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Cluso's P8XBlade2 - Tiny P8X32A Propeller Development Board - US$20 — Parallax Forums

Cluso's P8XBlade2 - Tiny P8X32A Propeller Development Board - US$20

Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
edited 2021-10-22 05:11 in Propeller 1
The P8XBlade2 is the first member in my latest family of tiny Propeller Based Microprocessor boards.

P8XBlade2a.jpg

Features:
•PCB 0.78"x1.28" (19.8x32.5mm) 1.0mm thick Blue ENIG (gold finish)
•P8X32A Parallax Propeller Microprocessor
•12MHz crystal (96MHz clock frequency)
•EEPROM 64KB with WE link (preprogrammed)
•microSD socket (preprogrammed microSD card optional extra) on pins P12..P15
•All 32 I/O pins, Reset, 5Vin, 3V3 out and Gnd brought out to 0.1" pitch pads
•Onboard 3V3 voltage regulator
•Onboard (linkable) transistor reset circuit
•Onboard series resistors (linkable 0/68R/136R) and 3V6 zener diode protection on both P30 & P31 lines
•Requires 5VDC Regulated power
•Optional (free) PropOS (propeller operating system)

The EEPROM is pre-programmed with code to boot from the microSD card (user supplied) which will normally contain some form of operating system such as my free PropOS.
It also works with a cheap USB-TTL CP2102 using the linkable transistor reset circuit as an alternative to the PropPlug. +5V power can be provided by the USB-TTL board.

The P8XBlade2 can be used as the basis of any Propeller Development System.

Together with a microSD card formatted with FAT32 and loaded with my free PropOS (Propeller Operating System with similar commands to the old PC DOS and CPM), the Prop will boot into PropOS, or run a user program, without the need for an expensive PropPlug.

P8XBlade2b.jpg

P8XBlade2 Cost...

US$20.00 (without microSD card)
US$??00 (including microSD card with PropOS) ask for price as SD cards have increased for larger size
US$4.00 Packing & Post via Unregistered Airmail Postage from Australia.

Please allow up to 28 days although it usually takes about 14 days to most countries.
Any import duty and taxes, if applicable, are to the purchasers account.

Payment by PayPal to: cluso@clusos.com

PropOS is available for free download

Postedit: Correct SD pins

Postedit: 12 Jun 2019: Latest files here...
http://forums.parallax.com/discussion/comment/1471758/#Comment_1471758
P8XBlade2a.jpg
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P8XBlade2b.jpg
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Comments

  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2015-12-14 20:29
    Here is a sample of PropOS output...

    Having trouble here...
    Win7 and IE10 + Firefox do not have the "attach" option when editing this post. They do on the first post.
    Neither does Win10 and Edge :(

  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2015-12-14 19:11
    Another great board Ray, I may have to play with that one.

    I noticed your web site is down. Updates going on?

  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2015-12-14 20:41
    @Publison
    Thanks.
    Perhaps I was modifying my website at the time - should be good to go although I am in the process of rewriting it.

    Here is a direct link to the new section including the P8XBlade2...
    http://p8xblade2.clusos.com/

    Here is the output from PropOS...
    PropOSv080.jpg
    Note that there are additional files that I use to run ZiCog/CPM on RamBlade. (I use the same microSD card)

    Here are the PropOS files...
    _os_v080_20151215_P8XBlade2.zip has the files required in the root directory on the microSD card FAT16/32 directory.
    _os_v080_20151215_P8xBlade2(source).zip has all the files required to build PropOS including the compiler Homespun.
    PropOSv080.jpg
    722 x 591 - 129K
    zip
    zip
    _os_v080_20151215_P8XBlade2.zip
    178K
    zip
    zip
    _os_v080_20151215_P8XBlade2(source).zip
    562K
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    Sweet!

    Looks like the website is back up.
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    Looks like the perfect New Year's present for me!!

    So tiny, so cute!!

