DIY Moonboard Kit Build Guide - Standard and Mini MoonBoard 

The following guide highlights the basic structural requirements of the MoonBoard DIY kit. Please download the PDF guides in the following steps to also view the instructions for Mini MoonBoard, Self-Build and LED Installation . You will need basic carpentry skills, tools, and a minimum of two people.

If you have any doubts regarding the construction of your MoonBoard, please seek professional advice.

Step 1: Build your frame

The structural requirements of your MoonBoard frame may differ from those suggested in this document, however it is essential that your MoonBoard is built to the exact height, width and angles as those specified below.

Upright supports x 4, set 813 mm (2’ 8”) apart. Fix your supports above the kickboard at the appropriate angle for your MoonBoard (40-degrees or 25-degrees). The kickboard height should measure 370 mm (1’ 21⁄2”).

MoonBoard DIY Kit Build Guide

Step 2: Attach the panels in your DIY Kit to the frame

The DIY MoonBoard Kit includes eight panels: Two kickboard panels and six square panels for the main body of the board. Align and attach each of the panels to the frame. The DIY Kit panels are pre-painted with the classic MoonBoard design, so allocating each panel to the correct spot on the board is very easy. To ensure your MoonBoard remains rigid, brace horizontally across the joints of the panels.

If you have not purchased one of our DIY Kits and are making your own panels, it is essential that you space and drill the hold and LED holes exactly to the specifications outlined in our self-build instruction guide, otherwise you do not have a MoonBoard!

You can download our panel specifications here:

Standard MoonBoard Panel Specifications - Metric 

Standard Moonboard Panel Specifications - Imperial 

Mini MoonBoard Panel Specifications - Metric 

Mini MoonBoard Panel Specifications - Imperial

Complete your MoonBoard using the following artwork specifications: MoonBoard Panel Artwork PDF

The paint colour references for the MoonBoard artwork are as follows. Orange RAL1023 and Grey RAL 7012

Step 3: Install your LED System on the MoonBoard

Installation of The Moonboard LED System requires the following tools:

  • Drill
  • 1⁄2 inch (13 mm) drill bit
  • 3/4 inch (19mm) drill bit
  • Wire Strippers
  • Measuring Tape
  • Chalk Line
  • Sandpaper

 

LED System Components

  • 1 x MoonBoard control box
  • 2 x strings of MoonBoard LED lights
  • 1 x 5V Power Supply
  • 1 x Mains Power Adaptor
  • 2 x spare LEDs (at the end of the second string)

 

If you have purchased a Freestanding MoonBoard Kit or DIY MoonBoard Kit, skip to #2 - Installing the LEDs

 

1. Drilling Holes For the LEDs

Starting from the top of the Moonboard place a mark every 8 inches (20cm) down each side of the board (half way between your pre-existing bolt holes).
Use the chalk line to snap a horizontal line between the marks from one side to the other. Each LED light is designed to be installed below the hold it lights-up.
For example, the LED for hold B3 will be installed below the B3 t-nut. Drill 1⁄2 inch (13mm) holes on the chalk line below each t-nut. If necessary, use sandpaper to remove any sharp edges.

2. Installing the LEDs

Prior to installation, we recommend that you test the LED bulbs. This can be done by connecting the LED strings to the Control Box, connecting the Control Box to the power supply and switching the Control Box on. The LEDs will illuminate and run through a start-up sequence. Once this is completed, switch off the power and disconnect the LEDs from the Control Box.

Please take extra care when handling the LED strings to avoid causing damage.

Carefully unravel LED String A. The first LED will be labelled A1 (the first LED on the green wire). This LED will illuminate hold A1 on the MoonBoard. From the back of your Moonboard, start at A1 and push the first LED into the LED hole until the bulb is flush with the climbing side of the wall. The next LED on the string is A2, and so forth.
Install the LEDs in a zig-zag pattern going up one column and down the next. Once you have installed all the LEDs in String A, connect String B to String A using the push fit connector, and continue installing the LEDs in the zig-zag pattern.

3. LED Replacement

Tools needed:
Wire Strippers
Wire Cutters
Electrical Tape
6 Butt Splice Wire Connectors
Connector Crimping Tool

Locating Your Spare LEDs
Unplug the MoonBoard LED system from the power outlet.

Two spare LEDs are located at the end of String B. Use wire cutters to remove one of the extra LEDs at the end of the string by cutting the wires half way between the last LED and the one before it. Use electrical tape to protect the wires at the end of the LED string (see figure 2). If you have not previously removed any LEDs then the last LED will have a connector attached that will need to be cut off.

Identifying a Damaged LED

A damaged LED can be identified in two ways:

a. If during the startup process the LEDs stop changing colors at a certain point and remain blue, then the first blue LED is the one you will need to replace.

b. If during the startup process all of the LEDs perform correctly except one, then this one LED is the one that will need to be replaced.<

Removing & Replacing a Damaged LED

Remove the damaged LED by cutting the wires as close as you can to the damaged LED. When connecting the new LED back into the string it is very important that you follow the arrow pattern in the LEDs so that the previous LED wires are crimped to the new LED following the flow from the beginning of the LED string into the replacement LED.

Strip the 6 wires on the replacement LED and 6 wires on the LED string a 1⁄4 inch and connect them using the Butt Splice Connectors and Crimping Tool 

4. Control Box
Mount the Moonboard control box to the back of your MoonBoard. There is an on/off switch on the side of the box that you may need access so take this into consideration when choosing a mounting point.

Connect the wires from the LEDs to their corresponding coloured holes on the control box. Do this by stripping the wires a 1/4 inch (0.5cm) from the end and tightening up the screws to hold the wires in place. You can install the wires in either of the corresponding coloured holes. 

Ensure that all wires are well connected. A poor connection may cause your MoonBoard LEDs to fault.

Attach the appropriate regional adapter to the power supply, connect the power supply to the control box, and then plug into the mains. Do not use any other power supply other than the one provided in your kit. Download the PDF guide below:

MoonBoard LED System Installation and Trouble-Shooting
Step 4: Fix your holds to your MoonBoard

Download and install the MoonBoard App or log into MoonBoard.com to find the hold positions. Make sure you have selected the correct MoonBoard setup: Settings>Board Setup. Then Settings>Hold Positions.  Each hold can be fixed in 8 different compass directions: N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW. Each hold has an arrow indicator which must be pointing in the direction indicated. Use the surrounding t-nuts/holds to align the arrow indicator in the correct direction. Ensure you set each hold to the correct grid reference and orientation.

Step 5: Climb!

FREESTANDING MOONBOARD ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS

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