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PICAXE Birthday Box Tutorial
Become an Embedded Systems Programmer a step at a time

		Contents Configuring the Software Connecting the PICAXE Birthday Box Launching the Programming Editor Setting the PICAXE Type Setting the Serial Port Setting the Other Options Checking the Configuration If Configuration Fails Your First Program The Piezo Sounder The LED Turning the Red LED On Turning the Red LED Off Turning the Green LED On Turning the Green LED Off Flashing the Red LED Flashing the Green LED Alternating between the Red and Green LED Turning Both LED's On Together Turning Both LED's Off Fading the Red LED Up Fading the Red LED Down Fading the Red LED Up and Down Fading the Green LED Up Fading the Green LED Down Fading the Green LED Up and Down Serial Communications The Temperature Sensor The Tilt Sensor Configuring the Software Connecting the PICAXE Birthday Box Make sure that the PICAXE Birthday Box contains a battery that is fully functional and capable of powering the unit. If the PICAXE Birthday Box has been pre-programmed and that programs runs when it is turned on, the battery should normally be okay to use. Connect the serial cable to the PICAXE Birthday Box with the other end connected to one of your PC's serial ports. Turn the PICAXE Birthday Box on by pressing the red button so it is held in a depressed position. If the unit has already been programmed, it will begin to execute its program. You can either wait for the program to complete or begin to configure the PICAXE Programming Software immediately. Launching the Programming Editor Locate the PICAXE Programming Editor Icon on your desktop and double-left-click to lauch it, or select the application through the Windows Start Menu. The Programming Editor should launch, and display a Splash Screen ... The Splash Screen will disappear after a few seconds, but can be dismissed early by by left-clicking within it. If a large "Options" pop-up appears, untick the "Show Options at Startup" checkbox, and left-click the Okay button. Setting the PICAXE Type Use the View -> Options Menu to bring up the configuration menu. If your PICAXE Birthday Box has a PICAXE-08 installed, select the PICAXE-08 option. If it has a PICAXE-08M installed, select the PICAXE-08M Option, and select 4MHz operation. If you are not sure, select PICAXE-08; the Programming Editor will indicate when you have selected the correct PICAXE later ... When you have made your selection, make sure that the "Show Options on Startup" checkbox is not ticked, and left-click the Okay button. Setting the Serial Port Use the View -> Options Menu to bring up the Configuration Menu. Click on the Serial Port tab to select the options for Serial Port Configuration. Select the serial port you have connected your PICAXE Birthday Box to. If you are not sure, select COM1; the Programming Editor will indicate when you have selected the correct serial port later ... When you have made your selection, left-click the Okay button. Make sure that no other applications, especially those which are active or are running in the System Tray are trying to use the serial port you have connected the PICAXE Birthday Box to. If a PDA 'hot-sync' program, MP3 downloader or other program has already gained access to the serial port, the PICAXE Programming Editor will not be able to use it. If the serial port you wish to use is not shown as available, it is likely that some other program has allocated the serial port for its own use. Setting the Other Options Use the View -> Options Menu to bring up the Configuration Menu. Click on the Options tab to select the options for the Programming Editor Configuration. make sure that the "Text..." option is set to "ASCII" and that the "Serial Terminal" checkbox is not ticked ... When you have checked the selections, left-click the Okay button. Checking the Configuration Use the PICAXE -> Clear Hardware Memory Menu Option to initialise the PICAXE within your PICAXE Birthday Box. This will also check that you have selected the correct PICAXE and serial port. There will be a short delay while the hardware settings chosen are checked ... Assuming you have connected the PICAXE Birthday Box to the PC and have turned it on; if you have not selected the correct serial port you will be presented with a "Hardware not found" error message ... Left-Click the Okay button and use the View -> Options Menu to select a different serial port and try again. If you have selected the wrong PICAXE type, you will be presented with an "Incorrect hardware found for this software model" error message, and towards the bottom of the message you will be told what PICAXE is actually installed in the PICAXE Birthday Box. Left-Click the Yes button, select the correct PICAXE option and try again. When you have selected the correct PICAXE and serial port settings you will be presented with a pop-up window which shows a Download in Progress, and, upon completion, a pop-up which indicates the download was successful ... You can left-click the Okay button, and you are now ready to start programming. If Configuration Fails If you have diligently worked your way through all possible PICAXE and Serial Port settings, and your PICAXE Birthday Box has not been detected, it may be that the program it is running is refusing to acknowledge the PC. If this is the case it will be necessary to "Hard Reset" the PICAXE Birthday Box. Repeat the Configuration again, but ensure that the PICAXE Birthday Box is turned off before initiating each PICAXE -> Clear Hardware Memory action, and when the Connecting to Hardware pop-up appears, turn the PICAXE Birthday Box on. Leave the unit switched on until an Error Message is given, when you should turn it off, and try with a different PICAXE or Serial Setting as described in the above configuration process. Note that it may be necessary to perform the "Hard Reset" a couple of times to get make the PICAXE Birthday Box respond to the PC, so try each Clear Hardware Memory action a number of times - This is a feature of the PICAXE processor, not a fault or design flaw with the PICAXE Birthday Box. Your First Program The Piezo Sounder PICAXE is a trademark of Revolution Education Ltd. The PICAXE Birthday Box is not a product of Revolution Education Limited and is not approved, recommended nor supported by them.