LProg Programmer for Microchip PIC Microcontrollers

Last updated 7 Augsust 2012

The LProg is a low cost light weight PIC programmer for the 3.3V PICs. These include the 24H, 24F, 24FJ, 33F, and 18FJ families. It also supports the low voltage programming mode of the enhanced (4 digit model number) PIC 16 parts.

No signals to program these parts exceed 3.3V, which allows for a ultra low cost yet capable programmer. The LProg can not damage the target PIC by accidentally exposing it to 5V or higher as programmers designed to support other PICs can.

The LProg is completely powered by the USB, and can provide up to 100mA Vdd current to the target.

Purchase

Individual units

Embed does not sell individual units directly. Individual units can be purchased from MicrochipDirect, product ID TEMLP001.

Packs of 5 units, $90/pack ($18 each)

For shipping to the United States. A flat fee of $8.00 will be charged for shipping and handling the first 5-pack, and $2.00 each additional 5-pack in the same order.

For shipping to all other destinations. A flat fee of $25.00 will be charged for shipping and handling the first 5-pack, and $3.00 for each additional 5-pack in the same order.

Features

All signals limited to 3.3V. The LProg can not apply higher voltages, like 13V Vpp and 5.5V Vdd that are required for other PICs but that will damage the 3.3V PICs.
Fully USB powered. The LProg performs correctly over the whole range of legal USB power voltages.
100mA Vdd drive capability to power some target circuitry along with the target chip.
Tolerant of over 1000µF capacitance on the target Vdd line.
PGC and PGD lines are short circuit protected. These lines can be tied to 0-3.3 volts indefinitely without damage to the programmer.
The programming lines are available via labeled pads.
A extra ground pad is provided for ease of making cables that prevent crosstalk between PGC and PGD. If a ribbon cable is used with the same conductor order as the pads, the PGD line has a ground wire on each side. This prevents crosstalk to/from other lines and allows for long (several meters) programming cables. See the circuit design guide for ICSP for more information on crosstalk and programming reliability.
The target system can be run and halted from the host computer while connected to the programmer.
Two layer board with the bottom layer mostly a ground plane to provide good EMI properties.
Scriptable run time software, available via free download.
Host library is available for free download. You can create your own software to read, write, and verify the non-volatile memory of PICs using the supplied API.
Open source.
Open specification. You can create your own software for any system that has a standard USB port.
Tiny. The circuit board is 2.0 x 1.0 inches (51 x 25 mm) in size. The whole unit is about 2.3 inches wide, 1.0 inches deep, and 0.6 inches tall (59 x 25 x 14 mm).

Product Package

The product package contains one LProg unit as show in the picture above. No USB cable or PIC programming cable is included.

Units come with the latest firmware available at their time of manufacture. Newer firmware may be available, and may be required to support all the PICs listed below. The lastest software and firmware is available for free at www.embedinc.com/picprg/sw.htm.

