PICList Project

The Weeder Frequency Counter PIC 16F84 port by Peter Cousens

This is a port by Peter Cousens to the PIC 16F84 of the 50Mhz Frequency counter kit {originally available} from Weeder Technologies . Since it uses a base PIC that is easily programmable, and provides a usefull bit of bench test equipment at very low cost, it makes an ideal PIC learning project. If you don't want to spend the time on the PCB, collecting the parts or even not programming the uP, you can order the kit (for a very resonable price) from ~~http://www.weedtech.com~~

News: Weeder Tech no longer makes this kit. They have moved on to a very nice version that works with a local PC via the serial port for display and control. It is also "stackable" for multiple counters at once or with other modules for control and measurement of all kinds. See
http://www.weedtech.com for more information. The original kit has been licenced to Invent Electronics and Ken has made some improvements and provides a very nice (closed source) kit for $49 and a PCB for $10 (prices as of 2004/03/05)

The result is a nice frequency counter that reads frequency from 1 Hz to 50 MHz and displays it on a 16 character LCD display. Auto-range feature provides floating decimal point and automatic placement of suffix (Hz, KHz, or MHz). Gate speed automatically decreases to one second below 100 KHz to display frequency with a resolution down to an amazing 1 Hz.

Auto-ranging with floating decimal point.
Up to 7 digits displayed.
Auto-adjusting gate speed (0.1 sec to 1 sec).
Microcontroller-based circuitry provides for simplicity, ease of assembly, and highly stable readout.
Sensitivity approximately 100 mV RMS (100 Hz to 2 MHz), 800 mV RMS @ 50 MHz.
Input overload protected.

You will need:

The circuit you may want to make a PCB
The files are as follows (right click and save as .asm or .hex files)
- wct 5.asm or .hex (right click on hex and select "Save as...") is the original program Peter ported to 16f84 in October 1998
- wct6.asm is a version that diplays an introductory message. It is not assembled it as you should change it to your own personalised message and options. There is lots of spare program space. DO NOT FORGET TO SET THE WatchDog TIMER TO OFF AND THE OSC TO XT
- weedfreq8x2LCD is a version for two line, 8 char per line LCD displays
A way to program the uP. (one of the simplest ways is Tony Nixons ASCII Programmer )

Also:

LCD Front Panel Set: $8!
- 2x16 LCD HD44780 controller
- 4 push buttons - 3 LEDs - 2x12 header
Other great PICList projects
Microchip PIC LCD Display IO