pickit3 / pickit2 and flowcode

[brandonb]

alright so i've been using a pickit2 and i just ordered a pickit3 to beable to transfer to newer chips like the 16f1829... the question is how does flowcode interact with pickits, for example will pickit burn to chip using flowcode without installing mplab? can i use both pickit 2&3 versions and just switch the top two lines of the programmer options when i want to use a different one, if anyone has advise on anything please comment...thanks guys

[medelec35]

Hi Brandon,
This should help:
http://www.matrixmultimedia.com/support ... 011fd7db82

No you don't need Mplab installed.
Basically Flowcode will directly program microcontroller via PK2 or PK3 if set up to do so.

Martin

[brandonb]

alright cool, so the software that is already installed in the pickit its self is all i need to be rock'in with it, do you use any of these programmers? was wondering if the pickit3 automaticly changes the vpp voltage for the chips or is that done only in mplad? im guessing that it sends 12v+ vpp, i can do the vpp modifications on my green programming board if it gives the same vpp as the pickit2

[medelec35]

I did my own modification to a programming lead (not pickit) but asix presto. I have left the lead in work so I will have to wait till Monday to confirm actual components.
But I believe I used a 5V1 zener diode in series with 5K6 resisistor.

The zener cathode connected to the output of programmer. the resistor is connected to the zener anode. then the other end of resistor is connected to MCLR/VPP of target device.

This way the programmer programmed all target devices, including the ones which has a maximum of 9V or 13V programming voltage with out any issues.

If using Flowcode to program via pickit, I don't believe the voltage will be automatically altered, so some provision for limiting voltage/current like the above method.

I did not use the standard zener & resistor connected across VPP and GND to minimise shunting current to ground from programmer, since programmer was power via usb.
That method would probably would have been fine to use.

Martin

[brandonb]

If using Flowcode to program via pickit, I don't believe the voltage will be automatically altered, so some provision for limiting voltage/current like the above method.

mainly was curious about the default vdd and vpp and does it automaticly supply vdd when not present...i was hoping the new ones were 5v vdd and 12v vpp with automatic vdd detection, i've read that it may not work this way since its mplad based configuration per chip

[medelec35]

Hi Brandon,
When I was talking about automatically altered, I was only referring some devices require a maxim of of 9V VPP (e.g 16F1827) any higher voltage will cause too much current flow, so device will be damaged.

As for detection of VDD, I believe that will only be done with the original programming software, and not Flowcode.
But I'm not 100% sure.

This is because Flowcode can only use command line so it only be used for setting both VDD and VPP high or off and that's about it.

As stated above its the original programming software that can detect if voltage is present or not.

Here all all the PK3 command line functions:

Code: Select all

10. Command Line Options
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following commands are available in the command line interface.


 Description			Options
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Part/Device			-P<Part name>
 Batch Mode Operation		-B 	 	 
 Blank Check			-C			  
 Erase Flash			-E			  
 Hex File Selection		-F<file>		  
 Read to file			-G<Region>F<file>
				   Region:
				     P= Program Memory
				     E= EEPROM	
				     I= ID Memory
				     C= Configuration Memory
				     B= Boot Flash Memory
				     If no region is entered, 
                                     the entire device will be read
 Hold in Reset 			-H
 Release from Reset		-L
 High Voltage MCLR		-I
 Program			-M<Memory Region>
				   P - Program Memory
				   E= EEPROM	
				   I= ID Memory
				   C= Configuration Memory
				   B= Boot Flash Memory
				   If no region is entered, 
				   the entire device will be programmed
 Program Memory Range           -N####,####
				  #### is a hexidecimal number representing 
                                  Start and End Address in sequence
 Reprogram			-R<file>
 SQTP File Selection		-S<file>
 Program Calibration memory	-U##
				   ## is a hexidecimal number representing
	                           the least significant byte of the 
                                   calibration value to be programmed	 			
 Power Target			-V<Voltage> 	
 Verify				-Y
 Help				-?	
 Exit Code			-?E

Note: Commands are not case sensitive. Escape character can be a ‘-‘ or  ‘/’.  
-----

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. Exit Codes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

     0 - All of the selected operations complete successfully
     1 - Invalid Command Line Argument
     2 - PICkit3 Communication Failed
     3 - Selected Operation Failed
     4 - Unknown Runtime Failure
     5 - Invalid Device Detected
     6 - SQTP Failed

Martin