MicroChip PIC problems (long)

Robert Baer · 2009-02-01T09:55:07+00:00

MicroChip PIC problems1) NO real datasheet: no DC parameters, no AC parameters; all of theso-called datasheets relate to programming.2) Inconsisent or NO terminology used for designating programming pinsPGD/PGC versus ICSPDAT/ICSPCLK. This means that the "datasheet" may not tell one which pins to use forprogramming. RA0/RA1, as shown in some diagrams, may or may not be therequired pins for tha particular PIC MCU you choose to use, and some"datasheets" will not give any indications as to which pins to use.3) PICkit 2 MCU Programmer User's Guide shows how one can wire up yourapplication to a programming header, which gives terminology forprogramming pins: RA0/ICSPDAT/PGD and RA1/ISCPCLK/PGC. But..DO NOT rely on use of RA0/RA1 for programming! Real example: Check Figure A-1 of the 44-pin Demo Board User's Guidewhich shows RB6/RB7, which seems to be a more common useage.4) The PICkit 2 MCU Programmer User's Guide states that the PGD/PGC pinsmust be isolated from the application circuit for proper programming byusing series resistors from the pins (of the MCU) to the applicaioncircuit. Absolutely NO guide is gives - so randomly pick a value between 1Kwhich may be too low, and 1Meg which may be too high.5) In the PICkit 2 MCU Programmer User's Guide section 3.4.1, they say"..set the voltage box..". WHAT voltage box? NO clue!6) Some large PDF document >116 pages contains PIC micro familyattribute charts (programmemory, RAM bytes, I/O pins, etc), SystemsProducts, pin count/packaging info and other info. That last section is *very* useful as it seems to be the onlyconsistent source for PGD/PGC pinning designations for MOST of the PICdevices. But note there is one package MISSING from this valuable reference.7) The 44-pin Demo Board User's Guide indicates a fair number of PICdevices that it supports, and the PIC16F877A is in that list of 44 pinTQFP devices. BUT that is also available in the 40 pin DIP! So, when ordering, be *very* careful about full...

Feb 01, 2009 22 Replies

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JosephKK 17 years ago

Offhand, i would say that those two large files are incomplete.

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nivi.pen 11 years ago

PIC16F73 used in solid state voltage stabilizer

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edward.ming.lee 11 years ago

et".

Yes, i am on dial-up too. It's wireless dial-up from T-mobile. Speed is n ot a problem, perhaps as fast as 20Mb/s. But i am limited to 3G bytes per month, or around 100MB per day.

I might be able to set it up. There are sites to spit PDF and only downloa d selected pages. What we need is a PDF preview program. At least until I get a chance to go to the library, seems like they have hundreds of MB band width. Don't you have library in your area?

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