Which cheap programmer to get for a 12C508?

[wf789]

Hi all,

Could anyone tell me which cheap programmer is able to flash a 12C508/9?

I have a PicKit3 clone but I don't think it supports this chip and I'm not sure which alternative to use for this chip.

It is for MM3 Playstation

Many thanks!!

[nigelwright7557]

Hi all,

Could anyone tell me which cheap programmer is able to flash a 12C508/9?

I have a PicKit3 clone but I don't think it supports this chip and I'm not sure which alternative to use for this chip.

It is for MM3 Playstation

Many thanks!!

PICKIT3 definitely does do 12f508/9 I use them all the time.
Microchip no longer support assembly language so take care which version you use.
MPLABX 5.4 doesnt do assembler
MPLABX 5.3 does.

[wf789]

Hi all,

Could anyone tell me which cheap programmer is able to flash a 12C508/9?

I have a PicKit3 clone but I don't think it supports this chip and I'm not sure which alternative to use for this chip.

It is for MM3 Playstation

Many thanks!!

PICKIT3 definitely does do 12f508/9 I use them all the time.
Microchip no longer support assembly language so take care which version you use.
MPLABX 5.4 doesnt do assembler
MPLABX 5.3 does.

Thanks a lot for the reply.

It is the 12C508/9, not the 12F508/9. I think that the "C" variant is a one time programmable chip. Mentioned here: https://www.reddit.com/r/psx/comments/7yr347/what_is_a_good_programmer_for_mm3/

I see the K150 programmer being mentioned a lot but some say it works for the 12C508, others say it doesn't. I guess I should just give that one a try and hope it works...

[westfw]

MPLABX 5.4 doesnt do assembler

I don't know where you get that idea!

[westfw]

>> MPLABX 5.4 doesnt do assembler

I don't know where you get that idea!

Ahh.  I see.  In MPLABX 5.4, you get pic-as instead of mpasmAnd it's ... different.   Sigh.  That seems like a pretty brain-dead move on Microchip's part.  :-(

[westfw]

The famous "ponyprog" software claims to support pic12c50x, and works with several minimal and easy-to-build programmers.   http://www.lancos.com/prog.html

I think it needs a true rs232-level serial port, and may be dependent on the PC-side OS having deterministicly timed access to all of the serial port signals, which is all sort of questionable these days.  But the source code is available (part of the linux version), so it's a least a reasonable model.   At this point, I'd probably throw together an Arduino Nano.  It doesn't look difficult, aside from needing 13V Vpp and multiple "pulses" for each location (ala most eprom programming specs.  "do this up to X times till it reads back, and then do it N times X more times to make sure.")

[Ian.M]

The problem is a PIC12C508 requires up to 50mA from Vpp during programming and Vpp mustn't drop below 12.75V during programming. (see http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/30557g.pdf )

Most cheap / minimal / DIY programmers cant hold Vpp at 13V +/-0.25V reliably with a 50mA pulsed load on it.

IIRC the PIC12C508 and the PIC12F508 are binary compatible and apart from the different programming characteristics, and the pin 5 (GP2/T0CKI) input characteristic, are electrically compatible.  (GP2/T0CKI is a Schmidt trigger input on the 'C508 but an ordinary CMOS input with TTL thresholds on the 'F508.)  Therefore, in most cases, you can simply use a more modern programmer that doesn't support EPROM memory PIC1xC... parts, to flash a PIC12F508 with your PIC12C508 code, and use it in place of the 'C508.

[JPortici]

Microchip no longer support assembly language so take care which version you use.
MPLABX 5.4 doesnt do assembler

Wrong.

They have removed mpasm because everything must be 64bit. The new assembler is the one inside XC8.
As said, different.
If i had to guess, it's because pic-as must be mantained as it's used by XC8 internally. Why mantain two different assemblers, one of which clearly written with 32bit in mind and who knows what will break when flipping the 64bit switch? (regardless of the pain of migrating and missing features as of today)

[nigelwright7557]

>> MPLABX 5.4 doesnt do assembler

I don't know where you get that idea!

Ahh.  I see.  In MPLABX 5.4, you get pic-as instead of mpasmAnd it's ... different.   Sigh.  That seems like a pretty brain-dead move on Microchip's part.  :-(

I should have been more precise with my answer and said it doesnt do mpasm.
I have been moving a lot of my of mpasm stuff to XC8.

[rvalente]

I'm not into gamming hacking stuff but this page says you can use a 12f629.

https://quade.co/ps1-modchip-guide/mm3/

Being a common mode I'm inclined to believe that there is a work around with it

[nigelwright7557]

There are loads of Chinese copy PICKIT 3's around.
I bought one and it was nothing but trouble.
So bought one from a Microchip dealer and that one has been great.
PK3 also supplies power to the device to program if required so means you dont need a powered up circuit to program it.
I also use a Snap programmer and while much faster than PK3 it doesnt supply power to the device being programmed.