    Happy New Year to me!!
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2016-07-04 02:03
    Here is the schematic...
    Cluso%27s%20P8XBlade2.bmp

    Cluso%27s%20P8XBlade2_01.jpg
    bmp
    bmp
    Cluso's P8XBlade2.bmp
    403K
  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    edited 2015-12-14 22:31
    Nice board! Can I resist buying one?

    Edit: The answer is, "no". However, I forgot to mention in my PayPal payment what it was that I wanted. I assume you can probably figure it out. :-)
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2021-10-22 05:13
    I have a limited number of these CpuBlade7's 2"x2" (~50x50mm) boards available.
    This was a prototype and there will not be any more of these.

    CpuBlade7.jpg

    Essentially they are a P8XBlade2
    * except the microSD is on pins P8..P11
    * the processor section is extended to add a microUSB connector
    * the pinouts P25...GND are now each side rather than across the board
    * there is a prototype area that includes pinouts for Raspberry Pi and Arduino footprints ;)
    * the pcb is Blue HASL

    Note to use the microSD microUSB connector it is required that part of the Raspberry Pi interface pins be cut out. There are a couple of NPTH holes to help with this.

    The P8XBlade2P (P=Prototyping Board) due January will be an exact P8XBlade2 replica (no microUSB) plus the prototype area with Raspberry Pi and Arduino footprints.

    CpuBlade7 Cost...
    US$20.00 (without microSD card)
    US$??.00 (including microSD card with PropOS)
    US$4.00 Packing & Post via Unregistered Airmail Postage from Australia.
    Specify if you want the microUSB fitted or not - same price.
    CpuBlade7.jpg
    538 x 411 - 131K
  • jmgjmg Posts: 15,173
    Cluso99 wrote: »
    * the processor section is extended to add a microUSB connector
    Specify if you want the microUSB fitted or not - same price.

    Does that mean you have USB operating on P1 ?
    (inside spec ?)
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    jmg wrote: »
    Cluso99 wrote: »
    * the processor section is extended to add a microUSB connector
    Specify if you want the microUSB fitted or not - same price.

    Does that mean you have USB operating on P1 ?
    (inside spec ?)
    No, still WIP. But everything is in place, even on the P8XBlade2 (just requires a connector/cable to the header) ;)
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2015-12-15 00:24
    Ray, is the $4 shipping per board or will $4 cover a couple boards? It's OK either way, I just want to cover the right amount on my order.

    I'd like 2x blade2, 1x blade7 and one SD (just so I have a master).

    Thanks!
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2015-12-15 00:25
    Just verified it works fine using the optional transistor circuit (link QE) with a generic USB-serial(TTL) using CP2102 with DTR and powered with its 5V.

    CP2102_Alice1101983.jpg

    Available from Alice1101983 on eBay for US$1.45
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/6Pin-USB-2-0-to-TTL-UART-Module-Serial-Converter-CP2102-STC-Replace-Ft232-Module-/400565980256?hash=item5d4397cc60

    DO NOT CONNECT the 3V3 as its an output on both boards and the CP2102 CANNOT supply sufficient current anyway.

    CP2102_Alice1101983.jpg
    300 x 300 - 11K
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2015-12-15 00:26
    Connections to P8XBlade2...
    CP2102_Alice1101983.jpg
    CP2102_Alice1101983.jpg
    347 x 300 - 19K
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    mindrobots wrote: »
    Ray, is the $4 shipping per board or will $4 cover a couple boards? It's OK either way, I just want to cover the right amount on my order.

    I'd like 2x blade2, 1x blade7 and one SD (just so I have a master).

    Thanks!
    Yes, a single p&p will cover these 3+SD. It will be near the limit I think.
  • tritoniumtritonium Posts: 543
    Hi
    This interests me very much- I see....
    US$4.00 Packing & Post via Unregistered Airmail Postage from Australia.

