I wrote:

> ICD4 (DV164045) looks to be on special on microchipdirect.com till the
> end of the month. Usually USD250, now USD180 with voucher code.
>  Seems like a good deal. I've ordered one to replace my trusty (not that
>  trusty) ICD3 that's done a few miles. Does anyone know if they're as
>  good as they should be? eg. claims to be quicker programming.

Received the ICD4 last week. Notes & comments so far, maybe useful, maybe=20
not...

- ICD4 cannot provide any target power unless an external power adaptor is=
=20
connected. The ICD3 on the other hand can provide target power from the USB=
=20
supply alone, and has no connection for external power.

- The external power adaptor required is 9V DC. There are few places in the=
=20
documentation that state this. It's a 2.5mm pin DC jack, centre positive (a=
s=20
expected, but not stated anywhere I could find). Nor is there anything I ca=
n find that=20
states the range of acceptable DC input voltage.

- Programmer won't program if it detects residual power on the programming =
pins=20
(comes up with a warning and won't let you continue), not a problem with IC=
D3.=20
While this seems like a reasonable precaution, it can create some problems.=
 It=20
doesn't seem to be a feature that the user can confgure (set threshold) or =
turn off,=20
using MPLABX IDE v4.15 anyhow. The project I am working on presently will=20
ultimately be battery powered, but for development it's powered by the ICD.=
 I have=20
an FTDI USB/USART cable connected to the uC serial port for debugging... TX=
D=20
from PC pushes up the uC supply rail enough to bring up the warning. Fixed =
by=20
adding 10k in series with TXD and 1k across uC VDD/VSS... works, just kind =
of a=20
hassle. Would be nice to plug in a programmer/debugger and have it work wit=
hout=20
modifying the hardware.

- The ICD4 is taller and heavier than the ICD3, and has a metal (aluminium)=
 case.

- The LED bar across the top of the ICD4 looks cool.


--=20
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