PICO BOT Hardware Prep – Soldering, Motor Wiring & Battery Setup

Before we start assembling the PICO BOT, we first need to prepare some of its important hardware and electrical connections.

In this tutorial, we'll prepare the motors, battery system and power connections so they are ready for the main PICO BOT build.

What You'll Learn

In this video, we'll cover:

• Understanding the BO motors and their connection terminals
• Preparing wires for the motors
• Soldering wires to the BO motors
• Understanding the 18650 batteries used in PICO BOT
• Using the 2-cell battery holder
• Understanding positive (+) and negative (–) battery connections
• Preparing the DC power jack connection
• Insulating and protecting soldered connections
• Checking everything before moving to assembly

Battery Setup

PICO BOT uses two rechargeable 18650 batteries placed inside the supplied battery holder.

Always make sure that:

• The batteries are inserted in the correct direction.
• Positive and negative polarity are checked carefully.
• Battery terminals are never shorted together.
• Batteries are removed while soldering or modifying connections.
• Rechargeable cells are charged only using a suitable charger.

Important: Never solder directly onto the 18650 battery cells. Use the supplied battery holder.

Soldering the Connections

Some connections need to be prepared before assembling the robot.

When soldering:

1. Keep the robot and batteries disconnected from power.
2. Prepare the wire before placing it on the motor terminal.
3. Make a clean solder joint without keeping the soldering iron on the terminal for too long.
4. Check that the connection is mechanically strong.
5. Cover exposed connections using insulation tape or suitable heat-shrink tubing.

If you're new to soldering, take your time and ask an experienced person or adult for help.

Before Moving Ahead

After completing this tutorial, you should have:

• ✅ BO motors with wires prepared
• ✅ Battery holder understood and ready
• ✅ 18650 batteries identified
• ✅ DC power connection prepared
• ✅ Positive and negative wires clearly identified
• ✅ Soldered joints properly insulated
• ✅ Hardware ready for the PICO BOT assembly

Your electrical hardware is now prepared.

Next → Assemble Your PICO BOT