Whats After Programming ???

[Togo5]

hi guys im abit confused about something... this sounds really stupid!

i have chosen to use a K8048 PIC Microcontroller Programmer Kit, after i have programmed the chip what do i do next

do i build a board around the chip with all the other neccessary components?

if so, can i jus use a normal breadborad, will that still work..?

please help me if you can im really stuck!! 

Thanks in advance guys!

[Kohanbash]

yes you need to build a board around how you programed the chip ( or build a generic board and program around the board). For quick and dirty things you can use a bread board but you risk wires falling out, etc...

[Hal9000]

One word of advice.

Microcontrollers are often more tempremental than normal circuits..........but as long as you do the right stuff in the right way, you shouldn't have any problems.

[Togo5]

okay thanks.

just one more question, do all the components and chip have to be placed in a certain order for it to work ??

And if so, how do you know where to put each component as every circuit will be different ??

[Kohanbash]

When you program the chip you tell it which pins are input and which are output, you also tell it which pins are being used for what. When creating each circuit you need to figure out the best configuration to use so that you can keep your existing circuit or modify as little as possible.

[mpthompson]

if so, can i jus use a normal breadborad, will that still work..?

You can indeed use a normal breadboard to build a fairly simple PIC based robot.  You can check out the ProtoBot Amoeba here.  As was mentioned above such a robot might suffer wires falling out, but you get to learn hardware dubugging as an extra bonus.   Actually, I think such a robot could be a good next step for someone comfortable wiring components on a breadboard, but not quite ready to tackle PCBs, mechanics other things associated with more complex 'bots.

-Mike