Newbie - 16F628A and switch latching

[malc-c]

Further Update...

If I keep triggering the LEDs on PORT A (via RB0 and RB1) the PIC runs fine for ages.. I can sit there triggering the reed switches until my hearts content. However if I then trigger RB2 or RB3 and thus the LEDs on RB5,6,7,&8 then it freezes...

I'll try making the last 4 pins of PORTA the inputs and PORTB all output and see what happens

Update:

Well making PORTB all outputs and A0,A1, A6 and A7 inputs (rest port A out) is worse. Now on power up all leds light up in random sequence and the extinguish and it freezes.... I'm going to try a trusty old 12F675 with just 2 inputs and see if that works - I have stack of those PICs so using 1 per pair of sidings is no real hard ship !

[malc-c]

Last update

Well, thinking that it might be the hardware, I stripped the breadboard and started from scratch making sure there was nothing left floating, or tied down to the wrong supply. Loaded the code and tested. The first two inputs (RB0 and RB1) and thier coresponding LEDs (RA1, RA0 and RA7, RA6) can be triggered until the cows come home. However triggering the any of input three or four (RB2, or RB3) causes the thing to freeze.

I'm off to try it with the 12F675's and see if that works.

[malc-c]

It turns out the problem is human error... I used the wrong varable in one of the couter checks... that will teach me to cut and paste and not pay attention ! (I blame it on the wife, kids, cat for interrupting me and thus causing me to overlook the error !)

Thanks for everyones input...

Malcolm

[mister_e]

Well don't worry dude, it happen to everybody... you can't imagine how many keyboard and laptop i must change in a year because i destroyed them by frustration after hours/days/week of hard programming/debugging session.