Tag-Connect TC2050 plug-of-nails™ cable being inserted into PCB
TC2030-NL inserting into PCB with tiny footprint next to coin
TC2030 on tiny PCB with tiny footprint
TC2030 footprint comparison with box header
TC2050-legged-insertion-45
The Greenest Connector!
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Save Cost & Space on EVERY Board!
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No Header - No Brainer!
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Tag-Connect™ Solutions for Debuggers & Programmers

Read more about how Tag-Connect Saves you Money on Every PCB!


Microchip PICKit 3 Cable Selection and Installation

Using Tag-Connect Cables with Microchip PICkit 3

Tag-Connect™ replacement debug/programming cables save cost and space on every board!

You have two choices for using Tag-Connect Cables with PICkit:

  1. Use our standard cables TC2030-MCP or TC2030-MCP-NL with Microchips AC164110 adapter.
  2. Use our TC2030-PKT or TC2030-PKT-NL cables that plug directly into PICkit 3.

TC2030-MCP with Microchip AC164110 Adapter (Adapter NOT included)

Microchip PICkit 3 with Tag-connect cables and adapters

Above shows the Microchip PICkitTM 3 and the Microchip AC164110 “RJ11 to ICSP” adapter. The adapter can be purchased from any Microchip distributor such as Mouser or Digikey http://www.microchipdirect.com/ProductSearch.aspx?keywords=AC164110

Actually, it’s an RJ12 to ICSP adapter, RJ11 connectors only have four contacts whereas RJ12 have 6.

A WORD OF WARNING Microchip’s AC164110 adapter ships with a short RJ12 cable (that you won’t need if you are using Tag-Connect). In every case we’ve seen the Microchip supplied cable is severely undercrimped and WILL BEND AND DAMAGE the gold wire contacts in any jack or debugger that it is plugged into. The undercrimped cable will work just fine with the now damaged jack, but any correctly crimped cable that is subsequently plugged in (such as our TC2030-MCP cable) will operate at best intermmittently. PLEASE discard the Microchip RJ12 cable OR use a quality RJ12 crimp tool to ensure the crimps have been fully completed. We always recommend using a ratcheted crimp tool which will ensure that under-crimping of modular plugs is not possible.

Microchip PICkit 3 with adapters lined up for Tag-connect cable

 

Microchip PICkit 3 with Tag-connect cable installed

ANOTHER WARNING The ICSP signals supplied by PICkit 3 do not have the same drive strength as Microchip’s ICD 3 and REAL ICE debuggers. Unrealted to use (or not) of our cables, we recommend choosing the ICD 3 or similar over PICkit 3 in order to avoid noise related connection problems. We do not recommend our longer TC2030-MCP-10 and TC2030-MCP-NL-10 cables with PICkit 3.

Only use our TC2030-MCP or TC2030-MCP-NL with PICkit 3 and the AC164110 adapter.

Solutions - AC164110 ADAPTER NOT INCLUDED - PURCHASE SEPARATELY

PCB connectorDebug ConnectorItems (Click items for details)PriceQtyBuy
RJ12 to 6 Pin Plug-of-Nails™ - No Legs (standard cable)
Plug-of-Nails™ No Legs6 pin target connector
PCB End: 6 Pin Plug-of-Nails™ No LegsDebug End: 6 Pin RJ11/RJ12
Tag-Connect TC2030-MCP-NL programming cable is primarily intended for use in production programming. It is particularly suited to environments where the connection to the PCB is of short duration, and operators are working quickly from board to board. A major advantage of the TC2030-MCP-NL is the extremely small footprint required on the PCB (hardly any bigger than a surface mount resistor) allowing the minimum possible space on your PCB to be used for the programming connection. The TC2030-MCP-NL is also compatible with the TC2030-MCP footprint allowing use of the TC2030-MCP for development work and TC2030-MCP-NL for fast programming in production. The TC2030-MCP-NL can be held in place making it suitable for debugging and development when using TC2030-CLIP board . Where a sustained connection to the PCB is required, also consider the TC2030-MCP. Ideal for efficient production programming and also for debugging.
TC2030-NL no legs tiny PCB footprint connector to RJ12 for Microchip ICD1 x TC2030-MCP-NL 6-Pin No-Legs Cable with RJ12 Modular Plug (for Microchip ICD)
This product is intended to temporarily hold a TC2030 -NL ("No Legs") cable in place on a PCB. This solution will help when board space is at a premium and you need a hands free solution for debugging. Supplied as pack of 3. We recommend keeping a few spare of these since the tiny boards are easy to misplace when working on the bench. For a more robust solution consider a TC2030 legged cable.
TC2030-CLIP-3PACK retaining clips for TC20301 x TC2030-CLIP-3PACK Retaining CLIP board for TC2030-NL cables - 3 Pack
Include this item
Price: $53.95 Qty: Buy
RJ12 to 6 Pin Plug-of-Nails™ - With Legs (standard cable)
Plug-of-Nails™ Legged6 pin target connector
PCB End: 6 Pin Plug-of-Nails™ LeggedDebug End: 6 Pin RJ11/RJ12
TC2030 legged footprintTag-Connect TC2030-MCP cable is primarily intended for use in development environments and is also ideal for production programming. The spring-loaded contact pins are held firmly in place by four plastic legs each of which clips securely into its own locating hole. Tag-Connect TC2030-MCP is ideal where you need to maintain a connection to the PCB for an extended period such as when performing testing or development work. See also TC2030-MCP-NL for applications where an even smaller footprint is required. Ideal for both debugging and production programming.
TC2030-MCP programming cable, 6 pin plug-of-nails to RJ12 for Microchip ICD1 x TC2030-MCP 6-Pin Cable with RJ12 Modular Plug (for Microchip ICD)
Price: $35.95 Qty: Buy

