Where do I start learning MCs? PLZ HELP!

[Triple-H]

Hi,

I really, really want to learn MCs. I decided to start with PIC16F84a because it's too popular and simple. I also decided to build my own programmer using this guide:
Cheap PIC Programmer

Now, I'm facing this big problem:
I can't really find a good reference where a person who doesn't have the least understanding of a microcontroller can learn microcontrollers using the PIC16F84A.

I don't know anything about microcontrollers [except that they're tiny computers with lots of pins] and I would like to find a good online guide for people like me.

Plz help!

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

Check the 'sticky' at the top of this forum - and forget the long obselete 16F84a, use a more 'modern' device - the 16F628 replaced the 16f84a well over 10 years ago now. If anything it's even more simple to use, which is why I used it for my tutorials.

 

[Triple-H]

Check the 'sticky' at the top of this forum - and forget the long obselete 16F84a, use a more 'modern' device - the 16F628 replaced the 16f84a well over 10 years ago now. If anything it's even more simple to use, which is why I used it for my tutorials.

Hmm, I did not notice the sticky post before, sorry. I'm gonna read it now.
As for choosing another MC, I don't think I can. This is because I was in a country where these MCs are available, and I got a couple of PIC16F84a MCs and an Atmega32 only. Now I'm now in a different country were regular electronic components are barely available. So getting another MC is not an option. Anyway, I don't want to go deep into microcontrollers, I'm just a hobbyist who wanna know how these stuff work.
Thanks for helping,

 

[colin55]

See the PIC Lab-1 project on Talking Electronics website. It has 10 experiments using the PIC16F84 chip to read inputs and output to a 7-segment display and LEDs.

 

[AGCB]

I was where you are 6 weeks ago. I got the book "Easy Microcontrol'n" by David Benson. It takes you from square one, in fact that's who publishes it, Square One Electronics.com . I'm now writing my own codes and thinking up my own experiments. Order the book and build the simple development board.
Aaron

 

[Triple-H]

Thanks for help,
Will check them soon...

 

[bryan1]

As members will notice I deleted colin55's last post as 'dribble' The Square One" books although old are a great starting point for people who want to learn from the ground up. I have every book bar one and I still read them from time to time as they are are great reference and do explain the pic's nicely.

Regards Bryan