You, too, can have your very own vanity Arduino clone - I do


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  1. #1
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    Default You, too, can have your very own vanity Arduino clone - I do

    While exchanging emails with the Xino designer, it dawned on me that it might be easier to just design my own Arduino/Amicus18/Xino type main board.

    For READ (rapid embedded application development), I prefer ZBasic, so I broached the subject with the proprietor. He said he had no plans along that line but suggested I might make it possible to turn it into an Arduino clone as that would add to its versatility. That led me to look at the Arduino UNO for the first time yesterday afternoon and, wonder of wonders, it quickly became obvious that all I need do was adapt the UNO design to use the ZX-328n in place of the AT Mega328P used in one version of the UNO and to replace the 16MHz resonator with a 14..7456 MHz crystal and I would have a ZBasic based development environment that could make use of the myriad of shields that seem to be proliferating like rabbits on Viagra.

    Here's the result.

    To revert it to a UNO, merely reverse the process, reinstall the Arduino Mega328P, replace the crystal with a 16MHz version and redo the artwork.
    Last edited by dhouston; - 1st June 2011 at 20:07.

  2. #2
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    Default Re: You, too, can have your very own vanity Arduino clone - I do

    I'm looking into OLED screens to automatically change the artwork depending on the MCU.

  3. #3
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    Default Amicus clone

    Hello Dave,

    Why not a PIC based board ?

    With the free Proton Compiler or with MELabs PIC Basic.

    Works well.

    Gevo

    Name:  Ami18.JPG
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  4. #4
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    Default Re: Amicus clone

    Quote Originally Posted by Gevo View Post
    Why not a PIC based board ?
    There seem to be a surfeit of PIC based boards, Amicus18, XINO, the one you have referenced and, I suspect, many, many more.

    As I told Bruce Reynolds in another thread, I seldom choose PICs for anything beyond 8-pins (or an occasional 16F88) and have long preferred ZBasic for bigger projects. Anyways, at 70 years of age and in ill health (my sell by date passed about 3 years ago), I'm sort of stuck in my ways.

    I am working with XINO on their PIC, PICAXE versions and am designing some shields that can be used by all.
    Last edited by dhouston; - 1st June 2011 at 22:20.

  5. #5
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    Default Re: Amicus clone

    Quote Originally Posted by dhouston View Post
    I am working with XINO on their PIC, PICAXE versions and am designing some shields that can be used by all.
    It turns out that Xino has an even simpler way to have accomplished the same thing.

  6. #6
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    Default Re: You, too, can have your very own vanity Arduino clone - I do

    Quote Originally Posted by dhouston View Post
    That led me to look at the Arduino UNO for the first time yesterday afternoon and, wonder of wonders, it quickly became obvious that all I need do was adapt the UNO design to use the ZX-328n in place of the AT Mega328P used in one version of the UNO and to replace the 16MHz resonator with a 14..7456 MHz crystal and I would have a ZBasic based development environment that could make use of the myriad of shields that seem to be proliferating like rabbits on Viagra.
    The best laid plans of mice and men...

    It turns out that the Arduino is now on revision 2 and this one does not lend itself to my easy sex change operation - there's no way to install a crystal without major surgery. Had I known then what I know now, I would have ordered the Arduino Duemilanove which does have a through-hole crystal as well as a socketed Mega328P.
    Last edited by dhouston; - 5th June 2011 at 02:17.

  7. #7
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    Default Re: You, too, can have your very own vanity Arduino clone - I do

    If I correctly understand the Arduino Duemilanove schematic, merely removing the fuse in the USB 5V line means Vin will be 5V or 3V3 depending on which SMPS is plugged in and a jumper from Vin to the 3V3 pad makes it a 3V3 system. This also works for the UNO but it is impractical to replace the 16MHz resonator on the UNO R2. I'll need to use either 14.7 or 7.4 crystals depending on Vin. The Mega328P can run on even lower voltage than 3V3 but lower voltage requires a slower clock to reduce the current draw. I'll write up an AppNote for the ZBasic website explaining this hack. This is only applicable for those who want to use ZBasic for rapid development or who merely need to be able to choose 5V or 3V3 to match system voltage with various shields. It should be easily reversed by reinstalling the fuse and plugging in a 16MHz crystal.
    Last edited by dhouston; - 7th June 2011 at 05:32.

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