PIC
microcontroller programmer device
A microcontroller programmer device is a stand-alone
unit usually with one or more ZIF (zero-
insertion-force) type sockets mounted on it. The device is connected to the PC using either a par-
allel (or sometimes a serial) cable or by the USB interface. The new programmer devices with the
USB interface do not require any external power supply as they are powered from the USB port
of the PC they are connected to. The older devices with serial or parallel interfaces require an
external mains adaptor for their operation. The size of the ZIF socket determines the types of
chips that can be programmed by the device. Some sockets are 40-pin which can be used to pro-
gram microcontrollers with 40, 24, 20, 18, and 8 pins. Some programmer devices have sockets
with only 18 pins and they are designed to program smaller microcontrollers with 18 or less pins.
insertion-force) type sockets mounted on it. The device is connected to the PC using either a par-
allel (or sometimes a serial) cable or by the USB interface. The new programmer devices with the
USB interface do not require any external power supply as they are powered from the USB port
of the PC they are connected to. The older devices with serial or parallel interfaces require an
external mains adaptor for their operation. The size of the ZIF socket determines the types of
chips that can be programmed by the device. Some sockets are 40-pin which can be used to pro-
gram microcontrollers with 40, 24, 20, 18, and 8 pins. Some programmer devices have sockets
with only 18 pins and they are designed to program smaller microcontrollers with 18 or less pins.
Figure 3.1 shows a typical PIC microcontroller
programmer device based on a USB-type inter-
face. This device is distributed by Forest Electronics Ltd. in UK (website www.fored.co.uk) and
is known as the FED Programmer. The programmer has a single 40-pin ZIF socket mounted on
it. Microcontrollers with 40-pins (e.g. PIC16F877) can be programmed by placing them directly
on the socket and closing the handle. Devices with less number of pins (e.g. PIC16F84) are nor-
mally placed at the far end of the socket near the handle. The Programmer in Figure 3.1 has the
advantage that it can program a very large variety of PIC microcontroller chips. The programmer
device is sold for around £99 in UK and includes a USB cable.
face. This device is distributed by Forest Electronics Ltd. in UK (website www.fored.co.uk) and
is known as the FED Programmer. The programmer has a single 40-pin ZIF socket mounted on
it. Microcontrollers with 40-pins (e.g. PIC16F877) can be programmed by placing them directly
on the socket and closing the handle. Devices with less number of pins (e.g. PIC16F84) are nor-
mally placed at the far end of the socket near the handle. The Programmer in Figure 3.1 has the
advantage that it can program a very large variety of PIC microcontroller chips. The programmer
device is sold for around £99 in UK and includes a USB cable.
A PIC microcontroller programmer device designed to
operate with the parallel port is shown in
Figure 3.2. This particular device is known as the EPIC Plus programmer and it can be purchased
from the developers of the PicBasic/Pro compilers (microEngineering Labs Inc.) or from many
other electronic component distributors. EPIC Plus is a low-cost programmer with an 18-pin
socket on the device. There is no ZIF socket on the device and a standard DIL (dual-in-line)
socket is provided. The programmer is connected to the parallel port (the printer port) of a PC
using a 25-way DB25 type cable. If the parallel port of your PC is connected to the printer, the
Figure 3.2. This particular device is known as the EPIC Plus programmer and it can be purchased
from the developers of the PicBasic/Pro compilers (microEngineering Labs Inc.) or from many
other electronic component distributors. EPIC Plus is a low-cost programmer with an 18-pin
socket on the device. There is no ZIF socket on the device and a standard DIL (dual-in-line)
socket is provided. The programmer is connected to the parallel port (the printer port) of a PC
using a 25-way DB25 type cable. If the parallel port of your PC is connected to the printer, the
printer must be disconnected while you are using the
programmer. EPIC
Plus is
powered from a
12-15 V DC mains adaptor.
12-15 V DC mains adaptor.
Some microcontroller programmer devices have multiple
ZIF sockets, also called gang program-
mers. These programmers are usually used to copy the same program to a number of devices at
mers. These programmers are usually used to copy the same program to a number of devices at
the
same time, such as during the production runs
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