Control Board with Propeller "Help me find one"

Shawna

Hey guys,
I've been struck by the Prop Bug again. I want to use a prop to control my aquarium and some other things in my house. What I am looking for in this board is.

8 A/D inputs
8 A/D outputs
8 digital inputs (opto isolated)
8 digital outputs (opto isolated)

I made a board many years ago like this and it had a PIC micro on it. I really like the board but it is too big and I have not played with a PIC since I discovered the Prop.:)
I could make a board but I really don't want to. My interests are not in board making anymore but I will if I have too. I found this board on the Parallax web site. http://www.parallax.com/product/27113
This would do for digital inputs and outputs. Do any of you guys know of a place that sells a board with analog inputs and outputs.

Thanks
Shawn

StefanL38

I guess there won't be a propeller-board that will exactly match your requierments.

If you don't want to design a pcb yourself there is an arduino connector compatible propeller-board
http://www.parallax.com/product/32214

For arduino you can buy hundreds of shields to plug them into the arduino-board
I guess within this pool you will find something. DAQ-Board etc.

If you want to do a board on your own
how about the quickstart-board http://www.parallax.com/product/40000
and soldering an ADC MCP3208 on a protoboard for Quickstart http://www.parallax.com/product/40010
and also soldering opto-isolated input / outputs or use a connector to a second board.

best regards

Stefan

kwinn

You could start with something like the Project Board and add what you need to it. Put it on the Project Board or a prototyping board.

8 A/D inputs - a single MCP3208 chip and a few resistors and capacitors would do this.

8 A/D outputs - I'm assuming you mean D/A outputs, and 8 prop pins using PWM would take care of that.

8 digital inputs (opto isolated) - 2 quad optoisolator chips and 8 resistors.

8 digital outputs (opto isolated) - 2 quad optoisolator chips or 8 SSR's. Depends on the voltages and currents you want to control.

Post a bit more information on what you want to do and you may get more specific suggestions.

Shawna

Thanks for the input guys.
Kwinn, your right, 8 D/A outputs.
I'm looking for a board already made. My old board used MCP3208's, they work great. I don't recall the chip number but my old board also used a microchip part for the D/A outputs using SPI. I'm thinking 24VAC for the DO's and DI's. Relays for the DO's would be fine. I used triacs for my last board.
I'm really looking for something I can buy without doing a ton of soldering. I am going to take a look at the arduino connector compatible propeller-board that StefanL mentioned.

The D/A's I want to run 0-10VDC or 0-5VDC out.

Thanks
Shawn