Program 3 PICs using one PICKIT 3. Possible?

[BobEdge]

Hi All,

I have a project where there are 3 818's on the same PCB, and with the same software.
Has anyone tried programming multiple devices, at the same time using a Pickit 3?

Regards
Bob.

[mark_s]

Doing a quick Google search, I found..

http://www.microchip.com/forums/m485958.aspx


Add: For a small fee Microchip will program your chips at the factory.

[Heckler]

If I cared about reliability or I had to travel a great distance to fix an issue or it was a commercial product... I would not attempt it.

For hobbyist stuff... give it a go!!

[Dave]

I would be somewhat leary of trying to program 3 devices at the same time as there is a handshake process that has to take place during the flash process. If the timing of 1 of the devices is a bit different there could be a conflict. I am assuming you are talking about connecting the PGC, PGD, and RST line's together?
Also there may be a problem with Loading.

[towlerg]

@Dave, I'm not sure you are correct re. handshaking. Don't know about LVP but for standard high-voltage programming all I see is clock and data and VIHH on MCLR. Of course you wouldn't be able to verify so I guess you could only use this for novelty items. But if you really had to do this you have the PIC device verify its code space against a checksum.

George

[BobEdge]

Thank you all for the replies.
This is an industrial product, so not worth taking the risk.
I admit I had not thought about the verify part of programming.

Regards
Bob.