: The classic first step for understanding digital output and timing.
To maximize the value of these experiments, physical testing and modern tool adaptation are highly recommended.
What is "123 PIC Microcontroller Experiments for the Evil Genius"?
Don't try to breadboard everything every time. Create a permanent, versatile test board for your PIC microcontroller. : The classic first step for understanding digital
The book covers a wide array of "fiendishly fun" projects that demonstrate real-world applications of microcontrollers:
Measuring temperature with thermistors, reading light levels, and analog sensors. 4. Communication Protocols Modern electronics rely on communication. The book covers: UART (Serial Communication): Talking to a PC. I2C/SPI: Connecting to external sensors and memory chips. 5. Motors and Actuators
You start with a simple blinking LED and progress to complex robotics and sensor integration. Don't try to breadboard everything every time
Each experiment includes a circuit diagram (schematic), a breadboard layout, and the code required to make it work. This means less guessing and more building. 3. Learn to Program in Assembly and C
To follow the experiments, you don’t need an expensive lab. The author deliberately chose common, inexpensive parts that are still easy to find online. The central component is the from Microchip, which at the time included a programmer and two microcontrollers: the 8‑pin PIC12F675 and the 14‑pin PIC16F684 .
| Original | Modern Replacement (Better for PDF use) | |----------|------------------------------------------| | Parallel port programmer | PICkit 3, PICkit 4, or programmer (USB) | | PIC16F84 (obsolete, expensive) | PIC16F628A or PIC16F877A (still available, direct replacements) | | MPLAB 8.x | MPLAB X IDE + XC8 compiler (free version) | | Assembly only | Use C for faster prototyping, but book’s assembly examples can be translated. | a breadboard layout
The book is available as a physical copy from various retailers and can sometimes be accessed through digital archives.
: The PICkit 1 is long discontinued, but you can easily use a PICkit 3 or a low‑cost clone (e.g., PICkit 2 or PICkit 3 from eBay or AliExpress). The book’s experiments are not tied to the exact model; any ICP/ICSP programmer that supports the PIC16F684 and PIC16F627A will work.