Loading Firmware - Photon 1

This page provides instructions for loading firmware onto Photon MPPTs

Downloaded .hex program files can be loaded onto MPPTs via the 6 pin RJ11 connector using a Microchip ICD2, ICD3 or PICkit3 (with RJ11 adapter) programmer and using MPLAB software (v8.92 recommended)

IMPORTANT:

The configuration file currently has configuration data entered for these serial numbers:

1, 2, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 48 and above

If your device is not on that list, please contact us at info@dilithiumpower.com if you wish to update your device's firmware

Initial Steps

1. Install MPLAB
2. Connect your chosen programmer
3. Open MPLAB
4. Your screen should look like this:

4. Select Configure -> Select Device

5. Select 'dsPIC33FJ64GS606' from the drop down menu

Using ICD2:

1. Click Programmer -> Select Programmer -> ICD2

2. Click Programmer -> MPLAB ICD2 Setup Wizard

3. In the popup window, select USB as the COM Port

4. In the next window, tick the box "MPLAB IDE automatically connects to the MPLAB ICD 2"

5. Click through next

6. When you close the popup window, the ICD2 will try to connect to the device. If you get a 'ICDWarn0046' popup, click OK, this is not an issue.

7. Click File -> Import

8. Select the .hex program file you wish to load

9. Click Programmer -> Program

10. Next click Programmer -> Release from Reset or simply unplug programming cable. The lights should start blinking again.

MPPT will now be loaded with default parameters from the .hex file. The default parameters will limit the MPPT to a maximum output voltage of 100V. Users will likely now want to run the MPPT Configuration and Monitoring GUI to update their unit with their application parameters.

Updating Configuration:

After updating MPPT firmware it's necessary to update the configuration over CAN. The initial configuration loaded from the firmware image sets the output voltage limit to 100V and does not hold the individual device calibrations for voltage, current and temperature measurement.

1. Initially after programming the MPPT will be loaded as serial number 1.

2. Select the programmed MPPT and click Config MPPT. In the entry box 'SN to Write' type in the serial number of the MPPT. Next click Load New Config. At this point the program will pull the configuration from the 'configuration.csv' file and load it onto the device.

3. After configuration the serial number should show up matching the serial number selected.

4. And the configuration parameters will match the parameters in 'configuration.csv'