As a mechanical and computer engineer i have the need to reprogram PIC's on the jobsite.

Therefore we ordered some years ago the PICkit 2 device. It came in a small box and after unpacking and hooking it up with the computer it worked immediate. Even after changing to VISTA no problems.

I am also working on a 1:32 scale turntable to a Dutch Prototype and developing the PIC software myself.

For that reason i started with a MERG DCCACC3 decoder kit as shown below right.
On the bottom of the picture as seen the MERG decoder, then for simple testing the ESU lokprogrammer connected to a serialport.

On top of this picture you can see my PICkit 2 device.

To make a connection between the programmer and the decoder one needs a simple connector on the PICkit side and some modifications on the decoder PCB.

To program the devices one must modify the MCLR connection on the PCB. It is connected to +5V but must be detached and a simple RC circuit being put in place of it. In series with the resister connect a diode.
All the necessary connections can be found in the PICkit help file and the documentation of the PIC used.

For more information about this mail me at h dot arends at home dot nl