Application Note for BB0703 (PICKit 2) "Programmer-To-Go" Function

(Program without a PC !!!)

By Au Group Electronics

April 2008

When a PIC program (hex file) is loaded into the EEPROM of Au Group Electronics BB0703 (PICkit 2), it can be used as a standalone programmer to program PIC chips, no PC is needed!!!

There are many different ways to use the BB0703 (PICkit 2) "Programmer-To-Go" function. This document will show you one step by step.

What you need:

Software:

• PICkit 2 PC application software ("PICkit 2 Programmer V2.50")
• Your application program (xxx.hex file)

Hardware:

• Au Group Electronics BB0703 (Enhanced PICkit 2 System, part#: BB0703)
• USB cable (for USB miniB users: part#: CBL-USB-A-MiniB)
• RJ12 6 pin reverse cable (part # CBL-RJ12-RVS)
• RJ12 programming extension cable (part #: CBL-RJ12-Program)
• DC power supply (part #: PWR-912V-CP)
• Target chip / board (a PIC18F458 is used here for illustration purpose)

Step by step guide on BB0703 (PICkit 2) Programmer-To-Go

1. Install "PICkit 2 Programmer V2.50" on your PC.
2. Connect BB0703 (PICkit 2) with PC, Power LED lit, as shown in figure 1.

Figure 1 – Connect BB0703 (PICkit 2) to PC

3. Double click PICkit 2 V2. 50 shortcut on desktop (figure 2)

Figure 2 - Shortcut of PICkit 2 V2.50

"PICkit 2 Programmer" window pops up, 2 possible situations may be displayed depending on the previous setting of PICkit 2 V2.50.
Situation 1 - Message “No device Found” displayed, as shown in figure 3, click Programmer/ Manual Device select, as shown in figure 4, then continue with step 4.

Figure 3 – Situation 1 - Message “No Device Found” displayed

Figure 4 – Check “Manual Device Select”

Situation 2 - Message "-Select Part-" displayed, as shown in figure 5, continue with step 4.  

Figure 5 – Situation 2 – Message “-Select Part-” displayed

4. Click Tools/Check Communication, as shown in figure 6

Figure 6 – Check communication

PICkit 2 Programmer displayed the message “PICkit 2 connected. ID = BB0703RevA00009 [Parts in this family are not auto-detect]”, as shown in figure 7.

Figure 7 – Message showing after check communication

5. Click Device Family/PIC18F, as shown in figure 8. (PIC18F458 will be used here as the target chip for demonstration purpose)

Figure 8 – Select target chip family

6. From the device dropdown list, select PIC18F458, as shown in figure 9

Figure 9 – Select PIC18F458 from device dropdown list

7. Click File/Import Hex, as shown in figure 10.

Figure 10 – Import hex file

8. Select desired hex file, then click Open button, as shown in figure 11

Figure 11 - Select hex file

Message "Hex file successfully imported" displayed, as shown in figure 12.

Figure 12 – “Hex file successfully imported”

9. Select Programmer/PICkit 2 Programmer-To-Go…, as shown in figure 13.

Figure 13 – PICkit 2 Programmer-To-Go

10. "Programmer-To-Go Wizard" window pops up, click Next, as shown in figure 14.

Figure 14 – Programmer-To-Go wizard

11. Select “Target has its own power supply”, click “Next”, as shown in figure 15.

Figure 15 – Power Settings

12. Download Summary displayed, click “Download” button, as shown in figure 16.

Figure 16 – Download summary

13.  Download complete, Target LED on BB0703 (PICkit 2) blinks twice indicating programming successful. Remove BB0703 (PICkit 2) from USB, and then click Exit, as shown in figure 17. The BB0703 (PICkit 2) is ready for programming target chip.

Figure 17 – Download complete

14. Use RJ12 6-pin reverse cable and RJ12 programming extension cable to connect BB0703 (PICkit 2) with target chip, then apply power supply to BB0703 (PICkit 2). The connection is illustrated in figure 18.

Figure 18 – Connection of BB0703 (PICkit 2) to target chip

The ICSP signal of each color wire on RJ12 programming extension cable is identified in table 1.

Table 1 - Signal definition on RJ12 programming extension cable

Note: Table 1 can only be referred with a connection complied with Figure 18.

The connection of using Au Group Electronics BB0703 (PICkit 2) to program target board/chip without a PC is demonstrated in figure 19.

Figure 19 – Connect BB0703 (PICkit 2) with target board and power supply

All the parts demonstrated in figure 19 are available from Au Group Electronics website: www.AuElectronics.com

• Au Group Electronics BB0703 (PICkit 2) (part#: BB0703)
• AC/DC power supply (part #: PWR-912V-CP)
• RJ12 6-pin reverse cable (part # CBL-RJ12-RVS)
• RJ12 programming extension cable (part #: CBL-RJ12-Program)

15.  Press "Program" button on BB0703 (PICkit 2) to begin programming.

During programming, Power and Busy LED remain lit, Target LED may be ON or OFF accordingly, figure 20 illustrated a BB0703 (PICkit 2) Programmer-To-Go with Target LED lit, which indicates a +5V voltage was supplied to target board through the programming cables.

Figure 20 - BB0703 (PICkit2) programmer-to-go

16. Once programming has completed, the Target LED will blink twice indicating success, the BB0703 (PICkit 2) is ready to program another target board/Chip. If the Busy LED blinks please refer Microchip user manual for errors.

Note: PICkit 2 is a trademark of Microchip inc.