"The 'PIC_EVAL' Circuit Board


World Domination!

"Ok Pinky, lets control the world" (ever watch Pinky and the Brain?). Now here is your chance to play the Brain and control something with MicroChips PIC chip controller!

What, you have never used the PIC? Do not want to waste lots of time just figuring out how to hook it up? Want to control something today, not six months from now? Here is your chance!

I have designed a PIC_EVAL board which has the following features:

  • Small 3"x3" footprint
  • Onboard (optional) 7805 voltage regulator
  • Onboard Serial DB9 connector (Serial LCD's anyone)
  • Two 9 pin terminal connectors for very quick connections (All PIC I/O pins come to screw terminals)
  • Built in Green LED power indicator
  • Built in Red LED "test probe" - great for debugging!
  • Suitable for the popular 18 pin 16F84/16F628 microcontroller (and all others that are 18 pin compatible)
  • Parallel LCD interface - thats right, control that cheap $7 LCD directly!
  • Runs off a 9VDC battery, unregulated DC power supply (7V-9VDC), or a regulated 5VDC supply!

    What can I do with it?

    You can control or monitor just about anything! The PIC has all its I/O coming out to the screw terminals. Just stick in a wire, screw down the terminal and you are connected. You can use this board for very quick development of:

  • Alarm with keypad, LCD and alarm
  • Sump alarm system - lets you know you are flooding
  • Relay control system - Turn on some powerful motors!
  • Thermostats
  • Min/Max controllers - turn on and off within a range
  • Precision controller with variable offsets.
  • Emergency lighting system
  • Battery chargers
  • Solar/Wind/Water power monitors
  • Data aquisition system
  • The sky is the limit! Hey what about R/C stuff!

    Note that most of the above ideas would require some additional components (relays etc.).


    PIC EVAL Boards

    The above photo shows a parallel LCD and a serial LCD connected to the PIC_EVAL board. In addition to controlling both LCD's, the board is controlling the red LED, and reading the push button switch for operator intervention. The other board is not connected, and the trace side showes the resolution that is available with the toner transfer method.

    If you want a PIC_EVAL module, contact me and we can discuss a price. I no longer have a supply of the boards so would have to make one up.

    Since 2003 I have found that a C compiler from CCS was better for what I wanted to do.

    CYBIKO update get a 32x16 line LCD display with a full QWERTY keyboard connected to a serial port (Yep, a full fledged terminal) for about $10. Makes the debugging go so much easier!

    Get a PIC, and do something with it. Busy hands get things done. You will be surprised how quickly you can make a neat gizmo and you will learn a lot along the way!

    Additional PIC parts can be found at Glitchbuster.com

    Viewed: times since August 14, 2003

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