Pickit3 2014 , how good or bad, really ?

[Wp100]

Hi,

Was looking to use some Pics my PK2 / dev file will not cover.

Although the PK3 received a lot of very bad press initially, seems it still has a lot of problems if you look in the Microchip programmers forum; though of course that really does only reflect the problem side of things.

Wondered what those forum members who have used a PK3 think of it and is it really as bad today as when first released ?
( don't want to pay 4 times the price for an ICD3 )

 

[Ian Rogers]

I have never had an issue with pickit3.... The only pain is the way it starts up... If you have a little programming adapter you need to specify the voltage... If you forget, it spits it's dummy out and you have to unplug it and re-connect to star over..... If the target board has power, then there is no difference....

My biggest annoyance was using a pic16LF1828.... It will not allow me to set a 5v voltage... It does, however, still program the chip at 3.3v.

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

I have never had an issue with pickit3....

Likewise, I've never had a problem with mine.

 

[ClydeCrashKop]

Mine works fine.

 

[NorthGuy]

I sometimes need to un-plug it from PC and re-connect, but it doesn't happen very often.

 

[Wp100]

Hi,

Thanks for all the replies, seems the Pk3 is not as bad as some make out; though I will buy from Farnells or RS as I know there will be no problem with replacement should it fail, as I was unlucky enough to have shortly after getting the Pk2 some years ago.