Post by thread:[PIC] Expanding on the Velleman K8048?

I've been using a Velleman K8048 for programming (still being very new to the subject), and I'm now finding it a bit limiting. For instance, it's set up for four inputs and six outputs (buttons and LEDs). However, I don't want to be popping the chips between the K8048 and a breadboard to test. Glancing at the schematic, with no detailed examination, it appears as though I might be able to get access to the other functions by using the pins in one of the empty sockets. For instance, if my PIC is in the 18-pin socket, I might be able to access some of the other I/O pins (like A/D) by hooking external components up to pins in the vacant 22-pin socket. Has anyone ever done that? Are there reasons why it would be a Bad Idea? Thanks! -- #ken P-)} Ken Coar, Sanagendamgagwedweinini http://Ken.Coar.Org/ Author, developer, opinionist http://Apache-Server.Com/ "Millennium hand and shrimp!"

(creative use of a K8048) > Has anyone ever done that? Are there reasons why it would > be a Bad Idea? I guess it can be done, you might even get by with using the K8048 as an ICSP progger to program an external chip. But IMHO using a K8048 is a bad idea in the first pace. I would suggest a solderless breadboard, an ICSP programmer (pickit2, wisp648, one of Olins proggers, etc) and a bundle of wires. Much more flexible and reliable. I sold K8048's in the past, but got to many customers with problems. -- Wouter van Ooijen -- ------------------------------------------- Van Ooijen Technische Informatica: http://www.voti.nl consultancy, development, PICmicro products docent Hogeschool van Utrecht: http://www.voti.nl/hvu

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Rodent of Unusual Size wrote: {Quote hidden}> I've been using a Velleman K8048 for programming (still > being very new to the subject), and I'm now finding it > a bit limiting. For instance, it's set up for four inputs > and six outputs (buttons and LEDs). However, I don't > want to be popping the chips between the K8048 and a > breadboard to test. > > Glancing at the schematic, with no detailed examination, > it appears as though I might be able to get access to the > other functions by using the pins in one of the empty > sockets. For instance, if my PIC is in the 18-pin > socket, I might be able to access some of the other > I/O pins (like A/D) by hooking external components > up to pins in the vacant 22-pin socket. > > Has anyone ever done that? Are there reasons why it would > be a Bad Idea? > > Thanks! I have a K8048 which I used for several years. Honestly, the best thing to do once you've outgrown the blinking LEDs, as it appears you have done, is to learn how to use the ICSP connector. It's perfectly straightforward and allows you much greater flexibility. By taking power from the K8048 from the correct pins on the board, you needn't use an additional external power supply, which is handy. - -- Brendan Gillatt | GPG Key: 0xBF6A0D94 brendan {a} brendangillatt (dot) co (dot) uk http://www.brendangillatt.co.uk -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.7 (MingW32) iD8DBQFI8eSYuv4tpb9qDZQRAtK2AJ4oDN/rJuZq1dSfMDMFpUmzkBPAtwCgg6H4 z+qpNJnctZacSbg6HDKQREk= =sie1 -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

I started more of a discussion than I expected with this thread! It occurred to me later that a Glomper clip would be even better for accessing the unused pins in the K8048. However, as Brendan hinted, I think I'm outgrowing the K8048. For one thing, the list of devices that Velleman's programing software can handle is more limited than I expected In the learn to walk before running department, I'm currently not interested in learning the ins and outs of ICSP. That may change shortly, but's the case at the moment. So what I'm looking for right now is a recommendation for a low-cost programer package that can handle pretty much any of Microchip's PICs. Having some onboard LEDs and switches like the K8048 would be useful, for basic testing, and/or a good way to hook it up to a solderless board. Again, at the moment I'm just interested in programming the things from a fairly high level; I'm not down to the depth of worrying about rise/fall times and similar details -- I just want a package that I can tell what chip I'm using and it'll do the Right Things to programme it. And, alas, my budget and time are limited, so I'm currently looking for a low-cost prepackaged solution rather than a schematic and parts list from which to build my own. Sorry to be such a killjoy noob.. Thanks! -- #ken P-)} Ken Coar, Sanagendamgagwedweinini http://Ken.Coar.Org/ Author, developer, opinionist http://Apache-Server.Com/ "Millennium hand and shrimp!"

Rodent of Unusual Size wrote: > I'm currently > not interested in learning the ins and outs of ICSP. That > may change shortly, but's the case at the moment. What "ins and outs" ? It's just to learn how to connect a couple of wires. Which wire to which pin... > So what I'm looking for right now is a recommendation for a > low-cost programer package that can handle pretty much any > of Microchip's PICs. Having some onboard LEDs and switches > like the K8048 would be useful, for basic testing, and/or a > good way to hook it up to a solderless board. PICkit2 ? > Again, at the moment I'm just interested in programming the > things from a fairly high level; I'm not down to the > depth of worrying about rise/fall times and similar details -- > I just want a package that I can tell what chip I'm using > and it'll do the Right Things to programme it. > > And, alas, my budget and time are limited, so I'm currently > looking for a low-cost prepackaged solution rather than > a schematic and parts list from which to build my own. PICkit2 !

I too have a k8048 and thought like you do. However, I went and got the Pickit2 and ICSP is basically a couple of pins on the pic. No more fear! ;) I could see there being a problem if you were pin-strapped and had to use every pin, but my suggestion is to get a pic with a few extra pins and just plan on devoting 2 to the programmer. See the reference schematic for the 44 pin board they sell. Using it, you could "make" an external programmer with nothing other than a breadboard and some wires. Much easier than my 8048, which I have shelved. The $35 Pickit2 handles everything else. It took minutes after getting the pkg to have it programming a chip. With my budgets and schedule, if I do it, it's probably a benchmark for cheap and easy! ;) -Skip Rodent of Unusual Size wrote: {Quote hidden}> I started more of a discussion than I expected with this thread! > It occurred to me later that a Glomper clip would be even > better for accessing the unused pins in the K8048. > > However, as Brendan hinted, I think I'm outgrowing the K8048. > For one thing, the list of devices that Velleman's programing > software can handle is more limited than I expected > > In the learn to walk before running department, I'm currently > not interested in learning the ins and outs of ICSP. That > may change shortly, but's the case at the moment. > > So what I'm looking for right now is a recommendation for a > low-cost programer package that can handle pretty much any > of Microchip's PICs. Having some onboard LEDs and switches > like the K8048 would be useful, for basic testing, and/or a > good way to hook it up to a solderless board. > > Again, at the moment I'm just interested in programming the > things from a fairly high level; I'm not down to the > depth of worrying about rise/fall times and similar details -- > I just want a package that I can tell what chip I'm using > and it'll do the Right Things to programme it. > > And, alas, my budget and time are limited, so I'm currently > looking for a low-cost prepackaged solution rather than > a schematic and parts list from which to build my own. > > Sorry to be such a killjoy noob.. > > Thanks!