Lab 2 9.29.04 - Programming the PIC

Pic programming requires multiple steps and a lot of patience. The PICBASIC compiler has a menu item under view called Serial Connection which is important for ensuring serial connectivity and serial communication.

I was able to hook up a potentiometer but it started to fry because of faulty wiring. In short, you place one end at ground, another at power, then place the middle wire to the PIC pin.

My first PIC has a broken pin, so I learned to use either a small screwdriver or PIC tweezer to remove the second chip carefully. During this lab, my power source was inconsistent due to poor wire connections.

The results from the potentiometer show up in the Serial Communication window and vary according to analogue input.

his is the PIC PROGRAMMER which you can check out from the equipment room. I rebooted to ensure serial connection. The LEDs are not a good indicator of power. I may look into getting a mac USB to serial connector to program a BX-24.

NOTE: a couple of PIC trouble shooting pointers

-Make sure the PIC pins are all touching the bread board
-When you place the PIC in the PIC Programmer, the little circle lines up with the lever in the PIC Programmer
-If your pin breaks or is bent, use the pliers to gently push the pins into place or solder a broken pin with a header.
-Unless you've removed the 5V regulator, it's unlikely that you've fried your PIC, try trouble shooting other areas.
-Be very carefull when you lift the PIC from the breadboard - use a PIC pliers or maybe a screwdriver.

Here are screenshots from PIC BASIC PRO. Finiding the icons isn't always clear:


This is the second part of the chip programming.


Again, make sure the right PIC is selected. If you get an "Error 100", there is something wrong with the connection, either serial or PIC. For instance, I have to push down on a PIC with a broken pin to get rid of the "Error 100".

Lab 1 9.12.04 - Turning on an LED on a bread board

he reading, "Less is More.." by William Buxton (2001), makes some thought provoking comments regarding "Renaissance teams". The guiding model is to aggregate specialists since the scope of emerging technology is too overwhelming for the individual.

The article cites numerous sources to back up arguments, however, falls short of addressing economic needs versus user-based design. Maybe it's cheaper to continue with the mouse-monitor paradigm. On the upshot, there will be an economically viable alternative using physical space if it doesn't already exist.



With the help of generous students, I was able to power my LED. The main challenge with soldering is positioning the liquid metal in the right spot. I had to re-solder the switch connection.

I used a Radio Shack bread board which differs from the example in the electricity flow is horizontal instead of vertical



This week, I rewired the breadboard from Radio Shack to Jameco. The most important factors include wiring from ground to ground and power to power on each column. I spent a long time debugging a circuit only to find that the power regulator was facing on the wrong direction.

The resistors only power down for a particular row if you plug in an LED on another row, it will receive the full 5V.

I was able to power a flashlight bulb (5V) and got some movement from a motor by soldering onto the bulb exterior and motor connectors respectively.

Based on reading in the Igoe book, my soldering technique has improved since I heat up under the element and let the solder drip onto the wire from the top.

Additional Regulator Notes:

You have to press down hard to make a connection with the bread board, but not so hard that you bend the pins.

My regulator burned my finger. Turns out this is not supposed to happen. Read about it here.