-----Original Message----- From: Ralph Weaver To: Lawrence Lile Date: Friday, March 12, 1999 3:21 PM Subject: Re: [OT] Customer Service @ CCS (was re: Bad Disk) >Thanks for your reply. I think your advice to get an led blinking is >good. My main concern is whether or not the 16f84 can do what I want. > As I see it there are 8 pins and 1 of them is for ground only the other >7 can be used as desired for output or return as needed. There are two ports on the trusty '84 - Port A and port B. Port A has 4 digital inputs, portB has 8 digital inputs. One of the porta inputs can also be configures as TOCKI, a timer/counter input, which is used in the pseudo-analog input ala app note 512. Is this >correct? Can the 16f84 store sufficent instructions to do what I want? The '84 has 1K of memory. I have found this to be quite adequate for many simple control tasks - let's see you are talking about some timing - some stepper motor control - and some analog temperature input and output. I would say it is probably up to the task at first glance. >As I understand it the chip can use instructions in any of several >computer languages if this is true which would you recommend? Start by learning Microchip Assembler. It comes free with MPLAB, which you can download anytime. If you haven't studied assembler it is awkward at first, more so than Basic or Fortran or other high level languages. On the other hand, you can't really understand wqhat any other language is doing without an understanding of assembler. OTOH, you could also look into a BASIC STAMP which is a pic-based part with a basic assembler strapped on. Might be an easier learning curve. I live in >Albuquerque NM. Can you recomend a good source to purchase the 16f84 >chip from? Jameco 1-800-831-4242 or Digikey 1-800-344-4539 They are national. > I am familure with boolen algebra and the binary number system. Used >them in the late 60s on a special purpose computer associated with a >missle guidance system. I have looked at the DS1620 temperture >controller and on the surface it appears that it would be a suitable >temperture control. Do you agree or is there something else I should >look at? You've got a good grounding then. You're biting off a big project though. I'd be comfortable trying to do this project but I've been doing PIC stuff for several years. > I am going to keep your address and check back with you as I progress >and need help. > >Thanks >Ralph WeaverLawrence Lile wrote: Don't keep my address - keep the PICLIST address. Together the PIClist is the absolute best resource any PICster can have. Betweeen us we can do a lot.