Philip Pemberton wrote:
> 2) The MCLR pin can't handle 12V.

This is true of all the 3.3V only PICs, which includes the 18FJ, some 18FK,
24F, 24H, and 33F.

> MCLR on these chips is specced to run at about 5V *absolute maximum*.

<shameless plug>
This was one of the motivations behind our LProg PIC programmer.  It only
targets the 3.3V PICs.  These use normal Vdd voltages only, and a different
mechanism to enter programming mode.  The LProg can't fry such chips becaus=
e
it only produces 0 - 3.3V signals.  http://www.embedinc.com/products/lprog.
It is also the lowest cost PIC programmer that actually adheres to the
specs.  It doesn't play fast and loose with USB voltages, try to steal powe=
r
from signal lines, etc.  The LProg will be available from microchipdirect
very soon.
</shameless plug>


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