Guide to PICAXE Microcontroller Selection

Guide to PICAXE Selection

The chart below provides a convenient at-a-glance view to compare and contrast PICAXE microcontrollers based on some of the most significant considerations in chip selection. See the notes which follow for important information to help you understand the chart and choose the most appropriate PICAXE for your project.

Chip Size/Type	Program Memory	Data Memory	Scratchpad Memory	Max. Clock Speed	Inputs	Outputs	ADC	Touch Sensor Ready
08	40-110	128-prog	0	4 MHz	1-4	1-4	1 low	No
08M	80-220	256-prog	0	8 MHz	1-4	1-4	3	No
14M	80-220	256-prog	0	8 MHz	6	5	2	No
18M2	600-1800	256	0	32 MHz	1-13	1-13	13	Yes
20M	80-220	256-prog	0	8 MHz	8	8	4	No
20X2	1000-3200	256	128	64 MHz	1-16	1-15	9	No
28X1	1000-3200	128	128	20 MHz	1-12	9-17	4	No
28X2	1000-3200	256	1024	64 MHz	1-20	1-20	19	Yes
40X1	1000-3200	128	128	20 MHz	8-20	9-17	7	No
40X2	1000-3200	256	1024	64 MHz	1-27	1-26	27	Yes

Notes and Additional Considerations

The first number in the chip type designation indicates the number of pins - a PICAXE 08M has 8 pins and a 28X2 has 28 pins.

PICAXE types 18, 18A, 18M, 18X, 28A, 28X and 40X are obsolete. Those chips are not recommended for new designs and are therefore not listed here. Additionally, Revolution Education has released upgraded 28X2 and 40X2 devices. Although the PICAXE part number remains the same, these chips are based on newer Microchip Technology processors and can be distinguished from the older chips by the labels: the new 28X2 is labeled 18F25K22 and the new 40X2 is labeled 18F45K22. The new chips represent a significant upgrade with faster clock speeds, more ADC channels, support for touch technology, and enhancements to the PWM features. The new chips also operate across a wider voltage range and therefore there are no longer low and high voltage variants.

Program memory is expressed in lines of code. Program memory must be stated as a range because some commands use more memory than others. X2 chips support multiple program slots in which program memory can be allocated across multiple programs. The 28X2 and 40X2 can support up to four different programs using onboard program memory. All of the X2s can support as many as 32 program slots using external EEPROM. The new M2 series features a multitasking capability in which up to four separate programming tasks can be executed in parallel.

Data and scratchpad memory is expressed in bytes. On M series chips data memory is shared with program memory. On the chart you will therefore see data memory expressed as a number of bytes minus whatever has been consumed by the program. On 18M2 the upper 256 bytes are shared between program and data (2048 in total). For programs that are less than 1792 bytes long all 256 bytes of data memory are available - programs longer than 1792 will begin to consume data memory. In X series chips the data memory is distinct and therefore the entire amount listed is available.

i2c enabled chips are able to interface with a number of i2c compliant devices including EEPROM memory which provides access to large amounts of data storage.

On some chips certain pins can be configured as either input or output. On these chips the number of inputs or outputs is expressed as a range.

Hobbizine

for all the things you do...

Guide to PICAXE Selection

Notes and Additional Considerations

Other Articles You Might Find Enjoyable

Things to Do Here