OT: Microcipproblems #2 (pics at ABSE)

Got the stuff from MicroChip Direct. Everybody i talked to to there, says that the MPLAB CDs are no longer available. And it is impossible to find to find any CDs on their site; one is forced to download any version your little heart desires. BUT..that special header for debug, INCLUDES a CD(!!), in this case ver 8.6 which i am now using. [its part number comes up DOA].

  • Got some problems and questions:

#1) How in the heck does one connect this "header" to the project? See first 7 pictures. Note their "by the book" instructions ICEbook.gif especially the 2 black rows/bars on the target board. All other pictures show reality. Seems to imply that one must know about this problem so as to layout TWO DIP socket patterns with pins in parallel; one for the PIC16F648A and associated circuitry, and the other for the REQUIRED header. NOTHING is said about the pins for the oscillator...

So, in the normal course of events, there is no second DIP pattern - thus the question is: How in the heck does one connect this "header" to the project? [seems like one must put a DIP socket on the bottom of the PCB].

#2) The rest of the pics are screen shots made during use of the MPLAB ID with the PICkit-3 directly connected to the project board (ie: no header).

Why, after a READ, can i NOT see WTF was read??

Also am guessing that some of the errors are due to the absence of the header.

Grumble.

Reply to
Robert Baer
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Robert Baer wrote in news:F4KDx.2713$ snipped-for-privacy@fx23.iad:

The dewbug header *REPLACES* the PIC on the target board. The socket on the bottom of the header is for a M-M turned pin header to provide pins to fit the target board's PIC socket.

For PICs that require a header, debugging only works with the PICkit 3 (or other Microchip debugger) directly connected to the header, (maybe via an adapter if one has a 6P6C modular socket and the other has a 0.1" pitch 6 way SIL connector). *DO* *NOT* attempt to use any ICSP connector you may have on the target board.

--
Ian Malcolm.   London, ENGLAND.  (NEWSGROUP REPLY PREFERRED)  
ianm[at]the[dash]malcolms[dot]freeserve[dot]co[dot]uk  
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Reply to
Ian Malcolm

  • Well, i do not think that is exactly the case because: 1) that bottom socket you see has a pin-out exactly mirror image - that is to say, one would have to insert a device "dead-bug" style for correct pinning (and the target bard is not exactly "dead bug". 2) If one operated in the manner you say, then it would be impossible to program any product.
  • Look again at my pictures, most especially TOP.JPG which shows the PICkit3 (at right) connected to the mechanical RJ11 adapter, then the phone cable,then the RJ11 connector on the header (at the left). All of that hardware is official and connected according to their "drawing" as indicated at the top of ICEbook.gif. No "maybe" this is according to their book.

And you are correct here, that "for PICs that require a header, debugging only works with the PICkit 3 directly connected to the header", as shown in their documentation and my photos.

It is the connection from their header to the project board that is insufficiently documented.

Reply to
Robert Baer

Robert Baer wrote in news:lyRDx.66314$ snipped-for-privacy@fx04.iad:

Sorry, I dont get the binary groups - If you want everyone to see your pics, post them on a WWW or FTP server. However you can assume I am either familiar with all the images in the PICkit 3 documentation or can readily get them from Microchip so if its an offical image, just quote the document URL and the figure no.

1) The header's board layout accounts for that. The signals at the underside socket are in the right order at the other end of the M-M turned pin header to correspond to the normal 18 pin PDIP PIC16 pinout of the target socket. If you doubt me, check continuity from the Vdd and Vss pins of the programmer connector (with the 'RJ11' cable and adaptor connected) to the corresponding male header pin. (As it is too easy to flip the PICkit 2/3 connector, its always a good idea to continuity check the Vdd and Vss pins of *ANY* target board the first time you connect it)
2) Correct. The debug header *CANNOT* be used to program production silicon. Using the standard tools, you cant even program the debug header to run standalone.

For programming you must remove the debug header and you either use ICSP or to program devices before assembly, you need a programming jig that provides a socket with the minimum ICSP hookup + a 0.1uF decoupling cap from Vdd to Vss. PICs with a PGM pin should either have it pulled low or connected to pin 6 (LVP/Aux) of the PICkit 2/3 ICSP header.

Finally, see post#10 of

formatting link
do.41536/ for correct use of a debug header.

--
Ian Malcolm.   London, ENGLAND.  (NEWSGROUP REPLY PREFERRED)  
ianm[at]the[dash]malcolms[dot]freeserve[dot]co[dot]uk  
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Reply to
Ian Malcolm

Thanks!

Reply to
Robert Baer

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