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Topic: PicKit 3 in Eagle format (Read 29384 times) previous topic - next topic

PicKit 3 in Eagle format

I have the PicKit 3 schematic drawn into Eagle if anybody is interested in helping with the layout. It would be a big challenge to do the layout single-sided, and I am not very good doing double-sided boards.

If somebody will help with the layout, I will pay for the boards from Seeed - as long as I get 1 or 2 for me, I will donate the rest.

Re: PicKit 3 in Eagle format

Reply #1 –
i could help,

but why the interest in building one?

Re: PicKit 3 in Eagle format

Reply #2 –
Hi Computerman!
A free pickit 3 design would be nice, MPLAB X seems to have better support for it.
I encourage to go ahead, a couple of suggestions:
-Go SMD, use 0603 components and a double sided PCB.
-Try to fit your design to the Bus Pirate v4 PCB (board size, leds, usb connector and pin header location), I have been working on a case for that design http://http://dangerousprototypes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2666, so it may be posible to reuse it.

I have such a warm feeling each time a burn a PIC with my diy pickit2, too bad I still have to use a windows machine.
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Re: PicKit 3 in Eagle format

Reply #3 –
[quote author="fcobcn"]such a warm feeling each time a burn a PIC with my diy pickit2, too bad I still have to use a windows machine.
[/quote]

why? pickit2 works perfectly from both linux and osx, is supported in mplabx... it works (for all parts it supports) even better then pk3 ?! "still have to use a windows machine" might be for other reasons but pk2 can't be one of them :D


wrt pk3, is the firmware open now or is it still closed? Are the hex files (bootloader etc) available at least? They were not (neither hex files nor sources) last time I check (Was long time ago).... I personally use pk3 only when I really have to (pic32mx debugging) as pk2 is way better device

Re: PicKit 3 in Eagle format

Reply #4 –
[quote author="arhi"]
why? pickit2 works perfectly from both linux and osx, is supported in mplabx... it works (for all parts it supports) even better then pk3 ?! "still have to use a windows machine" might be for other reasons but pk2 can't be one of them :D
[/quote]

I may have to try again, the last time didn't work.

Re: PicKit 3 in Eagle format

Reply #5 –
there is something odd with PK2 and MPLAB X, while pic16f1824 witch I am using right now, and many new chips are suported by pk2 with a device update, it isn't supported in MPLAB x, I dont get this, if the PK2 has no problems twith reading or  programing the device, why is there no way to do it from MPLAB 8 or X?
best regards FIlip.

Re: PicKit 3 in Eagle format

Reply #6 –
@Computerman , whatever this discussion of PK2 vs PK3 tends to, just upload the schematics file here, I'll try for the baord. What's the need of single sided? Seeed charges are same for 2 layer boards, and 2layers boards are easy to route while designing.
Still learning
-Arup

Re: PicKit 3 in Eagle format

Reply #7 –
@fcobcn, pk2cmdv1.20LinuxMacSource is the source I compiled pk2cmd from and it works like a charm. There;s also a gui called dwarf that I don't use but it should work.

@arakis, latest version of mplabx broke something with pk2, worked in previous version, will probable be fixed again in next one.

Noone answered, are the hex files for pk3 open/available?

Re: PicKit 3 in Eagle format

Reply #8 –
AFAIK are the hex files stashed somewhere in the program directory of mplab(x)

mine are in C:Program FilesMicrochipMPLAB IDEPICkit 3

Re: PicKit 3 in Eagle format

Reply #9 –
There's whole bunch of HEX files in the pickit3 directory - but those are different functions (the pk3 use that icd like architecture and upload new hex every time you change mcu you are working with :( ), you still need the "base" hex, and I have not found that one (not sure if that's only bootloader or there's something else there too). Note that "I have not found it" does not mean it's not out there, that's why I was asking. Last time I checked the source was not available and also the "base" hex was unavailable; I assume one could read hex from mcu directly (I don't believe they protected the mcu but who knows) so that could be done but I haven't seen hex available anywhere, also this pk3 plastic is soooo shtty that I don't feel like opening it and trying to read the on board pic

I heard mchip said they will "never" publish source for pk3 (not proven info - I think it was one of many blog posts bitching about how pk3 is shtty device compared to pk2 - si it might be untrue) and that's something I really liked with pk2

Re: PicKit 3 in Eagle format

Reply #10 –
I'd guess the base hex was available though..

I have a pickit3 clone which did came programmed. I was bought from some chinese company (sure) so that won't be a proof it is open ;)

Re: PicKit 3 in Eagle format

Reply #12 –
I loved my Pickit 2, but Pickit 3 supports the new 16F150X chips and I think the 24E/DSPIC33E chips.

My Pickit 2 was fine for my projects and it also has some other great features (UART tool, logic analyzer), but now it is not working properly.

It would probably be only a few more dollars and much less hassle to just buy an original, but like most people on this forum, I just like to build things!!!

The reason for single-sided was that I make my boards with a worn-out HP laser printer, press-n-peel blue film, and a clothes iron. I also wanted to keep it as simple as possible for the low-budget hobbiests who must make their own boards.  That is how I built my Pickit 2. However, double-sided boards are virtually impossible to do in that manner. Enter Seeed. Problem solved.

My schematic is identical to the original in every respect except:
The MOSFET's are replaced with discretes from ON semiconductor. They could be easily changed back to the original Fairchild parts. I only did that so I could build it with samples.
Q3 and Q4 are Central Semiconductor - again so I could use samples.
I also omitted the test points.

The fuses are 1206, resistors are 0603, Ceramic caps are 0805. The tantalum caps are huge, but could possibly be shrunk to a smaller size.

PicKit 3 in Eagle format

Reply #13 –
@arhi: Have you managed to get your pickit2 working with mplabx on linux or mac?
With every new release I give it a try, no luck so far.

Re: PicKit 3 in Eagle format

Reply #14 –
my pk2 was working on linux with mplabx with beta5 and beta6 without problems. beta7 broke something so pk2 is not working attm. I hope beta8 will fix the bug and return the functionality back.

Note that if you are using 64bit Linux you have to run mplabx with 32bit java in order to use pickit2 or pickit3 I wrote about it on my blog while back. Without that the PK2 / PK3 are not recognized. The beta7 recognize pk2 (you see it in a list, serial number is displayed etc etc) but it won't program pic using it. Beta6 and beta5 work ok.