Home Products Site Map Order Blog About View Cart    
    Putting together the ProtoPIC28
  • Microchip PICMicro Microcontrollers and DSP quick prototyping board
  • Support for pin compatible PIC16, PIC18, PIC24, dsPIC30 and dsPIC33 devices
  • Small 1.00" by 2.20" board layout
  • Multiple primary clock configurations
  • Pads for secondary crystal clock source/li>
  • On board Reset push-button
  • ICSP header pads compatible with Microchip's PICKit2
  • 3 LEDs and one additional push-button
  • RS-232 transceiver on bottom
  • Available only as bare PCB

We obviously start with a new ProtoPIC28 bare PCB


We start on the bottom side by applying a small amount of solder on one of the pads for each component. In this case we will populate all the ceramic capacitors for the RS-232 transceiver and the load capacitors for the 32KHz crystal.


Use the tweezers to hold the component in place while with the other hand you place the solder iron tip on the pad where we previously applied solder. Keep holding the component until the solder cools down.


After repeating the process with each component, you will have all of them solded on one side. Verify that you have the right component in each place and you like how they are positioned.


Now apply solder on the other pad for each component. After you are done and the solder cools down you can apply a little bit more of solder on the pad that we worked first to make it look more even.
On this pass we also applied some solder on pin 16 of the RS-232 transceiver.


Now with the tweezers position the RS-232 transceiver chip on its place observing the correct orientation for pin 1. In this case we used a SN65C3232. When you have it in place, place the iron tip on pin 16 where we previously applied some solder, let it cool.
Double check that all pins of the integrated circuit are on their respective pads and the orientation is correct.


Now apply solder on the other pins, one useful technique is to solder first the pin that is diagonally opposite from the pin we soldered first. Apply just the amount of solder required to complete the connection to avoid creating shorts between pins.
On this pass we also applied solder to connect the required jumpers for the particular PICMicro we'll used in this board.


Now we turn to the top side. We do the same process applying some solder on one of the pads for each component. When you have several components in line, it works better to apply solder on the same side for each pad.
Also in some cases think which side will work best since after placing a particular component it may get more difficult to place the iron tip on the pads.


Using the same technique as on the bottom side and with the help of the tweezers, place each component on its pads and apply the iron tip for each on the pad where we previously applied solder.
Notice that we left some components such as the crystals for later.


Verify that you have the right components in place, their polarity (particularly for LEDs and tantalum capacitors), and that you like how they are placed. Then apply solder on the other pads to complete soldering each component to the board. As we did on the bottom side we can apply a little bit more of solder on each opposing pad to make it more even.
We also use this pass to apply some solder on pin 28 for the PICMicro.


Like you did with the RS-232 transceiver in the bottom side, place the PICMicro device on its pads, observing the correct orientation for pin 1. When you have it in place, place the iron tip on pin 28 where we previously applied some solder, let it cool.
Double check that all pins of the integrated circuit are on their respective pads and the orientation is correct.

Now apply solder on the other pins, one useful technique is to solder first the pin that is diagonally opposite from the pin we soldered first. Apply just the amount of solder required to complete the connection to avoid creating shorts between pins.
On this pass we also applied solder to one of the crystal pads for the primary oscillator, we'll be using a surface mount package.

Solder the crystals, verify that all components are properly placed and soldered and depending on your application solder the header connectors for J1, J2A and J2B.


This picture shows a completed ProtoPIC28 with header connectors...

... and now installed on solderless breadboard ready for our next PICMicro project.


Technical Documentation

ProtoPIC28 Datasheet  
ProtoPIC28 Product Page  


Additional Resources

Microchip Technology Website  




   
    ©2010, LJCV Electronics. All rights reserved

Last Update: July 15, 2010