SC704 is an I2C bus master module for RCBus.

- SC704 – Assembly guide
- SC704 – Compatibility
- SC704 – Parts list
- SC704 – Printed circuit board
- SC704 – User guide
- Designing your RCBus computer
- SC700 series information
- SC700 series support
Downloads
- SC704, v1.0, Kit contents sheet (PDF)
- SC704, v1.0, Schematic (PDF)
- SC704, v1.0, PCB design files (OSHWLab)
- SC704, v1.0, Gerber files (ZIP)
Errata
PCB v1.0.0 has read and write address labels swapped so read should start at 0xA1 (not 0xA0) and write should start at 0xA0 (not 0xA1)
Suppliers
Kits | Website | Ships from |
Stephen C Cousins | Tindie | UK |
PCBs | Website | Ships from |
Stephen C Cousins | Tindie | UK |
Assembled and Tested | Website | Ships from |
Not available | ||
Components | ||
See parts list |
Parts List
Reference | Qty | Component |
PCB | 1 | SC704, v1.0, PCB |
C1 to C5 | 5 | Capacitor, ceramic, 100 nF |
JP1 | 1 | Header, male, 2 row x 8 pin, angled |
JP2 to JP5 | 4 | Header, male, 1 row x 3 pin, straight |
Jumper | 12 | Jumper shunt |
LED1 and 2 | 2 | LED, green, 3mm, angled |
P1 | 1 | Header, male, 2 row x 40 pin, angled |
P2 and P3 | 2 | Header, male, 1 row x 6 pin, angled |
R1 and R2 | 2 | Resistor, 10k, 0.25W |
R3 and R4 | 2 | Resistor, 1k, 0.25W |
RP1 | 1 | Resistor network, 8x100k, SIL, 9-pin |
S1 and S2 | 2 | Header, female, 1 row x 6 pin, angled |
Screw (for spacer) | 1 | Machine screw, 6mm, M3 |
Spacer | 1 | Spacer, 10mm, M3, nylon |
U1 | 1 | 74HCT688 |
U2 | 1 | 74HCT74 |
U3 | 1 | 74HCT125 |
U4 | 1 | 74HCT32 |
U5 | 1 | 24LC256 |
IC socket 20-pin U1 | 1 | Socket, DIP, 20-pin |
IC socket 14-pin U2, 3, 4 | 3 | Socket, DIP, 14-pin |
IC socket 8-pin U5 | 1 | Socket, DIP, 8-pin |
Printed Circuit Board


Note: The PCB is designed to allow a DIP switch to be fitted instead of the header pins JP1.
Compatibility
This module conforms to the RCBus specification v1.0 for RCBus-2014 and RCBus-Z80.
User Guide
An I2C bus master is a device that can control I2C slave devices on an I2C bus. This makes the module useful for interfacing with external electronics. In this case, the module generates the I2C bus signals using big-bang code.
The RCBus I/O port address for this module is set in binary with JP1. Fit a jumper shunt to each bit position where the address bit should be a logic ‘1’ (high voltage).
If, for example, you wish to set the module to address 12 decimal, which is hexadecimal 0C or binary 00001100, then fit a jumper shunts to bits 2 and 3, as illustrated below.

The default address is decimal 12 (hexadecimal 0C, binary 00001100)
Jumpers JP2 to JP4 set the address of the EEPROM (U5) on the I2C bus (not the address on the processor bus) and also it’s write protect option.
The jumper positions shown below set the EEPROM to I2C address 0xA0 (write) and 0xA1 (read), plus it is set to write enabled. Each I2C address bit is set to zero. The higher address bits are fixed by the EEPROM to 1010 xxxx.

As bit zero of the I2C device address indicates the Read/Write request, there can be a little confusion with address bit numbers. I2C address bit A0 is actually bit 1 of the control byte, so is the address 7-bits shifted right with bit zero as R/W or is the address 8-bits where each device has two addresses, one for read and one for write. Here we use the latter scheme.
Note: PCB v1.0.0 shows the read and write addresses swapped. For example, 0xA0 should be write and 0xA1 should be read.
Input/output port functions
RCBus I/O Address | Read | Write |
Configurable *1 | Read SCL (bit 0) SDA (bit 7) | Write SCL (bit 0) SDA (bit 7) |
- The RCBus I/O address should be set to match the software you are using. Typically, this is 0x0C or 0x20.
Jumper options
Jumper | Function |
JP 1 | Set SC704’s RCBus I/O address |
JP 2 to JP4 | Set one of eight possible I2C bus addresses for the I2C EEPROM (U5) |
JP5 | Set I2C EEPROM write protection |
JP2 to JP4 set the I2C Bus address for the 25LC256 EEPROM (U5) as shown in the table below.
JP4 A2 | JP3 A1 | JP2 A0 | I2C Write Address | I2C Read Address |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0xA0 | 0xA1 |
0 | 0 | 1 | 0xA2 | 0xA3 |
0 | 1 | 0 | 0xA4 | 0xA5 |
0 | 1 | 1 | 0xA6 | 0xA7 |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0xA8 | 0xA9 |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0xAA | 0xAB |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0xAC | 0xAD |
1 | 1 | 1 | 0xAE | 0xAF |
Assembly Guide
Below is the suggested order of assembly. A general guide to assembling circuit boards can be found here.

- Resistors R1 to R4
- Sockets S2 and S3.
- Decoupling capacitors C1 to C5
These can be fitted either way around - IC sockets for U1 to U5
Ensure the notch in the socket matches the marking on the PCB - Header pins P2 and P3
- Jumper pins JP1
- Bus header pins P1
- Resistor network RP1
- LED1 and LED2
The angled LEDs in the kit only fit one way around, but standard LEDs need to have the short lead in the hole marked with a flat line - Jumper pins JP2 to JP5
- Fit the IC’s in their sockets
Ensure the notch in the IC matches the PCB and IC socket - Fit jumper shunts in the default positions (see above)
- Fit the nylon spacer in the mounting hole
Fit jumper shunts in the positions shown below. All other jumpers are optional and should only be fitted if the feature is required.

Notes
- This product is designed for hobby use and is not suitable for industrial, commercial, or safety-critical applications.
- The product contains small parts and is not suitable for young children.