Pickit3 from Microcode Studio

[Gusse]

I ended up also to purchase PicKit 3, but I'm not very satified with it (I have had it now 2 days). In MPLAB mode (MPLAB IDE & MPLAB X IDE), operation has been poor. So far I have not managed to program any hex succesfully. I have tested old and new MPLAB's (GUI & command line), but always there have been some issues. With GUI prommers PicKit is detected OK, firmware downloads OK, but when I try to read, write, erase, etc.. there are problems. With command line (e.g via MicroCode Studio) I managed to erase, flash and verify, which was kind of promising event. Anyway, there was issues to run flashed hex in PIC.

I downloaded PICkit 3 v3.10 standalone prommer software, which started to work OK when bundled firmware files were installed. Now it auto-detect PICs, read & write & verify OK and works otherwise fine.

I read recently MPLAB mode (in MicroCode Studio) programmed PIC with standalone prommer and surprisingly part of code did not match with original hex. That was the reason why PIC did not work.

I thought that Microchip tools (mine is from Sure's) would work a little bit more reliable way. Even my old handmade serial port flashing prommer is more reliable and better working that Microchip commercial one.
I'm not really happy, but happy enough that it is working. My old serial port (COM) prommer had issues with some of the laptops (docking station with com port) so that I had to purchase USB based prommer.

[HenrikOlsson]

Hmm, I've never had problems like that with my PICkit3. At one time I thought I had bricked it since it wouldn't change firmware between MPLAB and standalone programmer mode but after a while it gave in started working again, other than that it's been working just fine for years, with MPLAB, with the stand alone application and with command line interface (which is what I use 90% of the time).

Seeing you got it from Sure Electronics and seeing they are selling both what appears to be genuine PK3s from Microchip (the red/clear ones) AND clones (the black ones), which one did you get?

Make sure you pay attention to the target Circuit design precautions shown in the "PICKit3 poster".

/Henrik.

[Gusse]

Cmd line MPLAB via MicroCode Studio and PICkit v3.10 seems to work now OK, which is good

But, GUI MPLAB's still seems to have some issues:

MPLAB X IPE v2.00
Target device was not found. You must connect to a target device to use PICkit 3.

MPLAB IDE (v8.92)
PK3Err0045: You must connect to a target device to use PICkit 3.

Firmware upgrades/changes were successful in both GUI environments.
In all cases I have used same HW, so that is not an issue (and yes, PIC was connected to PK3). I think issue in PICkit SW...

My PICkit 3 is real Microchip one (made in China). Same poster was in package

[HenrikOlsson]

Hi,
How do you power your circuit?
Depending on how the command line switches are set it may be that the comma´nd line interface is set to provide power to your circuit while, when you you're programming from within MPLAB, thePICKit3 is not set to provide Power to the circuit.

/Henrik.

[Gusse]

Thanks Henrik!

It seems that GUI MPLAB's needed additional setting to power the target.

Power -> Power Target Circuit from Tool (ICSP Options)

Now it work like a charm.