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 Wisp628 PIC Programmer
Wisp628 PIC Programmer Wisp628 PIC Programmer
Tree Programmer Hardware - Construction, schematics and testing.
Tree Development Software - Console tools, Windows IDE.
Tree Author's Website - Wouter van Ooijen's Wisp628 page.


To do anything with PICmicro's, you need a PIC programmer. In this case a programmer is a hardware device which performs the task of writing your program into a PIC where it can be executed. Being who I am, I decided to make my own. (A little more on PIC programming can be found in the technical article "An Introduction to Microcontrollers")

There are many, many DIY programmer designs available on the internet, but Wisp628 offers a few important things which many (most?) other designs don't:
  • Wisp628 supports ICSP, (In-Circuit Serial Programming) which is a must have for prototyping.
  • Wisp628 can be powered from the target circuit, making it useful in places where a mains outlet is not available.
  • Wisp628 uses a charge pump to get 13V for high voltage programming, rather than relying on RS232 levels.
  • Finally, Wisp628 uses a MAX232 RS232 line driver to ensure compatibility with all serial ports.

The last two are of particular importance, (to me anyway) because I use a laptop for most of my PIC code development and the serial ports on portable computers are often only just inside the RS232 electrical specification. DIY programmers which derive Vpp (HVP voltage) from an serial port are unlikely to work with many laptops because most PICs require Vpp to be at least 12V to enable programming.

While I've only ever used the one programmer, I believe that Wisp628 is one of the best DIY designs available. Check out my version above, or go to the Author's Website for more information.
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