I2C lcd ( arduino ) with PICBASIC, help

[iw2fvo]

Dear Steve,

I am not able to findout the detailed spec for the QC2004A display. I can tell it is working well using the standard PBP connection diagram.
I am posting a general spec for LCD addressing ( attached ).

I did a very bad experience with the PCF expander board that was attached to the LCD: the trim pot that should adjust the contrast of the display has the cursor connected to ground and one side connected to 5VDC. I did turn it just to be sure of the contrast setting and I got a short circuit of the 5Vdc to ground when turned fully clockwise. The result is that my ICD2 programmer smoked and it is no longer working. I have attached the photo of the PCF expander to warn about this item: there is a very very gross design error on it.
I am looking to find a new pic programmer to buy: what do you recommand to me ? Is the pickit3 really good ?
I have a pic16f877 to replace on the ICD2 programmer but I do not have any possibiliity to program it with the required bootloader... I will ask someone tomorrow !
I really hope to test your programs soon. I will let you know.
I want to thank you once again for the help you are giving to me .
Regards,
Ambrogio

[EarlyBird2]

Ambrogio

I am looking to find a new pic programmer to buy: what do you recommend to me ? Is the pickit3 really good ?

I have no experience of programmers as I inherited all of my hardware from my son, he took an electronics course before going to university. I have a Picstart Plus that I have never used.

I really hope to test your programs soon. I will let you know.

Please do as you have sparked my interest now and all sorts of bright ideas are formulating in my mind to the point that I am loosing sleep.

[richard]

I have a pickit3 and a pickit2 programmer the pk3 only ever gets used if its the only choice (and it very seldom is) . the gui for the pk2 is just so much better to use . serial debugging is just so easy with the pk2 and its built in comms package . by far the pk2 is my tool of choice for icsp.
I have never bothered to use either of them in command line mode for programming directly from micro code studio although it is fairly easy to do .
I must admit that I have not looked to see if microchip have made a better/upgraded gui for the pk3 for at least a year now , my info may be out of date .
I also wonder if any body has tried the cheap pk2 clones that are on ebay , are they compatible with the microchip pk2 gui ? are they any good?

[iw2fvo]

Is there a lista of PICs programmable by PICKIT2 ?
Thanks
Ambrogio

[richard]

Is there a lista of PICs programmable by PICKIT2 ?

not that I can find ,but there is not many that aren't on the supported device list.
you can download the pickit2 program(its free) from microchip site and check out the supported device list if you have specific devices to check
http://www.microchip.com/Development...tDocumentation

[iw2fvo]

Hi Steve,
I am back again on this LCD ...
I have repaired the programmer and so I had the occasion to test the program.
> Back light does not come on at all .
> nothing is displayed on the LCD
If you have something more to suggest, I am ready to go on .
Thanks
Regards,
Ambrogio

[EarlyBird2]

Hi Steve,
I am back again on this LCD ...
I have repaired the programmer and so I had the occasion to test the program.
> Back light does not come on at all .
> nothing is displayed on the LCD
If you have something more to suggest, I am ready to go on .
Thanks
Regards,
Ambrogio

Not good news then!

I need to refresh my memory. Post the full code you are using please.