MINI-MAX/P18 Support & Frequently Asked Questions

[1] Are PIC microcontrollers other than PIC18F458 supported ?

[2] Can I change the crystal on the MINI-MAX/P18 to another frequency that is suitable for my application ?

[3] What are the software development tools for MINI-MAX/P18 ?

[4] Why does download to the board fail ?

[5] Is there an extended temperature version of your boards ?

[6] How do I debug my programs on the MINI-MAX/P18 ?

[1] Are PIC microcontrollers other than PIC18F458 supported ?

Yes, 18FXXX and 16FXXX series PIC's in 44-PLCC package can also be installed on the microcontroller socket. The following processors are supported:

PIC16F877
PIC18F442
PIC18F452
PIC18F458

[2] Can I change the crystal on the MINI-MAX/P18 to another frequency that is suitable for my application ?

You can replace the original 19.6608 MHz crystal with other frequencies, for example, a lower frequency crystal to obtain lower PWM frequencies. In-circuit download function will still operate because it does not depend upon frequency. Please note that this change will affect the USART baud rate. BAUD RATE formula is Fosc/(64(X+1)). A 4.9152 MHz crystal gives standard baud rates. For example, HC49US4.9152MABJ  is a suitable part from Digikey ( www.digikey.com ). Some soldering skills are needed if you plan on changing the crystal yourself.

[3] What are the software development tools for MINI-MAX/P18 ?

We recommend our Microchip Development System which contains a Windows IDE with several projects examples, serial downloader specifically for MINI-MAX/P18, a terminal window and preconfigured settings for MPASM®, CCS C Compiler and Microchip C18 Compiler


[4] Why does download to the board fail ?

The MINI-MAX/51-P18 Downloader has been available for a while now and is a highly reliable downloader.

You should only pay attention to few details to make sure that the download works:

1) Make sure that the board is powered.

2) Make sure that you are using the NULL modem cable (that came with the board. Other NULL modem cables may not work. Straight through cables will NOT work.

3) Make sure that you are using the correct serial (COM) port. Some PC's have more than one serial port. Check
Tools->Options->Loader in Micro-IDE for the correct COM port. Baud rate, parity, data bits, stop bits, etc. do not make a difference for MINI-MAX/P18 Loader. All these are automatically detected by the loader. Similarly, the microcontroller type on the board is detected automatically.

4) Make sure that you use the latest software from our website. Older versions of the software may not support newer processors such as the 18FXXX. The Microchip Development System contains the latest MINI-MAX/51-P18 Loader.


[5] Is there an extended temperature version of your boards ?

Here is a temperature range list of the various semiconductor components that make up the MINI-MAX/P18. As you can see from the list, most components are already extended or industrial temperature grade. Please contact us if your application requires an extended or industrial temperature range of our boards.

Component
Operating Temperature Range
Microcontroller PIC18F458
-40 to 85 Degrees Celsius
Secondary Microcontroller PIC16F648
-40 to 85 Degrees Celsius
Regulator
-40 to 125 Degrees Celsius
Voltage Reference
-40 to 85 Degrees Celsius
RS232 Transceiver
0 to 70 Degrees Celsius

[6] How do I debug my programs on the MINI-MAX/P18 ?

MINI-MAX/P18 supports Microchip ICD2 connection through a special adapter board called PIGGY. Remove secondary microcontroller (PIC16F648) from MINI-MAX/P18 and insert PIGGY in its place. Connect the modular cable from ICD2 to PIGGY and you are ready to start debugging.

For more sophisticated program development and debugging, you can use one of our In-Circuit Emulators for PIC's.