How to Build a MoonBoard
Become part of the MoonBoard network by building your own board. Choose from our selection of MoonBoard kits to speed up and ease the build process.
NextThere are two ways to build a MoonBoard:
1. Buy a MoonBoard Kit
The easiest method is to purchase one of our official build kits which include all MoonBoard holds, the LED system and ready-to-install panels. Choose from:
- Freestanding MoonBoard Kit (includes a frame)
- DIY MoonBoard Kit (frame not included)
2. Self Build
Buy all the individual MoonBoard components and source your own panel materials. It is essential that you space and drill the hold and LED holes exactly to the specifications outlined in our self-build instruction guide below. If your self-drilled MB panels do not precisely match the official MoonBoard configuration, the difficulty and feel of climbs will be affected. To save yourself the headache, purchase your panels directly from Moon Climbing. They will arrive pre-drilled, t-nutted and painted with the classic MoonBoard design.
Assembly timelapse of the Freestanding MoonBoard Kit
Buy a MoonBoard Kit
Freestanding MoonBoard Kit
from £8,000
A complete MoonBoard kit including a self-supporting laser cut, powder coated steel frame.
DIY MoonBoard Kit
from £2,100
Choose between a Mini MoonBoard or Standard MoonBoard kit. Includes ready-to-install panels, the LED System and holds for a specific hold setup.
Individual Components
Upgrade your existing MoonBoard with the latest hold set or the LED System, components are also available to purchase individually.
-
from £165
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£750
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£500
Build Instructions
| Freestanding MoonBoard | Standard DIY MoonBoard | Mini DIY MoonBoard | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40° | 25° | 40° | 25° | 40° | ||
| Height (mm) | 3554 | 4100 | 3174 | 3688 | 2240 | |
| Width (mm) | 2440 | 2440 | 2440 | 2440 | 2440 | |
| Depth (mm) | 4860 | 4860 | 2353 | 1547 | 1569 | |
| Freestanding MoonBoard | Standard DIY MoonBoard | Mini DIY MoonBoard | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40° | 25° | 40° | 25° | 40° | ||
| Height (inch) | 11’7” 59/64 | 158” | 10'4" 1/64 | 12’1” 43/64 | 80" | |
| Width (inch) | 8' 1/16 | 8' 1/16 | 8' 1/16 | 8' 1/16 | 97" | |
| Depth (inch) | 5’11” 11/32 | 5’11” 11/32 | 7’8” 33/64 | 5’1” 1/32 | 67" | |
Standard MoonBoard
The following guide highlights the basic structural requirements of the MoonBoard DIY kit. Please download the PDF using the button above to also view the instructions for Mini MoonBoard. You will need to possess carpentry skills, tools, and a minimum of two people. 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.
If you have any doubts regarding the construction of your MoonBoard, please seek professional advice.
Frame Requirements
Upright supports x 4, set 813 mm (2’ 8”) apart. Fix your supports above the kickboard at the appropriate angle to your MoonBoard (40-degrees or 25-degrees). The kickboard height should measure 370 mm (1’ 21⁄2”).
Panels
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.
Holds Setup
Login to your MoonBoard account to access the current available hold setups. Ensure you set each hold to the correct grid reference and orientation.
Tools Needed
- 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 reset button
- 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 section 2.
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. Installing the Reset Button (Not Applicable to the MoonBoard LED System V2)
The reset button is used to disconnect a connected Bluetooth device so must to be installed in a location that is easily accessible for the climber. Ensure that the button's location is not likely to come into contact whilst the climber is climbing or falling as this may result in the button becoming damaged. The reset button fits in a 3/4” (19mm) hole.
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.
Note: The MoonBoard LED System V2 does not require a reset button so this is not included in your LED Kit and there are not blue terminals on the V2 Control Box. The Control Box and Connector pictured here are from the original MoonBoard LED System and NOT the V2 version. The V2 version allows up to 6 devices to connect simultaneously and therefore does not need a reset button.
Connect the wires from the LEDs and reset button 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. Connect the wires from the Reset button to the blue holes on the MoonBoard control box; it does not matter which way round you do this.
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.
Tools needed:
- Wire Strippers
- Wire Cutters
- Electrical Tape
- 6 Butt Splice Wire Connectors (see figure 1)
- Connector Crimping Tool
1. 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.
2. Identifying a Damaged LED
A damaged LED can be identified in two ways:
- 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.
- 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.
3. 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 (see figure 3) 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 (see figure 4).
If you are embarking on a Mini MoonBoard*1 or Standard MoonBoard*2 build without the help of one of our kits, in addition to the Frame Requirements advised above, you will also need to ensure your self build panels meet the following specifications:
Imperial Panel Template Metric Panel Template
*1 Available in Metric dimensions only.
*2 Please note that the distance between rows 6 - 7, and rows 12 - 13 is 22cm. This is not an error, it is a legacy feature of the original MoonBoard that has now become a standard specification in all MoonBoard designs.
The paint colour references for the MoonBoard artwork are as follows. Orange RAL1023 and Grey RAL 7012.
Panel Artwork Artwork DimensionsThe available hold setups can be viewed by signing into your MoonBoard logbook and visiting the Hold Setups page from the left sidebar. Choose the “View” option to load the hold positions and orientations for each setup. You can also download a PDF by pressing the “Export” tab from within this page.
The Hold Setups document tells you where to position your MoonBoard holds. 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.
Learn more about MoonBoard Holds
Further Help
For more advice about building your MoonBoard, join the official MoonBoard Climber’s Network group on Facebook. It's a great resource for connecting and seeking advice from other MoonBoard owners around the world.
If you have any doubts regarding the construction of your MoonBoard, please seek professional advice. Whilst the information provided in our documentation worked for us, we cannot accept responsibility if your board becomes unstable or dangerous.
Join the Network