Open the IKEA Vindriking case

Use a tiny philips head screwdriver to remove the 4 screws on the back of the case.

Be careful not to loose the screws -- you can leave them in the case.

Gently separate the 2 parts of the case; don't stress or break the wires.

Gently disconnect the two connectors between the IKEA circuit board and the sensor and fan. They should just pull straight out; pull carefully on the plastic connecter, not the wires. Ask for help if the connectors aren't coming out.

Separate the wire ends

If you are using ribbon cable, use the hobby knife to carefully separate the ends of each side of the ribbon cable. About 3/4" is good.

Be careful not to cut into the insulation; simply cut the thin area between the wires.

If you are using hookup wire, skip this step, of course.

Soldering 101

• If you've never soldered before, watch this video:

• Be sure to:

  • Clean the (hot) soldering iron tip with the wet sponge or brass sponge.

  • Apply the tip to the wire/circuit board to get it hot then apply the solder.

  • Be careful not to touch the soldering tip to components or other parts!

Strip the wires

Use the wire stripper to remove about 1/8" of the insulation from both ends of the wires.

A fancy "wire stripper tool" (as shown in the photo) allows you to strip all 3 wires at once. Or, you can use a regular wire stripper and strip one wire at a time.

Apply double-sided tape to the ESP8266 component

Cut about 3/8" of the double-sided tape with scissors

Apply the tape to the top of the silver "box" which is the ESP8266 microcontroller.

(Later, we'll remove the film from the tape and attached the ESP8266 to the inside of the IKEA case.)

Solder the wires to the ESP8266 circuit board

Insert the pink wire in the hold labeled "5V" and bend it over slightly.
Insert the white wire in the hold labeled "G" and bend it over slightly.
Insert the black wire in the hold labeled "D2" and bend it over slightly.

For each wire:
Touch the tip of the soldering iron to edge of the circuit board and the wire.
Apply the solder to the tip of the soldering iron until the hole is filled and quickly remove the soldering iron.

Be careful not to touch the soldering iron to any of the components on the circuit board.

Prepare the IKEA circuit board

Use a hobby (Xacto) knife to scrape the coating off of the three solder pads labelled "5V", "GND", and "REST" as indicated with the colored dots on the photo.

You know you're done scraping when the solder pads are copper colored and shiny.

Don't scrape away the copper!

Apply solder dots to the pads

Use a fine-tip soldering iron to add solder "dots" to each of the three pads you have prepared.

Touch the tip of the soldering iron to the pad, while avoiding making contact with any of the components or the plastic case.

Apply the solder to tip of the soldering iron and let a tiny amount flow onto the pad. Just a dot!

If you've applied too much solder and it has contacted other components on the board, ask for help. We should be able to fix this with a de-soldering tool.

Solder the wires to the IKEA circuit board

• Position the pink wire directly on top of the IKEA circuit board solder pad labeled "5V."
  Touch the tip of the soldering iron to the solder dot and the wire and remove it.
  Don't leave the soldering iron in place for more than a few seconds -- just until the solder melts.
  The wire should be now connected to the pad.

• Solder the other 2 wires:

  • White to solder pad "G"

  • Black to solder pad "REST"

Remove the double-sided tape film

Use a hobby knife (or your fingernail) to peel away the film from the double-sided tape.
Be careful to not remove the tape from the ESP82666 component.