Business Card PIC Programmer

This was my entry for the Hack A Day business card size circuit contest. I just zipped up the files and put them on my website. I'm posting it here because all the other entries seem to be on a blog for easy access. Hopefully this will make the project more accessible and reduce the load on my server.

The attached archive is the contest entry as it was on my server, minus the images. The text is taken from the included document.

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This PIC/EEPROM programmer is so simple and small it fits on a business card with enough room left for assembly instructions...

Project:
Simple JDM2 style PIC ICSP programmer (on a business card).

• all through hole
• less than 2USD worth of parts (in 1s and 2s!)
• easy single sided construction at home (with 3 jumpers)
• enough room left for assembly instructions
• extra space on the back for even more business-cardy goodness
• also programs/reads serial EEPROMS

Skill level:
Easy/beginner.

Assembly time:
About an hour.

Step 1 Description

Anyone can build this simple programmer and learn about PIC microcontrollers. The JDM2 programmer is super simple (about 10 parts), but programs a huge variety of PICS and serial EEPROMs. I've programmed everything from an 8 pin 12F629 to a new 18F4550 USB PIC with the JDM2. This programmer has an ICSP interface, meaning it can program PICs and read EEPROMs while they are attached to a circuit board. Start your hacking!

The PCB can be made single sided (with three jumper wires), but a two layer design makes assembly even easier. All the traces are nice and fat for easy toner-transfer or photo-process at home.

The JDM2 design is quite old, the original JDM2 circuit can be found here:

http://www.jdm.homepage.dk/newpic.htm

This design stays true to the old schematic, but the diode numbering now starts at 1, rather than 2.

Comments

[safetec]

Hi there, where have all the pdf's gone. I wanted to download the circuit to print it.

[Music_Man608]

Hi there, forgive me but I'm new at electronics and I'm scratching the surface right now. Having said that, what is this used for? What is a PIC controller. What can you do with the device you built? Thanks very much and sorry for my lack of education.

[coolmike8789]

A microcontroller is a small, programmable device that can interface with switches, LEDs, USB, ect.

[MadBricoleur]

Will this programmer work with all PIC's? I need to program a PIC16F684.

[dirkandterra]

I built a programmer off of your schematic and it works great. Thank you! Now I can program newer PIC microchips without buying an expensive programmer.

[shane11]

How would I go about making this a usb programmer.

Thanx in advance,
Shane

[dirkandterra]

You can take this JDM programmer and load a bootloader program into a PIC with USB capabilities. Wire up the USB and use the bootloader program to load programs to the PIC over USB

[nadav]

can i use a 2N2222 NPN transistor instead of the BC547B?

[TheEnemy]

so what good does this do?

[thealeks]

its a PIC/EEPROM programmer

[Dyer13]

Does it have to be a tantalum capacitor? What difference would it make from a tantalum cap to an aluminum electrolytic cap?

[ian]

Paanz asked this question below: Yes, as far as I know, C2 MUST be tantalum. Did you try something else? It would be interesting to confirm if the circuit worked/didnt work with other caps.

[steve5006]

I tried this circuit on a breadboard with a 22uF electrolytic cap and BC547C transistors. I noticed that with this configuration the voltage on the dat pin is 3.3v with the data lines low and 9.5v with the data lines set to high. I am unsure if this is caused by the electrolytic capacitor as I have no tantalum capacitors to try out

[brycetron]

I breadboarded this circuit with a 22uF Electrolytic, and it programmed the 18F2550, and 12F683 without issue (also a 16C745). I then proceeded to etch a board, presto I can program the 18F2550, but NOT the 683, the 16F84A wouldn't work either way. Just odd, but I'll get the Tantalum cap and try again! P.S. you should mention that fill layer button within Eagle. I have used Eagle on a few different occasions, but ended up making a manual fill because I didn't know about that fill button. Great Instructable, by the way!

[Dyer13]

I didn't build it yet, I am trying to see what parts I will need to buy, and which I have laying around. Before reading this, I have never heard of Tantalum capacitors, so I was wondering exactly why it needs to be one, and what the difference is between them and regular electrolytic caps.

[TechnoMancer]

they are made with tantalum, a superconducting metal that is not the most abundant metal ever.

