Why does PICkit2 show it as an LF device?

[Balachandar]

About a month back, I bought 5 pieces of PIC12F1840 (SOIC package) from Ali Express for $ 3.22. I am able to program them and run the code at 5 volts without any problem. But PICkit2 always identifies it as 12LF1840 (LF version) and reduces the supply voltage to 3.3. I can increase it up to 3.6, but not beyond that. I understand that it is a safety feature for low voltage devices.

Since the laser etching on the PIC clearly describes it as 12F1840 and since it is not getting fried when connected to a supply of 5 Volts, I am sure it's not an LF version. I have three questions.

1. How do I tell PICkit2 that it is not an LF version (assuming it is possible)?

2. Is there a difference in programming voltage between F and LF versions?

3. Is there any way of finding out whether it is a genuine PIC manufactured by Microchip?

Thanks for any comments / suggestions.

- Bala

[richard]

I have seen microchip forum topics indicating that early versions of the PK2DeviceFile.dat
have that chip incorrectly represented. try getting the latest version.
other than that try a different programmer to verify chip credentials, it may be some sort of clone


I use this [post15]
https://www.microchip.com/forums/m731464.aspx

[louislouis]

Hello,

I done programming lots of genuine 12F1840 pic's with 12LF1840 settings on pickit2 without any problems.
Lets try it, it works for me.

Louis

[Balachandar]

I done programming lots of genuine 12F1840 pic's with 12LF1840 settings on pickit2 without any problems.
Lets try it, it works for me.

That's right.

As I have mentioned in my earlier post, the PIC works fine. I understand that there is no difference in programming voltage between 12F1840 and 12LF1840 . I havae a PICkit2 programmer and it is able to program the PIC. So, there is no problem in using those PICs.