Docs: Assembling the YardForce Classic 500

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Connect bottom wires

Install GPS antenna

The second picture is not perfect, the screw is out of the frame, yellow arrow pointing at it. Also, the GPS plane itself is historic from 0.9.3, yours will be green and shiny.

Install external Wi-Fi adapter (optional)

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This is optional and will vary with the size and shape of your adapter, because right now there is no “official” external adapter and people are installing all kinds of stuff. Depicted is Alfa USB Adapter AWUS036NHV, on the rtl8188eu chip using custom driver.

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Important: If you install an external WiFi USB adapter, it might prevent you from seeing the OpenMower hotspot during initial setup. For first startup, it’s recommended to keep the external adapter disconnected until you’ve completed the initial WiFi configuration. After successfully connecting to your network, you can then connect the external adapter.

External WiFi USB adapter

Assemble mainboard

This step assumes that you did all previous configuration steps from the documentation.

Connect and screw mainboard

Modify rain sensor cable (kit version specific)

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Kits till mid-2023 included incorrect rain sensor cable that has female connectors on both sides. This is a hacky example of how this can be fixed. Alternatively, you can cut them and just solder together.

Assemble cover

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This section assumes that you are completely replacing the stock UI board with custom one. There is an experimental option to reuse stock board with custom firmware. If you are going to go this path - everything that is cover-related would be different for you. You can find more information in Discord, as of now it’s work in progress.

On the photos you see an old patched version of rain sensor cable (see above). Yours might just fit in normally.

Connect cover to bottom

Close the cover

Alight cutting height knob with mower motor, close the cover, push where needed to snap the latches. Or even leave it lying on while you testing the setup, maybe you’ll need to open it again.

OpenMower v1 Documentation – assembly