PIC16F15214 can't be programmed using Pickit3. Need an alternative! Any advice? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Cagruntas
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 03, 2021, 12:07:36 am
content: Hello Good Day everyone, I bought a couple PIC16F15214-I/P to practice some stuff with because they were generally really cheap but I didn't realize it cannot be programmed with a Pickit3. What do I need to do in order to program this device? Do I need a different programmer? If so can anyone point me to which one I need, I intend on buying my different PIC micro-controllers so one that is compatible with nearly all would be nice to know about.The other question is there a way to update the the pickit3 in order to program this device?Any advice is appreciated.The exact model of the micro-controller is : Manufacturer Product Number - PIC16F15214-I/PAlso a link to the website where you can get the datasheet, if that helps.https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/microchip-technology/PIC16F15214-I-P/12807471I am still new to these thing so any advice would be appreciated. Thanks to anyone in advance who contributes to helping me .

author: oPossum
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2021, 12:49:09 am
content: Snap or PICkit4https://www.microchip.com/en-us/development-tool/PG164100https://www.microchip.com/en-us/development-tool/PG164140They both support most PIC (8/16/32 bit) and most AVRSupport list:https://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/Device_Support.pdf

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2021, 12:53:54 am
content: The PIC16F15214 is on Anobium's PICkitPlus device support list:https://pickitplus.co.uk/Typesetter/index.php/Supported-Partsso it *can* be programmed using PICkit 3 programmer hardware. The PICKitPlus Basic Suite for PICKit 2 and PICKit 3 will cost you £23.However PICKitPlus is based on the old PICkit 2/3 standalone GUI programmer utility, so it wont give you any MPLAB integration or ability to debug, so you may wish to consider buying a PICkit 4.

author: Cagruntas
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 03, 2021, 01:25:21 am
content: Hi so I currently own a pickit 3, so I just need to purchase this software for $23 and upload it as a OS and it should have compatibility to program my MCU now? I live in the Caribbean so these devices aren't readily available so this might be a easy solution for me if it works. Or maybe I am misunderstanding what you wrote. I can use the pickit3 software just to flash the hex file to the micro-controller generated by the MPLAB IDE, I tried that and it work so it may not be an issue I think.

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2021, 01:48:42 am
content: Quote from: Cagruntas on October 03, 2021, 01:25:21 amYou said you cant program the PIC in the topic title, and now you say you can?Anobium's PICkitPlus consists of standalone GUI and command line programmer applications for PICkit 2 & 3, independently developed from the open source releases of Microchip's "PICkit 2 Software for Windows v2.61" and "PICkit 3 Programmer App and Scripting Tool v3.10", after Microchip ceased development of non-MPLAB X based programming tools. It also has an extended device file adding support for many PICs that were either released after that date or that Microchip just couldn't be arsed to add support for to a tool they were in the process of depreciating.It will *NOT* add any programmer device support in MPLAB. It *WILL* program chips on its device support list, from a hex file generated by *whatever* toolchain you have for that chip. Its application software adds new programming protocols for new chip families that were released after Microchip went MPLAB X only. Otherwise, if your chip is in a family that uses a programming protocol that was supported by the final Microchip releases I named, it may be sufficient to simply use the PICkitPlus device file (free) with the Microchip PICkit 2 or 3 GUI utilities.If your problem is that you cant select PICkit 2 or 3 as a programmer for the chip in MPLAB X, exporting the hex file and using PICkitPlus may be an acceptable workaround, if you can live with the classic 'build-burn-crash' development cycle without access to a debugger. If however you need full MPLAB integration, it wont help you at all.N.B. you must revert to MPLAB compatible firmware after using a PICkit 3 with PICkitPlus, otherwise MPLAB wont be able to use the PICkit 3.