Well, I got as far as attempting to calculate some values for a 555 circuit but felt like I was still fumbling in the dark a bit and probably had about reached the limits of what the venerable 555 could do. So I bit the bullet and bought a Pickit 3 clone, now beginning to regret being a cheapskate and going for the clone rather than the real thing since the clone won't power the chip...
anyway back too it!
anyway back too it!