PIC Programmer Help Needed...

[zagisrule!]

Need help....PIC Programmer being a POS

Hi,
I have recently been getting into programming PIC MCUs, so I got the PCB for the El Cheapo as a basic first programmer . Anyway, I put it together, had a few problems, and got it to run last night. I had a great time, coded a ESC, tested, tweaked the code and tested again. I put it all up for the night with a nice little brushed ESC that worked pretty good . So, this morning, I groggily wake up, turn on the PC, get some food, and when I come back to program some changes and the thing no longer works . I traced the problem down to the printer I/O ports, which are only reading +0.2V on a high command, and -.06V on a low command . Last night they were reading +5V high and +.01-.05 on low command. I am pretty sure I have not changed anything on the PC to cause this, but there is a chance I might have accidentally changed something.

Does anyone here know anything about this? I really would like to get this problem resolved, it is beyond me.

Any input on this matter would be greatly appreciated.


-Matt Aurand

Here is the Web Site for the Programmer:

www.myke.com (go to the El Cheapo page)

Note:This was also posted in OTD, I am not quite sure where it belongs

[AndyKunz]

Check your grounding. A lot of times that will do it.

Also, LPT ports are not for sinking or sourcing any current. You may have blown the port.

Tell Myke I said howdie.

A much better place to post your question would be the MIT PIC list. Go to www.piclist.com and sign up for it.

Be prepared to be inundated! 100+ msgs/day and none of it is SPAM!!!!

Andy

[zagisrule!]

Ok,
I now have it running again, but it only works intermitantly. I had checked my grounding, and one ground pin of the DB-25 input was not soldered (oops!)

Thanks for the link to the PIClist.


-Matt