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REVIEW:  MicroChip's PICKit 3 XLP Bundle

gordonmx

*** RATING – 4.5 Out of 5 Stars ***

 

Once again I was fortunate to have the opportunity to evaluate another feature rich product.  In the case of the MicroChip PICkit 3-XLP Bundle, this included not just the PICkit 3 Debug Express (DV164131) which itself includes:

 

  * PICkit 3 Debugger/Programmer,
  * 44-pin demo board with a PIC18F45K20-I/MLPIC18F45K20-I/ML XLP microcontroller,
  * USB cable (to power the PICkit 3 and interface to the PC),
  * Misc adapter cables,
  * PICkit 3 Quick Setup Poster and
  * CDROM that includes loads of stuff, such as the following:
     - PICkit 3 User’s Guide,
     - MicroChip’s MPLAB IDE software for a complete code development environment,
     - A FREE CCS compiler for the PIC18F45k20. (2kWord Program Limit),
     - HI-TECH C PRO compiler for PIC10/12/16 MCU Family in Lite mode,
     - A Debugging Tutorial on using the PICkit 3 as a debugger with the MPLAB IDE
     - A series of 12 Lessons on C programming that cover I/O, A/D converters, timers,
       interrupts, and data tables (All source code files are provided)

 

But also includes:

 

  * An additional full speed USB PIC18F46J50 demo board
  * 2 additional information packed product CDs and
  * a box of MicroChip’s next-generation nanoWatt XLP eXtreme Low Power
Microcontroller samples(PIC18F14K50-I/SO  PIC18F14K50-I/SSPIC18F14K50-I/SS  PIC16F722-I/SSPIC16F722-I/SS
  PIC18F45K20-I/PTPIC18F45K20-I/PT  PIC18F46J11-I/PTPIC18F46J11-I/PT  PIC18F46J50-I/PTPIC18F46J50-I/PT

 

From Element-14’s description, the purpose of the “bundle” is to supply "all an engineer needs to evaluate the new NanoWatt XLP Technology from MicroChip”.  For the most part, I’m happy to say, this is true.  Although to take advantage of the MCU samples, one must create their own PCB.

 

For this evaluation, the bundle will be broken down into the 1) debugger/programmer and 2) demo boards.

 

 

1) Box Content (including written documentation) –

 

The box content is pretty much covered above and includes all the necessary materials and documentation to evaluate both the debugger and demo boards, except for a lack of a power source for the PIC18F45K20-I/MLPIC18F45K20-I/ML XLP microcontroller demo board.  It cannot be power off the USB port.  A simple AC/DC adapter or battery holder would have been nice, but instead I had to dig around for one.

 

NOTE: For pictures of the content, see Ricou Cocquerez’s “Review : PICKit 3 evaluation kit” from April 2, 2010

 

 


2) CD Content (including e-file documentation) –

 

The kit includes multiple CDs containing the MPLab IDE (v8.36), compilers, applications notes, training videos, data sheets, user guides and programming libraries.  All of which can be found at MicroChip’s website (www.microchip.com), but it is useful to have them all in one place and included in the bundle.

 

NOTE:  As with all CDs, the content may be outdate.  The kit was assembled in late 12/09 and several documents had been updated since I received the CDs.

 

I particularly found interesting (and useful) the “Tips and Tricks” pdfs, which are an accumulations of helpful hints for the XLP PIC (and many other) MCUs

 

 


3) Evaluation Hardware –

 

The PICKit 3 debugger/programmer works great, but seems to lack all the features of the PicKIT2 system.  The debugger is strongly tied to the MicroChip XLP family due to the use of the in-circuit debugging logic incorporated in the MCU.  But this makes the debugger truly low cost.  I did have to download a later version of the IDE to get full support for the PICKit 3.  I loaded v8.50 versus v8.36 supplied on the CD.

 

The PIC18F45K20-I/MLPIC18F45K20-I/ML XLP microcontroller demo board is little more than a PCB with a MCU and a few components, but is sufficient to demonstrate the debugging and programming features of the PICKit 3 through the tutorial exercises.  All the MCU pins are accessible and there is an area set aside on the board to add your own circuitry.  This is a little more than most demo boards.  Source is supplied on the CDs.  As mentioned above, the only piece missing in the kit was a power source for the board.

 

The full speed USB PIC18F46J50 demo board was a little more interesting.  Being very compact, there is no breadboard space.  The board does have a set of connectors to plug the module into another board or system, such as the HPC or PIC18 Explorer boards or your own.  It can be powered from the USB port or an external supply.  The board is a nice place to start if you are interested in seeing how the MicroChip USB stack operates.

 

 

4) Software –

 

I have used earlier versions of the IDE and was pleased with the evolution of the tool.  The online help and documentation is easy to use.  The tutorials were basic, but clear and helpful.  Someone new to the platform should find them useful in coming up to speed quickly in debugging and programming the XLP family of MCUs with the PICKit 3.

 

 


5) Closing Comments –

 

I’ve worked with MicroChip products before, and as before, I was not disappointed.  I highly recommend the PICKit 3 debugger/programmer if you are interested in XLP development.  I look forward to seeing what expanded functionality MicroChip has in store for the PICKit 3.

 

I hope this is useful feedback and I thank Alistair again for the opportunity to evaluate this product!

 

 


Gordon Margulieux
Salem, OR USA

  • Hi Gordon,

     

    Your review is very well. I always liked Microchip products. So do Pic-kit 3. I am a lucky winner either but not so much lucky to find out some free time and write a review. I hope in the next few days i will have some free time and then i am going to write my review.

     

    Firat

  • Thank you very much for the great review Gordon!

     

    "For the most part, I’m happy to say, this is true.  Although to take advantage of the MCU samples, one must create their own PCB"

     

    I was interested in this part. Do you think this is an idea for a webinar? We could see if the guys at CadSoft could give a demostration of building a board using the Freemium version. Or is more a question of getting the time to make the PCB?

  • Nice review!

     

    Recently I had to develop a low power circuit board with real time clock, and at the end I have managed a total consumption bellow 10uA (uC + regulators + transistors +etc). For this reason I thing that this bundle should be really great.

  • in reply to awinning

    Such a webinar would be quite useful! I am especially interested in the "offical way" of connecting  metric and non-metric parts (i.e. how can we accurately positioning and connencting flat packages with 0.6  or 0.5 mm pin spacing to a SOIC or DIP package using Eagle).

     

    Another topic which would be interesting: what are the basic requirements for a test MCU circuits? There are common mistakes in home-made designs: missing decoupling capacitors, not all of the power pins ara connected, omission or  too low capacitor at VUSB pin, omission of current limiting resistors when connecting LED, using large capacitor at MCLR pin, etc. The PIC18F14K50-I/MQPIC18F14K50-I/MQ MCU (which is also included in the PICkit3 XLP bundle need special care, because it can work at Vdd = 5V, but the ICSP pins tolerate 3.6 V only, therefore the PICkit2 can program it at Vdd = 3.3 V (I don't know what is the situation with the PICkit3). In the case of USB capable MCUs like PIC18F14K50-I/MQPIC18F14K50-I/MQ further considerations are necessary when the circuit is self-powered, and it should check the VBUS voltage in order t know whether the USB cable is connected or not...

  • Nice review! I would like to add one comment on the bundled PIC18F14K50-I/MQPIC18F14K50-I/MQ chip: it is an amazing chip as it has also full speed USB interface like the PIC18F46J50 chip but work at either 3.V or 5 V, so it can be fitted to every PIC MCU as an USB - UART converter for example.