Firmware Flash Cables

Posted byOBAdmin

Software programming tools and the programming cable with an adapter, if needed, are used to update the firmware on the DL and HDL family hardware.

SPI (CCC or FPGA) Flash (7-pin)

The RS104 (HDL-0104-RS104) and RSCPT 8-Channel (HDL-0108-RSCPT) can have their “CCC (FPGA)” flash memories updated using 7-wires of the USB-SPI cable, and the software toolchain described in these posts:

There are additional methods for updating these firmware images as well. Please ask.

Cable-to-Board Adapter

While the 8-Channel RSCPT (HDL-0108-RSCPT) uses a standard 100-mil header for updating this firmware, the RS104 (HDL-0104-RS104) requires an adapter to bridge the physical connection from the USB-SPI cable to the smaller socket on the hardware itself. The image here shows the correct connection of the USB-SPI cable’s wires to the adapter. From Pin 1, the correct order of wires from the USB-SPI cable, by color is:

  • Black
  • Gray
  • Green
  • Orange
  • Yellow
  • Blue
  • White
  • (Unused: Purple, Brown, Red)
Connection order of USB-SPI wires (right hand side of image) to RS104 adapter (left hand side of image). Note the position of the Pin 1 “Arrow” on the 100-mil housing on the left. Order of wires starting from Pin 1 is: Black, Gray, Green, Orange, Yellow, Blue, White. Purple, Brown and Red are unused in this application. Here as shown, electrical tape or similar is used to temporarily organize the single-pin wire housings on the USB-SPI cable’s pigtail.

MCU Flash (6-Pin)

Use MPLABX and the standard 100-mil header or, for the ADMPlex and RS104, the custom 100-mil-to-compact-form adapter cable. The pin order matches the standard Microchip programming adapter pin order (see the PICKit 3 or 4, or the 100-mil-to-RJ45 adapter for the ICD3, etc.). Make sure Pin 1 is oriented correctly!