Bob Blick wrote, quoting Edson Brusque:

>>   If I take the +5V and +12V (and GROUND, of course) from the PC
>> power supply and use it to feed the PIC in-line programmer board
>> (David Tait's SERPIC), can I cause any harm to the programmer, target
>> board or the PC?

> 12 volts is not enough, you really need a little bit more.

  Pity eh?  OTOH, if you use a programmer (Picstart or Warp) which
contains a switchmode converter to run from a 9V Plug Pack (Wall Wart),
it should work *great* from the PC power supply.

  I have a lead dangling from the back of my PC with a coaxial power
socket for just this purpose, taken from a drive connector "splitter".
Just one trick - it isn't fused, but has an automotive (dashboard light
or ceiling light) bulb in series.
--
  Cheers,
        Paul B.