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Atmega*8 Breadboard Backpack

Instant ICSP/FTDI headers that fit over your Atmega*8 on the breadboard.

jeremyJeremy
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I got tired of using jumpers to break out the ICSP pins for programming and the TX/RX pins for debugging. It took up precious space on my breadboard and made the whole thing messier.

So I made a little breakout board that conveniently fits right over my Atmega*8 (168, 328) chips. When I'm done programming, all that's left is the main circuit with none of the extra crap.

The initial prototype just broke out the ICSP header block. The new version has headers for an FTDI cable, indicator LEDs and a reset button!

You can order the PCB directly from OSH Park:
https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/lBRCfenD

Or, get the source on Upverter:
https://upverter.com/jgillick/527ff61e154cbb83/Atmega8-Programing-Backpack-13/

You can create a homemade version with any perf board and a few headers (see steps below) or you can make the advanced version with the PCB and gerber files from my upverter page. Or you can order the board directly from my project files on OSH Park.

  • 1 × Atmega The thing you want to program
  • 1 × Perf board
  • 1 × 2x3 Male Header Block (ICSP) Preferably shrouded, to prevent plugging the cable in backwards
  • 1 × 1x6 Male Header Strip (FTDI) For the FTDI
  • 1 × Breakaway Header Pins For the legs

  • Rev 1.3 is Here!

    Jeremy • 11/19/2015 at 08:33 • 1 comment

    The latest version of the board just came in from OSH Park and it works perfectly! What's new in this version? A few things...

    I've added two new LEDs for MOSI and MIS (be sure to read the IMPORTANT NOTE at the end of this post). These serve a dual purpose: First, they'll flash during programming, so you know the programmer is working. Then, you can control them directly with PB3 and PB4. This is good if you need quick debugging LEDs.

    At the smaller end, there was some basic housekeeping. I updated the reset button to a new lower profile tactile. The layout is more compact and I updated the silkscreen on the programming header, so that it's obvious which way to install it.

    Since ordering the boards I have also added some rounded corners for some final polish.

    Links:

    IMPORTANT NOTE:

    The symbol on the bottom of the power LED and the MOSI/MISO LEDs is opposite (weird, right?). Be sure to check the datasheet. On the board the dots for the LEDs represent the cathode.

  • Fresh PCB and new design

    Jeremy • 11/03/2015 at 00:21 • 1 comment

    I finally received the PCBs from OSH Park and they worked great right out of the gate. I tried round machine pins, instead of the usual break away headers, and found they felt much better when plugging the backpack in. Pictures and more info after the break.

    Read more »

View all 2 project logs

  • 1
    Step 1

    This is instructions for building just the ICSP version of the backpack. Adding the FTDI section is very similar.

  • 2
    Step 2

    Cut a perf board down to at least 6x13. You want it 2 holes wider than the atmega footprint, so the male breakaway header "legs" will straddle the chip.

  • 3
    Step 3

    Figure out how you're going to wire up your 2x3 header block to the legs. Basically just connect everything together. MISO to MISO, VCC to VCC, etc.

View all 6 instructions

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Discussions

Irish wrote 11/09/2015 at 14:27 • point

Great idea and implimentation.

  Are you sure? yes | no

Steve Smith wrote 10/19/2015 at 10:53 • point

Good job!

  Are you sure? yes | no

danjovic wrote 10/18/2015 at 11:53 • point

Wonderful, pal!

If you build a version with pins 300 mils wide, you can use it after the microcontroller is installed on the PCB (for instance, to make a firmware upgrade)

  Are you sure? yes | no

Jeremy wrote 10/19/2015 at 05:31 • point

Nice. That's a good idea.

  Are you sure? yes | no

Eric Hertz wrote 10/17/2015 at 14:09 • point

was just working on the same problem, myself. This is a good implementation.

  Are you sure? yes | no

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