ZarDynamic PIC Boards Catalogue - The Debug Store UK

ZarDynamix

ZarDynamix offers Microchip PIC Embedded Design tools for the hobbyist and professional. The products are quality manufactured and designed with the intention of enabling system design that is easy and effective. The...

More about ZarDynamix

ZarDynamix offers Microchip PIC Embedded Design tools for the hobbyist and professional. The products are quality manufactured and designed with the intention of enabling system design that is easy and effective.

The ProtoPro Series of products is designed to develop new products and systems rapidly. The system includes the most common and useful tracked in circuitry that enables the developer to focus on writing the application rather than be sidetracked by hardware issues.

ZarDynamix: PIC prototyping boards for 8-bit PIC development

ZarDynamix is a South African maker of PIC development and prototyping boards for Microchip 8-bit PIC microcontrollers. The range in this catalogue is the ProtoPro bare and assembled prototyping boards for 18, 20, 28 and 40-pin PICs, and the ProtoDev-DX development board for PIC16Fxx and PIC18Fxx devices, which adds ICSP programming, a USB-to-serial link, switches and LEDs. ZarDynamix describes itself as a source of PIC development products for the professional hobbyist.

How a ZarDynamix PIC board fits into a development setup

You write and build the firmware in Microchip's MPLAB X IDE with an MPLAB XC8 compiler, then programme the PIC in-circuit through an ICSP programmer connected to the board. The ProtoDev-DX is supplied assembled with the programming header, two LEDs, two push buttons, a reset button, a watch crystal and an FTDI USB-to-serial link already fitted. The PIC itself is sold separately.

Build in MPLAB X, programme through ICSP, then exercise the PIC with the on-board switches, LEDs and serial link.

What ICSP programming needs from the board

In-circuit serial programming (ICSP) lets you load firmware into a PIC that is already soldered into its board, using five signals: MCLR/VPP, VDD, VSS, PGD and PGC. A PICkit-style programmer presents them on a 6-pin connector, with pin 1 as MCLR/VPP and pin 6 not used for programming. The ProtoDev-DX is described as programmable through an ICSP or ICD compatible socket or header, so no PIC removal is needed between builds.

Five wires carry everything ICSP needs: reset and programming voltage, supply, ground, data and clock.

ZarDynamix PIC boards at a glance

Model	Target PIC	Supplied with	Notes
ProtoDev-DX-ASY	28 and 40-pin DIP PIC16Fxx and PIC18Fxx, F and J types	Assembled board, PIC sold separately	ICSP/ICD header, 3.3 V and 5 V supplies, FTDI USB serial, 2 push buttons, 2 LEDs, reset, watch crystal, prototyping area
ProtoPro-18-ASY	18-pin PIC	Assembled; 16F627 may be fitted as an option	100 mm x 80 mm board
ProtoPro-20-ASY	8, 14 and 20-pin PIC	Assembled with PIC16F690	100 mm x 80 mm board
ProtoPro-28-ASY	28-pin PIC	Assembled with PIC16F882	100 mm x 80 mm board
ProtoPro-40-ASY	40-pin PIC	Assembled; see product page for the fitted PIC	100 mm x 80 mm board

Each ProtoPro size is also sold as an unpopulated board: ProtoPro-18 Bare, ProtoPro-20 Bare, ProtoPro-28 Bare and ProtoPro-40 Bare. Bare and assembled ProtoPro boards are silk-screened, tin immersed and through-hole plated, and quantity discounts are available.

Key specifications

Target devices: Microchip 8-bit PIC16Fxx and PIC18Fxx; ProtoPro boards are sized by pin count (18, 20, 28 and 40).
Programming: ICSP or ICD compatible socket or header on the ProtoDev-DX.
Power: two supplies (3.3 V and 5 V DC) on the ProtoDev-DX, which can be run from a standard AC to DC wall adapter.
PC link: FTDI USB-to-RS232 emulation through a mini USB connector on the ProtoDev-DX.
User I/O: reset button, two push-button switches and two LEDs, with all PIC I/O tracked to a labelled connector strip beside the prototyping area.
Timing: watch crystal fitted for additional timing applications.
Board size: 100 mm x 80 mm for the ProtoPro range.

Software and tools

Microchip's MPLAB X IDE is free to download and runs on Windows, macOS and Linux; the MPLAB XC8 compiler builds C for 8-bit PIC devices. You also need an ICSP programmer such as a PICkit. Programmers are not part of this collection; ask our engineers if you need one.

Typical applications

Proof-of-concept designs, adding parts such as an LCD display or an LM35 temperature sensor in the ProtoDev-DX prototyping area
Learning PIC programming with switches, LEDs and a serial link already on the board
Building a small permanent circuit around a PIC16F690 or PIC16F882 on a ProtoPro-20-ASY or ProtoPro-28-ASY
Low-volume builds on bare ProtoPro boards, with quantity discounts

Frequently asked questions

Which PIC families does the ProtoDev-DX support?

