Should I bother with basic stamp? - Electronic Circuits Projects Diagrams Free

hosh · 1st February 2008, 07:14 PM

New to micro controllers but use pico and some other basic PLC's.
But I am now at a point where I want to build my ideas.
Not just hack other stuff or use pre-made options.

Should I start with basic stamp or
get my money back and jump strait into pics?

Thanks for any responses and the great info and ideas I've gotten from this site.

blueroomelectronics · 1st February 2008, 08:20 PM

Can you get your money back?

hosh · 1st February 2008, 08:43 PM

Radio shack. Just picked it up today. I still got the receipt and its not opened.

blueroomelectronics · 1st February 2008, 08:50 PM

Well there are plenty of options, if BASIC is your thing take a look at Swordfish BASIC SE which can handily outrun any BASIC Stamp. You'll need a programmer like the PICkit2 and a demo board or my Junebug kit which has both the programmer & a demo board / tutor

Do a forum search for "Junebug" and see if this is more what you're after. Probably cheaper than the Stamp kit too.
Course that's my opinion.

**3v0** · 1st February 2008, 08:52 PM

I agree with Bill. Take it back. For the $80 you can get setup with a programmer and a target.

hosh · 1st February 2008, 09:16 PM

I've been looking at your junebug and was thinking it was prob more what i want and need. I knew I'll be moving to pics later either way i went.

I've been wanting to build many ideas. But the one that finally made me jump is Persistence of vision and I also want to build an LED display.

Although my original idea needs some modification because 13,824 RGB LED's (24"x36" @ 4 LED's an inch) is a bit much to tackle this early in the game.

**3v0** · 1st February 2008, 09:27 PM

I think the Junebug would do just fine for you. You can play with the onboard 18F1320 to get your feet wet and move on from there. You also have access to both free C and Basic compilers.

I am surprised to see the basic stamp at Radio Shack. I was under the impression that all they wanted to sell was consumer electronics.

hosh · 1st February 2008, 09:35 PM

They still have a very small area of what they used to be.

They even have bread boards and blank circuit boards.

blueroomelectronics · 1st February 2008, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hosh

I've been looking at your junebug and was thinking it was prob more what i want and need. I knew I'll be moving to pics later either way i went.

I've been wanting to build many ideas. But the one that finally made me jump is Persistence of vision and I also want to build an LED display.

Although my original idea needs some modification because 13,824 RGB LED's (24"x36" @ 4 LED's an inch) is a bit much to tackle this early in the game.

13,824 RGB LEDs that's a joke right. To run that many LEDs is much more work than you can imagine. Lets see 96 * 144 LEDs * 1 colour is 8.64 AMPs per row when running them at 60ma or so, a resonable refresh might be 1:8 so you'll need 12 * 8.64 AMPs = 103AMPs add to that the RGB element for 103 * 3 = 309 AMP power supply. That's just for the supply. The row & column drivers are another nightmare. Big color LED signs are very expensive for a reason.

On the other hand if it's a joke you got me.

parts-man73 · 1st February 2008, 10:04 PM

This fall, Radio Shack just added a new line of Sensors(also from Parallax) to the inventory at most stores. I recently purchased a dual axis accelerometer there. They also have ultrasonic distance sensors, PIR and RFID sensors. They are supposed to be expanding the selection in their parts drawers as well.

I don't buy much from them, but it's handy to buy local if you are out of a part and you don't want to want 3-5 days for mail order....

Brian

hosh · 1st February 2008, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by parts-man73

This fall, Radio Shack just added a new line of Sensors(also from Parallax) to the inventory at most stores. I recently purchased a dual axis accelerometer there. They also have ultrasonic distance sensors, PIR and RFID sensors. They are supposed to be expanding the selection in their parts drawers as well.

I don't buy much from them, but it's handy to buy local if you are out of a part and you don't want to want 3-5 days for mail order....

Brian

I saw those today. The RFID tags really caught my interest.

I usually try to get to Affiliated Electronics for most things, but they don't carry micro controllers and only have a few vellman kits that I think qualify as NOS

I wasn't kidding about the leds. I didn't realize at the time how complex it was or the number it would take until i did some math and saw the numbers. At that point I new I needed to change tactics, then I saw what it takes to control a 4x4 panel and went into brain overload thinking about the control scheme that scale would take. Much less the programming.

Now I'm thinking about POV for my display. Only 144 LEDs and timing.

Although I will be taking the basic stamp kit back and looks like I will be ordering a Junebug soon.

Thanks for the advice and guidance. Till tomorrow.

futz · 1st February 2008, 10:48 PM

Saw this on BoingBoing today. Does 625 LEDs with an AVR controller. A kit is $80. Bare board $50.

Schematic

It's no 13000+ LEDs, but might be worth a look.

blueroomelectronics · 1st February 2008, 11:15 PM

I've looked at the schematic and don't quite understand the method used for the column driver. Is it a static display like a light bright? I understand the LEDs are not soldered in.
Nice looking kit. 625 is plenty of LEDs, My LED kit (on the shelf at the moment has a mere 140)

futz · 1st February 2008, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueroomelectronics

Is it a static display like a light bright?

I believe that's the idea. Simple that way. Just plug in LEDs where you want light, in the colors you want. Change whenever you want.

Of course that's no fun for guys like us.

