ProProg PIC Programmer

The ProProg is an industrial strength in-circuit PIC programmer (PIC is a registered trademark of Microchip Technology Inc) for embedding into production fixtures. 

Purchase

The price per unit is $299 plus shipping. 

For shipping to the United States.  A flat fee of $10.00 will be charged for shipping and handling the first unit, and $6.50 for each additional unit per order. 

For shipping to all other addresses.  A flat fee of $25.00 will be charged for shipping and handling the first unit, and $8.00 for each additional unit per order. 

Features

• Variable Vdd supply.  The programmed data is verified at the Vdd limits specified for the particular target chip. 

• 500mA Vdd drive capability to power significant target circuitry along with the target chip when used with external AC or DC power as specified.  Maximum guaranteed Vdd current is 250mA when the supplied wall wart power supply is used. 

• Tolerant of over 1000µF capacitance on the target Vdd line. 

• Vdd and Vpp readback for closed loop control and failure detection. 

• PGC and PGD programming lines are current limited.  This prevents damage to the target PIC in case of incorrect hookup or other error where these lines are connected to target chip outputs.  The ProProg can tolerate PGC and PGD tied to Vdd or ground indefinitely without damage. 

• The target chip programming lines are available three ways:

  • RJ-12 jack with the same pinout as the Microchip ICD2. 

  • 6 pin locking header.  Two ground lines separate the PGD and PGC signals from the remaining signals for ease of making cables that prevent crosstalk. 

  • 6 labeled bare holes for permanently soldering on a dedicated cable.  These have the same pinout as the 6 pin header. 

• Choice of power input connections:

  • 1.3mm power jack AC input as used by the included "wall wart" power supply. 

  • Screw terminals for AC power input, 50-60Hz, 18-22V RMS sine wave, 5.5W maximum.  Other power input waveforms are possible.  Contact Embed Inc for details. 

  • Screw terminals for DC power input.  17-30V at 5.5W maximum. 

  The DC input can be connected simultaneously with one of the AC inputs without one of the power inputs attempting to drive the other. 

• Target system can be run and halted while connected to the programmer. 

• One user button to allow for actions to be initiated by the operator without requiring easy access to the host computer.  This allows for simplified work flow and less error prone production line operation. 

• Four layer board with the bottom layer a ground plane to provide good EMI properties. 

• Mounting holes in the corners for easy integration into dedicated fixtures. 

• 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch clear areas in the corners so that rubber feet can be installed instead of using the mounting holes, for lab or bench top use. 

• 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 specification.  You can create your own software for any system that has a standard serial port. 

Product Package

The ProProg product includes the following items:

• One fully assembled ProProg circuit board. 

• Four rubber feet with adhesive backing.  These can be easily mounted on the bottom of the circuit board at the corners.  This is intended for bench top use.  The rubber feet are not pre-installed because they cover the holes for mounting the unit in a dedicated fixture. 

• One "wall wart" type power supply for use in the United States.  This power supply connects via the 1.3mm power jack on the circuit board. 

• One 6 foot serial cable for connecting the ProProg to a standard PC COM port. 

Supported PICs

Note about Vpp:  The ProProg always produces 13 volts for the programming voltage (Vpp).  This is compatible with most PICs.  However the maximum allowed Vpp for some PICs is lower, as is noted in the list below.  For these PICs, a voltage divider should be inserted between the ProProg Vpp output and the target PIC Vpp pin. 

