USB PIC Programmer with 40 pin Zip socket

Nigel Goodwin said:

Must admit, I read it as ZIF, and referred to it that way in my post

Click to expand...

The comment was primarily directed to the TS.

I downloaded and installed PICkitminus onto my Windows 10 laptop.
The screenshot shows the "PICkit 2", whereas in your image it says
"PICkit 3". Is this a concern?
I am waiting for the Amazon order, should arrive by the end of January.

The PICkit3 has to have its firmware updated to work with PICkitminus

The PICkit3 and PKOB (PICKit On Board) require a special 'scripting' firmware, just like the Microchip original PICkit3 standalone GUI software. It is easiest to use the PICkitminus GUI software to update this firmware. When you start the software, it guides you to update the firmware if needed. The pk2cmd doesn't yet support firmware updates for PICkit3 or PKOB.

When you want to use MPLAB, MPLAB-X or MPLAB-X IPE again, you must revert the PICkit3 to bootloader. To do this, select 'Revert to MPLAB mode' from Tools menu. Then start MPLAB(-X), and it will update the correct firmware for MPLAB usage. If you don't do this, you will get all kind of errors when trying to use your PICkit3 or PKOB with MPLAB.

PKOB operation has been tested with the following development boards:

• Curiosity PIC32MX470 Development Board (DM320103)
• PIC24F Curiosity Development Board (DM240004)
• Microstick II SK (DM330013-2)
• Explorer 16/32 Development Board (DM240001-2)

Please Note that all new devboards have PKOB4 or some other solution, those are not supported. Also many older boards have been updated to new revision. For example Curiosity HPC board (DM164136) originally had PKOB (based on PICkit3), but revision 2 has PKOB4 (based on PICkit4). The easiest way is to look at the microcontroller type on the devboard. If it is PIC24FJ256GB106, it is very likely PKOB, and probably will work.

I would just use MPLAB-X IPE it works out of the box

Personally, I prefer the simplicity of the PICkit GUI. MPLAB has many options which will probably just confuse a BASIC user. That's my experience for what it's worth.

You think he will get it to work with pickit3 I’ve not tried it I use the regular pickit software it said on there website you have to change bootloader
I use mplab x so ipe works fine for me with any
Software be it X swordfish whatever I just point ipe to where the hex is it’s easy as pie

As I said, this is my experience. Other may and are welcome to see it differently.

Based in bcz 's comments, I think he'll find PICkitminus much less intimidating.

As soon as I receive my order from Amazon and familiarized myself with the materia I want to report back (sometime after the end of January).

For The Popcorn said:

The PICkit 3 has much less output current than the PICkit 2, so external power may be required for ICSP on a populated board. If programming a bare chip in a ZIF socket, a PICkit 3 will have no trouble.

Click to expand...

Exactly, any of the PK series will self power a PIC in a ZIF socket, but may not be capable of doing so via ICSP. The PK4 is a big step forward though, and much more power capable than the PK3.

be80be said:

I would just use MPLAB-X IPE it works out of the box

Click to expand...

I would agree, it seems crazy to complicate things using third party limited software.

The pickit 3 is buggy about powering even with just led on a ip pin but any from pickit2 to pickit 5 will program a 18f2550 or bigger 18f4550