Which cheap programmer to get for a 12C508? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: wf789
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 30, 2020, 08:51:25 pm
content: Hi all,Could anyone tell me which cheap programmer is able to flash a 12C508/9?I have a PicKit3 clone but I don't think it supports this chip and I'm not sure which alternative to use for this chip.It is for MM3 PlaystationMany thanks!!

author: nigelwright7557
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 30, 2020, 10:00:05 pm
content: Quote from: wf789 on September 30, 2020, 08:51:25 pmPICKIT3 definitely does do 12f508/9 I use them all the time.Microchip no longer support assembly language so take care which version you use.MPLABX 5.4 doesnt do assemblerMPLABX 5.3 does.

author: wf789
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 30, 2020, 11:15:18 pm
content: Quote from: nigelwright7557 on September 30, 2020, 10:00:05 pmThanks a lot for the reply.It is the 12C508/9, not the 12F508/9. I think that the "C" variant is a one time programmable chip. Mentioned here:https://www.reddit.com/r/psx/comments/7yr347/what_is_a_good_programmer_for_mm3/I see the K150 programmer being mentioned a lot but some say it works for the 12C508, others say it doesn't. I guess I should just give that one a try and hope it works...

author: westfw
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 01, 2020, 08:48:50 pm
content: QuoteI don't know where you get that idea!

author: westfw
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2020, 06:29:11 am
content: QuoteAhh. I see. In MPLABX 5.4, you getpic-asinstead ofmpasmAnd it's ... different. Sigh. That seems like a pretty brain-dead move on Microchip's part. :-(

author: westfw
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2020, 09:29:11 am
content: The famous "ponyprog" software claims to support pic12c50x, and works with several minimal and easy-to-build programmers.http://www.lancos.com/prog.htmlI think it needs a true rs232-level serial port, and may be dependent on the PC-side OS having deterministicly timed access to all of the serial port signals, which is all sort of questionable these days. But the source code is available (part of the linux version), so it's a least a reasonable model. At this point, I'd probably throw together an Arduino Nano. It doesn't look difficult, aside from needing 13V Vpp and multiple "pulses" for each location (ala most eprom programming specs. "do this up to X times till it reads back, and then do it N times X more times to make sure.")

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2020, 10:27:34 am
content: The problem is a PIC12C508 requires up to 50mA from Vpp during programming and Vpp mustn't drop below 12.75V during programming. (seehttp://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/30557g.pdf)Most cheap / minimal / DIY programmers cant hold Vpp at 13V +/-0.25V reliably with a 50mA pulsed load on it.IIRC the PIC12C508 and the PIC12F508 are binary compatible and apart from the different programming characteristics, and the pin 5 (GP2/T0CKI) input characteristic, are electrically compatible.(GP2/T0CKI is a Schmidt trigger input on the 'C508 but an ordinary CMOS input with TTL thresholds on the 'F508.)Therefore, in most cases, you can simply use a more modern programmer that doesn't support EPROM memory PIC1xC... parts, to flash a PIC12F508 with your PIC12C508 code, and use it in place of the 'C508.

author: JPortici
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2020, 11:16:51 am
content: Quote from: nigelwright7557 on September 30, 2020, 10:00:05 pmWrong.They have removed mpasm because everything must be 64bit. The new assembler is the one inside XC8.As said, different.If i had to guess, it's because pic-as must be mantained as it's used by XC8 internally. Why mantain two different assemblers, one of which clearly written with 32bit in mind and who knows what will break when flipping the 64bit switch? (regardless of the pain of migrating and missing features as of today)

author: nigelwright7557
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2020, 09:10:26 pm
content: Quote from: westfw on October 02, 2020, 06:29:11 amI should have been more precise with my answer and said it doesnt do mpasm.I have been moving a lot of my of mpasm stuff to XC8.

author: rvalente
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2020, 09:05:11 pm
content: I'm not into gamming hacking stuff but this page says you can use a 12f629.https://quade.co/ps1-modchip-guide/mm3/Being a common mode I'm inclined to believe that there is a work around with it

author: nigelwright7557
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2020, 11:37:53 pm
content: There are loads of Chinese copy PICKIT 3's around.I bought one and it was nothing but trouble.So bought one from a Microchip dealer and that one has been great.PK3 also supplies power to the device to program if required so means you dont need a powered up circuit to program it.I also use a Snap programmer and while much faster than PK3 it doesnt supply power to the device being programmed.