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Propeller Activity Board WX (#32912)

The Propeller Activity Board WX features the 8-core Propeller

microcontroller pre-wired to a host of popular peripherals for

fast and fun experiments.

Learn or teach the basics of electronics, programming, and

robotics with this versatile board. Explore our free web tutorials

for graphical BlocklyProp code-building or text-based C-

language programming at learn.parallax.com.

The WX version of the Propeller Activity Board expands upon

the functionality of the original (#32910). There’s more current

for your projects with independent 1.8 amp 3.3 V and 5 V

switching regulators, an upgrade from audio-out-only to a Mini

TRRS audio/video (or audio/mic) jack, and selectable wireless

socket/USB communication between host computer and the

Propeller chip (RF module not included!)

Features

• Built-in 8-core Propeller P8X32A microcontroller, 64 KB EEPROM, and 5 MHz crystal oscillator

• Solder-free prototyping with breadboard and header sockets for power and I/O

• Six servo/sensor ports with power-select jumpers

• Automatically selects between USB and external power sources and provides USB over-current

protection

• Center-positive 2.1 mm barrel jack for external power supplies

• Convenient reset button and 3-position power switch

• Onboard mini stereo-audio jack with microphone/video pass-through

• Built-in microSD card slot for data logging or storing WAV files

• Wireless Module socket accepts RF modules to simplify remote management

• Dedicated analog header sockets provide four A/D 12-bit inputs and two buffered variable-

resolution D/A outputs

• Indicator lights show the status of system power, servo power, programming source, DAC output

levels, wireless communication activity, and USB communication activity

• 3.3 V and 5 V switching voltage regulators with independent 1.8 amp outputs

Key Specifications

• Power requirements:

o Rev A: 6–15 VDC from an external power supply, or 5 V from a USB port

o Rev B: 6–24 VDC from an external power supply, or 5 V from a USB port

• Communication: USB mini-B (onboard serial over USB)

• Dimensions: 4.0 x 3.05 x 0.625 in (10.16 x 7.75 x 1.59 cm)

• Operating temp range: +32 to +158 °F (0 to +70 °C)

Summary of content (8 pages)

PAGE 1
Web Site: www.parallax.com Forums: forums.parallax.com Sales: sales@parallax.com Technical: support@parallax.com Office: (916) 624-8333 Fax: (916) 624-8003 Sales: (888) 512-1024 Tech Support: (888) 997-8267 Propeller Activity Board WX (#32912) The Propeller Activity Board WX features the 8-core Propeller microcontroller pre-wired to a host of popular peripherals for fast and fun experiments. Learn or teach the basics of electronics, programming, and robotics with this versatile board.
PAGE 2
Board Features – Rev B (See version 1.0 of this document for a labeled Rev A diagram and features.) 1) Propeller Multicore Microcontroller System • • • 64 Kilobyte I2C EEPROM for program and data storage 8 core Propeller P8X32A microcontroller 5 MHz crystal oscillator The P8X32A microcontroller has 8 cores, so it can do many different things at the same time. It uses I/O pins P28 and P29 to communicate with the I2C EEPROM for program and data storage.
PAGE 3
4) Servo Headers The servo ports connect servos and other 3-pin devices to Propeller I/O pins, labeled above each port. Labels indicating the GND (ground) and PWR (power) pins for each port are along the right. Each pair of servo ports has a jumper on power-select pins to its immediate left. When the power switch is in the '0' or '1' position, or the port’s power-select jumper is removed, the port will not provide power.
PAGE 4
8) D/A Activity Lights These yellow LEDs give a visual indicator of the output voltage at D/A sockets 0 and 1. They also indicate activity on the stereo output jack. The LEDs will vary in brightness with duty modulated digital to analog signals. 9) Analog/Digital Converter Use the Analog to Digital Converter to monitor the voltage at analog inputs A/D 0, 1, 2, and 3. It will give a number from 0 to 4095, which tells what the voltage is in a range from 0 to 5 volts.
PAGE 5
The AUX socket connects to the Audio/Video jack’s sleeve connection. This connection can be monitored for mic output from common cell phone earbuds, or transmit composite video from the breadboard to a TRRS connector to an RCA adapter’s video channel. See 14) Audio/Video Jack, p. 5 for more information.
PAGE 6
When the Propeller microcontroller is transmitting data, but the USB host is not processing it, the red RX←P31 LED may remain unlit. 17) Wireless Activity Lights These DO/DI/ASSOC Wireless Activity LEDs give a visual indicator the state of the module connected to the wireless programming and communications socket.
PAGE 7
20) Programming Selector Indicator LEDs The Propeller Activity Board WX has two available programming sources: the USB port and the wireless communication module socket. The programming selection indicator LEDs light to indicate which communication source has been selected for programming and bidirectional serial communication with the host computer (wireless or USB). For information about selecting the programming source, see 11) WX Wireless Access & Communication Header, p. 4, and 15) USB Port, p. 5.
PAGE 8
Dimensions Resources and Downloads Propeller Activity Board WX product page: go to www.parallax.com and search “32912”. Online tutorials: • C language: http://learn.parallax.com/propeller-c-tutorials • BlocklyProp language: http://learn.parallax.com/tutorials/language/blocklyprop • ActivityBot robot: http://learn.parallax.com/tutorials/activitybot Revision History Updated throughout for hardware Rev B (increased input voltage range and updated wireless communication and programming functionality.