Overview

The PICPLC8A is a PIC-based control board that can be used both for development purposes and within actual installations. Suitable for use with 40-pin DIP-packaged devices in Microchip's  PIC16F/18F families, the PICPLC8A comes fitted with a PIC16F887. The PICPLC8A includes a high-speed USB programmer and in-circuit debugger plus eight opto-isolated inputs, eight relay outputs (5A rating), and RS-232 and RS-485 communications.

Features

• On-board high-speed USB 2.0 programmer.
• On-board in-circuit-debugger (when used in conjunction with mikroC, mikroBASIC or mikroPascal PIC compilers).
• Socket for 40-pin PICs (40-pin PIC16F887 included).
• 8MHz crystal.
• Eight opto-isolated inputs.
• Eight relay outputs (5A rating, varistors fitted to prevent contact damage).
• RS-232 interface.
• RS-485 interface.
• PS/2 connector.
• I/O lines are available for easy off-board expansion.
• Pull-up or pull-down port defining.
• Large range of optional interface boards available.

Using the PICPLC8A

The PICPLC8A is incredibly easy to set up and use. On first connecting it to the USB port of your PC using the lead provided, Windows will prompt you to install a driver from the supplied CD-ROM. You can then install the PICFlash2 programming software, also on the CD-ROM, and program the PIC with your own programs.

To write your own programs, you can use the assembler in Microchip's freely available MPLAB software or any make of PIC assembler or compiler that generate HEX files. However use of MikroElektronika's mikroBASIC, mikroC and mikroPascal compilers is recommended as these come with library routines that support all the PICPLC8A's built-in I/O devices and MikroElektronika's optional interface boards, as well as allowing for use of the PICPLC8A's mikroICD in-circuit debugger. Demonstration versions of these three compilers are included, which enable you to write programs up to 2K in size.

Your programs can make full use of the PICPLC8A's in-built I/O features and MikroElektronika's range of optional interface boards that can be easily fitted to futher expand the system. The supplied PIC16F887 microcontroller can easily be removed and replaced with any other 40-pin DIP-packaged PIC microcontroller from the PIC16F and 18F familes.

Specifications

PIC16F Family
PIC16F877A, PIC16F887

PIC18F Family
PIC18F442, PIC18F448, PIC18F452, PIC18F458, PIC18F4220, PIC18F4221, PIC18F4320, PIC18F4321, PIC18F4331, PIC18F4410, PIC18F4420, PIC18F4423, PIC18F4431, PIC18F4439, PIC18F4450, PIC18F4455, PIC18F4480, PIC18F4510, PIC18F4515, PIC18F4520, PIC18F4523, PIC18F4525, PIC18F4539, PIC18F4550, PIC18F4580, PIC18F4585, PIC18F4610, PIC18F4620, PIC18F4680, PIC18F4682, PIC18F4685

Package Contents

• PICPLC8A development board with 40-pin PIC16F887 microcontroller and 8MHz crystal.
• USB programming cable.
• Printed user manuals.
• CD-ROM containing PICFlash2 programming software and drivers.