Question 4 - How to calibrate PICkit 2?

To overcome the USB voltage variation between different PC or laptop, a voltage calibration can help PICkit2 self-tune itself accordingly for the voltage changes. To calibrate the PICkit 2, you will need a multimeter. The one shows in this article is a Craftman Auto-ranging multimeter 82139, which is available at local Sears stores. Following steps illustrate how to calibrate the PICkit 2: 1. Double click the shortcut of "PICkit 2 Programmer" on desktop as shown in figure 1

Figure 1 2. "PICkit 2 Programmer" window show up (figure 2) and showing message "PICkit 2 not found. Check USB connections and use Tools>Check Communication to retry."

Figure 2

3. Connect PICkit 2 with computer using appropriate USB cable, the power LED on PICkit 2 will lit as shown in figure 3.

Figure 3 4. Click "Tools/Check Communication" on PICkit 2 programmer windows, as shown in figure 4, the programmer will then show message "PICkit 2 found and connected"

Figure 4 5. Click "Tools/Calibrate VDD & Set Unit ID", as shown in figure 5.

Figure 5 6. "PICkit 2 VDD Calibration" window show up, click next to proceed (figure 6) 7. "PICkit 2 VDD calibration" window will show the 3 steps (figure 7)

Figure 6

Figure 7 Step 1. Make sure the PICkit 2 is not connected to any device or circuit board. Step 2. Connect a voltage meter between pin 2 (VDD) and pin 3 (GND) of the CB0703 (PICkit 2) ICSP connector (the pin number of CB0703 RJ12 ICSP connector is defined as shown in figure 8). The voltage meter showing at 0.2mV (figure 9).

Figure 8

Figure 9

Step 3. Click NEXT and PICkit 2 will apply approximately 4 volts to the VDD pin. Step 4. Connect a voltage meter between pin 2 (VDD) and pin 3 (GND) of the PICkit 2 ICSP connector again, the reading on the volt meter is the actual voltage measured on VDD (figure 10). Enter the value in the box as shown in figure11.

Figure 10

Figure 11 Step 5. Click the CALIBRATE button to calibrate the PICkit 2. "CALIBRATION SUCCESSFUL" message displayed. Click "Next" to proceed (figure 12).

Figure 12

Figure 13 8. "Unit Identification Name" window show up, type "MYPICKIT2" or any other name and click "Assign Unit ID" button, message "Unit ID Assigned to this PICkit 2" displayed. Click "Finished" button (figure 13). 9. "PICkit 2 Programmer - MYPICKIT 2" window will show up, and a message "PICkit 2 connected. ID = MYPICKIT 2" displays (figure 14).

Figure 14 Question 5 - How to trouble shoot PICkit 2? To trouble shoot a PICkit2, a multimeter, a frequency measurement tool and a oscilloscope might be needed. The tool showed in this article is a Craftman Auto-ranging multimeter 82139, which has a voltmeter function and a frequency counter function. It can also measurement the signal high level percentage of a square ware. The multimeter 82139 is available at local Sears stores. 1.After launch the "PICKit 2 programmer" software, Click "Tools/Troubleshoot" as shown in figure 1.

Figure 1 2."PICkit 2 troubleshooting" windows displays, click "Next" (figure 2)

Figure 2 3."PICkit 2 Troubleshooting Step 1: Verify VDD" window shows up (figure 3):

Figure 3 4.Verify VDD 4.1.Type "4.5", click "Test" button, PICkit 2 Troubleshooting window will display "Results 4.4V" and a "Test Passed" message (figure 4-1).

Figure 4-1 You can also verify the voltage by using volt meter to measure the voltage of VDD (pin2 +, pin3 - ) at 4.49V (figure 4-2).

Figure 4-2 4.2.Type "2.5", click "Test" button, "Results 2.5V" displays, volt meter reads VDD (pin2 +, pin3 -), at 2.506V (figure 4-3).

Figure 4-3 Test 2.5V VDD 4.3.Type "3.3", click "Test" button, "Results 3.3V" displays, volt meter reads VDD (pin2 +, pin3 -), at 3.325V (figure 4-4). Click Next to test VPP. Note: The last test value of VDD will affect the test result of PGC and PGD on step 6.

Figure 4-4 Test 3.3 V VDD 4.4."PICkit 2 Trouble shooting CAUTION" window displays (figure 5), click "Next", "PICkit 2 Troubleshooting Step 2: Verify VPP" window displays (figure 6)

Figure 5

Figure 6 5.Verify VPP 5.1.Click "Test VPP" button, VPP test result displays "11.9 V", and a "Test Passed" message displayed (figure 7-1).

Figure 7-1 You can also use volt meter reads VPP (pin 1+, pin 3-) at 11.91V (figure 7-2)

Figure 7-2 5.2.Click "MCLR On" button, volt meter measures (Pin1 +, pin 3- ) at a few mV (Figure 8-1 shows 6.5 mV).

Figure 8-1 5.3.Click "MCLR Off" button, volt meter measures (Pin1 +, pin 3- ) at an indeterminate voltage (figure 8-2 shows about 36.2 mV). Click "Next"

Figure 8-2 6.Verify PGC + PGD 6.1."PICkit 2 Troubleshooting/Step 3: Verify PGC + PGD" window displays (figure 9)

Figure 9 6.2.Under PGD/ICSPDAT, 6.2.1.Click Toggle 30KHz button, , the frequency should read about 29.91 kHz (pin 4 + Pin 3-, figure 10-1), frequency % reads about 45.2% (figure 102), voltage reads about 1.724V (figure 10-3) 6.2.2.6.2.2. Click High (VDD) button, volt meter reads the voltage at 3.317 volt (figure 10-4), Note: these voltage values (figure 10-3 and 10-4) maybe different depends on the last test value of VDD (see step 4). 6.2.3.6.2.3. Click Low (GND) button, volt meter reads the voltage at a few mV (picture not shown).

Figure 10-1

Figure 10-2

Figure 10-3

Figure 10-4

6.3.Under PGC/ICSPCLK, 6.3.1.Click Toggle 30KHz button, the frequency should read about 29.91 kHz (pin 5 + Pin 3-, figure 11-1), frequency % reads about 45.4% (figure 112), voltage reads about 1.73V (figure 11-3) 6.3.2.6.3.2. Click High (VDD) button, volt meter reads the voltage at 3.309 volt (figure 11-4). Note: these voltage values (figure 11-3 and 11-4) maybe different depends on the last test value of VDD (see step 4). 6.3.3.6.3.3. Click Low (GND) button, volt meter reads the voltage at a few mV (picture not shown).

Figure 11-1

Figure 11-2

Figure 11-3

Figure 11-4

7.Click "Finished" button to close PICkit 2 Troubleshooting window.