Summary of TinyLoadr AVR Programmer Using Arduino
The TinyLoadr AVR Programmer is a standalone USB AVR programmer (formerly a shield) that programs many DIP AVRs via a 28-pin ZIF socket or ICSP headers. It provides a 16 MHz clock, can power target boards at 5V, includes a blink LED for testing, supports Arduino IDE and avrdude, and remains open source and affordable.
Parts used in the TinyLoadr AVR Programmer:
- USB connector
- 16MHz clock source
- 28-pin ZIF socket
- Blink LED
- 10-pin ICSP header
- 6-pin ICSP header
- Power circuitry to supply 5V to target boards
- uC Select jumper
- M3 (3.2mm) mounting holes
- PCB and associated passive components
finally finished the next version of my TinyLoadr AVR programming Shield – and it’s not a shield. It’s a standalone USB programmer, so you no longer have to have an extra Arduino laying around. The best part? It’s the same price as the shield was!
Read more to find out more about it, or visit my Tindie store to grab one for yourself!
Features at a glance
- Open source.
- Supports a wide range of AVRs (see list below)
- USB connector
- 16MHz clock source for all supported AVRs
- One 28-pin ZIF socket
- A Blink LED to test your microcontrollers
- 10 and 6-pin ICSP headers for programming target boards
- Can power target boards with 5V
- M3 (3.2mm) size mounting holes
- Easy to use for both beginners and advanced users
- Easy to use with both Arduino IDE and avrdude
What microcontrollers are supported?
The following DIP microcontrollers are supported in the ZIF socket:
- ATtiny11
- ATtiny12
- ATtiny13
- ATtiny15
- ATtiny24
- ATtiny25
- ATtiny44
- ATtiny45
- ATtiny84
- ATtiny85
- ATtiny2313
- ATtiny4313
- ATmega8
- ATmega48
- ATmega88
- ATmega168
- ATmega328P
On target boards, any microcontroller that avrdude supports is supported, though Arduino cores may not exist for all of them. Any pin-compatible AVRs will also work (that is, one with the same pinout).
The programmer may not work with microcontrollers with more than 64K of flash (e.g, ATmega1281/1280/2561/2560).
It’s pretty easy to use
The TinyLoadr AVR Programmer was designed to be very simple to use. When programming a microcontroller with the ZIF socket, you simply set the “uC Select” jumper to the appropriate microcontroller, and insert the microcontroller as shown in the photos. For programming with the ICSP headers, just attach your ICSP ribbon cable to the programmer and your target board and you’re ready to roll.
What changed, and why?
2 years ago I designed my first PCB – an Arduino shield that made it easier for me to program ATMega and ATtiny microcontrollers with my Arduino. I called it the ArduinoISP Shield (later renamed to the TinyLoadr Shield to avoid any issue using the Arduino name). After building my own, I still had 9 PCBs left. I decided to order parts to build them and sell them on Tindie. I did, and people loved them. Over the next 2 years, I designed through 4 variations of the shield, adding new features and making it look nicer. Well, I’ve done it again, and I really hope people will like it.
For more detail: TinyLoadr AVR Programmer Using Arduino
- What is the TinyLoadr AVR Programmer?
It is a standalone USB AVR programmer that was previously an Arduino shield and now programs AVRs without needing an extra Arduino. - Which DIP microcontrollers are supported in the ZIF socket?
Supported DIP microcontrollers include ATtiny11, ATtiny12, ATtiny13, ATtiny15, ATtiny24, ATtiny25, ATtiny44, ATtiny45, ATtiny84, ATtiny85, ATtiny2313, ATtiny4313, ATmega8, ATmega48, ATmega88, ATmega168, and ATmega328P. - Can the programmer power target boards?
Yes, the programmer can power target boards with 5V. - Does it work with avrdude and Arduino IDE?
Yes, it is easy to use with both Arduino IDE and avrdude. - How do you select the microcontroller when using the ZIF socket?
You set the uC Select jumper to the appropriate microcontroller and insert the microcontroller into the ZIF socket as shown in the photos. - What interfaces are available for programming target boards?
There are 10-pin and 6-pin ICSP headers for programming target boards with an ICSP ribbon cable. - Are there limitations on supported microcontrollers?
The programmer may not work with microcontrollers that have more than 64K of flash such as ATmega1281/1280/2561/2560. - Does it include a clock source?
Yes, it includes a 16MHz clock source for all supported AVRs. - Is the project open source?
Yes, the TinyLoadr AVR Programmer is open source.
