Problem with 16F688 and using PORTA as digital inputs - I'm pulling my hair out!

[Christopher4187]

I've been out of the loop for quite some time but I have a need for a small project. I'm using a 16F688 and trying to use PORTA to read digital values (button presses). I've read the data sheet and tried adjusting the code but nothing seems to work. I've stripped the code down to the bare minimum, even removing all of the analog stuff (I think), but it's still not working:

@ DEVICE PIC16F688, INTRC_OSC_NOCLKOUT,WDT_ON, PWRT_OFF, MCLR_OFF, BOD_ON,PROTECT_OFF           
      
TRISA = 111111
TRISC = 111111
ANSEL =  000000
CMCON0 = 000000    
ADCON0 = 000000        
DECREASEBUT VAR PORTA.3
INCREASEBUT VAR PORTA.1
ENTERBUT VAR PORTA.4       
MODEBUT VAR PORTA.0
LED VAR PORTC.1 

Start:
IF INCREASEBUT=0 THEN GOTO INCREASE
GOTO START


INCREASE:
HIGH LED
PAUSE 500
LOW LED
PAUSE 500
GOTO START

It's blinking the LED even though 5VDC is on A.1. The same goes for A.5, A.4 and A.0. When I press a button on A.3, the MCU resets as if the MCLR is enabled but I set MCLR to off. There is probably something simple I'm overlooking. Can anyone help me?

[HenrikOlsson]

Hi,
To turn off the comparators on the 16F688 you should set CMCON0 to 7, not 0.
That would explain RA0 and RA1 but not really RA4 & 5. ANSEL=0 should be correct.
As for the MCLR/RA3 pin, make sure that your programmer isn't overriding your CONFIG settings.

/Henrik.

[ScaleRobotics]

And set your port C to output instead of input for your LED. Unless those are the two bits that get cut off.

Test:
TRISC 111100

No, the two MSB get cut off with the editor if not in "source mode" A/A icon.
Might as well set your C port to all outputs, unless you have some inputs on it.
TRISC %00000000

[Christopher4187]

To turn off the comparators on the 16F688 you should set CMCON0 to 7, not 0.

You're right. It solved the RA0 and RA1 problem. My issue was that I was playing with the ANSEL and CMCON0 commands at the same time and probably overlooked the fact that the CMCON0 problem was fixed but the ANSEL or some other command was still causing the problem so I moved right past it.

As for the MCLR/RA3 pin, make sure that your programmer isn't overriding your CONFIG settings.

That's exactly what it was. I moved all of my stuff to a new computer and there wasn't a check next to the "program configuration."

That would explain RA0 and RA1 but not really RA4 & 5.

RA4 was a miswire and RA5 didn't have a pullup resistor on it.

Thanks for the help guys! I'm sure I'll be back with more questions as my project moves along