2 layers302 × 15 mm
SAO library stick short
davedarko/Simple-Add-ons-SAO
Find all of my simple add-ons in this repository
26 parts11
2 layers500 × 15 mm
SAO library
davedarko/Simple-Add-ons-SAO11Find all of my simple add-ons in this repository
- Size
- 500 × 15 mm
- Copper layers
- 2
- Thickness
- 1.6 mm
- Parts
- 55
- Nets
- 44
- Pads
- 243
- Tracks, vias
- 313, 2
- Pours
- 2
- Routed
- Yes
- KiCad
- KiCad 8.0 (file 20240108)
- Created
- 18 Oct 2022
- Updated
- 21 May 2026
Overview
SAO library is an open-source printed circuit board by davedarko, from the davedarko/Simple-Add-ons-SAO repository on GitHub. It is a 2-layer board of 500 × 15 mm with 55 parts on 44 nets, routed with 313 tracks and 2 vias.
It is built around the AMS1117-3.3. Its parts include 20 capacitors, 18 ICs, 3 connectors, 2 resistors and 2 diodes.
Main components
1README
README.mdSimple-Add-ons-SAO
Hardware Conference Badges tend to turn very complex, so to allow people to add bling and memes to their badge, the SAO (then shitty add-on) standard was developed. It started as a 2x2 header with two power pins and two I2C pins for data and a clock signal. Let me introduce you to the standard and show you what can be achieved. This is one of my favorite things to design, as they can be nice little gifts and inspires a lot of people for future years to also design and gift some.
They are perfect gifts and spark joy!
Find all of my shitty simple add-ons in this repository. Plus some badges that were never converted to SAO but they still blink and everything.
The current header - V1.69bis
The header was expanded to a 2x3 ISP connector later. Looking at the simple add-on, this is the layout.
Designs in this repository
| Badge Name | Type | Eagle | Kicad | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ghibli/Soot Sprites | SAO | yes | - | A susuwatari simple add-on |
| LECCO postcard | SAO | yes | - | Reminder token for a good time at Hackaday Europe 2026 in Lecco, Italy |
| Han SAOlo in carbonyte | SAO | - | yes | work in progress, Attiny202 with RGB LEDs https://hackaday.io/project/197803-han-saolo |
| COVID-19 badge | SAO | - | yes | blinks with the help of a 555 timer on the back https://hackaday.io/project/187615-covid-19-sao-simple-add-on |
| "Hello my name is" | SAO | - | yes | some blinks, some no https://hackaday.io/project/197693-hello-my-name-is-sao |
| MrAnderson | SAO | - | yes | work in progress, hommage to Andy Anderson |
| Vendetta badge | SAO | - | yes | "remember, remember the 5th of November" - or anything else with the help of the little EEPROM on the back of this badge |
| Mr. Robot | SAO | yes | yes | with Attiny speaker https://hackaday.io/project/168037-mr-robot-shitty-addon |
| Penghito Poco | SAO | yes | - | small penghicorn badge |
| Do Or Donut | SAO | yes | - | LED sprinkle matrix https://hackaday.io/project/168597-do-or-donut-sao |
| Knight Rider badge | SAO / pin | yes | yes | K.I.T.T. with animations thanks to an Attiny13 https://hackaday.io/project/25944-kitt-knight-rider-badgebrooch |
| sloth badge | pin | yes | - | inspired by some cute pimoroni pins, a sloth badge was formed https://hackaday.io/project/28330-sloth-badge |
| flux capacitor | pin | yes | - | with animations thanks to an Attiny13, the flux is flowing https://hackaday.io/project/25898-flux-capacitor-trinket |
| retro spacehuhn badge | pin | yes | - | RGB LED eyes on an olg Spacehuhn logo, with markers used for multicolor PCBs https://hackaday.io/project/33886-spacehuhn-badge |
