Pickit 3 failed to program

[Michael]

All of a sudden, now I'm getting this message. Read where it may be an issue with USB voltage? BUT it did work fine.
I've been using the usb port for power and choosing 4.875v (which always worked) (5v didn't)

Any insight on this problem? Disconnected it -- switched ports -- all that and nothing.

Is there any sort of external supply that I can power the pickit with using the micro usb that will still let the data pass through? like an inline supply or something? thanks

pickit 3 connects, does an erase and read -- just wont program. always something. just when I think I have the code right.

[Michael]

i now see that you can get a powered usb hub

[Michael]

anyone know anything about this issue? bought a powered hub and now even more problems.
everything has been fine with this pickit3 and then "failed to program". chips are good.

[Michael]

never a problem with my old melabs programmer. I hate this pickit3.
I need something reliable. ??

[mpgmike]

Process of elimination:

- Try a different hub, or better yet, plug directly into your PC
- Hold the button on the front of the PICKit 3 when you power it up until the lights blink. This forces a RESET. You may have to program it with MPLABX IPE at least once to get a fresh PICKit3 firmware reload.
- Try programming a different PIC to see if it's the chip and not the Programmer

[towlerg]

IIRC the PicKit3 stand alone GUI program and the command line app PK3CMD.EXE are limited to older devices. If you want to program the latest devices you need to soil your self with IPE or look at PicKitPlus (which breaths new life into Pk2 and Pk3 and well worth the price).

Note that for some reason known only to Microchip, IPE writes different firmware thus screwing the GUI version.

Ditto mpgmike's comments. Definitely try different USB ports and Pic devices, even better try a different PC.

What Pic device are you trying to program?

BTW many current Pic devices will program with very low voltages. For instance I regularly program 18F25K50 locally powered with 3.3v.

Edit. I forgot you can tell the Pk3 not to provide Vcc.