But it is hackable.

hosh · 2nd February 2008, 02:21 PM

Definitely a light bright. But I like the power method. 60 hz is pretty much not noticeable to most people. 50 hz is. I have driven several LEDs on ac. So if you keep a 60 hz or higher pulse rate it would look like they were all on and yet save power.

I will stew on this for controlling many LEDs at once. The timing will take forever to work out but the effect could be cool.

I guess I can let this brew in the background while I learn from junebug.
I just ordered an assembled kit. I know I'm lazy and impatient to start when I get it.

By the way I get my LEDs from Ebay seller besthongkong if I want more than a couple. Good prices on super brites and he ships fast.
(edit: just looked at digikey - will be ordering from there for LEDs in the future)

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1st February 2008, 07:14 PM	(permalink)
hosh	Should I bother with basic stamp? New to micro controllers but use pico and some other basic PLC's. But I am now at a point where I want to build my ideas. Not just hack other stuff or use pre-made options. Should I start with basic stamp or get my money back and jump strait into pics? Thanks for any responses and the great info and ideas I've gotten from this site. __________________ Don't touch that wire........Um......are you ok?

1st February 2008, 08:20 PM	(permalink)
blueroomelectronics	Can you get your money back? __________________ Bill Smart Kits build Smart People http://www.blueroomelectronics.com

1st February 2008, 08:43 PM	(permalink)
hosh	Radio shack. Just picked it up today. I still got the receipt and its not opened. __________________ Don't touch that wire........Um......are you ok?

1st February 2008, 08:50 PM	(permalink)
blueroomelectronics	Well there are plenty of options, if BASIC is your thing take a look at Swordfish BASIC SE which can handily outrun any BASIC Stamp. You'll need a programmer like the PICkit2 and a demo board or my Junebug kit which has both the programmer & a demo board / tutor Do a forum search for "Junebug" and see if this is more what you're after. Probably cheaper than the Stamp kit too. Course that's my opinion. __________________ Bill Smart Kits build Smart People http://www.blueroomelectronics.com

1st February 2008, 08:52 PM	(permalink)
3v0	I agree with Bill. Take it back. For the $80 you can get setup with a programmer and a target. __________________ search engine for electronic parts Junebug USB PIC programmer kit., USB Bit Wacker, Homepage The 15 Minute Printed Circuit Board! (+drill time)

1st February 2008, 09:16 PM	(permalink)
hosh	I've been looking at your junebug and was thinking it was prob more what i want and need. I knew I'll be moving to pics later either way i went. I've been wanting to build many ideas. But the one that finally made me jump is Persistence of vision and I also want to build an LED display. Although my original idea needs some modification because 13,824 RGB LED's (24"x36" @ 4 LED's an inch) is a bit much to tackle this early in the game. __________________ Don't touch that wire........Um......are you ok?

1st February 2008, 09:27 PM	(permalink)
3v0	I think the Junebug would do just fine for you. You can play with the onboard 18F1320 to get your feet wet and move on from there. You also have access to both free C and Basic compilers. I am surprised to see the basic stamp at Radio Shack. I was under the impression that all they wanted to sell was consumer electronics. __________________ search engine for electronic parts Junebug USB PIC programmer kit., USB Bit Wacker, Homepage The 15 Minute Printed Circuit Board! (+drill time) Last edited by 3v0; 1st February 2008 at 09:30 PM.

1st February 2008, 09:35 PM	(permalink)
hosh	They still have a very small area of what they used to be. They even have bread boards and blank circuit boards. __________________ Don't touch that wire........Um......are you ok?

1st February 2008, 10:04 PM	(permalink)
parts-man73	This fall, Radio Shack just added a new line of Sensors(also from Parallax) to the inventory at most stores. I recently purchased a dual axis accelerometer there. They also have ultrasonic distance sensors, PIR and RFID sensors. They are supposed to be expanding the selection in their parts drawers as well. I don't buy much from them, but it's handy to buy local if you are out of a part and you don't want to want 3-5 days for mail order.... Brian

1st February 2008, 10:48 PM	(permalink)
futz	Saw this on BoingBoing today. Does 625 LEDs with an AVR controller. A kit is $80. Bare board $50. Schematic It's no 13000+ LEDs, but might be worth a look. __________________ ========================= Futz's Microcontrollers & Robotics =========================

1st February 2008, 11:15 PM	(permalink)
blueroomelectronics	I've looked at the schematic and don't quite understand the method used for the column driver. Is it a static display like a light bright? I understand the LEDs are not soldered in. Nice looking kit. 625 is plenty of LEDs, My LED kit (on the shelf at the moment has a mere 140) __________________ Bill Smart Kits build Smart People http://www.blueroomelectronics.com

2nd February 2008, 02:21 PM	(permalink)
hosh	Definitely a light bright. But I like the power method. 60 hz is pretty much not noticeable to most people. 50 hz is. I have driven several LEDs on ac. So if you keep a 60 hz or higher pulse rate it would look like they were all on and yet save power. I will stew on this for controlling many LEDs at once. The timing will take forever to work out but the effect could be cool. I guess I can let this brew in the background while I learn from junebug. I just ordered an assembled kit. I know I'm lazy and impatient to start when I get it. By the way I get my LEDs from Ebay seller besthongkong if I want more than a couple. Good prices on super brites and he ships fast. (edit: just looked at digikey - will be ordering from there for LEDs in the future) __________________ Don't touch that wire........Um......are you ok? Last edited by hosh; 2nd February 2008 at 05:59 PM.