PIC ICSP Programming Board

[Fred.Amoson]

I recently picked up the PicKit 2 programmer and I want to make a programming board that will program DIP, SOIC, and SSOP chips of various sizes. For the DIP I will use a ZIF and for the SOIC/SSOP I will just have the outlines on a PCB and put the chip in the right spot and program.

Any tips for the design of this board? Has someone designed a board like this already?

Thanks

 

[philba]

yeah, skip straight to ICSP. I almost never bother with sockets. Consider what you will do, especially with SM packages, if you have to reprogram when the chip is mounted on the target board.

 

[Fred.Amoson]

Whenever I deal with SM, the boards are never large enough to add ICSP, and I usually have the code finalized before I actually solder the chip down. The one time I needed to make a change, I soldered 5 wires to the SM and programmed it via ICSP.

 

[Shax]

Fred,

here is a pic of a ZIF board I made for my PicKit2...
I've made a couple of different versions, to cater for different VDD / VSS locations on the various PIC chips I use.
Currently working on making a 40pin universal (jumpered) version..

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

You might try checking the P16PRO40 documentation?, which programs all sizes of PIC's in a single 40 pin ZIF - but uses two seperate Vpp lines switched in the software, you could do the same, but use an SPDT switch to select between them.

 

[1Steveo]

Look at Ebay item # 180112132626 , the sockets will cost you more than that!

 

[mister_e]

When you deal with SMD and If you can't fit a ICSP socket, you may want to use a IC-CLIP like the following
https://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=689&stc=1&d=1135995023

and build an adapter.

have a look at the following link.
https://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=3014

HTH

 

[Mike - K8LH]

You might try checking the P16PRO40 documentation?, which programs all sizes of PIC's in a single 40 pin ZIF - but uses two seperate Vpp lines switched in the software, you could do the same, but use an SPDT switch to select between them.

The problem with the aging P16PRO40 (I have one) is that it's not pinned out for the 14-pin and 20-pin devices.

If it'll help, here's a layout I've used for "programming adapters" (below). You can install a ZIF socket on the 28-40 layout or use 3 inexpensive single-in-line machined pin sockets instead. The little 20 pin layout supports the 8-pin, 14-pin, 18-pin, and 20-pin devices. I have a different layout for 28-40 pin dsPIC devices.

 

[philba]

When you deal with SMD and If you can't fit a ICSP socket, you may want to use a IC-CLIP like the following
https://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=689&stc=1&d=1135995023

and build an adapter.

have a look at the following link.
https://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=3014

HTH

I never put an ICSP header for soics - I use a similar clip from pomona. There really is no reason to waste the space for a header.

 

[Sceadwian]

Headers are useful if you want to be able to re-program the chip without opening up the device, perhaps via a 6 pin header in a battery compartment.

 

[Shax]

The problem with the aging P16PRO40 (I have one) is that it's not pinned out for the 14-pin and 20-pin devices.

If it'll help, here's a layout I've used for "programming adapters" (below). You can install a ZIF socket on the 28-40 layout or use 3 inexpensive single-in-line machined pin sockets instead. The little 20 pin layout supports the 8-pin, 14-pin, 18-pin, and 20-pin devices. I have a different layout for 28-40 pin dsPIC devices.

Cheers for the layout Mike..
I know what I'll be doing this week.. laying out a PCB to hold the 2 ZIF sockets!

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

The problem with the aging P16PRO40 (I have one) is that it's not pinned out for the 14-pin and 20-pin devices.

I don't think I've got any 20 pin devices to try?, but certainly 14 pin ones work fine. But in any case, the P16PRO40 ZIF principle still holds, and you could easily use a three way switch to select even more devices if required.

 

[philba]

Headers are useful if you want to be able to re-program the chip without opening up the device, perhaps via a 6 pin header in a battery compartment.

if I need to update a box in the field, I much prefer to use a microcontroller that supports a serial boot loader. Using ICSP really limits the cable length a whereas a serial cable can be quite long.

 

[Fred.Amoson]

Thanks for all of the help!

I think I'll look into getting a 20 pin ZIF to program the DIPs and some various SOIC clips for SOIC programming. I'll deal with SSOPs when the time comes. I'm not sure I could even solder them in place.

Thanks!

 

[Fred.Amoson]

Fred,

here is a pic of a ZIF board I made for my PicKit2...
I've made a couple of different versions, to cater for different VDD / VSS locations on the various PIC chips I use.
Currently working on making a 40pin universal (jumpered) version..

That looks almost exactly like what I want to make for the DIPs. Would you be willing to share that board layout? If not, no problem.

Also, anyone know a good source for ZIF sockets? I usually order from Mouser, but they have very few choices. I'm in the US.

 

[Mike - K8LH]

If it helps, here's a layout I did using a 40-pin ZIF that's very similar to the ZIF-40 programming adapter from melabs. You place 28 and 40 pin devices in it one way, then turn it around 180 degrees and use the other connector to program 8, 14, 18, and 20 pin devices (even though it's labeled 8-18). The dual-row connectors are used with my melabs Serial Programmer and the single row connectors are used for my home made programmer. You may notice that this layout will also support using 3 single-in-line machined pin sockets instead of a 40-pin ZIF socket.

Good luck. Mike

 

[Shax]

That looks almost exactly like what I want to make for the DIPs. Would you be willing to share that board layout? If not, no problem.

Also, anyone know a good source for ZIF sockets? I usually order from Mouser, but they have very few choices. I'm in the US.

Futurlec do zif sockets at great prices.....

Fred you have PM....