Building my own board for the propeller?

cbmeeks

I'm cheap and poor.

Considering I already have a lot of the supplies that come with the propstick, how difficult would it be to just buy the propeller chip and make my own board?

For example, I have a small breadboard (from RS) that I could devote to the prop. I would then need to get the eeprom, max3232 and the propeller.

What kind of problems would I be looking at? If it is too much, I will just shell out the extra $55 for the propstick.

Oh wait, I also have to consider that buying the extra pieces could run $10 - $20.

hmmmm.... :-/

Thanks

cbmeeks

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Mike Cook

Check out this thread:

http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=579595

This is the one that I made, seems to work well. Works with the USB2SER or the discrete programmer. Pretty cheap to build depending on how well your 'junk box' is stocked.

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Mike

Newzed

I have the same thought.· I am working on an Expresspcb layout that is similar to the PropStick.· All the chips will be socketed and there will be a
5 volt regulator feeding a 3 volt regulator, both TO-220.· The EEPROM and MAX3232 are both available from Digikey.· I haven't been pushing the layout because 3 boards would cost $59.00, no soldermask, no silkscreen.· If you would like one of the boards and I can find someone who would take the thkrd board, then I will press ahead with it.· If you are interested it would be best if you reviewed the layout before the boards are ordered.

Sid

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Sid Weaver
Do you have a Stamp Tester yet?
http://hometown.aol.com/newzed/index.html

·

Newzed

I have finished the preliminary layout for the Propeller board.· I added an RCA connector for TV.spin, complete with the 1 percent·resistors.· Cost of the complete board, including the PC board, is $39.00, plus the postages, if you have to buy everything.· The four 8-pos headers for the Propeller pins and the 4-pos header for the 5VDC output are not included.· I need someone to buy the other two miniboards since I can only use 1.· Propsective buyers must review the layout, which is attached.· You will need Express V5.4.0 to view it.

Sid

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Sid Weaver
Do you have a Stamp Tester yet?
http://hometown.aol.com/newzed/index.html

Mike Cook

Sid,

Has ExpressPCB changed their board size? I thought you could only use the Miniboard Service if the boards were exactly 2.5" x 3.8"

Thanks,


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Mike

Post Edited (Mike Cook) : 5/23/2006 8:43:02 PM GMT

Newzed

Mike, the board size is 2.000 x 3.8.· I'll trim off the excess, maybe use it for some connector strips or something.

Sid

Stan671

That is exactly what I have done.· I bought the Propeller Chip and USB2SER adapter from Parallax.· I wanted the USB2SER because I did not want to need the extra hardware for the RS-232 serial port business and because my notebook only has USB anyway.· Then I bought the 3.3 volt regulator, crystal and EEPROM from Digi-Key.· All of the rest of the stuff·was readily available·- capacitors, resisters, LED's, etc.· And I already had the serial LCD display and 5 inch LCD TV from previous projects.· And I made my own sticker for the Prop Chip to label the pins.· I did this to save a bunch of money over the Demo Board or Prop Stick.· It all fits nicely on the RS solderless proto board.
See the attached picture.· I opened up the bottom of the proto board and cut one of the links in the middle of one of the·long busses·to make two.· You can see the purple line above the crystal where I marked the dividing line betwen the busses.· The TO-220 regulator on the left powers the·left half that is the 5 volt buss and the TO-220 regulator on the right powers the top right 3.3 volt buss.· The bottom buss is Ground.· The four little prongs on the lower left are where the USB2SER plugs in.· This header comes with the USB2SER.· The two screw terminals on the upper left are where the 7.2 volt battery power comes in.· The two screw terms on the lower right is the composite video output.
The whole thing works great. And I am having a ball fooling around with it and experimenting with various Spin programs.·· I just love learning new stuff by rolling up my sleeves and digging in!

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Stan Dobrowski

Kaos Kidd

Stan:
I did my board the same way, only a little neater, and everything but the chips and the xtal are held inplace with a small drop of hot glue.

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Just tossing my two bits worth into the bit bucket


KK
·

Newzed

Has there been any decision on the best crystal to use.· Digikey has the 5mHz in a series, parallel, or General purpose 20pf configuration.

Sid

Newzed

One of the Express boards has been spoken for.· Any takers on the last one?· I have added an On-Off switch, an RCA connector for the TV object, and 8-pin headers (optional) for 5VDC and Gnd.

Sid

Stan671

I ordered Digi-Key part number X051-ND· Crystal 5.000 MHZ, 20PF, HC-49/UA made by ECS, Inc. as per a recommendation I read here in the forum.· It cost $0.40.· It works fine for me.

Here is the link to the manufacturer's info: http://www.ecsxtal.com/pdf2/HC49U.PDF

Here is a link to the Digi-Key catalog page: http://dkc3.digikey.com/PDF/T062/0970.pdf

I'm not sure about the series/parallel spec, but the Digi-Key catalog page talks about it.

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Stan Dobrowski