View source for PICkit 1

The PICkit 1 is a cheap developement board for programming PIC chips.  The retail package includes the board, USB cable, driver CD and MPLAB IDE CD.  These are shown below.

[[image:PICkit 1.jpg|center]]

==Installing==

The first step to programming your PIC is to install the software that will interface with the PICkit through the USB port on your Windows PC.

===PICkit Drivers===

<ol>
<li>Insert the PICkit 1 Flash Starter Kit CD</li>
<li>The CD should autostart.  If it doesn't, run the "AutorunPro.exe" file on the disk. You will see the screen below</li>
[[image:pickit1.png|center]]
<li>Click on "Quickstart" and begin installing the three programs listed by clicking on the links. (the default options work just fine)</li>
<li>Once all three programs have been installed, remove the CD.</li>
</ol>

===MPLAB IDE===
<ol>
<li>Insert the MPLAB IDE CD.</li>
<li>The CD should autostart and will open a webpage</li>
[[image:pickit2.png|center]]
<li>Click the small icon next to "Choose Open to install on your PC".</li>
<li>When asked for setup type, select "Custom".</li>
<li>When you reach a dialog titled "Select Features", make sure the PICkit is checked in the list.</li>
[[image:pickit3.png|center]]
<li>Finish the installation and restart the PC</li>
</ol>

==Programming your PIC==

===Connecting to PC===

<ol>
<li>First insert your PIC chip into the PICkit board (<b>ALWAYS DO THIS FIRST</b>)</li>
[[image:pickit4.jpg|center]]
<li>Use the USB cable to connect the board to a free USB port on your PC</li>
[[image:pickit5.jpg|center]]
</ol>

===Using MPLAB===

<ol>
<li>Start MPLAB by opening it from the Start menu or desktop icon</li>
<li>Make sure the PICkit is connected through the USB cable (there are lights on the board)</li>
<li>Tell MPLAB to target the PICkit by selecting it from the Programmer menu</li>
[[image:pickit6.jpg|center]]
<li>Once you write your program or load one from somewhere else (try [[media:Picpwmcode.zip|this program]] if you don't have one), you need to build the project.  Select "Build All" from the Project menu.</li>
[[image:pickit7.jpg|center]]
<li>If the build is successful, program the chip by selecting "Program Device" from the Programmer menu.</li>
[[image:pickit8.jpg|center]]
</ol>