Erratic PIC12F675 behavior

[russman613]

So, i am new to the whole PIC programming thing but think i have all the gear and set up to get going.

i am sure i am missing something very small in the category of DFU.

I am using the blinking led sample program from Melanie in this post: http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/show...ghlight=12f675

here is the code:

' PIC Defines
' -----------
@ DEVICE pic12F675, INTRC_OSC_NOCLKOUT
' System Clock Options (Internal)
@ DEVICE pic12F675, WDT_ON
' Watchdog Timer
@ DEVICE pic12F675, PWRT_ON
' Power-On Timer
@ DEVICE pic12F675, MCLR_OFF
' Master Clear Options (Internal)
@ DEVICE pic12F675, BOD_ON
' Brown-Out Detect

'
' Initialise
' ----------
TRISIO=%00001000
CMCON=%00000111
ANSEL=%00000000

'
' Hardware Defines
' ----------------
LED var GPIO.0

'
' Program Body
' ------------
Loop:
Toggle LED
Pause 500
Goto Loop

End


My problem is that the starting of the led blinking is erratic. usually, when i first put it in my test circuit it blinks as expected. if i cycle the power it will not come back on . if i fiddle with it or leave it, sometimes it will work again. if i leave it alone, after a few minutes, the led will turn on and stay on. it seems to work the first time every time after i reprogram it. when it does blink, it does seem to blink blink at the right frequency.

i am using the new melabs USB programmer, PicBasic Pro compiler 2.46 with MicroCode studio 2.3.0.0. Under compile and program options, i have Use MPASM unchecked.

the test circuit has a .1uf bypass capacitor connected to pin 1 and pin 8. the led is connected to pin 7 (gpio.0) vdd is on pin 1 and vss is on pin 8. all other pins are not connected to anything. pretty simple. it is powered via a LM2940CT-5.0 with the manufacturer specified cpacitors on either side, plus some bulk capacitors (since i eventually want to run an hbridge off the unregulated side of the same power supply).

Since my setup could not be any simpler, clearly I must be missing something. i have tried three different prototype breadboards.

thoughts? Suggestions?? insults???

thanks in advance.

russ

[Archilochus]

Just curious - if you let the circuit sit for a long time - say 4 hours - with power shut off, does it then work properly again when power is re-applied?

Arch

[russman613]

It turns out that if i let the whole test circuit sit with the power off for about 10 minutes or so, it works fine. then, if i power it off right away, it does not blink but after about two minutes the LED comes on and stays on. then, if i power it off and let it sit for 10 min or so, it seems to blink per normal (for one power cycle).

interesting test to suggest. what are you thinking may be my problem?

russ

[russman613]

Little more testing. it seems that if i let the unit sit for about 30 seconds, it will work.

any thoughts anyone?

thx in advance

russ

[bartman]

I'm going to go out on a limb here with my limited knowledge, but I had similar problems while trying to learn this stuff.

First was the MCLR pin not connected to the + side with a 4.7K resistor and not turned ON in the programmer. That really caused erratic operation like you descibed. My resistor had popped out of the breadboard and I hadn't noticed so I had it ON, but it wasn't there.

Second is that I have read here a few times that all unused pins should be set to input and grounded via a resistor or they end up floating which can also cause problems.

Since I'm still learning this too I may be completely off base, but your problems do sound a lot like mine.

Bart

[Melanie]

This is about as simple a piece of code as you can get.

Check, when you programmed your PIC (do it again if need be) that your Config Fuse settings in your programmer matched those in the program. If you haven't programmed MCLR_OFF into the chip, that could be the problem, alternatively, look for bad hardware connections or bad PSU.