• 10F20x: 10F200, 10F202, 10F204, 10F206

• 10F22x: 10F220, 10F222

• 12F5xx: 12F508, 12F509, 12F510

• 16F5x: 16F54, 16F59

• 16F5xx: 16F505, 16F506

• 12F6xx: 12F629, 12F635, 12F675, 12F683

• 12F60x, 12F61x, 16F61x: 12F609, 12HV609, 12F615, 12HV615, 16F610, 16HV610, 16F616, 16HV616

• 16F7x: 16F73, 16F74, 16F76, 16F77

• 16F84: 16F83, 16F84, 16F84A

• 16F8x: 16F87, 16F88

• 16F6xx: 16F630, 16F631, 16F636, 16F639, 16F676, 16F677, 16F684, 16F685, 16F687, 16F688, 16F689, 16F690

• 16F62x: 16F627, 16F627A, 16F628, 16F628A

• 16F64x: 16F648A

• 16F716: 16F716

• 16F7x7: 16F737, 16F747, 16F767, 16F777

• 16F81x: 16F818, 16F819

• 16F87x: 16F870, 16F871, 16F872, 16F873, 16F874, 16F876, 16F877

• 16F87xA: 16F873A, 16F874A, 16F876A, 16F877A

• 16F88x (max Vpp 12V): 16F883, 16F884, 16F886, 16F887

• 16F9xx (max Vpp 12V): 16F913, 16F914, 16F916, 16F917, 16F946

• 18Fxx2: 18F242, 18F252, 18F442, 18F452

• 18Fxx8: 18F248, 18F258, 18F448, 18F458

• 18Fxx31: 18F2331, 18F2431, 18F4331, 18F4431

• 18Fx220: 18F1220, 18F2220, 18F4220

• 18Fx320: 18F1320, 18F2320, 18F4320

• 18Fxx20: 18F6520, 18F6620, 18F6720, 18F8520, 18F8620, 18F8720

• 18Fxx30 (max Vpp 12.5V): 18F1230, 18F1330, 18F1330-ICD

• 18F6x8x, 18F8x8x: 18F6585, 18F6680, 18F8585, 18F8680

• 18Fxx23 (max Vpp 12.5V): 18F2423, 18F2523, 18F4423, 18F4523

• 18Fxx25, 18Fxx21: 18F6525, 18F6621, 18F8525, 18F8621

• 18F2xx0, 18F2x21, 18F2xx5, 18F4xx0, 18F4x21, 18F4xx5 (max Vpp 12.5V): 18F2221, 18F2321, 18F2410, 18F2420, 18F2423, 18F2450, 18F2455, 18F2458, 18F2480, 18F2510, 18F2515, 18F2520, 18F2523, 18F2525, 18F2550, 18F2553, 18F2580, 18F2585, 18F2610, 18F2620, 18F2680, 18F2682, 18F2685, 18F4221, 18F4321, 18F4410, 18F4420, 18F4423, 18F4450, 18F4455, 18F4458, 18F4480, 18F4510, 18F4515, 18F4520, 18F4523, 18F4525, 18F4550, 18F4553, 18F4580, 18F4585, 18F4610, 18F4620, 18F4680, 18F4682, 18F4685

• 18F6x2x, 18F8x2x (max Vpp 12.5V): 18F6527, 18F6622, 18F6627, 18F6722, 18F8527, 18F8622, 18F8627, 18F8722

• 18Fxx10, 18Fxx90 (max Vpp 12.0V): 18F6310, 18F6390, 18F6410, 18F6490, 18F8310, 18F8390, 18F8410, 18F8490

• 30Fxxxx (dsPIC): 30F2010, 30F2011, 30F2012, 30F3010, 30F3011, 30F3012, 30F3013, 30F3014, 30F4011, 30F4012, 30F4013, 30F5011, 30F5013, 30F5015, 30F6010, 30F6011, 30F6011A, 30F6012, 30F6012A, 30F6013, 30F6013A, 30F6014, 30F6014A

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

Documentation

• User's Guide. 
• PIC_PROG program. 
• PIC_READ program. 
• Protocol specification. 
• Drawing with scale in inches. 
• Discussion of In-circuit programming and how to prepare a target circuit for use with the ProProg. 

Software

The official software is available for free download.  Click on the heading above for details. 

• To products main page
• USBProg USB PIC programmer.
• EasyProg hobby programmer.
• To Microchip web site