At this point I must refer you back to Bill.

It is his project and I am sure he has a much better idea of what to look for.

3v0

 

This really leaves the obvious conclusion that the PIC isn't working, either a connection problem, or the PIC isn't actually programmed with the boot loader?.

Probably the next option is to check the PIC is programmed?, and you need something to read it with - such as a PIC programmer. Do you know anyone nearby who has a PIC programmer?.

__________________
PIC programmer software, and PIC Tutorials at:
http://www.winpicprog.co.uk

 

Hello gregmmc it looks as if you are having similar problems to what I was having. For me hardware was not the problem. Go into MP labs >configure>select device and make sure it is showing 16f877, by default it was showing a 18f... device. This will allow you to select the proper OS. I could not connect until the OS was downloaded. I hope it helps.

 

Sig239 - your a genius!!! Its working!!

I had some other pic selected. Selected the 16f877 and uploaded the OS - boom - its working! Shows all the right voltages as well.

Thanks for all the help guys.

 

Great! I'm glad it helped. MPlabs has the 18f device selected by default.

 

I'll be darned. Amazing. I'll put that in the manual... (Done it's there with a credit to Electro-Tech-Online)

Such a great tip Sig239. Can I send you your choice of a Inchworm, Firefly or Robin PCB?

__________________
Bill
Home of the
Firefly PIC Tutor
Inchworm ICD2

http://www.blueroomelectronics.com

 

Really, Wow! You certainly don't have to do that, but I will let you! A firefly board would make for a pretty sweet ZIF adaptor (after I get the ZIF socket of course) for the programmer!

 

Sure Email me with your address. Yep I'm changing to blueroomelectronics from William at MyBlueRoom.
bill@blueroomelectronics.com

 

E-mail sent... Silly me forgot to fill in a subject...If you don't get it I'll resend with a proper subject line. thanks again!

 

A really usefull tip - I was just about to replace the pic. Fired up the hello world test program - works like a charm.

 

Glad to hear it. Made the change in the manual. Blink LED Blink...

Here's another PIC site that looks interesting.
http://www.micro-examples.com/public...-examples.html

__________________
Bill
Smart Kits build Smart People
http://www.blueroomelectronics.com

 

Hello Bill,
I meant to ask yesterday, do you think my substitution for C9 of 68µF is too high?

 

Not at all. 68uf is fine.

__________________
Bill
Smart Kits build Smart People
http://www.blueroomelectronics.com

 

I get this asked a lot. Used to have a forum where it was explained, but when I redid the site, I removed it for the moment and will take me some time to get it back.

Although Blueroom developed the Inchworm, the version you bought from dipmicro is completed by us and I made educated changes to accomodate the inventory we had on hand. These substitutes have been tested, William is aware of them and he fully supports my changes.

C1 is non-critical high frequency filter. I realize the appnote in datasheet uses 0.33uF but this is the last part going to make your Inchworm not work.

C6, C7, C8, C11 are non critical switched capacitors for voltage pump in MAX232. Some earlier versions of this chip required 1uF or even 10uF but ST232 datasheet (MAX232 equivalent) allows anything above 100nF:

http://www.st.com/stonline/products/...re/ds/6420.pdf

C9 is the filter of multiplied voltage with non-critical value. Value above C6, C7, C8, C11 will do the job.

After I assembled my unit, I measured the ripple under load on these substitutes and there is none.

Hope this helps

__________________
www.dipmicro.com