PICkit2 programming problem

[poriet]

Hi,
I'm just learning to program PICs; I have the PICkit2.
Rather than use the LPC demo board with its F690, I opted to use a 16F54 baseline chip ( I just had one handy ) for which I made a breakout board.
However, all this is academic for, when you open MPLAB and select this PIC, it tells you that you cannot use the PICkit2 programmer. This is odd: the microchip website states that the F54 is supported; also the PICkit2 menu shows the F54.
PIC chips, huh! One part inspiration, 10 parts bloody frustration.

Bruce

[AlexR]

Yes I've noticed the same thing not that I have used any 16F5X chips so I'm not talking from experience.

I don't know why MPLAB does not support 16F5X chips under pickit2 since the chips do support ICSP so in theory the pickit2 should be able to program them. One solution could be to use the pickit2 stand-alone GUI to program the chips. Its not as convenient as programming from the PMLAB IDE but it might get you around the problem.

The other solution is to cut your losses, ditch the 16F5X chips you have and get something a bit more powerful. The 16F5X series are pretty terrible chips and as you get deeper into programming you will find their lack of interrupts, absents of any useful peripherals, and a mere 2 level stack depth very limiting.

[blueroomelectronics]

Since the 16F54 doesn't support debug...
You can configure the PICKit2 software to automatically program on button or change of hex file. So after MPLAB creates the hex file the PICKit2 can program it.

[poriet]

Thank you guys. I know this is a crap chip, but I only want to get the feel of flashing a few LEDs and maybe a 7-seg display. I've gone to the trouble of making a breakout board, so....
Blueroom...I fear I dont really understand what you mean. I write the program in MPLAB, then what? I open the PIC kit2 menu, click on 'write on PICkit button' and then press the button. Is that it?

Bruce

[BMorse]

Originally Posted by poriet

Thank you guys. I know this is a crap chip, but I only want to get the feel of flashing a few LEDs and maybe a 7-seg display. I've gone to the trouble of making a breakout board, so....
Blueroom...I fear I dont really understand what you mean. I write the program in MPLAB, then what? I open the PIC kit2 menu, click on 'write on PICkit button' and then press the button. Is that it?

Bruce

The Pickit2 comes with its own standalone program for programming a hex file to a pic, you do not have to use it as a programmer right in MPLAB.... compile your code in MPLAB, close MPLAB, open the Pickit2 app, load the hex you just compiled and program that into the pic....

B. Morse

[t06afre]

Originally Posted by BMorse

The Pickit2 comes with its own standalone program for programming a hex file to a pic, you do not have to use it as a programmer right in MPLAB.... compile your code in MPLAB, close MPLAB, open the Pickit2 app, load the hex you just compiled and program that into the pic....
B. Morse

Then using the Pickit 2 programmer you must select MCU. Else the Pickit 2 will not start programming. I checked and could not find any 16f5* device on my setup (ver 2.61) I think the using the programmer to go option is the best alternative, but I can not check it

[poriet]

Thanks; I'll give it a go. BTW, I'm using PICkit2 ver2.5 and the F54 is right there!
Bruce

[Markd77]

On this page click the link PICKIT2 V2.61 on the right hand side of the page.

http://www.microchip.com/stellent/id...irects=pickit2

[AlexR]

Originally Posted by t06afre

Then using the Pickit 2 programmer you must select MCU. Else the Pickit 2 will not start programming. I checked and could not find any 16f5* device on my setup (ver 2.61) I think the using the programmer to go option is the best alternative, but I can not check it

Probably you were looking in the wrong place. The PIC16F5X are classed as "Baseline" chips

[t06afre]

Originally Posted by AlexR

Probably you were looking in the wrong place. The PIC16F5X are classed as "Baseline" chips

Yes you and BMorse are correct. And I am wrong. I have never used the the Pickit 2 software besides testing the programmer to go option once. So i should have done my homework much better before I gave a statement. I hope I did not cause any confusion for you Poriet