EPIC 2.46 beta and 16f876a-i/sp

I have a big problem programming 16f876a-i/sp on an epic programmer. The epic manages to program PIC16f877A-20 no problen.

I have a very simple circuit Allowing ICSP drawing attached shows how it is connected.

power is supplied to the chip from a very stable 5V supply.

The ground from the epic is connected to the ground on the chip.

The clock and data lines for programming are connected correctly.

I have a 10k resistor from 5v connected to pin 1 via a 1n4148 to prevent the chip erasing.

The programming voltage is taken directly to pin 1

I have two oddities, the first is the 10k resistor and the diode, maybe these are not so perfect and also the 16f876a-i/sp is not listed in my epic software so I can only select 16f876a.

andyf97, I don't see VSS connected to pin 8 of the micro? Both pins 8 & 19 must be tied to VSS for reliable operation.

Dave Purola,
N8NTA

Hi Dave,

Well spotted mate,

Also just for anyone else who has similar problems:

in the epic I am using the code protect keeps defaulting to be on,

so during spending days trying just about everything and when verifying the code had be written correctly I was getting the obvious message code programming error, if the epic software cant read the code then for sure it will not match. maybe a bug in epic that needs to be set, if code protect is on then dont try to validate the written code because for sure it will fail.

Thanks again dave, I now have a blinking led on the pic at various rates to visually see the pic is running..

andyf97, Have you gone to Melabs web site and down loaded the latest software for the Epic and Serial Programmer? It's free. I am running the latest beta version with no problem.

Dave Purola,
N8NTA