Hi,
Apparently getting a hold of a sales engineer at microchip is extremely difficult right now so I'll ask a few questions here.

I'm looking at the PIC16F1823, is this the lowest powered PIC available?
What programming board do I need to program this?
Does it come with a C compiler?
Where can I find some example C code?

Sorry kind of a noob here to Microchip. I have never programmed a PIC device before.

 

What's the application? What are you powering it with?

PICkit2 or 3

Several C compilers exist, there are demo versions and lite versions galore.

The Microchip site has scads of example code.

 

What's the application? What are you powering it with?

PICkit2 or 3

Several C compilers exist, there are demo versions and lite versions galore.

The Microchip site has scads of example code.

This circuit is just providing some low frequency digital logic and I'll be using the on-board comparators as well. PICkit 3 Debug Express seems like it will do the job that I'm looking for.

What does the lite mode C compiler mean? Does it just limit the amount of lines you can use?

I was using freescale MCU's back in the day, and so far Microchip seems to be a much better company in terms of organization and ease of use.

Thanks for the help, you saved me from pulling my hair out.

edit. Seems like the PIC16F1824 consumes less power.

 

Take a look here. http://www.microchip.com/stellent/id...534868#P10_502 Here you can also read what lite mode is Then you purchase a the debug express you will get a CD with all you need also C compilers. But I will recommend downloading the newest versions anyway.

 

I'd go with the PICkit 3 as well. I have a PICkit 2, but it's limited to the 8 to 14 pin MCU's. The PICkit 3 will program virtually all of Microchips' FLASH MCU's.

The "lite" C compiler doesn't optimize as much as the full version, and limits you as to the output code size. There are other options out there, such as B. Knutsens' CC5, Mikroelectronica, etc. See Microchips' resource pages for links.

 

Pickit 2 will program more than just the 8 - 14 pin chips
Sometimes you have to use the pickit2 software to program them.
The Pickit3 is more modern, but I haven't really looked into the differences.
List below:
http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=1406&dDocName=en027813

 

II have a PICkit 2, but it's limited to the 8 to 14 pin MCU's

This is not correct SgtWookie The PICkit 2 unit can program much more than that via the ICSP interface. Did you mean PICkit 1?

 

I'm asleep this afternoon - I have a PICkit 1

 

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