Using PICAXE with Seeed Grove Modules
The AXE300 PICAXE Grove project board has been designed to allow simple use of the popular Seeed Grove prototyping modules with the PICAXE Blockly programming system. The AXE300 board is supplied complete with a PICAXE-20M2 microcontroller, so no other controller board or shield is required to connect the Grove modules.
Initial Assembly
- Carefully insert the PICAXE-20M2 chip, making sure pin 1 (marked with circle) is under the download socket.
- Screw the battery clip (if required) into the terminal block, red wire to Vcc and black wire to GND.
- Insert 3 x AA (LR6) batteries (not supplied) and connect battery box to battery clip.
Power Supply
Power to the board can be 3V, 4.5V or 5V. The power supply is also connected directly to the Grove connectors, so choose the correct voltage for the Grove sensor modules that are in use (most will work at 3 to 5V). The PICAXE-20M2 microcontroller will work fine at any of these voltages.
Power can be connected via the screw terminal block or via the power socket (2.1mm tip, centre positive). Power can also be connected via crocodile clips leads to the top connector hole either side of the board. Connect the red (positive +) wire to Vcc and the black (negative -) wire to GND.
The green power LED will light when power is correctly connected.
Download Socket
The PICAXE programming download socket is designed to be used with an AXE027 PICAXE USB download cable (purchase separately).
Push button switch
For testing simple programs a push button switch is supplied on the board. This is connected to input pin C.6 (which is also fitted with a 10k pull-down resistor).
LED A.0
For testing simple programs a yellow LED is supplied above the push button switch, and is connected to PICAXE output pin A.0. This LED will also flicker when a new program download is taking place.
Side Connector Holes
The side connection holes provide connection to each PICAXE pin. They are designed to be used with crocodile clip leads, but could also be soldered.
The holes have also been spaced to make them compatible with LEGO bricks and beams.
Grove Connectors
Grove modules use a number of different electrical connection types – digital, analogue, I2C and UART. Check the module type below before deciding which connector to use.
Most of the white 4 pin grove connectors are general purpose and marked with ‘A&D’ as well as the pin numbers. These connectors can be used with both digital and analogue type modules. The one connector marked ‘D’ can only be used with digital type modules.
The grove connectors marked ‘I2C’ are for use with I2C type modules. Two identical connectors are provided, but more I2C modules could also be added by using the ‘I2C Hub’ (103020006) extension module. Each I2C module imust have a unique I2C address. If no I2C modules are being used one connector could also be used as a general purpose digital connector instead (however note that a 10k pull up resistor is included on each i2c pin).
The grove connector marked ‘UART’ is for use with serial UART type modules. If a UART module is not being used the connector could also be used as a general purpose digital connector instead.
Each Grove connector has a primary pin and a secondary pin. Most Grove modules use just one pin, but some modules do use both pins. The second pin on one connector is also the primary pin on the next connector, so make sure you do not accidentally connect two different modules to the same pin on adjacent connectors.
Left Column
Primary Pin | Secondary Pin | Function |
A.0 | (yellow LED) | |
C.6 | (push button switch) | |
C.1 | C.2* | Analogue / Digital |
C.2* | C.3* | Analogue / Digital |
C.3* | C.7 | Analogue / Digital |
Centre Column
Primary Pin | Secondary Pin | Function |
B.7 (SCL) | B.5 (SDA) | I2C / Digital |
B.7 (SCL) | B.5 (SDA) | I2C / Digital |
C.4 | C.5* | Digital |
B.6 (RX) | C.0 (TX) | UART / Digital |
Right Column
Primary Pin | Secondary Pin | Function |
B.3 | B.4 | Analogue / Digital |
B.2 | B.3 | Analogue / Digital |
B.1* | B.2 | Analogue / Digital |
B.0 | B.1* | Analogue / Digital |
Pins marked * can also be used for pwm output
PICAXE Blockly for Grove Modules
When using PICAXE Blockly (v1.4.0 or later, either the standalone app or within PE6) the Grove extension categories contain Grove module blocks for ease of use. Many sample files can be found within PE6 via clicking File>Open Samples>AXE300>Blockly. However note that you may also use the ‘standard’ command blocks if you need a more advanced command not supported by the Grove extension blocks - for instance to control the brightness of an LED using the standard ‘pwmout’ command.
Extension - Grove Outputs
Grove Module | Grove Part Number | Type | Block |
LED Red LED Green LED White LED Blue LED Purple LED |
104030005 104030007 104030008 104030009 104030010 104020002 |
Digital output | |
Variable Colour LED | 104020001 | Digital output | |
Buzzer | 107020000 | Digital output | |
Vibration Motor | 105020003 | Digital output | |
Electromagnet | 101020073 | Digital output | |
Relay Dry Reed Relay |
103020014 103020005 |
Digital output | |
Infrared Emitter | 101020026 | Digital output | |
I2C Motor Driver Dual I2C Mini Motor Driver |
105020001 105020010 |
I2C | |
Servo | 316010005 | Digital output (PortB only) |
|
Speaker | 107020001 | Digital output |
Extension - Grove Displays
Grove Module | Grove Part Number | Type | Block |
I2C LCD RGB Backlight | 104030001 | I2C | |
OLED Display 0.96 inch (128x64) OLED Display 1.12" (96x96) OLED Display 1.12" V2 (128x128) |
104030008 104030011 101020452 |
I2C | |
4 Digit Display | 104030003 | Digital (2 pins) | |
LED Bar | 104030002 | Digital (2 pins) | |
Circular LED | 104030013 | Digital (2 pins) |
Extension - Grove Sensors
Grove Module | Grove Part Number | Type | Block |
Button Infrared Reflective PIR Motion Sensor Tilt Touch Micro Switch (P) Magnetic Line Finder Infrared Reflective Collision |
101020003 101020029 101020020 101020017 101020020 102020143 104020004 104020004 101020172 101020029 101020005 |
Digital Input | |
Light Sensor | 101020173 | Analogue Input | |
Piezo Vibration Sensor | 1001020031 | Analogue Input | |
Temperature Sensor v1.0, v1.1, v1.2 | 101020015 | Analogue Input | |
Rotary Angle Sensor | 101020017 | Analogue Input | |
Slide Potentiometer | 101020036 | Analogue Input + PWM Output |
|
Thumb Joystick | 101020028 | Analogue Input (2 pins) | |
Ultrasonic | 101020010 | Digital Input | |
Infrared Receiver | 101020016 | Digital Input | |
Loudness Sensor | 101020063 | Analogue Input | |
Moisture Sensor | 101020008 | Analogue Input | |
Water Sensor | 101020018 | Analogue Input | |
Sound Sensor | 101020023 | Analogue Input | |
I2C Colour Sensor I2C Colour Sensor v2 |
101020041 101020341 |
I2C | |
I2C Barometer High Accuracy | 101020068 | I2C | |
I2C Temp&Humi Sensor (SHT31) | 101020212 | I2C | |
I2C 3-Axis Digital Accelerometer 1.5g I2C 3-Axis Digital Accelerometer 16g I2C 3-Axis Digital Accelerometer 400g |
101020039 101020054 101020071 |
I2C | |
I2C RTC | 101020013 | I2C | |
I2C Nunchuck | 103020009 | I2C |
Extension - Grove UART
Grove Module | Grove Part Number | Type | Block |
Serial MP3 v2.0 | 107020008 | UART | |
Serial Bluetooth v3.0 | 113020008 | UART | |
Serial LCD | 104020004 | UART |