Pic Knowledge needed

Brian Carpenter

i have just completed an assembly project for a customer that involved the use of a pic18fxxxx. I installed all of the PICs onto the boards (in sockets as the customer requested) only to find that the PICs still need to be programmed. Does anyone know if i use a clip to contact the pic in circuit, can it be programmed? Any advice would be great. otherwise we will just give it a try. Thanks again

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It's Only A Stupid Question If You Have Not Googled It First!!

Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)

Brian,

It depends on how the pins that are used for programming are connected. Also, when you power the chip in-circuit to be programmed, you will power up the whole board, which may have consequences for your voltage regulator if Vdd is clipped directly to the PIC. Most MIcrochip PIC datasheets include a schematic with recommended pin connections to use when in-circuit programming is necessary (i.e. series resistors, protection from high Vpp, etc.). If your board follows these guidelines, you should be okay; otherwise, you'll probably have to unsocket the PICs and program them externally.

-Phil

Erik Friesen

If you power the boards, most good icsp programmers (pickit2 and icd3 etc.) will detect the voltage and act accordingly. Did the designer include a six pin header tied to these chips? If so there is a good chance that he had icsp in mind. Otherwise you'll be best off removing these and using one of the zif socket programmers.

Mike2545

You will need a PIC programmer like the Pickit2 or a clone such as the Junebug. Also you will need Mplab and pickit2 software. If it is a ISCP just connect the MCLR, PGC, PGD and Ground the Pickit software will detect the chip...otherwise you will have to program it on another target board...

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Mike2545