Microchip Mplab Snap Pg164100 In-Circuit Debugger

Microchip Mplab Snap Pic dsPIC Avr Sam Cortex Arm Icsp Programmer

Debugger USB Type-C Jtag Swd Pdi Tpi Pg164100

     The MPLAB Snap (PG164100) is the original, low-cost in-circuit debugger and programmer made by Microchip for PIC, dsPIC, AVR, SAM and PIC32 flash microcontrollers. It works with MPLAB X IDE or MPLAB IPE; it loads code into the microcontroller on the target circuit, runs the program on real hardware at full speed, halts at breakpoints and lets you watch variables. Inside is a 32-bit SAM E70 microcontroller with a 300MHz Arm Cortex-M7 core, so programming is fast and there is no firmware download delay when switching devices.

     It connects to the PC through a Micro-B USB connector over high-speed USB 2.0 (480Mbit/s) and takes its power from USB. It connects to the target circuit with an 8-pin single in-line (SIL) female header: for ICSP the MCLR, VDD, GND, PGD and PGC lines are used. The same connector also supports 4-wire JTAG, Serial Wire Debug (SWD), UPDI, PDI, TPI, ISP and debugWIRE interfaces; it is backward compatible with demo boards and target systems using 2-wire JTAG and ICSP. The target voltage range is 1.2V - 5.5V.

     The MPLAB Snap comes as a bare printed circuit board without an enclosure and is designed for developers working with newer Microchip microcontrollers. It does not support some legacy devices that need high-voltage programming and it does not power the target circuit; if these features are needed, a tool such as the MPLAB PICkit 4 should be chosen.

Key features:

     PIC, AVR and Arm in one tool: PIC, dsPIC, AVR, SAM (Arm Cortex), CEC and PIC32 flash microcontrollers are programmed and debugged with the same tool; supported devices grow as MPLAB X IDE is updated.

     Wide interface support: ICSP, 4-wire JTAG, SWD, MIPS EJTAG, AVR32 JTAG, PDI, UPDI (low voltage), TPI, ISP, debugWIRE and aWire interfaces are used from a single 8-pin connector.

     Fast 32-bit processor: Thanks to the 300MHz Arm Cortex-M7 based SAM E70 it programs as fast as the device allows; there is no firmware download delay when switching devices.

     Debugging on real hardware: It uses the target microcontroller's own debug circuitry; the program runs at full speed with multiple hardware and software breakpoints, stopwatch and step-by-step source code debugging.

     Wide target voltage: Works with target circuits from 1.2V to 5.5V; 1.8V, 3.3V and 5V microcontrollers are programmed with the same tool.

Features:

• Product type: In-circuit debugger and programmer (original Microchip)
• Model: MPLAB Snap PG164100
• Supported devices: PIC and AVR microcontrollers, dsPIC digital signal controllers, SAM (Arm Cortex) microcontrollers and microprocessors, CEC, PIC32
• Interfaces: ICSP, 4-wire JTAG, SWD, MIPS EJTAG, AVR32 JTAG, PDI, UPDI (low voltage only), TPI, ISP, debugWIRE, aWire
• Target voltage: 1.2V - 5.5V
• Processor: 32-bit SAM E70 with 300MHz Arm Cortex-M7 core
• PC connection: High-speed USB 2.0 (480Mbit/s), Micro-B USB connector
• Power: USB powered, no external power needed; does not power the target
• Target connector: 8-pin single in-line (SIL) female header; ICSP: 1 MCLR, 2 VDD, 3 GND, 4 PGD, 5 PGC
• Debugging: Multiple hardware and software breakpoints, stopwatch, source code debugging, runs at full target speed
• Data gateway (DGI): I2C, SPI, USART
• Indicators: 2 LEDs (Active green, Status yellow)
• Software: MPLAB X IDE 5.05 and later, MPLAB IPE (free)
• Operating system: Windows 7 and later, Linux, macOS
• Programming: Drag and drop programming, no firmware download delay when switching devices
• Compliance: RoHS, CE, China E
• Recovery: Emergency firmware recovery jumper (not populated, pads on the board)
• Material and color: No enclosure, white printed circuit board

Usage information:

• First install MPLAB X IDE (or MPLAB IPE), then plug the MPLAB Snap into the PC with a Micro-B USB cable. When the green Active LED is steady on and the yellow Status LED is off, the tool is ready; the yellow LED lights during an operation.
• On the 8-pin connector the end marked with the arrow is pin 1 (MCLR). For ICSP connect lines 1 MCLR, 2 VDD, 3 GND, 4 PGD, 5 PGC to the target circuit; power the target circuit from its own supply.
• In MPLAB X IDE select the "Snap" tool in the project properties. If you get a programming error, lower the programming speed under Program Options.

Application areas:

•  PIC and AVR microcontroller education, university and vocational school laboratories
•  Embedded software development and debugging
•  Programming product development and prototype boards
•  Motor control and power electronics applications with dsPIC
•  Loading software into industrial automation boards
•  Sensor and measurement device development
•  SWD / JTAG debugging on SAM (Arm Cortex) and PIC32 boards
•  Loading software and bootloaders into AVR microcontrollers via ISP / UPDI
•  Updating board firmware in service and repair

Precautions:

•  The MPLAB Snap does not support high-voltage programming (HV, VPP); some legacy PICs and cases that need high-voltage UPDI cannot be programmed. Before buying, check your target device in the Microchip Device Support list.
•  It does not power the target. The target must be powered from its own supply; the VDD pin only senses the target voltage.
•  Do not connect the tool before installing the software and USB drivers. Do not change connections while the tool or target is powered; the tool or target may be damaged.
•  It is a bare board without an enclosure: do not place it on metal surfaces and protect it from static electricity. Use a Micro-B USB cable with data and power lines of at most 1.5 meters; USB ports on keyboards do not provide enough power.
•  It is not a production programmer; a production line needs tools that support production programming, such as the MPLAB PICkit 4.

Package contents:

•  1 x Microchip MPLAB Snap PG164100 In-Circuit Debugger
•  Note: Micro-B USB cable, target board and target power supply are not included in the package.