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Electronics => Electronics => Topic started by: polar bear6 on January 31, 2007, 06:16:14 PM

Title: PIC F's and C's
Post by: polar bear6 on January 31, 2007, 06:16:14 PM
PIC16C57 and PIC16F57, what is the diffrence?
i think i read somewhere that the F stands for flash or something, and that it is hobby friendly.
i was going to buy another BS2 to make nightrider lights for my moped, and it costs really much and then i found this one here:
http://forums.parallax.com/forums/default.aspx?f=21&m=106379
http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=27291
the BS2 needs a PIC16C57, and i only have a F57, does it really matter if it is not C?
Title: Re: PIC F's and C's
Post by: Admin on January 31, 2007, 09:36:54 PM
side by side comparison between PIC16C57 and PIC16F57:
http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=2533&product2=PIC16F57&product1=PIC16C57

the C version is obsolete, and the F is its replacement.
Title: Re: PIC F's and C's
Post by: trigger on January 31, 2007, 10:54:03 PM
I think the C versions are single burn, i.e., they're not reprogrammable, whereas the Fs are just the opposite. Can anyone confirm this?
Title: Re: PIC F's and C's
Post by: dunk on February 01, 2007, 03:29:03 AM
yup.
trigger is correct.
Microchip has discontinued a lot of the "c" range.

to the best of my knowledge, as long as the rest of the part number is the same, you use the 2 parts in exactly the same way except you can reprogram the "f" chip.

dunk.
(who has never actually used a "c" type pic...)
Title: Re: PIC F's and C's
Post by: JonHylands on February 01, 2007, 06:17:37 AM
Not quite.

The C versions were, at least for one chip, using EEPROM, which works pretty much the same way as flash.

I cut my teeth on PIC programming back in 1998 with 16C84, which was THE hobbiest PIC back then. And it worked exactly like the F-chips now.

- Jon
Title: Re: PIC F's and C's
Post by: polar bear6 on February 01, 2007, 06:54:11 AM
so it is really no difference?
i can use my PIC16F57 instead of the C version?
Title: Re: PIC F's and C's
Post by: JonHylands on February 01, 2007, 07:32:57 AM
No, the difference I was explaining was only for the 16x84 series. I was just making a point that not every C version chip was one-time programmable.

The 16C57 is definitely a one-shot deal, so you can't really use it unless you're going into production and plan on selling them.

Unless you're planning on just programming it with the BS-2 firmware once, in which case the C version will be fine. Note though, that if you make any mistakes, you'll have to toss the PIC in the trash and get another one.

Unless the F version is a lot more money, you're better off using it in general.

- Jon

Title: Re: PIC F's and C's
Post by: dunk on February 01, 2007, 09:24:17 AM
ah. ok. you live and learn.

i'm sure polar bear6 can use the PIC16F57 instead of the PIC16C57 though with no change to his application though.

dunk.