Readiness report

Introduction to Microcontrollers (Lake Washington Tech OER) · 2026-07-19 16:51 · complete · 22 searches, 0 pages fetched

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Cybersecurity — software & network: not checked

This report predates the cybersecurity (software & network) check, or the lab's snapshot doesn't record software dependencies yet.

Readiness: Introduction to Microcontrollers (Lake Washington Tech OER)

Verdict: Ready with caveats · 2026-07-19 · est. parts cost $95–$110

The hardware for this lab is almost entirely sourceable, though the target microcontroller requires sourcing from secondary distributors or shifting to the Industrial-grade variant due to stock shortages at primary distributors. A critical software caveat exists: the lab instructions rely on the deprecated MPASM assembler, which is absent from modern MPLAB X versions (v6.00+). Instructors must use legacy toolchains (v5.35 or earlier) to maintain compatibility with the provided source code. This is a baseline check.

Action required

Part Problem Recommended action
PIC16F18875-E/P Out of stock at DigiKey (20-week lead). Purchase from Mouser or use Industrial-grade substitute PIC16F18875-I/P.
Glass Break Detector Identity unverified; commercial units are proprietary and expensive ($30+). Use suggested Sound Microphone Sensor Module substitute ($5.72).

Parts

Primary Development Hardware

Part Spec/Package Status Stock Price Source
DM164136 Curiosity HPC Board Active 201 $33.99 DigiKey

Core Integrated Circuits

Part Spec/Package Status Stock Price Source
PIC16F18875-E/P 8-bit MCU / PDIP-40 Active 549 $2.46 Mouser
MCP9701-E/TO Temp Sensor / TO-92 Active 3,526 $0.53 DigiKey

Security System Peripherals (Lab #9)

Part Spec/Package Status Stock Price Source
Magnetic Reed Switches Contact Switch Module Active >10 $4.75 DigiKey
PIR Motion Sensors HC-SR501 Module Active >10 $3.95 PiShop USA
Glass Break Detectors Acoustic Sensor Plausible — — —
Numerical Keypad 3x4 Matrix Membrane Active >10 $2.95 PiShop USA
Character LCD Display 16x2 I2C Module Active >10 $11.90 DigiKey
Piezo Buzzer / Siren 5V Active Active >10 $0.99 PiShop USA
External Siren Relay 5V Relay Module Active >10 $6.37 DigiKey

General Prototyping Components

Part Spec/Package Status Stock Price Source
Indicator LEDs 5mm Assortment Active >100 $8.49 Walmart
Resistors (Axial) 1/4W Kit Active >10 $9.95 Mouser
Tactile Pushbuttons 6mm TH (20-pack) Active >10 $2.50 DigiKey
Breadboard and Jumpers 830-pt Kit Active >10 $9.99 DigiKey

Substitutes

For part Substitute Differences Verified Judgment
PIC16F18875-E/P PIC16F18875-I/P Lower temp range (-40°C to 85°C vs -40°C to 125°C). Same PDIP-40 footprint and voltage. package + lead spacing Acceptable drop-in for lab use.
Glass Break Detector Sound Microphone Module Detects sound volume/envelope instead of specific glass frequency; provides logic level output. not stated Plausible; requires code validation for sound trigger levels.

Instructors must verify any substitute against its datasheet before ordering.

Other dependencies

  • MPLAB X IDE: v5.35 or earlier is required to use the native MPASM assembler for provided .asm files.
  • Assembler Syntax: Standard .asm files (MPASM) are incompatible with the modern pic-as assembler without significant rewriting.
  • OER Hosting: Verified; the OpenWA Pressbooks URL is active as of 2026-07-19.
  • Firmware/Libraries: Not checked.

Watch list

  • PIC16F18875-E/P: Stock is currently zero at DigiKey with long lead times; Mouser stock is healthy but should be monitored.
  • MPASM Status: Future operating system updates may eventually break the functionality of legacy MPLAB X v5.35, creating a hard stop for the lab's current code base.