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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : PICKIT3 and Win8.1
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trippyben Regular Member  Joined: 26/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 91 |
2014-05-14_091544_3159USBAccessLink64BIt.zip 2014-05-14_091603_7993USBAccessLink32Bit.zip OK, went through this a little while ago. Something changes with windows 8.1 in regards to the USB HID drivers that the pickit3 uses and renders it useless. MPLABX 2.10 is supposed to fix this, but I haven't yet been game to update to it after getting 2.05 to work. To get the pickit 3 to work with MPLAB 2.00 or 2.05 and windows 8.1 you need to replace the 2 driver files attached as per: 64-bit Windows Unzip USBAccessLink64Bit.zip into C:\Windows\system32 Unzip USBAccessLink32Bit.zip into C:\Windows\SysWOW64 32-bit Windows Unzip USBAccessLink32Bit.zip into C:\Windows\system32 These were provided from Microchip after I opened a ticket to solve the problem. It worked on my laptop with MPLAB 2.05 and windows 8.1 after the upgrade to windows 8.1 killed the pickit 3. I suspect that the IPE will use the same drivers.... Personally I gave up on the IPE after I couldn't set the power options I needed and save it to the settings file. Every time I opened the IPE all settings were lost. Ben |
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bigmik Guru  Joined: 20/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2950 |
Thanks Trippy, I will give them a try when next on my PC.. It is strange the pickit3 works with IPE but not IDE but it used to. Anyway for those who need a PicKit3 i just had this sent to my email address. PicKit3 $20US posted is the cheapest I have seen. But I would bet its a clone though at that price. Regards, Mick Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<< |
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BobD Guru Joined: 07/12/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 935 |
Ben, I have V2.10 and I will install it tomorrow. I was going to put it on my Win 7 machine but I think I'll put it on Win 8.1 64 bit now. That's the machine with all the grunt. I'll let you know how it goes. Jim and Mick, thanks for the advice. It is useful. Bob |
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| BobD Guru Joined: 07/12/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 935 |
I paid US$33 for mine. This is certainly cheap. It is different from mine though. The branding looks the same but my one has a transparent red case, red usb cable and different colour device cable. No disk with mine. I just got the same email from Banggood. |
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vegipete Guru Joined: 29/01/2013 Location: CanadaPosts: 1132 |
I came across the following while Googling something else: from this web site. Does this help with getting the PICKit to supply power? Visit Vegipete's *Mite Library for cool programs. |
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| BobD Guru Joined: 07/12/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 935 |
Yes, thanks Pete. It may help Mick too. I have decided that I will provide external power to my circuit. I have found my Maximite wall wart overnight and it fulfils the specs very nicely. So after breakfast, a shower, a shampoo etc. then I'll have a go. |
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| BobD Guru Joined: 07/12/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 935 |
I updated two of Zonker's 28 pin modules to the latest Micromite firmware. This task was helped by the excellent documentation provided by Zonker. I then had a go at two of White Wizard's 44 pin modules. It was trial by error due to lack of available documentation. Not knowing quite how to external power it I tried 3.3 volts but although the green LED lit up (power?) it would not communicate on USB. I then tried 5 volts external power and it was all go. It was then easy to do the firmware update. I would probably have been able to do the firmware update on 3.3 volts but I wanted to ensure the module was still working before I started to do the firmware update. It needs 5 volts external to get all functionality going. Thanks for all the advice. Bob |
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| WhiteWizzard Guru Joined: 05/04/2013 Location: United KingdomPosts: 2944 |
Hi Bob, The reason that I am currently limiting publicly available documentation is due to the fact that Part 4 of Geoff's excellent series in Silicon Chip magazine will be detailing the 44-Pin MicroMite Module; so for legal reasons I can't release 'copies' of this yet - I hope you understand. For all the people that have kindly obtained MicroMite Modules from me (including yourself) I have repeatedly offered help if they have any questions. I am contactable online every day so should be able to answer any questions anyone may have within very reasonable timescales. Picking up the points you made in your post: 1> Documentation will be available for download from MicroMite.org once the magazine article is available to the general public. 2> The fully built Module (which you have two off) needs to be powered via USB when doing a firmware update. 3> There are lots of people that seem to be having 'visibility/connectivity' issues when using MPLab X/IDE/IPE & Win7/8 while trying to power the PIC via the PicKit3 only. This is in context of performing a firmware update. I can confirm 100% that I have personally never had an issue whenever I power a PIC 'externally' while performing an update. For the 44-pin Module, applying Point 2 above simply eliminates the issue. 4> Most people using the fully built 44-pin MicroMite Module will connect it to a computer via a USB lead. This will not only provide a communications link, it also supplies (5v) power to the module. With the jumper link installed (there is only one on the Module) then the USB 5V is 'linked' through to the onboard 3v3 LDO voltage regulator. Think of this jumper as an on/off switch. 