Quote Originally Posted by Acetronics View Post
Hi,

At the moment ...

I have my personnal 18 pins test board in front of me, Pic is a 16F648a, loaded with your program ( no mod ... )

you know what ??? ...

Led @ PortB.7 BLINKS !!!

Picture required ???

soooo ... try another '648 ... after checking your board and solders ...

Alain
Hi Alain, thanks for the info, can you just confirm that you tried the 648A with the CLEAR.

The PCB is a commercially made board, currently in use, and just has the pic changed. I have tested 2 PCBs known working, with same result.

If yours does work, then I think there can only be 2 suspects left.

Suspect 1
The pics, I have tried 3 brand new ones, and all show the same problem, I have more but they are all the same batch, I will have to see if I can get a different batch.


Suspect 2
The programmer is not programming correctly, I use the Melabs EPIC programmer connected to LPT2, correct PSU and correct programming volts (re-checked this morning).

The EPIC programmer software is 2.46beta, latest for this from Melabs site. I have tried the Melabs programmer 4.32beta, but that does not work, it does not read the chip ID.

I will have to take the hex file to a friend tomorrow and get him to program the pic, at least that would rule out the programmer one way or another.

OH...... yes there is a final suspect.......................Me !!

Thanks all for your help.