The ProtoDev-DX supports standard F and J type PIC devices in the PIC16Fxx and PIC18Fxx families. The PIC is not supplied, so choose a device that suits your project.

How do I programme a ZarDynamix board?

The ProtoDev-DX has an ICSP and ICD compatible header, so you connect an ICSP programmer such as a PICkit and download from MPLAB X. Check the programmer's documentation for supply voltage and pin order.

What is the difference between ASY and Bare ProtoPro boards?

ASY boards are supplied assembled, some with a PIC fitted, for example the ProtoPro-28-ASY with a PIC16F882. Bare boards, such as the ProtoPro-28 Bare, are unpopulated.

Which ProtoPro size do I need?

Match the board to your PIC's pin count: the ProtoPro-20 for 8, 14 and 20-pin devices, the ProtoPro-28 for 28-pin devices and the ProtoPro-40 for 40-pin devices. The ProtoPro-18 is the 18-pin version.

Can I talk to the PIC from a PC?

Yes, on the ProtoDev-DX. It has FTDI USB-to-RS232 emulation through a mini USB connector, so a terminal program on the PC can exchange serial data with the PIC.

Are these boards in stock?

Stock is limited. The product pages state that once current stock is sold the products will no longer be available, so check the product page for current availability.

Source: ZarDynamix product documentation and Microchip MPLAB documentation. Need help choosing a model? Ask our engineers.

ZarDynamix ProtoDev-DX-ASY Prototyping Board

ZarDynamix ProtoDev-DX-ASY Prototyping Board

Vendor:
ZarDynamix

No reviews

Regular price
€24,95 inc VAT

€20,95 exc VAT

€20,95 EUR exc tax

Regular price Sale price
€24,95 inc VAT

€20,95 exc VAT

€20,95 EUR exc tax

Unit price per
ZarDynamix ProtoPro-18 Bare Prototyping Board

ZarDynamix ProtoPro-18 Bare Prototyping Board

Vendor:
ZarDynamix

No reviews

Regular price
€24,95 inc VAT

€20,95 exc VAT

€20,95 EUR exc tax

Regular price Sale price
€24,95 inc VAT

€20,95 exc VAT

€20,95 EUR exc tax

Unit price per
ZarDynamix ProtoPro-18-ASY Prototyping Board

ZarDynamix ProtoPro-18-ASY Prototyping Board

Vendor:
ZarDynamix

No reviews

Regular price
€46,55 inc VAT

€38,95 exc VAT

€38,95 EUR exc tax

Regular price Sale price
€46,55 inc VAT

€38,95 exc VAT

€38,95 EUR exc tax

Unit price per
ZarDynamix ProtoPro-20 Bare Prototyping Board

ZarDynamix ProtoPro-20 Bare Prototyping Board

Vendor:
ZarDynamix

No reviews

Regular price
€5,75 inc VAT

€4,95 exc VAT

€4,95 EUR exc tax

Regular price Sale price
€5,75 inc VAT

€4,95 exc VAT

€4,95 EUR exc tax

Unit price per
ZarDynamix ProtoPro-20-ASY Prototyping Board

ZarDynamix ProtoPro-20-ASY Prototyping Board

Vendor:
ZarDynamix

No reviews

Regular price
€24,95 inc VAT

€20,95 exc VAT

€20,95 EUR exc tax

Regular price Sale price
€24,95 inc VAT

€20,95 exc VAT

€20,95 EUR exc tax

Unit price per
ZarDynamix ProtoPro-28 Bare Prototyping Board

ZarDynamix ProtoPro-28 Bare Prototyping Board

Vendor:
ZarDynamix

No reviews

Regular price
€24,95 inc VAT

€20,95 exc VAT

€20,95 EUR exc tax

Regular price Sale price
€24,95 inc VAT

€20,95 exc VAT

€20,95 EUR exc tax

Unit price per
ZarDynamix ProtoPro-28-ASY Prototyping Board

ZarDynamix ProtoPro-28-ASY Prototyping Board

Vendor:
ZarDynamix

No reviews

Regular price
€24,95 inc VAT

€20,95 exc VAT

€20,95 EUR exc tax

Regular price Sale price
€24,95 inc VAT

€20,95 exc VAT

€20,95 EUR exc tax

Unit price per
ZarDynamix ProtoPro-40 Bare Prototyping Board

ZarDynamix ProtoPro-40 Bare Prototyping Board

Vendor:
ZarDynamix

No reviews

Regular price
€8,15 inc VAT

€6,95 exc VAT

€6,95 EUR exc tax

Regular price Sale price
€8,15 inc VAT

€6,95 exc VAT

€6,95 EUR exc tax

Unit price per
ZarDynamix ProtoPro-40-ASY Prototyping Board

ZarDynamix ProtoPro-40-ASY Prototyping Board

Vendor:
ZarDynamix

No reviews

Regular price
€24,95 inc VAT

€20,95 exc VAT

€20,95 EUR exc tax

Regular price Sale price
€24,95 inc VAT

€20,95 exc VAT

€20,95 EUR exc tax

Unit price per