However, when debugging these devices the header must be used. The header board is not used or needed for programming. I carefully checked the Pinout of the Pickit 3 to ensure. I have a Microchip 'Low pin count demo' board connected. I get the same message when selecting it as Debugger. PK3Err0045: You must connect to a target device to use PICkit 3. This special MCU has extra pins for PICkit 3 communication and therefore allows the use of all pins on the part for the application. 01.28.90 Firmware type.Midrange PICkit 3 Connected. Some 8-, 14- and 18-pin devices use small header boards with a special MCU for debugging. Program up to 512K byte flash with the Programmer-to-Go.Erase of program memory space with verification.Read/write program and data memory of microcontroller.Supports low voltage to 2.0 volts (2.0v to 6.0v range).Firmware upgradeable from PC/web download.Built-in over-voltage/short circuit monitor.MPLAB IDE compatible (free copy included).USB (Full speed 12 Mbits/s interface to host PC).
The connector uses two device I/O pins and the reset line to implement in-circuit debugging and In-Circuit Serial Programming™. 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 an Microchip debug (RJ-11) connector (compatible with MPLAB ICD 2, MPLAB ICD 3 and MPLAB REAL ICE). The software has also been rewritten to accommodate new technologies. Modifications to the previous LPC board (DM164120-1) were made so that the full functionality of the code can be debugged without the need of a debug header. 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 Integrated Development Environment (IDE). The PICkit 3 Low Pin Count Demo Board is an update to the PICkit 2 Demo Board. The PICkit 3 can now also r eprogram any PIC microcontroller Expensive sockets or adapters are not required.Minimum of additional hardware needed for debug.In-circuit debugging offers these benefits: 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.