Frying PORT.B1 and B2?

After a power "Blink", followed a couple seconds later by a power failure, it seems as if my 18F4620 PORT.B1 and B2 is fried.

I had it in a LAB-X1, which was powered by a small "wall wart", which was pluged into a surge protector (same one my computer runs off). I have modified the LAB-X1 to accomadate jumpers to change around the configuration of the board to accomadate different chips/projects. At the time, I was running the 4 data lines for a VFD (operates like a std LCD) off of B0-B4.

I have verified the all of the other hardware works by running a 16F877A and 18F4550 without any problems. I've also tried various other tasks with the bum 18F4620 (flashing LEDs, detecting button press) with no positive results. Beside those two lost pins, I seems to work OK (timers, I2C, USART).

I guess I am in a mild state of disbelief. I had the impression these little things were fairly robust:o.
Is there anything I can do in the future to better protect the PIC?

Regards,
Steve

Hi, Steve

Always use series resistors not to reach the maximum port allowable current ...

Sorry, but I do not have better.

Using Brown out detect ... may be (inputs as defaults ... but does not protect from surges from peripherals ...).

Alain

I've even plugged a couple of them backwards. It seems to take a whole lot to fry one. The only way I can think of to really test your chip would be to put the identical program in an identical chip and see if it has the same results.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mugwamp

...put the identical program in an identical chip...

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Yea, I've got a replacement on the way. Should get it in a day or so. But I am almost certian it'a a goner, or at least those pins. I'll check for sure though. I may be able to use it in a future project that does not need all those pins.