12F629 Trouble

[shahidali55]

Software - IC-PROG.
Hardware - Serial port JDM programmer.
I'm having trouble re-programming the 12F629.
I could only program the uC once.
The burn was successful and the IC works fine (but the code is faulty).
Now when i try re-programming it fails and on read gives all registers with 3FFF.
But the old code is not erased or damaged.
After 2 or three failed attempts, i thought the PIC is gone, but just simply when i power it up in the test board it runs the faulty code that i burnt the first time.
How can i resolve this problem?

[mister_e]

well i heard this often, i think it's more about an IC-PROG setting rather than else. Seems he just don't program your PIC. Just make sure MCLR voltage is 'round 13Volt while programming.

USB-to_serial adapter may work or not.

Maybe there's better software than other for the JDM... but i stick with the idea to suggest you the Microchip PICKIT 2.

[mister_e]

I can't say how good they are, but have a look at those
http://www.winpic800.com//index.php?lang=en
http://picallw.feniks-pro.com/
http://www.coolcircuit.com/project/picprog/

good luck

[paul borgmeier]

Something to try ...

Try erasing the PIC before attempting to reprogram it

[ardhuru]

This is a fairly common issue with 12FXXX and the JDM combo, specially if you have configured the pic for internal oscillator *and* mclr_off. If you have, the only way to reclaim the chip is to erase it in another (USB or parallel port based) programmer that can independantly control the sequence of switching on the +5 and +12 volts while programming.

There are variants of the JDM people have designed to take care of this problem using a little extra circuitry. I could give you the URL, but I'd honestly advise you to switch over to something more robust.

Regards,

Anand

[mister_e]

While development kit and device programmer are now cheaper than they were before, i hope and i really think all of theses JDM and all other freebies will die.

PICKIT 2 is probably the best to begin. ~40$, and support most popular PICs. Actual supported device list can be found bellow
http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=1406&dDocName=en027813

Pretty bad MPLAB support, but nothing is perfect.

40 bucks for and hassle free programmer, it's nothing.

I no longer suggest Picstart, but ICD-2 or any Elnec (BK precision) programmer are really nice, support too.

[skimask]

Pretty bad MPLAB support, but nothing is perfect.

What do you mean by that? I haven't found anything that the PICKit2 and MPLAB, at least nothing worth mentioning...
Got any specifics that I might be missing?

[mister_e]

Yeah... maybe you need to have your eyes open and read carefully the MPLAB supported list link i'd posted, i'll help you a little bit
PICkit 2 MPLAB 7.51 & 7.52 Support

Debugging & Programming

* PIC12F683*
* PIC16F684*, 685*, 687*, 688*, 689*, 690*
* PIC16F883, 884, 886, 887
* PIC16F913, 914, 916, 917, 946

* These devices require an ICD header board to enable debugging with them.

Programming only

* PIC12F508, 509, 510
* PIC12F675
* PIC16F505, 506

now compare it to the PICKIT 2 standalone utility supported list... MPLAB one is nothing... But it allow ICD, while the standalone don't
;)

[skimask]

Yeah... maybe you need to have your eyes open and read carefully the MPLAB supported list link i'd posted, i'll help you a little bit

now compare it to the PICKIT 2 standalone utility supported list... MPLAB one is nothing... But it allow ICD, while the standalone don't
;)

I guess I still don't get it...are you emphasizing the Debugging part of the picture, the programming part, or the combination debugging/programming part?
And I thought we were up to MPLAB 7.60 now...

[mister_e]

Yup, MPLAB 7.60 still don't support ALL devices listed in the PICKIT 2 standalone application.

MPLAB 7.60 supported list


1 Device Support List
1.1 Debugger - Full Support

PIC16F690* PIC16F886

PIC16F883 PIC16F887

PIC16F884 PIC16F917
1.2 Debugger - Beta Support

PIC12F683*



PIC16F684* PIC16F88

PIC16F685* PIC16F913

PIC16F687* PIC16F914

PIC16F688* PIC16F916

PIC16F689* PIC16F946

PIC16F87
1.3 Programmer - Full Support

PIC12F510

PIC12F675



PIC16F506 PIC16F883

PIC16F684 PIC16F884

PIC16F690 PIC16F886

PIC16F87 PIC16F887

PIC16F88 PIC16F917
1.4 Programmer - Beta Support

PIC12F508

PIC12F509

PIC12F683



PIC16F505 PIC16F913

PIC16F685 PIC16F914

PIC16F687 PIC16F916

PIC16F688 PIC16F946

PIC16F689

FAR FAR away of the standalone... right?

No complaint at all, i don't use MPLAB often.. even PICKIT 2 is my spare and on-the road programmer. BK Precision 844A is my favourite one... PIC, AVR, Texas, Zilog... list is long

[skimask]

Yup, MPLAB 7.60 still don't support ALL devices listed in the PICKIT 2 standalone application.
MPLAB 7.60 supported list
FAR FAR away of the standalone... right?
No complaint at all, i don't use MPLAB often.. even PICKIT 2 is my spare and on-the road programmer. BK Precision 844A is my favourite one... PIC, AVR, Texas, Zilog... list is long

Ok, I think I get what you're saying now...
I have yet to use the PICKIT2 'as part of' MPLAB, I've always used the standalone app totally seperate.

[mister_e]

http://www.mister-e.org/Pics/Bravo1 YUP!

