The PICKIT 3 was nice when it worked as it worked with the MPLAB and Microcode Studio when I added the command lines I found on the forums.
So I have been using 16F690's most exclusively. Data, Clock and VPP are all on port A. VPP is on an input only port and I most often used the port a0 and a1 as inputs where data and clock are but ya know, I wouldn't doubt that I left those to default outputs when I start a new project. So you think it could be as simple as the a0/a1 (data/clock) being latched down that fries the programmer?

I do most often power the PIC buy my circuit and so now that I think about it, after the first program when it starts it will have A0 and A1 as outputs (if I don't change it right away in my first program) and held low if I don't first set them as inputs or isolate them.
I also use the MCLR pin as an input rather than as MCLR. Would that be an issue? I wouldn't think so unless there is something I don't know with that.

I'd try another PICKIT 3 if there was a reason for the failures that I could remedy it in the future.
I also see that PICKIT 2 clones are closer to $20.

Oh yeah. I see that Adruino stuff is coming down in price but I am so used to PIC and I like building minimalistic boards to do various things with the small cheap $2 PIC's and I'd have to learn the C language better when i am used to PIC BASIC (was used to that since the Tandy 8000/VIC20 days)

Quote Originally Posted by tumbleweed View Post
I've used all the Microchip ones, and even a few pickit3 clones and never had an issue with any of them.
If you keep blowing up PK3's then it could be your setup/configuration (not using MCLR, setting RB6/RB7 as outputs, etc).

If you've been using the kit149/150 then you must be using some OLD chips, stuff from the 1990's/early 2000.
If that's the case you'll want to get a programmer that can do HV programming, which some of the pickit3 clones can't do and neither does the SNAP.

The SNAP and pickit4 will require you to install MPLABX to get the drivers, so that's a negative, plus you're pretty much limited to command-line operation with them (no programming app except for MPLABX)

From what you've described you've been using, I'd second a vote for the Pickitplus software with a decent pickit3 clone, although that might be getting harder and harder to come by these days.