KIT 81. PIC16F84A PROGRAMMER & EXPERIMENTER
November, 2002. This is completely new software and
documentation for Kit 81. The Kit hardware remains the
same. Over the last couple of years the old documentation
became out of date as new PIC chips were released and
software and operating systems progressed. And the old
DOS-based software was itself a difficult thing for
Windows-raised people to learn.
Now we provide
5. Now it is up to you to use the Tutorial, the examples
given and any other PIC books you have to learn to
program. For example, a good set of books are to be
found at
http://www.sq-1.com/
Buy Easy Microcontrol’n first.
6. When you feel ready you will have to download
?
?
?
easy to use Windows 9x/NT/2000 programming
software
4 detailed code examples
a 40 page Manual (pdf)
MPLAB as outlined on page 27 of the Tutorial. Here are
the current details of how to do it. Try not to let the
complexity and size of the program intimidate you. The
learning curve is steep but stay with the PIC16F84A only
and follow the Tutorial outline.
Log onto http://www.microchip.com/
And we introduce the MPLAB program from Microchip
to do program development and assembly.
The Kit connects to the parallel port of a PC. You
program the 16F84A using the software provided, then
move the programmed 16F84A IC from the IC4 socket to
the TEST CIRCUIT IC socket. When you reconnect
power the 5 LEDs should flash in the pattern you
programmed.
Thus we guarantee that your first programming efforts are
successful. We provide the fully commented source code
for 4 program which flash the LEDs in a variety of
patterns: binaryup.asm, binarydn.asm, binarylr.asm and
flash.asm. The compiled object code is also provided: the
hex files.
You use the software diyk81.exe to program the hex file
into the PIC chip.
How to Proceed.
1. Download the software from
http://www.kitsrus.com/zip/diyk81.zip
Unzip it to a temporary directory and run setup. This
creates a directory c:\diyk81. Make an icon on the
Windows desktop for diyk81.exe . Follow the instructions
in the drivers.txt file. Then run the software and check
that the program comes up on the screen.
2. Print out the k81.pdf manual. The schematic and
assembly instructions are in it as well as Introductory
Programming Tutorial.
3. Assemble Kit 81. Connect it to a parallel port on your
PC. Add power to the board. Run the Test button to see
that the PC connects to the Kit.
4. If the Test is OK then press Program and with the
16F84A in IC4 select binarylr.hex . Note the rogramming
sequence: erase, programming, fuses set. After it is
completed remove the power and move the OIC to the
TEST socket. Connect the power. The LED’s should run
left-right-left. Print out the commented source code
binarylr.asm .
Click on Development Tools>Development Software>
MPLAB?IDE
Now I suggest you click on the MPLAB?IDE v5.70….
the second in the list. This is the well tested version. Later
V6 and higher still has minor bugs and that is the last
thing you need.
Click D/L the full 13.73MB of MPLAB?5.7.
After you have it I suggest you also get the MPLAB
Manual & Tutorial from the Documentation lower down
the page. Maybe print it out.
Note: make sure you compile using 1NHX8M
Conclusions.
1. You now have the Introduction and Tools to learn quite
a bit about programming the PIC16F84A. It is now up to
you to work at your own pace through the examples
provided. Vary the examples to flash LED’s differently.
Program to flash the LEDs by different methods of code.
Then you can use the programmer to program the 16F84A
independently of the Test Circuit. It is a 16F84A
programmer in its own right. And combined with the free
MPLAB you have a cheap and powerful entry point into
microcontroller programming.
There are many schematics on the Web using the
16F84A. The magazine Everyday Practical Electronics in
the UK publishes a PIC project almost every month
currently.
2. When you outgrow the Kit 81 and want to program
other members of the Microchip family look at buying
one of my other programmers: Kit 96, Kit 144 or Kit 149
(out 12/2002.) The documentation for each of them is on
my website.
See our website at
http://www.kitsrus.com/