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Manuals >>>>    Getting Started    BASIC Commands    Interfacing    Flowcharts

These pages give you a quick start in Microcontroller Flow Chart Programming using the lowest cost starter kit.

>>>> Read more about Microcontrollers here.

Picaxe have an excellent collection of GETTING STARTED pages and the MANUALS are essential reading!

PICAXE-08 Starter Kit - Website

Picaxe provide microcontrollers with special powers. The bare microcontrollers come from microchip.com. The program added by Picaxe allows the chip to carry out many interesting tasks. Programming the bare chip is not so easy so the Picaxe modifications are a real help. This collection of pages demonstrates some of the abilities of Picaxe.

• Detect switch presses
• Play tunes
• Measure data from sensors such as light and temperature
• Light up LEDs
• Display text
• Control motors and robotic devices
• Plenty more ...

A Level year 2 students should dive in and learn how to program the bare chip without the Picaxe extras.

The Kit and USB Cable

• Picaxe website
• Free programming software
• The kit comes with a suitable USB to Serial Port cable.
• These cables are not all the same so it's worth getting the correct one from Picaxe.
• It uses drivers from www.picaxe.com/axe027.

>>>> RTFM - Read the instruction manual because you do not want to use the default Windows drivers.

Assembled Kit - Pinout

The kit was assembled so it can plug onto a prototype board and be powered from the board or via jumper cables. It took two attempts. The second version used colour coded cables making it less likely to make wiring errors. Thats why the soldering looks messy!

Build Your Own