I have recently started trying to use these devices, and I thought that my PICstart plus would program them, but I have discovered that it needs an adaptor. I found the circuit of such an adaptor on the Microchip site, but it isn't a diagram, just some pin connections. I have built my interpretation of it, but it still doesn't work.

Does any one know the circuit for an adaptor that really does work?

Thanks,

Ian

 

Serial programming needs 5 lines: power, ground, VPP (MCLR), data and clock. (Data and clock have several names but should be identifiable). If you hook these up you may get it to work.

I say "may get it to work" because the programmer end (here your PICstart) may need to know a few things about the target device; you may get it to work but if there is trouble there isn't anything to do.

What you really need is a PICkit II or PICkit III. The II is a little cheaper, the III covers all devices (including the ones yet to be released). You will do yourself a favor to get either of these, and get real Microchip products, not a clone.

 

Can you show us the link to this adaptor?

 

Table 2 in Microchip document DS91079B is what I tried first. A search on the microchip site for the above document number should take you straight to it. There is also a wiring diagram on a different document, but I can't find it at the moment. I will post again when I get home

Ian

 

Table 2 in the doc is for a PICkit1, not a PICstart programmer. If you are using the 8 pin DIP, just drop it in the 40pin ZIF as noted in the PICstart's documentation - see EDIT below.

If using SOT-6, make an adapter using an 8 pin DIP header and pin it DIP pin 2-Vdd, DIP pin 7-Vss, DIP pin 8-GP3(Vpp), DIP pin 4-GP1(ISCPCLK), DIP pin5-GP0(ISCPDAT) i.e. matching the pinout of the DIP device to the corresponding pins of the SOT-6. Check out how its done with the AC163021 - described in EDIT below.

The PICstart firmware must be late enough to support your 10Fxxx. Older PICstarts have an OTP PIC that has to be swapped out. You can get a flash-PIC adapter to replace that and make the PICstart firmware upgradable via MPLAB. If you don't need to program chips out of circuit using the PICstart, consider the PICkits.

EDIT: have a look at the README file for the PICstart. For MPLAB 8.x its located at
C:/Program Files (x86)/Microchip/MPLAB IDE/Readmes/Readme for PICSTART Plus.htm
Here are some excerpts of interest:

Known Problems

The following is a list of known problems. For information on common problems, error messages and limitations, please see “Troubleshooting” in the online help file for PICSTART Plus (hlpPSPlus.chm).
Some devices require that a 0.1uF bypass capacitor be placed from the VDD pin to the VSS pin of the device to successfully program the device. Also, pin 7 must be shorted to pin 20 (VDD to AVDD). If programming failures still arise, try increasing this value incrementally to a maximum of 10uF. A low ESR capacitor such as a tantalum is recommended. The parts affected are:
PIC10F220 PIC10F222 ...

Programming PIC10F2XX Devices

PIC10F2xx devices are currently available in a 6-pin SOT 23 and 8-pin DIP packages. The following setup is required for use with the PICSTART Plus:
6-pin SOT 23 options:
1. PIC10F2xx Universal Programmer Adapter (AC163020) with the 16-pin Adapter socket on the reverse side: Using the male-male stand-off headers, align pin one as viewed from the top silk screen with pin one of the 40-pin ZIFF socket on the PICSTART Plus. Please see "AC163020 pin 1 guide" (DS51478).
2. PIC10F2xx SOT-23 to DIP-8 Programmer Adapter (AC163021): Using the pin one pad (square solder pad), align the pad with pin one of the 40-pin ZIFF socket on the PICSTART Plus. Please see "AC163021 pin 1 guide" (DS51479).
8-pin DIP options:
1. PIC10F2xx Universal Programmer Adapter (AC163020) with the 18-pin Adapter socket on the reverse side: Using the male-male stand-off headers, align pin one as viewed from the top silk screen with pin one of the 40-pin ZIFF socket on the PICSTART Plus. Please see "AC163020 pin 1 guide" (DS51478).
2. Align Pin 1 of the 10F2xx DIP-8 package to Pin 9 of the PICSTART Plus.

Have fun.

 

I've never used the PICstart, but with the PICKIT2 you have to change a setting in the software from Midrange to Baseline because the PIC10F2xx isn't auto-detected. Pretty handy chips if you only need a few pins.

 

You will do yourself a favor to get either of these, and get real Microchip products, not a clone.

I have a clone and have never had any problems.
Microchip publish the circuit and software for the PICKIT 3 so it is in the public domain.