AVRISP mkii as PDI interface to XMEGA-A3BU Xplained

olhexy · Last edited by olhexy on Wed Oct 16, 2019 12:41 pm; edited 3 times in total

Not a big project, but may be helpfull for others to start XMEGA.

As a follow up to https://www.mcselec.com/index2.php?option=com_forum&Itemid=59&page=viewtopic&t=14481 I made a nice adaptor cable with Dupont wires.
I bought a bunch of coloured Dupont wires, the type many people use on breadboard. I got with both ends female or both ends male.
But I did not have male-female wires. So I cut de male wires in half and had to crimp females on the other side.
After some training... the crimping went very well. If you buy a tool make sure that it can do the very small AWG 28.
I like the Dupont system. The plastic housing can be cut at size and you can glue housing parts very well together with cyanoacrylate glue to make almost every connector model.
You can remove/change wires from the housing. I use a small needle to lift the clip.

On the pictures you can see the numbers I put on AVRISP mkii. Red (MISO) on the cable is pin 1.
The same red goes to "DATA' on the XMEGA-A3BU Xplained. The PDI connections to be used are indicated on the back side of the Xplained board.
It is real funny that only 4 wires are to be used. Summery:
mkii (1=MISO) ........Red.......... A3BU (DATA)
mkii (2=VCC) .........Yellow....... A3BU (VCC)
mkii (3=SCK) ..not connected..
mkii (4=MOSI)..not connected..
mkii (5=RESET) ......Green ...... A3BU (CLK)
mkii (6=GND) .........Black........ A3BU (GND)

EDIT: On the back side of the XMEGA-A3BU Xplained board there is a message "CUT TO DISCONNECT JTAG TDO FROM PDI DATA". I did cut the track (also called "SMD-STRAP").
It is to avoid possible lock up situations. See note on page 3 of the schematics pdf in AN_8394 Source Code https://www.microchip.com/wwwAppNotes/AppNotes.aspx?appnote=en591951
I do not think those lock up situations apply in my case. MKii still works if I close the track by hand with some alu foil.

albertsm · Joined: 09 Apr 2004 Posts: 5157 Location: Holland

thanks for sharing. i use the same programmer for xmega Smile

it also made me realize that these basic things are important to know when getting started. make sure to also read the ATXMEGA help topic in bascom-avr help file.
Most striking difference is the voltage which is not 5V any more.