Summary of PicKit2 Clone Designed and Manufactured at Home
PicKit2 Clone Designed and Manufactured at Home — concise summary: This article explains the PICkit 2 programmer, its supported PIC families, and ICSP pin connections (PGC, PGD, Vpp, Vdd, Gnd). It describes that PICkit 2 uses a PIC18F2550 for USB and ICSP interfacing, mentions a DIY clone circuit, warns that a specific clone circuit may prevent reloading the bootloader and require reprogramming the PIC18F2550 externally, and shows a final single-board kit combining programmer and program executor.
Parts used in the PicKit2 Clone Designed and Manufactured at Home:
- PIC18F2550 microcontroller (on-board programmer controller)
- Target PIC microcontroller (various PIC10/12/16/18/24 and dsPIC30/33 series)
- USB interface connection/cable
- ZIF socket (for target microcontroller)
- ICSP header (5-pin: PGC, PGD, Vpp, Vdd, Gnd)
- Power supply (5 V for Vdd)
- Ground connection
- PCB/clone circuit board (clone schematic from tiktakx.wordpress.com referenced)
- Programmer software/bootloader for PIC18F2550
PicKit2 is a programmer designed by Microchip to program its pic microcontrollers. PicKit2 supports many 8-bit pic microcontroller series. PicKit2 supports almost all Pic-10/12/16/18/24 and dspic-30/33 flash series microcontroller’s. Pickit 2 is an ICSP (In-circuit serial programmer) programmer. In icsp interface, microcontroller can be programmed while its working in the circuit. An icsp programmer uses 5 pins to program the target microcontroller. Pickit 2 uses an on board pic18f2550 microcontroller that programs the target microcontroller. Pic18f2550 communicates with the computer software using its usb interface and talks with the target microcontroller using its icsp interface. Thanks to microchip that they released the pic18f2550 program software. Now one can reverse the pickit 2 circuit can make pickit 2 programmer at home as a diy project.
Pickit 2 requires the following pic microcontroller pins to program it.
- PGC (Clock input to microcontroller)
- PGD (Data Input to microcontroller)
- Vpp (Programming Mode voltage)
- Vdd (Power Pin Apply 5v to it)
- Gnd (Ground this Pin)
To program a pic microcontroller one have to Identify the upper 5 pins on his pic microcontroller and then make connections with the pickit 2 icsp header. See the datasheet of your pic microcontroller to Identify these pins and then connect the signals from PicKit2 to these pins. Normally all the pic microcontrollers have icsp pins located on the pin numbers given below.
- What microcontrollers does PicKit2 support?
PicKit2 supports many 8-bit PIC series including PIC10, PIC12, PIC16, PIC18, PIC24 and dsPIC30/33 flash series microcontrollers. - What pins are required for ICSP programming with PicKit2?
The required pins are PGC (clock), PGD (data), Vpp (programming voltage), Vdd (5 V power), and Gnd. - How does the PIC18F2550 function in PicKit2?
The PIC18F2550 on the board communicates with the computer via USB and talks to the target microcontroller via the ICSP interface. - Can I program a PIC while it is in the circuit using PicKit2?
Yes, PicKit2 is an ICSP programmer so the microcontroller can be programmed while working in the circuit. - How do I identify the ICSP pins on my PIC microcontroller?
You should consult the datasheet of your PIC microcontroller to identify the upper five ICSP pins and then connect PicKit2 signals accordingly. - What happens if I use the tiktakx.wordpress.com clone circuit and the bootloader is corrupted?
If the bootloader is corrupted, you will be unable to load it using that clone and must remove the PIC18F2550 and reprogram it with another PICkit2. - Is it possible to make a DIY PicKit2 at home?
Yes, the article describes reversing the PicKit2 circuit and making a PICkit2 programmer at home as a DIY project. - How did the author integrate programming and execution in their kit?
The author built a single-board kit with the programmer and a program executor: they program the target PIC on one side, then move the PIC to the other side of the ZIF socket to run the program with applied power.