Knowing you're not using MPLAB or any other IDE... i understand why it's sooo hard to understand for your, small brained guy http://www.mister-e.org/Pics/ROFL

Certainely not because my english is not perfect :D

[skimask]

Knowing you're not using MPLAB or any other IDE... i understand why it's sooo hard to understand for your, small brained guy
Certainely not because my english is not perfect :D

I use the MPLAB sim all the time, mainly for clock cycle calculation...
My main IDE is WordPad, although I'm starting to use MCS more and more...
But I still use the standalone app's for the programmer itself.

And no...your English is not perfect...

mais c'est manière meilleure que mon Français non-existant...

[mister_e]

mais c'est manière meilleure que mon Français non-existant...

LMAO, GOOGLE right?

Yeah i know my English limit... don't worry ;)

As far as i'm aware of, there's no command line for PICKIT 2 ... :(

[skimask]

LMAO, GOOGLE right?

Yeah i know my English limit... don't worry ;)

As far as i'm aware of, there's no command line for PICKIT 2 ... :(

http://babelfish.altavista.com/tr
That's the limit of my language skillz...slim and none...and slim just rode out of town...

[mister_e]

PICKIT 2 V2-30 is now released.. TODAY May 15/2007
http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/PICkit%202%20Readme%20v2-30.txt

Getting better and better

[skimask]

PICKIT 2 V2-30 is now released.. TODAY May 15/2007
http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/PICkit%202%20Readme%20v2-30.txt

Getting better and better

I see it supports the new 18F45K20...now if Microchip would only release the chip. I could use some of that extra speed in that spectrum analyzer.

[shahidali55]

I finally got my 12F629 working.
I googled for hours but didn't get any instant solution.
Later i read that VPP should be applied before VDD (from the datasheet).
On this basis, i modified my programmer using only one more component.
This enabled my old programmer, which has no VDD control, to program the VPP before VDD chips.
Its a really simple solution, but so many people are spending so much cash buying new programmers and stuff. I Don't understand why people don't look at the datasheets.

[mister_e]

;) well because people buy real programmer and don't have those issues ;)

[shahidali55]

But mister-e the so called "un" real programmer that i have costs only a tiny fraction of the real programmers. And it does the job well.

[skimask]

....tiny fraction....

PICKIT2 cost = $40 (give or take)

JDM style programmer = (tiny fraction) * PICKIT2

Time spent building a JDM style programmer = Insert hours and cost/hour

3 days of posts and time lost due to not being able to program a chip plus time searching for the solution and implementing that solution = (calculate what your time is worth here)

Being able to program a chip with an inexpensive programmer and knowing that it'll work the vast majority of the time = Priceless...


....And it does the job well.

Or does it?

[T.Jackson]

EPIC by MELABS is very good I've found. Quite inexpensive and always able to deliver the goods. Supports a huge range of PICs - if not almost all of them, 9 out of 10 stars from me.

[mister_e]

<table><td>http://www.bkprecision.com/img/844A.gif</td><td>BK Precision 844A ALL THE WAY! Expensive, support several thousands of EEPROM type, brand, model, MicroController as well.

Device list... the latest on their site... not sure if it's the real updated one
http://www.bkprecision.com/download/documentation/844Adev.txt

You buy one, and it fit everywhere, everyday, never fail. Look only the Microchip section... EEPROM, HCS, MCP, 10F,12F,16F,18F, Dspic... they are all there... just PIC24 is missing in the list</td></table>

If you just program PIC... maybe it's way too much, but the day you want to test-drive something else... you have it.

Around 4-5 years ago, i paid 500-600 CAN$ for that, still working, always new device, support ICSP and have a Ziff socket on the top...

Assuming 500$, it's about 100/year ('till now), 8.333/Moths, ~0.27$ /day.

Do the same for a PICKIT2 after ONLY 1 year...
40$/12/30=0.11$ come on, you spend more than that only in taxes when you buy a coffee... :D

As skimask said, include your wasted and lost time to build and debug one... no hard decision. I'm from another planet and old school... i know ;)

Nice alternative, Of course PICKIT 2, Melabs EPIC, and maybe those from MikroElektronika... i like their EasyPIC, BigPIC, DsPIC dev board so far...

[skimask]

BK Precision 844A ALL THE WAY!

You had me sold awhile back. I'm keeping my eyes out for one...
Someday...

[T.Jackson]

I think there are some good DIY alternatives around. But there's also some disappointing ones too. The KIT pictured below from DSE ain't too bad. Supports a few PICs and some EEPROMS. Comes with no software though. However it's portable - battery or plug pack operated, includes a ZIF socket and some nice power supply protection which makes it almost impossible to damage any PIC, but the problem still remains, you can buy something already made that's much more powerful for about the same money. The KIT would do much better @ $25 AUS

<img src="http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=1650&stc=1&d=1179460863">
<a href="http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/464d25960a477926273fc0a87f9c06e3/Product/View/K3610" target="_blank">Click here for more info</a>
<br/>

[Acetronics2]

" Program all the latest 8-pin and 18-pin devices, including the PCI16F628A and PIC12F629. "

Must we understand it's a stoneage device ????

Alain

[T.Jackson]

Nah - it's only a few years old actually. DSE sales staff always write like that. The problem is that half of them really aren't technical people but instead just copywriters. They probably wouldn't know the difference between a resistor and a PIC16f628a.