Which pic? up to date basic chip for 16f877

[tasmod]

Collective wisdom required.

OK so for years it's been the 16f84, the 16f88 and 16f628 with 16f877 as 40 pin device.

What is a more up to date basic chip replacement for those, and for the 16f877 with internal osc option, adc's etc. In particular the internal osc option for a non critical timing app.

I've tried the Microchip site but what a minefield that is to me.

Any suggestions?

[mackrackit]

I like the 18F4550.

[c_moore]

It really depends or what you want to do really. You may not need all the features of some pics(TM). IF I need to do some testing and need to print to a lcd I use a 16F877a as its easy to set up and use.

[Jumper]

PIC18F4620 is a drop in replacable for the 877 but also have a look at the 18F46K20 since it is cheaper but it is a 3.3V device.

[Acetronics2]

may be this one would be really nice ???

http://www.mikroe.com/eng/products/v...mini-32-board/

Oh ... PBP Xtra still do not support 16 and 32 bits ???

Poor me !

Alain

[tasmod]

Hmm, thanks for the suggestions.

Although, even on ebay the chips are relatively expensive. The cost of the chip is more than the rest of the components in the project !

3 volt operation is no problem but I do need internal oscillator option and more I/O pins. Whereas the 877 and 877a don't offer the int osc option.

It's not really a problem of code requirements more a problem of spurious rf, even when the crystal is mounted up close to the chip. I've tried the 628 in a similar design pcb as I want to use, this with internal osc and it is rf quiet. However external xtal on an 877 does generate more rf hash locally.

Not very scientifically tested I'm sure but easily noticeable even with rf design techniques.

For what I want to achieve I suppose I might as well go to two 628's rather than a single 40 pin device for cheapness. I just thought that there was a more modern version, without a cost penalty.

The 4550 and 4620 both look attractive devices.

[Jumper]

If you want low cost and internal osc you really should look into the 18F46K20 since it is much cheaper than the others and still have internal osc.

A quick search on Microchip direkt shows that the 628A is around 2 USD and the 18F46K20 less than 3 usd..

[Acetronics2]

Being serious ...

Why not consider the 16F887 ??? ... just intended to be the 877 successor ...

and overall much cheaper than the 877 !!!

Add to that ... OSCTUNE command to precisely trim your INTOSC ... he,he ...

Alain

[Darrel Taylor]

It is my personal opinion that everyone should stop using the OLD 16F's completely.
If you've already designed something with them, they will be available for a long time, so keep building those products with the old stuff.

But if you liked the 16F's, and are designing something new, move up to the 16F1 (enhanced core) devices.
They are so much better than the OLD stuff.

To replace a 16F877A, use a 16F1937.

32Mhz Internal oscillator
16 Level Stack
16 channel Capacitive touch sensing module
Integrated LCD controller
5 CCP modules
5 Timers
A built in 555
All the normal stuff too ... EUSART, MSSP, Comparators, ADC etc.

[tasmod]

Wow, thanks Darrel that chip looks exciting.

So many possibilities.

Rob

[Archangel]

Although, even on ebay the chips are relatively expensive. The cost of the chip is more than the rest of the components in the project !

Rob

Wow, what's 1/2 million transistors worth compared to a few peripheral components? I think given the complexity of the PIC it's cheap relative to the rest of the circuit. Just my opinion though.

[mister_e]

I'm always surprised how cheap these things are now....1/2 to 1/4 the price

[tasmod]

Thanks all,

I've ordered both chips, 887 and 1937.

For those that thought I was being mean, I've ordered so many small amount parts recently that it was brought to my attention by my wife just how much I had spent in total ! Besides, I'm on a pensioners budget.