What is the difference between MCLR and switching VDD OFF-ON?

[Demon]

16F18877
MeLabs U2 USB programmer
Breadboard powered from wall adapter.


I just spent an ungodly amount of hours tracking a problem, turned out MCLR was NOT making a "complete RESET". I had to power down the breadboard and turned it back on for programming to take effect completely.

DAT and CLK only used by MeLabs programmer

Standard MCLR circuit:
- MCLR pin on PIC to 10K to VDD
- MCLR pin on PIC to 100R to MCLR on MeLabs U2 USB programmer
- MCLR pin on programmer to pushbutton to VSS

Power:
- 12V Wall adapter to rocker switch (VDD)
- rocker switch to DC-DC converter
- DC-DC converter to breadboard

My CONFIG in case it's relevant:

#CONFIG
    __config _CONFIG1, _FEXTOSC_OFF & _RSTOSC_HFINT32 & _CLKOUTEN_OFF & _CSWEN_OFF & _FCMEN_ON
    __config _CONFIG2, _MCLRE_ON & _PWRTE_OFF & _LPBOREN_OFF & _BOREN_ON & _BORV_LO & _ZCD_OFF & _PPS1WAY_OFF & _STVREN_ON & _DEBUG_OFF
    __config _CONFIG3, _WDTCPS_WDTCPS_11 & _WDTE_OFF & _WDTCWS_WDTCWS_7 & _WDTCCS_LFINTOSC
    __config _CONFIG4, _WRT_OFF & _SCANE_available & _LVP_OFF
    __config _CONFIG5, _CP_OFF & _CPD_OFF
#ENDCONFIG

[richard]

the major difference is that a power cycle resets all the bits and pieces that are in play on the breadboard, even the ones that are sulking cause the pic stopped talking to them quite rudely when it was reset

[Demon]

Ok.

So if I wanted a complete reset, I'd be better to do a complete shut-down of power to the entire circuit (USB PIC along with multiple secondary PICs and MCP23017).

Would a pushbutton to a 555 timer that controls a PNP that feeds the circuit be a good way to do this?

[Ioannis]

Why use a 555 and not directly connect the pushbutton to the /MCLR?

Ioannis

[Demon]

Why use a 555 and not directly connect the pushbutton to the /MCLR?

Ioannis

That was my plan. I've been doing that since forever, and it's only now causing problems.

I'm "guessing" it's because I'm using more and more peripherals in the PICs (timers, Interrupts, ADC, PWM, things I didn't really use much). I'm now using a lot more registers, and I'm guessing some of them are easily offended.

[Demon]

10uF and 100K generate a pulse of 1.1 seconds; should be enough for a complete reset of all ICs.

https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/too...table-circuit/

[amgen]

one thing that can happen is if you have any +5 volt on any of the peripheral pins, the input to the pins inside the PIC have diodes pointing to the supply voltage and then that 'could' keep the pic from resetting..... then, I don't know what..... maybe back to software instruction to reset....@RESET. Or if you take away/turn off power, would have to turn off the power for all external parts