Post by thread:[PIC]: How to work with PIC Demo Boards

How do people normally work with the IO ports on PIC demo boards? I have been soldering wires from the ports on the demo board and plugging them into a bread board as needed. Is this correct, or is there a better way? The board looks strange with all those wires hanging from it. Thanks, Lindy --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.699 / Virus Database: 456 - Release Date: 6/4/2004 -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics (like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics

The BEST way to use the demo boards is to install 0.025"sq .1"ctr strips into the active IO port holes, then use wirewrapped connections. Most people today are unfamiliar with wirewrap, but the method is a very reliable way to make temporary, reuseable connections. This makes the demo cards endlessly reuseable; I have some from 10 years ago, as pristine today as the day I bought them. You can google up wirewrap tools and sources. --Bob Lindy Mayfield wrote: > How do people normally work with the IO ports on PIC demo boards? I have been soldering wires from the ports on the demo board and plugging them into a bread board as needed. Is this correct, or is there a better way? > > The board looks strange with all those wires hanging from it. > > Thanks, > Lindy > -- Replier: Most attachments rejected -------------- Bob Axtell PIC Hardware & Firmware Dev http://beam.to/baxtell 1-520-219-2363 -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics (like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics

Well, I agree with the 0.1" strips (go on eBay and find someone selling a bag of the breakaway ones cheap, you'll use them often) but I prefer using jumper cables from there to the solderless breadboard. Just take a peice of wire and put a high density D-Sub pin on one side and high denisty D-Sub socket on the other. Don't use regular D-Sub parts, the regular pins are a bit big for breadboards (although I can attest they will fit, they're just big) and the regular sockets won't grip the header pins. This is also a good way to connect IDC connectors to a breadboard. Examples: www.cs.odu.edu/~olson/piclist/RibbonEnds.jpg http://www.cs.odu.edu/~olson/piclist/PinsToBreadboard.jpg As a note, the ribbon cable done like that is occasionlly very useful for keeping things neat, I'd probably use individual wires for a demo board. I highly recommend the shrink tube as well. You can also use a 0.1" header connector on one end (those are actually meant to connect to the pins). It's also possible to put a 0.1" header onto your breadboard by getting one of the 90 degree connectors and straightening out the pins. I don't like doing that because they also seem to be right on the board of what a solderless breadboard can handle, although I've been know to do it to provide an easy hookup for a ICSP. -- Michael Olson Bob Axtell wrote: {Quote hidden}> The BEST way to use the demo boards is to install 0.025"sq .1"ctr strips > into the active IO port holes, then use wirewrapped connections. > > Most people today are unfamiliar with wirewrap, but the method is a very > reliable way to make temporary, reuseable connections. This makes the > demo cards endlessly reuseable; I have some from 10 years ago, as > pristine today as the day I bought them. > > You can google up wirewrap tools and sources. > > --Bob > > Lindy Mayfield wrote: > >> How do people normally work with the IO ports on PIC demo boards? I >> have been soldering wires from the ports on the demo board and >> plugging them into a bread board as needed. Is this correct, or is >> there a better way? >> >> The board looks strange with all those wires hanging from it. >> >> Thanks, >> Lindy >> > -- > > Replier: Most attachments rejected > -------------- > Bob Axtell > PIC Hardware & Firmware Dev > http://beam.to/baxtell > 1-520-219-2363 -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics (like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics

Bob Axtell <spam_OUTPICLISTTakeThisOuTmitvma.mit.edu> wrote: > Most people today are unfamiliar with wirewrap, but the method is > a very reliable way to make temporary, reuseable connections. ... and not-so-temporary connections, as well. Proper wirewrapping is more reliable, in most situations, than soldered connections. The US military, in fact, is still using boards that were wirewrapped during World War II. -Andy === Andrew Warren -- .....aiwKILLspam@spam@cypress.com === Principal Design Engineer === Cypress Semiconductor Corporation === === Opinions expressed above do not === necessarily represent those of === Cypress Semiconductor Corporation -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics (like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics