Packaging
The product is delivered in a well covered box and is well protected during the transportation
Package Contents
The product consists of two piece of boxes. One of them is PicKit 3 Debug Express itself and the other one is Development Tools box which includes a low power Usb board and some low power MCU ICs. Lets list all the items in the received product box;
1. PICKit 3 Debug Express
PICKit 3 In-Circuit Debugger
44-Pin Demo Board
PIC18F45K20-I/MLPIC18F45K20-I/ML Mikrocontroller
Prototyping Area
Usb Cable
Software and Documentation CD
2. Development Tools
PIC18F46J50 FS USB PIM DEMO BOARD
Usb Cable
ICD 2 TO ICSP Adapter
3. Various MCU ICs
PIC18F45K20-I/MLPIC18F45K20-I/ML
PIC18F46J50
PIC18F46J11
PIC18F14K50-I/MQPIC18F14K50-I/MQ
PIC24F16KA102
PIC16F722
Installation
Installation is so easy. Just insert the installation CD and then run the MPLAB setup. If it is fallowed the messages appeared on the installation screens then the setup is finished with no any problem.
Hardware
The product includes two hardware boards. One of then is PIC18F45K20-I/MLPIC18F45K20-I/ML Demo Board and the other one is PIC18F46J50 USB Demo Board. PIC18F45K20 is a board that has many reach features on it. Those are one POT, one button, 8 Leds and a wide prototyping area. PIC18F46J50 board has two buttons where one of them is used to reset the board and the other is used for general usage, one usb port, two Leds. While PIC18F45K20 board does not work when it is powered, the PIC18F46J50 board starts to work ( you see the leds lights on and off one after the other continuesly ) when it is powered. If the power is provided by connecting the board via Usb cable there happens something interesting and it is faced to a window. When it is seen this window, it is understood that some part of the board MCU is used as if it was a USB flash disk. and in this Usb flash disk there is rar file. when this rar file is decompressed and the program in it run, there it can be seen a new window menu where it is possible to change the led sequence on the board and to see the status of the one of the button on the board. If it is required to power the board externally then it can be done via power pins already soldered on the board.
Software
It is not wrong if it is said nothing about the software. The CD int the product box contains MPLab and HI-Tech software. Even though i am not a native coder for MPLAB or HI-Tech, i know more about these IDEs and there is no doubt about thier quality. I think i am going to start to learn these compiler with the help of the hardware i have already had.
PROs
While PIC18F46J50 board can be used as stand alone, it can also be used on home made boards with the help of its socket type of design.
PIC18F45K20-I/MLPIC18F45K20-I/ML board has a prototyping are on it.
PIC18F45K20-I/MLPIC18F45K20-I/ML board has pin holes to make it a socket type of board.
Both of the boards have very well designs.
CONs
I have nothing to say negative comments for the boards.
Conclusion
This kit can be bought with no hesitation. Whether you are a new comer or have a knowledge but want to learn something about low power technology and Usb extra then this kit is for you. And you get what you pay.
Firat Kocak
