Category Archives: PIC18

Building a Simple RFID Door Access Controller

Posted on August 11, 2021 by Glen

In this project, I build what is quite possibly the world’s simplest (and least intelligent) door access controller to let me open and close my garage door using my mountain bike helmet. We’ll take a look at my motivation for … Continue reading →

Posted in Microchip, PIC18, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Building a Simple RFID Door Access Controller

PoE-Powered RGB LED Floodlight

Posted on February 2, 2020 by Glen

This project uses a Silvertel 802.3at Ag5300 PoE+ module with a built-in isolated 24 V DC/DC converter to power a 10 W ColorKinetics ColorBurst 4 RGB LED floodlight. The Ethernet cable and light plug into a small power / control board and PoE+ powers the floodlight and Art-Net UDP packets control the light. Continue reading →

Posted in DMX / Art-Net, Ethernet, Lighting, Microchip, PIC18, Power over Ethernet (PoE), RGB LED | Comments Off on PoE-Powered RGB LED Floodlight

PoE-Powered VFD Tube Clock

Posted on January 25, 2020 by Glen

This is a vintage VFD tube clock that uses Ethernet for both power and data. The power is provided using 802.3at PoE+ and a Molex PD Jack that contains both integrated magnetics and a PoE Type 2 PD controller. The IP stack runs on a Microchip PIC18F67J60 microcontroller that has an integrated Ethernet MAC and PHY. The IP stack includes DHCP, DNS, NTP, and LLDP functionality. Continue reading →

Posted in Ethernet, Microchip, PIC18, Power over Ethernet (PoE) | Comments Off on PoE-Powered VFD Tube Clock

It’s an Ethernet-Powered Christmas Tree!

Posted on December 29, 2019 by Glen

The lighted tree in the video above gets both the power and data for its RGB LED pixels using a single Ethernet cable. Power for the pixels is supplied from an Ethernet switch using the 802.3at PoE+ standard. Data for … Continue reading →

Posted in DMX / Art-Net, Ethernet, Lighting, Microchip, PIC18, Power over Ethernet (PoE), RGB LED | Comments Off on It’s an Ethernet-Powered Christmas Tree!

PIC16F1459 USB Volume Knob

Posted on October 14, 2019 by Glen

The PIC16F1459 is proving to be quite the versatile part when it comes to building USB devices. Previously, I’ve used it to upgrade my giant keyboard, various flavors of one-key keyboards, a USB-controlled industrial stack light, and an annoying CAPS … Continue reading →

Posted in 3D Printing, Microchip, PIC18, USB, USB Human Interface Device (HID) | Comments Off on PIC16F1459 USB Volume Knob

Updates to the Annoying CAPS LOCK Warning Buzzer

Posted on September 30, 2019 by Glen

In my first post on the Annoying CAPS LOCK Warning Buzzer, I concluded with a list of future improvements to make to the project. Those updates are now implemented and the Annoying CAPS LOCK Warning Buzzer is more robust than … Continue reading →

Posted in 3D Printing, Microchip, PIC18, USB, USB Human Interface Device (HID) | Comments Off on Updates to the Annoying CAPS LOCK Warning Buzzer

The Annoying CAPS LOCK Warning Buzzer

Posted on September 15, 2019 by Glen

The only way to make CAPS LOCK even more annoying was to make it audible! Now never type a password in all upper case, join 500 lines together in vi, or turn a harmless forum post into an ANGRY SCREED … Continue reading →

Posted in 3D Printing, Microchip, PIC18, USB, USB Human Interface Device (HID) | Comments Off on The Annoying CAPS LOCK Warning Buzzer

PIC16F1459 USB Stack Light Controller

Posted on April 14, 2019 by Glen

After using the PIC16F1459 to build numerous USB HID input devices including a giant keyboard, a tiny keyboard, and a big red button, it was time to see if the PIC16F1459 could be used to control outputs too. Sticking with … Continue reading →

Posted in 3D Printing, Microchip, PIC18, USB | Comments Off on PIC16F1459 USB Stack Light Controller

Piggybacking USB onto an Industrial Push Button

Posted on March 13, 2019 by Glen

In this project, I mount the electronics from my single-key USB keyboard project to the back of an industrial mushroom push button switch. The finished big red button now activates my screensaver with a single overly-large button press. The biggest … Continue reading →

Posted in 3D Printing, Microchip, PIC18, USB, USB Human Interface Device (HID) | Comments Off on Piggybacking USB onto an Industrial Push Button

Presenting the Single ESC Key USB Keyboard!

Posted on May 15, 2018 by Glen

After building the “awesomely impractical” giant three-key keyboard, I decided it was time to build something a bit more practical—presenting the single ESC key USB keyboard! This keyboard has exactly one function which is to provide an optimal ESCing experience … Continue reading →

Posted in 3D Printing, Microchip, PIC18, USB, USB Human Interface Device (HID) | Comments Off on Presenting the Single ESC Key USB Keyboard!