Nuts and Volts - November 2008

PIC18F4XK20 STARTER KIT

Additionally, there is a PIC18F4XK20 development board (see Figure 3) that is part of a starter kit which includes a PICkit 2 programmer. This development board has a lot of nice features, including an OLED display. If you want to get started with the PIC18F MCU and the Microchip MPLAB PIC18 C compiler, this is a great package.

BREADBOARD MODULES

■ FIGURE 4. Breadboard Modules.

Now, if you like to develop with breadboards — like I often do — then you may like to add the breadboard modules (see Figure 4) from Beginner Electronics ( www.beginnerelectronics. com) to your list. These boards are designed to plug in to both the power rails (for powering the module) and the breadboard’s general-purpose area (for connecting to a MCU). There are various versions available for the different projects you might create.

There are voltage-regulator, momentary-switch, LED, EEPROM, RS-232, and relay module versions, as well as one with an LCD. All are designed to plug into a breadboard. Since the modules don’t fit every type of breadboard so Beginner Electronics also sells the breadboard and wire kit.

PICBASIC™ PRO FULL COMPILER

Now is the time to ask for the full version of the PICBASIC PRO compiler

■ FIGURE 5.

PICBASIC™

PRO Compiler.

(see Figure 5). I often use the sample version in the articles here, but once you get the full version, you’ll wonder how you survived without it. You will be able to write programs as big as you want, using any of the PIC12F, PIC16F, and PIC18F MCUs. If you need a book to help you get started using this compiler, there are several available. (My first book, Programming PIC Microcontrollers with PICBASIC is one option). Some readers still email me about this compiler being too expensive. However, people who have bought and used it tell me they’ve gotten their money’s worth.

PICBASIC STANDARD COMPILER

■ FIGURE 6.

PICBASIC™

Standard Compiler.

The PIC BASIC standard compiler (see Figure 6) is a less expensive alternative to the

PRO version. It limits you to 2K word program space and doesn’t have all the advanced commands that PIC BASIC PRO offers, but I mention it here because the command set is directly compatible with the PICAXE® chips. If you have a design based upon Revolution Education, Inc.’s, PICAXE and want more code space in a small, eight-pin part, then this compiler may be a great option as a next step. There are some PICAXE commands this compiler doesn’t support, so check out the command set thoroughly before adding it to your list.

PIC® MCUs

You can never go wrong adding more PIC MCUs to your lab. Get a few free samples from http://sample.micro chip.com for stocking stuffers. These are the parts I recommend you stock at a minimum. (You can also buy larger quantities of these from Mouser, Jameco and microchipDIRECT).

8-pin: PIC12F683

14-pin: PIC16F688

18-pin: PIC16F88

20-pin: PIC16F690

28-pin: PIC16F886

40-pin: PIC16F887

28-pin: PIC18F2520

40-pin: PIC18F4520

NUTS & VOLTS AND SERVO MAGAZINE

Back issues of Nuts & Volts or SERVO Magazine can never be a bad present. You can get them on CD and ordering information can be found in the pages of this magazine you are reading. Subscription renewals are a good idea, too.

BOOKS

I might as well get my self promotion out of the way and introduce my latest book, Getting Started with PICs — 2006 (see Figure 7). The book is a collection of the ■ FIGURE 7. My first 12 articles ^{Getting Started}_(January _—with PICs book. December 2006) from this column, consolidated into a book. Having everything in a single bound book can be helpful. If you missed the early columns, this may be a nice gift for your list. This book retails for $29.95 and can be purchased at my website ( www.elproducts.com) and the Nuts & Volts online bookstore ( www.store.nutsvolts.com).