TC2030-PKT and TC2030-PKT-NL Cables for use with PICkit 3

Our TC2030-PKT cable (with legs) or TC2030-PKT-NL cables are terminated with a 6-pin 0.1″ pin strip that plugs directly into the PICkit 3.

Solutions

PCB connectorDebug ConnectorItems (Click items for details)PriceQtyBuy
PICkit to 6 Pin Plug-of-Nails™ - No Legs (PIC)
Plug-of-Nails™ No Legs6 pin target connector
PCB End: 6 Pin Plug-of-Nails™ No LegsDebug End: 6 Pin 0.1" SIP strip Male
Tag-Connect TC2030-PKT-NL cable is primarily intended for use in production programming. It is particularly suited to environments where the connection to the PCB is of short duration, and operators are working quickly from board to board. A major advantage of the TC2030-PKT-NL is the extremely small footprint required on the PCB (hardly any bigger than a surface mount resistor) allowing the minimum possible space on your PCB to be used for the programming connection. The TC2030-PKT-NL (no legs) cable is also compatible with the TC2030 legged footprint allowing use of the TC2030-PKT legged cable for development work and TC2030-PKT-NL for fast programming in production. The TC2030-PKT-NL is also suited to use for debugging and development when secured into position using a TC2030-CLIP board. See 'Using the TC2030-MCP-NL for debugging' on the User Information page for details. Where a sustained connection to the PCB is required, also consider the TC2030-PKT. Ideal for both debugging and production programming, the 6 pin plug-of-nails™ cable terminates in a 6 pin 0.1" male SIP strip.
TC2030-PKT-NL plug-of-nail test cable for Microchip PICkit 31 x TC2030-PKT-NL 6-Pin No-Legs Cable for Microchip PICkit 3
This product is intended to temporarily hold a TC2030 -NL ("No Legs") cable in place on a PCB. This solution will help when board space is at a premium and you need a hands free solution for debugging. Supplied as pack of 3. We recommend keeping a few spare of these since the tiny boards are easy to misplace when working on the bench. For a more robust solution consider a TC2030 legged cable.
TC2030-CLIP-3PACK retaining clips for TC20301 x TC2030-CLIP-3PACK Retaining CLIP board for TC2030-NL cables - 3 Pack
Include this item
Price: $61.00 Qty: Buy
PICkit to 6 Pin Plug-of-Nails™ - With Legs (PIC)
Plug-of-Nails™ Legged6 pin target connector
PCB End: 6 Pin Plug-of-Nails™ LeggedDebug End: 6 Pin 0.1" SIP strip Male
Tag-Connect TC2030-PKT programming/debugging cable is primarily intended for use in development environments but is also ideal for production programming. The spring-loaded contact pins are held firmly in place by four plastic legs each of which clips securely into its own locating hole. Tag-Connect TC2030-PKT is ideal where you need to maintain a connection to the PCB for an extended period such as when performing testing or development work. See also TC2030-PKT-NL for applications where an even smaller footprint is required. Ideal for both debugging and production programming, the 6 pin plug-of-nails™ cable terminates in a 6 pin 0.1" male SIP strip.
TC2030-PKT programming and debugging cable for Microchip PicKit31 x TC2030-PKT 6-Pin Cable with legs for use with Microchip PICkit 3
Price: $43.00 Qty: Buy