1.
How
to place a MCU into the ZIF socket?
2.
How
to use the PIC Trainer to program different MCUs?
3.
What
are the functions of the Package Selection S1 DIP settings?
4.
What
are the functions of the Package Selection S4 DIP settings?
5.
What
to do if PICKit2 does not recognize the MCU in the ZIF socket?
6.
What to do if the
heat sink on IC2: LM7805 or IC3: LM7812 becomes too hot?
7.
How to use the
breadboard to build additional interface circuitry?
8.
What will be the
right wall mount power supply to use with the PIC Trainer?
9.
What are the
appropriate jumper wires to use with the PIC Trainer?
10.
What is the function
of the Red LED2?
11.
What is the function
of the Yellow LED1?
12.
Which USB (X1 or X3)
is to be used for MCU programming?
13.
What is the
function/purpose of the X3 USB connector?
14.
What is the
function/purpose of the X2: DB25 connector?
15.
What is the
function/purpose of the SV1:14-Pin IDC Socket?
16.
What is the
function/purpose of the SV2: 8-Pin Straight Socket?
17.
What is the
function/purpose of the SV3:14-Pin IDC Socket?
18.
What is the
function/purpose of all the X Sockets surrounding the breadboard?
19.
What is the
function/purpose of all the X Green Terminal Blocks on the side of the PIC
Trainer?
The
MCU should be placed
against the top of the ZIF socket (the end closest to the moveable arm).
First,
open the movable closure elements by lifting the ZIF socket arm.
Second,
place the MCU into the socket with the notch against the top
(pin 1 upper left corner).
Third,
close the movable closure elements by lowering the ZIF socket arm.
The
PIC Trainer has the ability to program many different 18, 28, and 40 Pin DIP
package Microchip MCUs. There are two DIP switches to select different MCU
family members for the program and evaluation operations.
See
“S1 & S4 Settings” for more detail uses of the S1 and S4 DIP switch
settings.
The
S1 DIP switch (10-position switch) is used to select different MCU package for
the following:
S1
DIP switch 1-5 should be OFF and 6-10 should be ON for 18-pin
package MCU such as PIC16F84A or PIC16F88.
S1
DIP switch 1-5 should be ON and 6-10 should be OFF for 28-pin
or 40-pin package MCU such as PIC18F2550 or PIC16F877A.
The
S4 DIP switch (2-position switch) is used to connect power, ground, and
programming clock and data signals to the appropriate MCU for programming
purposes. The following are the setup settings for programming and
operation/evaluation:
Programming:
S4
DIP switch: 1 should be OFF and 2 should be ON for 18-pin package
MCU such as PIC16F84A or PIC16F88.
S4
DIP switch: 1 should be ON and 2 should be OFF for 28- or 40-pin
package MCU such as PIC18F2550 or PIC16F877A.
Operation/Evaluation:
S4
DIP switch: both 1 and 2 should be ON for all package styles.
-
Always
provide the power to the trainer first,
then plug in the USB for programming and PC to trainer board communication.
-
Press
and hold the RESET push button (S2 for 18-pin MCU, S3 for 28-pin or 40-pin
MCU), click on Tools under the main menu, then select Check Communication.
If
the PICkit2 still cannot detect the MCU, there may be several possibilities:
1.
The S1 and/or S4 switch settings were wrong.
Solution:
change the S1
and
S4 switch settings.
2.
The wall mount power supply was not providing 9V-12V power.
Solution:
replace with a known good power supply.
3.
There may be old source code in the MCU that was using RB6 and
RB7
for designed I/O operation.
Solution:
press and hold the RESET
switch (S2 for PIC16F84A MCU, S3 for PIC16F877A MCU) and repeat
the programming operation.
6)
What to do if the heat sink on IC2:
LM7805 or IC3: LM7812 becomes too hot?
It
is most likely that
there
is a direct short or very low resistance on the trainer board or user’s
interface between +5V DC or +1
2V DC and Gnd.