    Any idea what the postage would be to uk?
    How do we order- cant see an order form on website so- pm and paypal?
    I think $16 would just about slip under the UK customs radar - I don't mind paying the UK tax, its paying as much again to have the postie collect it!!!

    Dave
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2015-12-15 01:12
    tritonium,
    Same postage to all countries (I will cover any variations) although some countries have higher risk of theft :(
    Pay via PayPal and send me an email please (or just include a note with PayPal).
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    For anyone who wants to use a different xtal, there is a pair of via holes that will take crystal leads from either a watch can or bend the leads of an HC49US and let it sit up from the board. You will need to ask me to not fit the smt crystal !!! I have a 14MHz watch can to try ;)
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    Here is the CP2012 working to the P8XBlade2

    CP2101a.JPG
    CP2101a.JPG
    780 x 199 - 88K
  • SeairthSeairth Posts: 2,474
    edited 2015-12-15 12:31
    I just noticed that your schematic indicates the SD being connected to pins 12-15, but your OP states 11-15.

    Edit: fixed.
  • JohnR2010JohnR2010 Posts: 431
    edited 2015-12-15 13:57
    Very nice!! What linear regulator are you using? Have you measured your current with all cogs sleeping, unused pins pulled high? I wonder if this would be good for battery projects. I guess it ships with a boot loader in the EEPROM to allow it to boot with your OS. Can I guy download a normal SPIN application to the EEPROM with the propeller tool?

    I think the price is great!!
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2015-12-15 14:24
    Yes, you can use the board without the SD card. The board has a pair of vias that must be linked to enable writing to the eeprom.
  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    Where did you get the CP2012 module?
  • User NameUser Name Posts: 1,451
    Predictably, the dozen or so I have all came from China via eBay. Seems we have two choices: Order from China or order from someone who orders from China. You'd go broke making them domestically.

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/6PIN-USB-2-0-to-UART-TTL-Connector-Module-Serial-Converter-CP2012-6pin-Cables-Y-/281724117017?hash=item419810e019:g:zowAAOSw~gRVgSiH
  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    User Name wrote: »
    Predictably, the dozen or so I have all came from China via eBay. Seems we have two choices: Order from China or order from someone who orders from China. You'd go broke making them domestically.

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/6PIN-USB-2-0-to-UART-TTL-Connector-Module-Serial-Converter-CP2012-6pin-Cables-Y-/281724117017?hash=item419810e019:g:zowAAOSw~gRVgSiH
    I see what you mean. At $1.79 including shipping I can't imagine how any profit is being made on these. Thanks for the link!

  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    The 6-pin cable is worth $1.79 with free shipping!
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    @David,
    I posted a link to the one I used a few posts ago.
  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    Cluso99 wrote: »
    @David,
    I posted a link to the one I used a few posts ago.
    I guess I missed that link. Sorry.

  • altosackaltosack Posts: 132
    So, since the Pimoroni Prop HAT has reverted back to its normal price of £15 (£25 for 2 !), we now have a new reigning champion for cheapest Propeller board. Yeah, Cluso !

    But, uh... fellow Americans, this embarrassing. Except for Parallax, we've got slim pickins. Even the RoboProp (not a contender for cheapest, but it gets extra points for its Pi header) is from Canada.
  • User NameUser Name Posts: 1,451
    altosack wrote: »
    Yeah, Cluso !
    +10

    With DIP Props having been on backorder for so long, Cluso new board is a godsend.

    Wonder what the chances are for an SX-48 version of this board? Maybe I'd be the only customer. :(

  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    User Name wrote: »
    altosack wrote: »
    Yeah, Cluso !
    +10

    With DIP Props having been on backorder for so long, Cluso new board is a godsend.

    Wonder what the chances are for an SX-48 version of this board? Maybe I'd be the only customer. :(
    I don't know anything about the SX-48. What circuit would make sense?
    Maybe you could ask on the forum how many would be interested.

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