PIC programmer using downloaded software

Kits Microcontroller Programmer - Experimenting Project
1

I have a PIC microcontroller which I need to program for a thermometer project using software downloaded from an electronics magazine website. Does the K8084 module accommodate this 3rd party software? The circuit calls for a 16F84P microcontroller I can only procure a 16F84A 20P chip. Would this have the same functionality? What do the suffix letters actually refer to?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Regards

Norm :laughing:

2

The K8048 kit (I assume 8084 was a typo) does program with third party code, and the hardware as well as the included software support the 16F84A chip (note that it’s 15 a year old chip). I couldn’t find any technical information on your specific number “16F84P” using a popular search engine, but if the requirement is for 16F84/P-10 or 16F84-10/P, then they are pin-for-pin compatible with the 16F84A. The software, however may not be. If what you downloaded is a HEX file, then it is likely not going to work. However if the software is an ASM file, you can compile it for the target chip using MPASMWIN and it should work. MPASMWIN comes with the K8048 kit.

Note that you also need the following for this to work:

  • The ability to solder the kit together
  • The recommended power supply (15V DC regulated or 12V DC unregulated)
  • A PC with a real 9 pin or 25 pin serial port built in.

Many K8048 users write PIC programs in a BASIC style language instead of ASM, and use programs like PICBASIC or MikroBasic or GCBasic to compile directly to a HEX file.

–Bert

3

Bert

Thanks for your comments as I have discovered that the K8084 is probably not suitable for my purpose.The 3rd party software is a “HEX” type file.

Will have to try a different plan.

Thanks again.

Best regards

Norman :stuck_out_tongue: