Microchip’s PICkit™ 3 in-circuit debugger/programmer uses in-circuit debugging logic incorporated into each chip with Flash memory to provide a low-cost hardware debugger and programmer. In-circuit debugging offers benefits including low cost and a minimum of additional hardware needed for debug. Expensive sockets or adapters are also not required.

The PICkit 3 can also reprogram any PIC^® microcontroller with a simple push of a button. The PICkit 3 in-circuit debugger/programmer is not a production programmer. It should be used for development purposes only.

The MPLAB PICkit 3 allows debugging and programming of PIC and dsPIC^® Flash microcontrollers at a most affordable price point using the powerful graphical user interface of the MPLAB X Integrated Development Environment (IDE). The MPLAB PICkit 3 is connected to the design engineer's PC using a full speed USB interface and can be connected to the target via a Microchip debug (RJ-11) connector (compatible with MPLAB ICD 2, MPLAB ICD 3, and MPLAB REAL ICE). The connector uses two device I/O pins and the reset line to implement in-circuit debugging and In-Circuit Serial Programming™. For older software for programming with the PICkit 3, please visit Microchip's archives.

Header Information

Some 8-, 14-, and 18-pin devices use small header boards with a special MCU for debugging. This special MCU has extra pins for PICkit 3 communication and therefore allows the use of all pins on the part for the application. The header board is not used or needed for programming. However, when debugging these devices the header must be used.