These 'debug headers' are a special form of the chip where Vpp, PGD &=20 PGC have been brought out to dedicated pins. This allows you to use=20 all of the pins of the device while you are debugging. This is much less of an issue with these 20 pin parts but look at the=20 12f675 - you would lose 3 of the available 6 i/o lines if you didn't=20 use one of these headers while debugging. Anyway, he should have NO problems debugging his chip once he picks=20 up one or two of the headers I mentioned in my previous=20 email. Personally - I always get at least two of them in case I=20 'oops' something, in which case, I'm not shut down while waiting for=20 a replacement to arrive. Do note that these headers are covered by Microchips SAR program -=20 Microchip will exchange dead headers for repaired headers at no=20 charge. Just like any of the ICD's or emulators. dwayne At 11:00 AM 9/6/2011, PICdude wrote: >I don't know this board off-hand, but "special debug header" to me, >should just be a header, which to me, should mostly be some >interconnection adapter. Is there any special logic in these things >such that some devices cannot be debugged without it? If so, this >would certainly affect my choice of chips in the future. > >Cheers, >-Neil. > > >Quoting Dwayne Reid : > > > At 04:19 PM 9/5/2011, RG wrote: > >> I try to use Mplab ICSP debug program on a my board or simply using t= he > >> Microchip Low Pin Count Demo Board. > >> Instructions show how to connect Pickit2 to an IC Header(i.e. the AC16= 2961 > >> Ic header for the Pic16f690) and plugging it to the DM164020-1=20 > Low Pin Count > >> Demo Board. > >> > >> But the Ic Header AC162061 has no connector to plug in an=20 > external board, it > >> can be only connect to Pickit2 with a RJ-11 adapter and has only=20 > a socket in > >> which insert a Pic16f690. > >> Which is the solution? > > > > The 16f690 is a 'Low Pin Count' device and requires a special debug > > header for debugging. Microchip has a PDF file that lists some of > > those headers: > > . > > > > Specifically, you need the PIC16F690-ICD header which is part number > > AC162061. > > > > They are fairly inexpensive. > > > > dwayne > > > > -- > > Dwayne Reid > > Trinity Electronics Systems Ltd Edmonton, AB, CANADA > > (780) 489-3199 voice (780) 487-6397 fax > > www.trinity-electronics.com > > Custom Electronics Design and Manufacturing > > > > -- > > http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > > View/change your membership options at > > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > > > > > >-- >http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive >View/change your membership options at >http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist --=20 Dwayne Reid Trinity Electronics Systems Ltd Edmonton, AB, CANADA (780) 489-3199 voice (780) 487-6397 fax www.trinity-electronics.com Custom Electronics Design and Manufacturing --=20 http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .