Hi,
I was reading about configuration bits and was trying to think about it from the perspective of real-world applications where the execution of the PIC needs to be foolproof in the sence that it as stable as it is designed for. For example, I read that if the VDD of the PIC gets below a certain level, depending on what situation/setting the PIC is used, it may run in an unstable manner. Because of that, we enable BOR right?
There are few fuses that I need inputs on whether to use it or not. So, if you are free, please share your experience related to using the fuse. Below are my thoughts on the different fuses.
Oscillator - Internal or external?:
If internal oscillator is used, then there are 3 to 4 less components on the board and that safe cost. So far, unless the PIC is used to perform tasks that requires perfect timing such as UART or any serial communication, then using Internal oscillator is fine because internal oscillator is not as accurate as external oscillator. How about power consumption? Is there any major differences? Any other thoughts?
Watchdog Timer:
Well, don't really use it. If the code is bug free and everything seems to perform well during testing, there is no reason to use WDT to reset the PIC is there?
Power Up Timer:
Use it so that the PIC will start executing the instructions when everythhing is stable. The timer gives the PIC time to stablelize.
MCLR - Enable or disable:
Well, if the product is ready for market and the code is finalise, there is no reason to enable the MCLR pin is there? Besides, enableing it means that we have less I/O pin to use. So, if everything is well, I would not enable it.
Code Protect:
I'm not sure about this. I heard that even though the code protest feature is set, the code can still be read by removing a layer of the PIC. How true is that? Can somebody please confirm?
Brown Out Reset:
I would enable it but will let SBOREN to control the BOR function.
Internal/External Switch Over Mode:
I would enable it if the PIC spends most of its time in sleep mode and only wake up to execute few instructions before it goes back to sleep so that it consumes less power.
Monitor Clock Fail-safe:
Well, what is the chances of external oscillation malfunctioning? So, is there really a need to enable this fuse? Besides, enableing it would mean that the internal oscillator is running as well as the external oscillator because the external oscillation is compared to the internal oscillation. This will comsume more power wouldn't it?
I was reading about configuration bits and was trying to think about it from the perspective of real-world applications where the execution of the PIC needs to be foolproof in the sence that it as stable as it is designed for. For example, I read that if the VDD of the PIC gets below a certain level, depending on what situation/setting the PIC is used, it may run in an unstable manner. Because of that, we enable BOR right?
There are few fuses that I need inputs on whether to use it or not. So, if you are free, please share your experience related to using the fuse. Below are my thoughts on the different fuses.
Oscillator - Internal or external?:
If internal oscillator is used, then there are 3 to 4 less components on the board and that safe cost. So far, unless the PIC is used to perform tasks that requires perfect timing such as UART or any serial communication, then using Internal oscillator is fine because internal oscillator is not as accurate as external oscillator. How about power consumption? Is there any major differences? Any other thoughts?
Watchdog Timer:
Well, don't really use it. If the code is bug free and everything seems to perform well during testing, there is no reason to use WDT to reset the PIC is there?
Power Up Timer:
Use it so that the PIC will start executing the instructions when everythhing is stable. The timer gives the PIC time to stablelize.
MCLR - Enable or disable:
Well, if the product is ready for market and the code is finalise, there is no reason to enable the MCLR pin is there? Besides, enableing it means that we have less I/O pin to use. So, if everything is well, I would not enable it.
Code Protect:
I'm not sure about this. I heard that even though the code protest feature is set, the code can still be read by removing a layer of the PIC. How true is that? Can somebody please confirm?
Brown Out Reset:
I would enable it but will let SBOREN to control the BOR function.
Internal/External Switch Over Mode:
I would enable it if the PIC spends most of its time in sleep mode and only wake up to execute few instructions before it goes back to sleep so that it consumes less power.
Monitor Clock Fail-safe:
Well, what is the chances of external oscillation malfunctioning? So, is there really a need to enable this fuse? Besides, enableing it would mean that the internal oscillator is running as well as the external oscillator because the external oscillation is compared to the internal oscillation. This will comsume more power wouldn't it?