What is PIC16F877A?
PIC16F877A is a small piece of semiconductor integrated circuits. The package type of this integrated circuits is DIP package. DIP stand for Dual Inline Package for semiconductor IC. This package is very easy to be soldered onto the stripboard. However using a DIP socket is much more easier so that this chip can be plugged and removed from the development board.
Why PIC16F877A is very popular?
This is because PIC16F877A is very cheap. Apart from that it is also very easy to be assembled. Additional components that you need to make this IC work is just a 5V power supply adapter, a 20MHz crystal oscillator and 2 units of 22pF capacitors.
What is the advantages of PIC16F877A?
This IC can be reprogrammed and erased up to 10,000 times. Therefore it is very good for new product development phase.
How to start programming PIC16F877A?
First assemble the PIC16F877A circuit with the 5V power supply, 20MHz crystal oscillator and two 22pF capacitors. If you only have 12 volt power supply adapter, you need a 5V voltage regulator circuit. You can build 5V voltage regulator circuit using 7805 IC, IN4007 diode and two 10uF capacitors.
Download and install free C compiler for PIC16F877A from Microchip which is free. Copy the C program example to blink LED. Compile the program using CCS C compiler. The hex file for this program will be created after success compiling. This hex file need to be loaded into the PIC16F877A.
What is MPLAB?
MPLAB is a free software that is needed to burn hex file into PIC16F877A program memory. Download MPLAB IDE from Microchip which is free. Install and run it. Connect PICStartPlus programmer using rs232 cable with you PC. Position the PIC16F877A chip onto the PICStartPlus programmer.
Follow MPLAB instruction to burn the hex file into PIC16F877A chip. Once complete, remove PIC16F877A from PICStartPlus and insert it onto the development board. Turn ON the 5V power supply and see what happen.
Two more component needed are LED and resistor.
What is PICStartPlus?
PICStartPlus is a hardware pragrammer that is used to burn hex file into PIC16F877A. PICStartPlus consist of power supply socket and cable, rs232 cable that should be connected to PC and a 40 pin ZIF socket. PIC16F877A chip should be placed onto the ZIF socket.
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