Your opinion on chips on adapter boards - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: technix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2016, 04:28:34 pm
content: I fitted a STM32F103CBT6 and a PIC24FV32KA304 on passive adapter boards (in 0.6in DIP format, DIP-44 for PIC24 and DIP-48 for STM32.) Is that a good idea for experiments, or is it a better idea to roll with something like the Arduino-compatible board?

author: MattHollands
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2016, 04:36:34 pm
content: Quote from: technix on December 24, 2016, 04:28:34 pmI think it depends. In general I don't have an issue with using adapter boards, unless your application requires high speed signal integrity, impedance matching etc.If you want to experiment with a specific PIC/STM32 chip then an adapter board is a good way to go. But if you just want to experiment with the PIC/STM32 environment in general then you may be better off buying a dev board to play with.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2016, 04:43:41 pm
content: I have used adapters for a number of projects but or uCs I tend to buy boards with a 'stamp' for factor for breadboarding. Like this:https://www.adafruit.com/products/1086There is nothing wrong with just using a Uno except the jumper wires will be a little longer.I have several of the Arduinos laying around. There's nothing faster for setting up demo programs.

author: DaJMasta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2016, 06:43:43 pm
content: Adapter boards are great for prototyping with the hardware you expect to be using, but there are a lot of disadvantages. Of course, the usual breadboard related performance ones, but if it's a micro or similar, you also get less protection on the inputs, no onboard regulation, no bypassing, no free crystal, etc. - so it means you have to add in a lot yourself.However, if you're trying to figure out if the circuit you're going to build into a PCB is going to work, it's great to have the adapter to make sure the bare chip works in your design, or to test out general performance of a chip that doesn't come in a DIP package.

author: calexanian
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2016, 06:45:26 pm
content: I see no problem as long as you are running at lower speeds. Say 16 MHz and below and timing are not critical as mentioned before.I am all for it, especially if you are using assembly to programm it. Otherwise just slap down a cheap arduino and go to town.

author: danadak
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2016, 11:59:31 pm
content: Cypress makes a series of chips with a lot of mixed signal content, as well as8051 or ARM core processor. Additionally a logic fabric where you can use manyGUI logic elements, everything from gates to counters, PWM...... The low end has anarduino compatible board as well. And its routable, components to pins.For me what stands out is -1) Routability2) Fast 12 bit SAR A/D and slow 20 bit DelSig3) DFB (Digital Filter Block) that is dual channel, handle FIR or IIR filters, or DFBcan be used as a GP fast processor block, similar to RISC block4) MSI logic elements GUI based and/or the UDB Verilog capability. Eg. the FPGAlike capability5) Onboard Vref6) IDAC, VDAC, OpAmps (up to 4), comparator, mixer, switch cap, analog mux....7) LCD, COM, UART, I2C, I2S, One Wire, SPI, Parallel, LIN, CAN, BLE, USB9) Custom components capability, create with schematic capture or Verilog10) DMA to offload processes like filters, COM, Display11) ARM M0 (PSOC 4) or M3 (PSOC 5LP) or 8051 core(PSOC 3)12) Extensive clock generation capabilities13) All components supported by extensive prewritten APIshttps://www.element14.com/community/thread/23736/l/100-projects-in-100-days?displayFullThread=truehttp://www.cypress.com/documentation/code-examples/psoc-345-code-examplesGreat video libraryAttached component list. A component is an on chip HW resource.Free GUI design tool with schematic capture, "Creator". Components have rich API library attachedto each component. Compilers free as well.PSOC 4 is low end of family, consider 5LP parts as well. PSOC 4 also has arduino footprint boards (pioneer) as wellhttps://www.elektormagazine.com/labs/robot-build-with-cypress-psochttp://www.cypress.com/products/32-bit-arm-cortex-m-psocRegards, Dana.

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 12:30:58 am
content: I use them every day for prototyping, I made up three just today, two 80 pin 0.5mm pitch and one 100 pin 0.4mm pitch.Occasionally I do lowish pin count WLCSP and BGA, here's a 20 pin 0.5mm pitch WLCSP I did a week or so ago:https://youtu.be/e9mdGqu1aZ0Edit to add...o I often decouple directly on the adapter board itself. Note Vcap on some PIC24s and the low ESR 10uF requirement.o High resolution ADC acquisition, forget it!o Sometimes I solder crystals directly on the adapter board if I'm having difficulty making them work to reduce parasitics.

author: JoeN
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 05:24:14 am
content: Quote from: Howardlong on December 25, 2016, 12:30:58 amBrilliant. I have to give that a try sometime but I think I would attack it with hot air first and see if that works for me. What gauge is that wire? I have 30 gauge for wire wrapping that I think would be more convenient than enameled wire (once the insulation is removed, of course). Or is that too large? A good way to get extremely fine wire is to open up a length of stranded wire and take just one strand. I don't know how long that might resist corrosion in open air, though.

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 08:45:29 am
content: Quote from: JoeN on December 25, 2016, 05:24:14 amIt's called Verowire and there's a specsheet for it here, page 4 section 3https://www.rapidonline.com/pdf/532630_an_en_01.pdfI used to wire up whole boards with it carrying dozens and dozens of chips back in the 70s, 80s and 90s before microcontrollers became so prevalent, and it was microprocessors with parallel attached ROM and RAM with glue logic and external peripheral chips.It's 0.15mm polyurethane coated wire. The insulation is designed to come off when soldered, but you need good ventilation as the fumes apparently aren't good for you. Nobody told me that back then though, so that might explain a few things!

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 01:48:50 pm
content: Quote from: MattHollands on December 24, 2016, 04:36:34 pmWith the proper layout, even a DIP adapter board can handle high speed signals. Decoupling needs to be done on the adapter board and immediately outside of it and fast signals need to be routed adjacent to ground or power connections for controlled impedance through the DIP connector. Even better is to keep all or at least a majority of the high speed signals on the adapter board.

author: technix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2016, 02:21:46 pm
content: Quote from: David Hess on December 25, 2016, 01:48:50 pmI had a USB 2.0 Hub chip on TSSOP28 to DIP adapter and it worked with my platform at 480Mbps...