[Dyer13]

Yea, I understand that, but that still doesn't explain to me why two different caps with the same value would have a different effect. idk though, unless maybe they charge and discharge at a different rate...

[ian]

They do. Do a quick google for tantalum caps.

[the_prototype]

would a BC546B do it? I got an BC546B and BC557B but no BC547B X_X

[the_prototype]

I got the same question for the Diode... I got the PH4148, can I use this one?

[scarabeetle101]

I know nothing about electronics. what does this do?

[robot797]

relay i dont beleve you know electronicks

(and you havent read it good enough)

[WhiteTigerTails]

I second this...

[lenmorvash]

can I use it for PIC16F628A and Other 18-pin Low Voltage PIC?

the link u gave from the Understanding ICSP instructable said that this JDM2-style PIC Programmer has some problems with those type of PICs


http://www.belza.cz/digital/jdm.htm

I also noted he added some capacitors, does his modified version functions same as your circuit for F628A's and other PICs?

by the way, thanks very much for all your help, I understand ICSP a bit because of your instructables,

God Bless

[nedim155]

could i use two 2n2222 transistors instead of these neded

[murray484]

Is this the proper way to connect a PIC12C508 to the programmer?  If it is not, what is the correct way?

Thanks

[ian]

VPP, VDD, and GND look fine. I can't tell from the graphic if data and clock are on the correct pins (PGD=data, pgc=clock).

[murray484]

There is not a PGD or pgc on the datasheet for the PIC12C508, but there is a GP5/OSC1/CLKIN, a GP4/OSC2, a GP2/T0CKI, a GP0 and a GP1.  Here is a link to the datasheet: http://www.datasheetsite.com/extpdf.php?q=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfdata.datasheetsite.com%2Fpdf1%2FMicrochip%2FPIC12LCE519T-04-SN.pdf

Thanks again

[ian]

Check page 46 - ICSP. It looks like GP0 and GP1.

[murray484]

Thanks

[Regax]

How did you go about adding your skull image into Eagle? I have not been able to figure this out.

Thanks

[magusjonny42]

Hey I was wondering if this breadboard layout I made is correct. The following link is to a .png format of the layout.

http://www.instructables.com/files/orig/FQ8/KE6D/FXA3D43B/FQ8KE6DFXA3D43B.png

[ian]

I'm sorry, I'm not quite sure what the connections and symbols mean. Why don't you hook it up to a PC and see if ICPROG detects the JDM2? If that works, hook up to a PIC and try to program it. Use an old PC if you're worried about blowing the serial port.

[magusjonny42]

Can anyone tell me if I have my experiment breadboard layout correct?

http://www.instructables.com/files/orig/FQ8/KE6D/FXA3D43B/FQ8KE6DFXA3D43B.png

[PtSunow]

So I'm guessing that all I have to do after making this is to connect the PIC to the corresponding pins on the programmer?

[agkithes]

Can anyone enlighten me on what the current of the 5.1 V and 8.2 V diodes should be? I haven't been able to find it anywhere, and I want to order to build this. Thanks in advance.

[agkithes]

I have found this instructable very useful. I am going to make this programmer, however, I do have one question before I begin. You labeled the five pins of the 5-pin header "VPP," "VDD," "VSS," "CLK," and "DAT." Could you let me know which pins on a PIC, say a PIC16F84, these would connect to. I already know VSS (the negative power), but I can't find any of the other four on a diagram of a PIC16F84. Any embellishment would be appreciated, as I am fairly new to electronics, but it is still kind of embarrassing that I don't know the answer to this. Thanks.

[ian]

Try my Understanding ICSP for PIC Microcontrollers post

http://www.instructables.com/id/Understanding-ICSP-for-PIC-Microcontrollers/

[agkithes]

Hello again. Sorry, but I just thought of another question. How many Amps/Milliamps should the diodes be? Does it matter, and should they be the same? Because I found some online, but there are a bunch of different currents. Thanks in advance.

[agkithes]

Thank you. I was able to find a diagram of a pic16f84 and match each pin in the post you gave me. Thanks, now I can order the parts and build the programmer. Actually, one more question if that's alright. I was looking for the BC547B NPN Transistor, and I was unable to find it in a few catalogs (Jameco, Electronix Express, etc.). Is there any transistor that I can replace this with? Thanks in advance.