer assembly kit has been developed for customers with pre-existing knowledge
of electronics and analogue synthesizers. In order to assemble the components of this kit, you will
further need some experience in soldering processes. For these reasons, we cannot recommend this
product for absolute beginners, but advise this group to purchase the Original PL2 Synthesizer.
Ploytec GmbH refuses to follow any claims for warranty which have been caused by abnormal
handling. Repair services are NOT offered.
Operation
A USB power supply is needed for operating your assembled PL2 Synthesiser. (Despite the Original
PL2 Synthesizer ,this board can not be powered via MIDI.) The purchaser is asked to provide their
own power supply, we recommend a standard USB power supply (5V).
Storage
Please ensure that you store the components of this kit and the assembled product out of reach for
small children, animals and other curious fellow beings at all times. They do not taste very good
and may cause serious injury. Ploytec GmbH assumes no liability for any damage caused.
Disposal
Your PL2 Synthesizer assembly kit consists of a number of different electronic components, which
cannot be disposed of in your normal bin due their toxicity for the environment. Please dispose of
these responsibly and according to disposal regulations of your local municipality.
© 2 13 by Ploytec GmbH
www.ploytec.com
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