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JDM programmer not working?

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dan

Sun Aug 13 2006, 01:47AM

Registered Member #223 Joined: Mon Feb 20 2006, 06:42PM
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 125

I seen the pic newb thread and I thought I would give pics a try. I built the 'JDM' programmer on solderless breadboard but for some reason every programming software I have tried doesn't detect it. With winpic it gives the error:
"Couldn't find "devices\PIC16F684.dev", please borrow/copy from MPLAB !
Failed read back of DATA line (HIGH) !
WARNING: Could not initialize programmer !"
Others simply say couldn't find programmer. I triple checked all the wiring and all the components seem to check out. however instead of the speced transistors I had to use NTE replacement parts NTE123ap which is supposed to be able to replace the BC547B. The same is true for the four 1N4148 diodes so I used NTE519's. all the diodes have a measured .7v drop and I tested the transistors by switching a LED with them and they seem to work. The zeners and capacitors also check out. There doesn't seem to be too much information on debugging these programmers. Probably because they are so simple. I was thinking it was a software problem but I have tested the programmer on two different computers and I get the same error. One was running Windows 95 the other XP.

Any idea's of what I could be doing wrong?

Carbon_Rod

Sun Aug 13 2006, 02:25AM

Registered Member #65 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 06:43AM
Location:
Posts: 1155

May help:

good luck,

Wolfram

Sun Aug 13 2006, 02:47AM

Registered Member #33 Joined: Sat Feb 04 2006, 01:31PM
Location: Norway
Posts: 971

That modification is fine if you want to reprogram PICs that are set to internal oscillator and no MCLR, for everything else the standard circuit is fine.

Have you tried with WinPic800? (not the same as WinPic)

dan

Sun Aug 13 2006, 03:27AM

Registered Member #223 Joined: Mon Feb 20 2006, 06:42PM
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 125

Well I tried winpic800 and still no luck. This may be a dumb question but does a pic need to be connected in order for the programmer to be detected by the software. I have tried using an adapter and connecting a 16F684 to the programmer but still no luck. Its as if the programmer is not even there according to the software.(yes I checked the cable) I don't really want to risk blowing a pic until I know this thing is going to work. I'm suspecting it is a hardware problem but I still haven't located it. It's most likely the transistors. Even though they are marked as replacement parts for the BC547B they might not be exact an substitute. I'll probably abandon the JDM because I cannot find the BC547B at my local electronic store. The RCD programmer seems promising as it supports two of the pics I want to program (12F675 and the 16F684) although not the 16F877a :(

...

Sun Aug 13 2006, 08:12AM

Registered Member #56 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 05:02AM
Location: Southern Califorina, USA
Posts: 2445

Yes the pic needs to be connected for the programmer to be detected.

I don't think the transistors are critical, but having enough voltage on the serial port is. Put a meter on the mclr pin and the vdd pin of the pic and see if the voltages are correct (while programming)

Good luck!

Wolfram

Sun Aug 13 2006, 02:16PM

Registered Member #33 Joined: Sat Feb 04 2006, 01:31PM
Location: Norway
Posts: 971

The transistors are not critical at all, any standard small signal transistor is gonna work, like 2N3904, 2N2222 etc...

dan

Sun Aug 13 2006, 05:25PM

Registered Member #223 Joined: Mon Feb 20 2006, 06:42PM
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 125

Apparenly there isn't enough programming voltage. I only measure ~10v on MCLR while programming. I guess I'm going to need a programmer with an external power supply. Thanks for the help.

Bjørn

Sun Aug 13 2006, 05:36PM

Registered Member #27 Joined: Fri Feb 03 2006, 02:20AM
Location: Hyperborea
Posts: 2058

Most if not all FLASH based PICs don't use the programming voltage directly, they have their own voltage generators. They only require the programming voltage to be a few volts above the supply voltage. The different datasheets have all the information.

rupidust

Sun Aug 13 2006, 07:29PM

Banned
Registered Member #110 Joined: Fri Feb 10 2006, 12:23AM
Location: Banned City
Posts: 85

10v is marginal yet sufficient. I just attached a potentiometer to the Vpp output of my ICD2 programmer. I knew Vpp could go down to 10.5v, but I was surprised to see that after tweeking the pot down to 9.4v my 16F648A still programmed just fine repeatedly.

If voltage is not an issue then it may be signal or port access. If you have a scope, no, use a scope to view the signal. See if the MCLR line is rippling, fluctuating, or pulsating. MCLR should drop to near 0v, toggle to Vpp (12v nominal) a few times, and remain at Vpp without disruption then toggle a few times at the end. Rippling will cause errors and represents a lack of driving current, current leakage, and driving voltage from lower power RS232 Usart chips in todays PCs. Fluctuating, like elongating triangular waves, will cause errors and represents serious timing delays due to loads exceeding the RS232 I/O lines. Pulsating, like signal a HIGH for a second then signal oscillating like RS232 data signals, represents a possible driver issue on the PC side. Next is to monitor both Data and Clock lines. Their should be signal on both those lines during programming. If no signal is seen, back track to the com port lines which control Data and Clock. If the port lines have no signal, remove all loads from these lines. If problem still persist, its a com port driver access issue. If the RS232 interface is from a USB cable converter, this is very likely. Also, XP requires driver acces from these programs to access the RS232 com ports. Some of the programs require a third party com port privilege access driver to be seperatly installed after app installation.

There has been alot of issues with the JDM and its varients. Fed up myself, I broke down and got a PIC-ICD2 USB/RS232.

Part Scavenger

Sun Aug 13 2006, 11:13PM

Registered Member #79 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 11:35AM
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 673

Try a different computer. I can't get any of my programmers to work on my upstairs computer or my laptop.

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