Supported PICs

12F1xxx, 16F1xxx The low voltage programming method is used for these parts. Low voltage programming must be enabled in the configuration words of the device. Parts are shipped from the factory with low voltage programming enabled. It can not be disabled by the LProg, regardless of the data written to the part. The supported parts in this group are:
12F1501, 12LF1501, 12F1822, 12LF1822, 12F1840, 12LF1840, 16F1503, 16LF1503, 16F1507, 16LF1507, 16F1508, 16LF1508, 16F1509, 16LF1509, 16F1823, 16LF1823, 16F1824, 16LF1824, 16F1825, 16LF1825, 16F1826, 16LF1826, 16F1827, 16LF1827, 16F1847, 16LF1847 16F1828, 16LF1828, 16F1829, 16LF1829
18FxxJyy: 18F24J10, 18F24J11, 18F24J50, 18F25J10, 18F25J11, 18F25J50, 18F26J11, 18F26J50, 18F44J10, 18F44J11, 18F44J50, 18F45J10, 18F45J11, 18F45J50, 18F46J11, 18F46J50, 18LF24J10, 18LF24J11, 18LF24J50, 18LF25J10, 18LF25J11, 18LF25J50, 18LF26J11, 18LF26J50, 18LF44J10, 18LF44J11, 18LF44J50, 18LF45J10, 18LF45J11, 18LF45J50, 18LF46J11, 18LF46J50
18FxxKyy: 18F13K22, 18LF13K22, 18F13K50, 18LF13K50, 18F14K22, 18LF14K22, 18F14K50, 18LF14K50, 18F23K20, 18F23K22, 18LF23K22, 18F24K20, 18F24K22, 18LF24K22, 18F25K20, 18F25K22, 18LF25K22, 18F26K20, 18F26K22, 18LF26K22, 18F43K20, 18F43K22, 18LF43K22, 18F44K20, 18F44K22, 18LF44K22, 18F45K20, 18F45K22, 18LF45K22, 18F46K20, 18F46K22, 18LF46K22
24Fxxxx: 24F04KA200, 24F04KA201, 24F08KA101, 24F08KA102, 24F16KA101, 24F16KA102
24FJxxxx: 24FJ128GA006, 24FJ128GA008, 24FJ128GA010, 24FJ128GA106, 24FJ128GA108, 24FJ128GA110, 24FJ128GB106, 24FJ128GB108, 24FJ128GB110, 24FJ16GA002, 24FJ16GA004, 24FJ192GA106, 24FJ192GA108, 24FJ192GA110, 24FJ192GB106, 24FJ192GB108, 24FJ192GB110, 24FJ256GA106, 24FJ256GA108, 24FJ256GA110, 24FJ256GB106, 24FJ256GB108, 24FJ256GB110, 24FJ32GA002, 24FJ32GA004, 24FJ32GA102, 24FJ32GA104, 24FJ32GB002, 24FJ32GB004, 24FJ48GA002, 24FJ48GA004, 24FJ64GA002, 24FJ64GA004, 24FJ64GA006, 24FJ64GA008, 24FJ64GA010, 24FJ64GA102, 24FJ64GA104, 24FJ64GA106, 24FJ64GA108, 24FJ64GA110, 24FJ64GB002, 24FJ64GB004, 24FJ64GB106, 24FJ64GB108, 24FJ64GB110, 24FJ96GA006, 24FJ96GA008, 24FJ96GA010
24Hxxxx: 24HJ12GP201, 24HJ12GP202, 24HJ16GP304, 24HJ32GP202, 24HJ32GP204, 24HJ32GP302, 24HJ32GP304, 24HJ64GP202, 24HJ64GP204, 24HJ64GP206, 24HJ64GP206A, 24HJ64GP210, 24HJ64GP210A, 24HJ64GP502, 24HJ64GP504, 24HJ64GP506, 24HJ64GP506A, 24HJ64GP510, 24HJ64GP510A, 24HJ128GP202, 24HJ128GP204, 24HJ128GP206, 24HJ128GP206A, 24HJ128GP210, 24HJ128GP210A, 24HJ128GP306, 24HJ128GP306A, 24HJ128GP310, 24HJ128GP310A, 24HJ128GP502, 24HJ128GP504, 24HJ128GP506, 24HJ128GP506A, 24HJ128GP510, 24HJ128GP510A, 24HJ256GP206, 24HJ256GP206A, 24HJ256GP210, 24HJ256GP210A, 24HJ256GP610, 24HJ256GP610A
33Fxxxx: 33FJ06GS101, 33FJ06GS102, 33FJ06GS202, 33FJ12MC201, 33FJ12MC202, 33FJ12GP201, 33FJ12GP202, 33FJ16MC304, 33FJ16GP304, 33FJ16GS402, 33FJ16GS404, 33FJ16GS502, 33FJ16GS504, 33FJ32MC202, 33FJ32MC204, 33FJ32MC302, 33FJ32MC304, 33FJ32GP202, 33FJ32GP204, 33FJ32GP302, 33FJ32GP304, 33FJ32GS406, 33FJ32GS606, 33FJ32GS608, 33FJ32GS610, 33FJ64MC202, 33FJ64MC204, 33FJ64MC506, 33FJ64MC506A, 33FJ64MC508, 33FJ64MC508A, 33FJ64MC510, 33FJ64MC510A, 33FJ64MC706, 33FJ64MC706A, 33FJ64MC710, 33FJ64MC710A, 33FJ64MC802, 33FJ64MC804, 33FJ64GP202, 33FJ64GP204, 33FJ64GP206, 33FJ64GP206A, 33FJ64GP306, 33FJ64GP306A, 33FJ64GP310, 33FJ64GP310A, 33FJ64GP706, 33FJ64GP706A, 33FJ64GP708, 33FJ64GP708A, 33FJ64GP710, 33FJ64GP710A, 33FJ64GP802, 33FJ64GP804, 33FJ64GS406, 33FJ64GS606, 33FJ64GS608, 33FJ64GS610, 33FJ128MC202, 33FJ128MC204, 33FJ128MC506, 33FJ128MC506A, 33FJ128MC510, 33FJ128MC510A, 33FJ128MC706, 33FJ128MC706A, 33FJ128MC708, 33FJ128MC708A, 33FJ128MC710, 33FJ128MC710A, 33FJ128MC802, 33FJ128MC804, 33FJ128GP202, 33FJ128GP204, 33FJ128GP206, 33FJ128GP206A, 33FJ128GP306, 33FJ128GP306A, 33FJ128GP310, 33FJ128GP310A, 33FJ128GP706, 33FJ128GP706A, 33FJ128GP708, 33FJ128GP708A, 33FJ128GP710, 33FJ128GP710A, 33FJ128GP802, 33FJ128GP804, 33FJ256MC510, 33FJ256MC510A, 33FJ256MC710, 33FJ256MC710A, 33FJ256GP506, 33FJ256GP506A, 33FJ256GP510, 33FJ256GP510A, 33FJ256GP710, 33FJ256GP710A

Additional PICs will be supported in the future. Contact Embed Inc if you need a PIC supported that is not listed above.

Documentation

PIC_PROG program.
PIC_READ program.
PIC_CTRL program.
Schematic
Board drawing
Parts locator index.
Discussion of In-circuit programming and how to prepare a target circuit for use with the LProg.
Protocol specification.

To products main page