5> The 3-way header labeled 0V, 3V3, 5V is best considered as an output connector giving the user access to a 3v3 supply (from the onboard LDO) and a 5v supply (from the USB) - useful for use on a breadboard; therefore allows most add-ons to be powered simply without having to provide any additional external PSUs - keeps things neat and tidy. 6> The Green LED (labelled MPU) simply indicates that the PIC is being powered (i.e. that the 3v3 supply to the PIC is working) 7> If you need more power available to power add-ons then you can use an external 5v supply. Remove the onboard jumper (to isolate the external 5V from the USB socket) and supply the external 5v supply to the 3-way header 5v pin (and gnd to 0v of course). Using an external 5v supply will then drive the on-board LDO which in turn powers the PIC. The 3v3 LDO output is always available on the 3-way header (3v3 pin). 8> For the fully built module, consider the 3v3 pin on the 3-way header ONLY as an output - NEVER an input. 9> Many other configurations can be built onto the same circuit board. I have recently released one variant namely the 44-pin MicroMite Lite . This is purely a PIC chip (plus some caps & resistors) soldered onto the PCB and therefore does not have an onboard voltage regulator. This configuration requires 3v3 for the PIC which is easiest to supply via the 3-way header (3v3 pin). This is purely an INPUT in this configuration. I do hope the above doesn't come across as too complex. The fact is a lot of careful design went into the PCB to allow many configurations. For example: it can be used purely as an adaptor board for a PIC32; it can be used as a low-cost 44-pin MicroMite with bare minimum components requiring 3v3 (options for ICSP, reset, power led, etc, etc), it can be used with onboard LDO with the module just requiring 5v, it can be used as a plug'n'play module requiring just a computer (i.e. the fully built unit). Guess you get the picture . . . (there are more configurations!) . . . . 
This flexibility is a huge benefit in terms of PCB production and costs. However, the 'down side' is that it makes documentation appear much more complex. I am working on making this as clear as possible taking into account everyones feedback from people that have obtained Modules from me. If there are any other points you personally would like to see in the documentation then simply drop me a PM. I will review all comments in the desire for continual improvement of the product range. I do hope you are finding your two 44-pin MicroMite Modules useful. Do let us all know if you have 'created' anything good! Regards, Phil |
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Grogster Admin Group  Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9610 |
When I get my model elevator project going, it will use two of your 44's. It is far easier then trying to fuff around with my own board(for now), and being breadboard compatible, I can get all the wiring hooked up easily for the prototype. As I purchased one assembled, and one as a kit, I'd better start assembling the kit, so that I have the 2nd unit to play with! Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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| BobD Guru Joined: 07/12/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 935 |
Phil, thanks for the info. Please note that I was not denigrating your excellent product only noting that there was a lack of info when I needed it. Bob |
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Geoffg Guru Joined: 06/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 3292 |
I bought one of these mostly as a test (also a spare always comes in handy) and I can report that: 1 - It is definitely a clone - although it looks real. 2 - It works exactly like a real PICKit 3. MPLAB X accepted it with out a murmur, it works great and even has a realistic looking Microchip serial number. Recommended. Geoff Geoff Graham - http://geoffg.net |
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| Grogster Admin Group Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9610 |
Are those clone things legal? IE: How come Microchip does not sue the clone makers into the ground for copying their product and selling it on the cheap? I am guessing it is something of a grey area legally speaking... Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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| JohnS Guru Joined: 18/11/2011 Location: United KingdomPosts: 4044 |
No idea but 99.9% of Microchip's business is selling chips not PICkits so if people are to buy the chips then Microchip should be giving away programmers, designs for programmers, software that programs them and so on. Same comment for dev boards. Microchip do not appear to know this. STM do - look at the STM32 boards, how cheap they are and how so many come with the programmer (STLINK) as well. Microchip would be stunningly stupid to pursue a legal case even if the clones are not legal. Even more stupid than some of the music & film organisations (which wouldn't help people buy things legally!). John |
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vasi Guru Joined: 23/03/2007 Location: RomaniaPosts: 1697 |
Microstick II Hobbit name: Togo Toadfoot of Frogmorton Elvish name: Mablung Miriel Beyound Arduino Lang |
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| JohnS Guru Joined: 18/11/2011 Location: United KingdomPosts: 4044 |
Expensive, especially compared to STM32 boards. John |
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| vasi Guru Joined: 23/03/2007 Location: RomaniaPosts: 1697 |
Can't wait to see the price of this. Hobbit name: Togo Toadfoot of Frogmorton Elvish name: Mablung Miriel Beyound Arduino Lang |
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| JohnS Guru Joined: 18/11/2011 Location: United KingdomPosts: 4044 |
Probably 3 or more times equivalent STM32 board. John |
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