c. Connecting a 32-bit PIC to a K8055 or K8055N experiment board

QUESTION:

Is adapter for connecting a 32-bit Microchip microcontroller to Velleman K8055 or K8055N experiment board possible?

ANSWER:

Yes, it is! But there are some important differences between PIC18 and PIC32 microcontrollers with 28 pins. PIC18F2xJ50 microcontrollers have 17 multi-purpose pins, if OSC1 and OSC2 inputs are used to connect an external crystal resonator to enable USB communication. PIC32 microcontrollers have just 15 multi-purpose pins. However, you may save one pin, if you use an external crystal oscillator (like FOX924B) instead of a crystal resonator. The EC oscillator mode frees RA3 pin. Now, you are just 1 pin short. Probably, the best option is not to connect one for the 5 inputs on a K8055 or K8055N board… The K8055 and K8055N adapter schematics and software are available from sections 4 and 5.

Links:

Velleman K8055 board to 32-bit PIC32MX250F128B adapter schematic

Velleman K8055N board to 32-bit PIC32MX250F128B adapter schematic

Microsoft Visual Basic.NET support for PIC32MX250F128B

PROGRAMMING GUIDE: PIC32 microcontroller programing in VB.NET