Microchip Technology AC164138-1 User Manual

Page of 21
MRF89XAMxA PICtail™/PICtail
PLUS DAUGHTER BOARD 
USER’S GUIDE
© 2011 Microchip Technology Inc.
DS70653A-page  11
Chapter 2.  Getting Started
2.1
INTRODUCTION
The MRF89XAMxA PICtail/PICtail Plus Daughter Board can be plugged into multiple 
Microchip Technology demonstration and development boards. This allows the 
developer to choose the microcontroller that best suits the customer’s development 
environment.
The PICtail connector right-angle header, P2, can be plugged into the PIC18 Explorer 
Development Board (DM183032). The PICtail Plus card-edge connector, P1, can be 
plugged into Explorer 16 Development Board (DM240001).
This chapter describes how the daughter board is plugged into the PIC18 Explorer and 
Explorer 16 Development Boards.
2.2
PLUGGING INTO THE PIC18 EXPLORER BOARD
The MRF89XAMxA PICtail/PICtail Plus Daughter Board can be plugged into the PIC18 
Explorer Board PICtail connector, J3, as shown in Figure 2-1. Make sure to align pin 1 
to RE2 as shown.
2.2.1
Configuring Push Button Switch S2 to RB2/INT2
On the PIC18 Explorer Board, push button switch S2 is normally connected to I/O port 
pin RA5. RA5 is not an interrupt-on-change or external interrupt capable I/O pin. 
Jumpering JP3 with a shunt allows the connection of RA5 to RB2/INT2 to allow push 
button switch S2 to trigger an interrupt. Remember that RB2 also connects to pin 10 
(input) of U6 (RS232 level shifter), which is a Clear-to-Send (CTS) signal on P2 pin 8 
(DE9 receptacle).
CAUTION
Ensure that the PIC18F87J11 PIM is plugged into the PIC18 Explorer Board. This 
sets the system V
DD
 voltage to 3.3 volts, which is required by the MRF89XAMxA 
PICtail/PICtail Plus Daughter Board.