| library stick | other | yes | - | show off all your simple add-ons |
Further designs
| Badge Name | Type | Eagle | Kicad | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YoDawgSAO | SAO | - | yes | I heard you like badges on your badges? Here have some badges for your badges for your badges! https://github.com/davedarko/YoDawgSAO |
| T.A.R.S. | SAO | - | yes | Probably my most complex design, a small TARS with display and RP2040 https://github.com/davedarko/TARS-SAO |
Parts
55| Qty | Value | Footprint | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | C | Capacitor_SMD:C_1206_3216Metric_Pad1.33x1.80mm_HandSolder | C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C10, C11, C12, C13, C14, C15, C16, C17, C18, C19, C20 +4 |
| 16 | SAOV1.69BIS | Connector_PinSocket_2.54mm:PinSocket_2x03_P2.54mm_Vertical | U2, U3, U4, U5, U6, U7, U8, U9, U10, U11, U12, U13, U14, U15, U16, U17 |
| 8 | MountingHole | MountingHole:MountingHole_3.2mm_M3_Pad_Via | H1, H2, H3, H4, H5, H6, H7, H8 |
| 2 | AMS1117-3.3 | Package_TO_SOT_SMD:SOT-223-3_TabPin2 | U1, U18 |
| 2 | Conn_01x04_Female | Connector_JST:JST_SH_SM04B-SRSS-TB_1x04-1MP_P1.00mm_Horizontal | J2, J3 |
| 2 | Jumper_NO_Small | Jumper:SolderJumper-2_P1.3mm_Open_RoundedPad1.0x1.5mm | JP1, JP2 |
| 2 | LED | LED_SMD:LED_1206_3216Metric | D1, D2 |
| 2 | R | Resistor_SMD:R_1206_3216Metric_Pad1.30x1.75mm_HandSolder | R1, R2 |
| 1 | Barrel_Jack_Switch | Connector_BarrelJack:BarrelJack_CUI_PJ-102AH_Horizontal | J1 |
More from davedarko/Simple-Add-ons-SAO
12- 2 layers50 × 30 mm
- 2 layers27 × 67 mm
- 2 layers40 × 39.8 mm
- 2 layers16 × 50 mm
- 2 layers153.4 × 25 mm
SAO stick sideways
davedarko/Simple-Add-ons-SAO
Find all of my simple add-ons in this repository
12 parts11 - 2 layers34.4 × 45.7 mm
- 4 layers38.8 × 34.1 mm
- 2 layers
- 2 layers40 × 34 mm
Henlo blinkyparts style
davedarko/Simple-Add-ons-SAO
Find all of my simple add-ons in this repository
6 parts11 - 2 layers54 × 40 mm
- 2 layers25 × 44 mm
Similar boards
- 2 layers290.1 × 130 mm
- 2 layers26.2 × 45.5 mm
PL18 multiprotocol
pascallanger/DIY-Multiprotocol-TX-Module
Multiprotocol TX Module (or MULTI-Module) is a 2.4GHz transmitter module which controls many different receivers and models.
24 parts1.9kGPL-3.0 - 4 layers99 × 53.3 mm
PSLab
fossasia/pslab-hardware
PSLab Hardware Design and Schematics https://pslab.io
199 parts1.7kApache-2.0 - 4 layers85 × 56 mm
- 4 layers100 × 54 mm
32Bit shift register
MaltWhiskey/Mega-Cube
16x16x16 PL9823 Cube with Teensy 4.0 and FlexIO driver
64 parts766 - 2 layers44.2 × 29.3 mm
- 2 layers78 × 60 mm
- 2 layers59.1 × 99.9 mm
Cheap FOCer 2 60mm
shamansystems/Cheap-FOCer-2
Low-Cost Motor Controller based on the VESC 6
193 parts407
Questions
How big is the SAO library PCB?
It measures 500 × 15 mm and has 2 copper layers, 1.6 mm thick.
What parts does the SAO library use?
55 parts, built around the AMS1117-3.3. The full list of its parts is on this page, with links to each part's symbol and footprint where PCBKit's library has them.
Where can I download the SAO library KiCad files?
From the davedarko/Simple-Add-ons-SAO repository on GitHub, at the commit this page was made from: the board is SAO library stick/SAO_library.kicad_pcb and its schematic COVID-19 Test SAO/KiCad/drawing.kicad_sch. PCBKit opens the board in the browser, with nothing to install.
Can I use the SAO library design in my own project?
Its repository states no licence, so its author keeps all rights: ask davedarko before reusing the design.