A Pic Tool Chain

(from a macintosh based standpoint, using the Wisp628 programmer)

This page will feature a complete description of what exactly this Pic Tool Chain is, why you want / need it, and how to get it working properly from a macintosh computer.
... Right now I just got a list of stuff to get / buy to make the first basic test using that Tool Chain (i.e. How to Make the Led Blink), and I've made a a diagram of the Tool Chain in as an overview.

Tool Chain Diagram:

Attach:Wisp_Pic_ToolChain.pdf

This the list of stuff you'll need for the tool chain from the mac involving the Wisp. And the bare essentials to make a PIC blink a led.

For programming and making the tool chain:

  • USB-Serial Adapter (e.g. the Keyspan USA-19HS, which I bought from Apple Centre CS for €45)
  • an In-Serial-Programmer (my tool chain works with the Wisp628, which is made by a dutch guy selling them at www.voti.nl The completely assembled Wisp is €35, but seems to be currently out of stock, the build-it-yourself kit is €23)

Then to make the blinking led itself: This stuff is all way more cheaper than the tool-chain essentials from above. And whatever tool chain you will be using, making a simple blinking led is probably the best way to start. The blinking led is considered the 'hello world' of embeddedness.

  • 1x Solderless breadboard (where you can just stick wires in to make a scheme)
  • a whole bunch of little thin wires (best use the thinnest wire, which isn't composed of strands of copper, but just has a solid core)
  • Knife or wire stripper [[strip tang] to remove the plastic from the ends of the wires.
  • 1x simple 8 pins PIC Microchip, the 12F629 or the 12F675 (with normal PDIP, 0.1 inch pins)
  • 1x Volt-regulator (5Volt regulator: 7805)
  • 1x Diode (1n4004 or something similar 1n400?)
  • 1x Crisal / Resonator: 20MHz cristal
  • 1x Battery: 9Volt Battery
  • 1x Battery-clip for that battery (with two wires coming from the clip)
  • 1x LED (or multiple and in different colors if you are in for something fancy ;-)

Capacitors [[Condensatoren]:

  • 1x 10µF (10 'mu-Farad') Electrolyte
  • 1x 1000µF (1000 'mu-Farad' = 1mF (milliFarad) Electrolyte
  • 1x 100nF (100 'nanoFarad' = 0,1 µF), Monoceramic (104)
  • 2x 22pF (or something similar 20 pF 'picoFarad') Ceramic Disc Capacitors (Note: you'll need two of those)

Resistors [[Weerstandjes]

  • 1x 33k? (33 'kiloOhm')
  • 1x (actually 1 per LED) 330? (330 'Ohm')

Good luck with finding the stuff in the shops. Have fun asking for those parts. I think this is the best part of making the led blink: to go to the shops and very confidently ask for parts you only know a serial number of (7805) and pretending you know exactly what you're talking about, while all these little parts and numbers are dazzling you. :-)

External references:

blink a LED with voti http://www.voti.nl/blink/index_1.html