Getting started in microcontrollers

[Micro368]

Hello, I am looking for some recommendations. I mostly want to start with PIC. What is some good beginning hardware? Also I am head to the bookstore today so any books that are worth picking up let me know. I have heard there is some simulators out there to so any recommendations there is helping full to.

Some projects I want to do is.
Motion sensor
Wind speed
LED control
Rain gauge with digital reading

Thank you in advance, Scott

 

[andre_luis]

Start with PROTEUS simulator.
It integrates Hardware and Software behaviour.

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[Micro368]

Would happen to have a link for proteus simulator? Also any book you recommend?

 

[qwertyuiop415263]

Pic Microcontroller and Embedded System By Muhammad Ali Mazidi. It's a good book to start with.
(Software/Compiler) Mplab IDE with C18-Toolsuite
(Simulation Software) Proteus Professional

Hope It Helps

 

[Micro368]

Thank you very much for the info very helpful forum with fast response.

 

[keith1200rs]

I am not sure why you would buy the Proteus simulator instead of one of the PIC development boards which are very good value?

Keith

 

[Micro368]

Thank you Keith I will look into that route also. Any PIC development boards you can recommend for beginners?

 

[MahmoudHassan]

For pic microcontroller

Advanced PIC Microcontroller Projects in C: From USB to RTOS with the PIC 18F Series

by: Dogan Ibrahim

it has good intro to C language
and programmed applications using MikroC and can be used for any other pic series

 

[keith1200rs]

I have only used the 16 bit Explorer which is very good but I have heard good reports of the PIC stick which is cheaper **broken link removed**

Keith

 

[digilog jr. ph]

Thank you Keith I will look into that route also. Any PIC development boards you can recommend for beginners?

make your own development board so you can understand the architecture of the pics and its pins, simple dev board with headers ready , many dev board open source already over the net, if you are serious with mcu-microcontroller, buy a pickit 3 it is a programmer for all pics models of mcu.

i build my own dev board, just a newbie here ill post my development board since college here if i have camera my camera is with my sister ill post it very soon here, ive been using this to my projects.

by doing this you will be familiar from the pin layout of the pic,

preferred pic pic16f877a 40 pins

for me its a good start in learning microcontroller

 

[bigdogguru]

I agree with Keith on this one, start with a development board, then put together your own designs. The reason being, many beginners build a dev board and then test their first programs which fail.

So, now the question is it the hardware or the software? It can be extremely frustrating for someone just getting into embedded systems.

Microchip sells excellent dev boards ranging from $200+ to $40, they have all been factory tested and come with a myriad of example programs.

Some of the dev boards I personally own:

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Also another very nice feature of some Microchip dev boards is the PICTail and PICTail Plus Bus Interface. You can buy precanned or roll your own add on boards:

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Even though I design a lot of Microchip PIC hardware, I still use all these dev boards to hammer out some code and test it on a proven platform. A real time saver.

Hope this info helps in your endeavors.

 

[keith1200rs]

I agree with bigdog - how many posts do we see here where people have built their own development boards which don't work? Quite a lot. The microstick is around $25. I also use pre-built development boards to test ideas and software before committing to a final design.

Keith

 

[digilog jr. ph]

maybe i am just lucky, i design my dev board for 4 days, searching the internet reading tutorials datasheet of 16f877a, asking forums in my design of dev board etc using protues for simulating and getting the right resources,

different way in learning , it comes to a man if he never stops in learning if many endeavors are in front of him,

its up to you, if you want less hassle if u think your skills is not enough in doing your own dev board.:-(

---------- Post added at 11:53 ---------- Previous post was at 11:50 ----------

one of my resources Introduction: World of microcontrollers - Book: PIC Microcontrollers

 

[Nick C.]

Depending on your programming experience, I would recommend the PIC-based Parallax Basic Stamp 2 as a good introduction to microcontrollers for beginners. They have some great instructional material that's available, and when you are ready to move on, you can apply most of this knowledge to using the bare PIC parts.

This might be too simplistic for some, but if you are starting at 'zero', I think this is a good way to get your feet wet without the steep learning curve that you'll encounter by going it alone.

Parallax Home

 

[Micro368]

Thank you for the advice everyone it has been A LOT of help going to go through all the links you guys have posted and do some reading!

 

[dayanpad]

Thank you for the advice everyone it has been A LOT of help going to go through all the links you guys have posted and do some reading!

I can give only advice start pic with assembly language, it will help to you understand behavior of inside of pic micro controller

**broken link removed**

---------- Post added at 10:39 ---------- Previous post was at 10:20 ----------

Start with PROTEUS simulator.
It integrates Hardware and Software behaviour.

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Dear andre,
Can I have link to free download PROTEUS simulator.

 

[Micro368]

Could be a dumb question. But is a Arduino a microcontroller just having its own language format?

 

[qwertyuiop415263]

no arduino is not a microcontroller

see this link

Arduino - HomePage

helpful