What is it?

This training board is specially designed to complement the Gooligum baseline, mid-range and enhanced mid-range PIC assembler and C programming tutorials.

It is also an excellent stand-alone general development board with support for all small (6 - 14 pin) PICs and all signals conveniently brought out to a pin header next to a solderless breadboard.

It features:

• All Gooligum baseline, mid-range and enhanced mid-range PIC assembler and C tutorials available for immediate download
• Support for all 6-pin, 8-pin and 14-pin baseline, mid-range and enhanced mid-range PICs
• 2 x pushbuttons with selectable external pull-ups
• 9 x LEDs
• 3 x 7-segment LED displays, configurable as single or multiplexed digits
• Piezo sounder on PWM outputs
• Pot and 2 x LDRs (photocells)
• 4 MHz resonator, 32.768 kHz crystal, and 32.768 kHz oscillator
• Variable frequency oscillator for frequency and pulse width measurement lessons
• All signals brought out to 16-pin header, with solderless breadboard for convenient custom development
• ICSP connector for use with PICkit 3, 4 or Snap programmer/debugger (not supplied)
• Can be powered directly from an attached ICSP programmer
• DC socket for higher-power applications (not required for normal operation when used with PICkit 3 or 4)
• Supplied with all components, including PICs, needed to complete every baseline, mid-range and enhanced mid-range PIC lesson (except motor control examples)

The optional motor control kit consists of additional components, including a small brushed DC motor, MOSFETs and quad half-H driver IC, for use with the PWM lesson motor-control examples.

The lessons start with blinking LEDs (of course), but go on to cover timers, interrupts, analog inputs, pulse-width modulation and more.

Why did you make it?

The step up making with simplified platforms, such as Arduino, to working directly with microcontrollers, can be a daunting one. I wanted to help make that transition easier (small PICs aren't complicated), while proving a solid foundation to build on.

What makes it special?

The Gooligum PIC tutorials, and the training board I designed to support them, start as simply as possible. It's easy to get started, but remains useful as a general development and prototyping board. When you've finished the lessons, take the PICs that come with the board and go build something!