Solution:
Unplug the power immediately and
have the issue resolved before using the trainer board.
7)
How to use the breadboard to build
additional interface circuitry?
The
Red and Blue vertical stripes on both sides of the breadboard have no
connection to anything by default. The user needs to install jumper wires
from X27 connectors to the bread board to bring +5V and Gnd to the breadboard.
There may be a
discontinuity in the Red
and Blue connectors at the midpoint on the breadboard. If the gap is wider at
the midpoint than elsewhere on row (it depends on the manufacture of the
breadboard), the user must install jumper wires to link the two halves.
It would be a good idea to perform a continuity check here even if there isn't
a gap just to make sure. This is a common source of problems!
The
main area is just the same as a regular breadboard and is the area where the
IC or other components may be placed for experimenting or evaluation
activities.
8)
What will be the right wall mount
power supply to use with the PIC Trainer?
The wall mount power supply can be
either AC or DC but it must provide at 12V (AC or DC) to be sufficient to be
used for PC USB communications.
9)
What are the appropriate jumper wires
to use with the PIC Trainer?
The
recommended jumper wire gauge is
26 or CAT 5 or CAT6 cable wire that
is used for PC Ethernet communication. The lower gauge wire/thicker wire will
damage the connector posts and will eventually prevent them from making a good
electrical connection.
10)
What is the function of the Red LED2?
The
LED2 (RED) is an indication to the +5V is available on the trainer board. This
does not mean the +12V is there for PC USB communications. However, the LED
will light with only a couple of volts from the +5V supply, so the supply
should be checked with a voltmeter to be sure it is operating properly.
11)
What is the function of the Yellow
LED1?
The LED1 (YELLOW) is an indication
of the communication activities between the PC USB and the trainer board.
12)
Which USB (X1 or X3) is to be used
for MCU programming?
Only X1 is used for PC USB
communication for programming purposes.
13)
What is the function/purpose of the
X3 USB connector?
X3
is used for USB communication with an MCU that has a USB hardware block (such
as PIC18F2550) for any USB exercises in MCU level designs.
The
user must have the designed codes in this target MCU for evaluation.
14)
What is the function/purpose of the
X2: DB25 connector?
The
X2: DB25 is used for parallel port
communications and controls with a PC or other parallel communication device.
For
example, a PC running a designed source code in C/CPP or other programming
language that controls the parallel port addresses and registers.
15)
What is the function/purpose of the
SV1:14-Pin IDC Socket?
The SV1 is used to connect a
14-pin LCD module interface. When connected to an LCD module via a ribbon
cable, the LCD module pins are connected to the X29 connector posts and the
interface can be made directly between MCU I/Os posts ports or via the
breadboard connections.
16)
What is the function/purpose
of the SV2: 8-Pin Straight Socket?
The
SV2 is used for interfacing with a 3*4 or 4*4 matrix keypad. When
connected, every keypad pin is pulled up to +5V through the on-board
10KΩ resisters.
The
Interface pins are brought to the
X4 connector posts and the
interface can be made directly between MCU I/O ports or via the breadboard
connections.
17)
What is the function/purpose of the
SV3:14-Pin IDC Socket?
The SV3 can be used for future
expansion on custom designed board for any special purpose designs.
18)
What is the function/purpose of all
the X Sockets surrounding the breadboard?
The X socket connector posts are
meant for jumper wire interface connections to fit any experimentation or
evaluation needs. Please see Item #9 for jumper wire recommendation.
19)
What is the function/purpose of all
the X Green Terminal Blocks on the side of the PIC Trainer?
The
green terminal blocks on the side of the trainer board are used for high power
connections
for motor (DC or Stepper) drive exercises. The motor power and trainer board
system power are isolated via optical isolators. Using the terminal blocks
will prevent electrical noises generated by running of the motors from getting
into the trainer board power supplies.
Author: S. Hsiung and R.L. Jones.
Revised: December 22, 2011
.