K150 Pic Programmer Software Windows 10 -

The K150 PIC programmer is a popular, budget-friendly tool for hobbyists, though it is well-known for its driver compatibility issues on Windows 10 and 11 . Because many modern K150 units use "cloned" or unauthorized PL2303 USB-to-serial chips, standard Windows updates often break the connection, requiring specific manual workarounds . Key Technical Documentation

For deep technical insights or setup guidance, these resources are highly useful:

Official User Manuals: These K150 Manual PDFs provide the fundamental schematics and original firmware logic (Protocol P016) used to match hardware with software .

The "K150 Hack": A detailed technical breakdown by Eric M. Klaus explains the electronics of the programmer and how to bypass troublesome USB chips entirely using a TTL serial signal .

Hardware Repository: A GitHub overview of the K150's features and its use as an In-Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP) tool for the PIC family . Using the K150 PIC Programmer Windows 10 k150 pic programmer software windows 10

Because the K150 is an older, "generic" Chinese programmer, getting it to run on modern Windows requires specific drivers and a specific version of the software. It will not work with the newest Microchip tools (like MPLAB X).

Part 7: Is the K150 Worth It on Windows 10 in 2025?

Let us be honest. By the time you finish reading this guide, you might have spent 2 hours troubleshooting drivers, installing Zadig, and rebooting to disable security features.

The K150 is a $5 programmer. Your time is worth more.

If you are a hobbyist who already owns a K150, the instructions above will save it from the trash. However, if you are buying a new programmer today for use with Windows 10, consider these alternatives: The K150 PIC programmer is a popular, budget-friendly

| Programmer | Price | Windows 10 Compatibility | Ease of Use | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | K150 | $5 | Difficult (requires hacks) | Poor | | PICkit 3 Clone | $20 | Native (uses MPLAB X drivers) | Excellent | | PICkit 4 (Official) | $50 | Native, fully supported | Best | | TL866II Plus | $60 | Excellent (includes GUI software) | Very Good |

The PICkit 3 clone uses libusb but has signed drivers from Microchip. It works out of the box on Windows 10 with MPLAB X IDE. If you program PICs more than once a month, upgrade.

Phase 2: Driver Installation (The Tricky Part)

The K150 usually uses a generic USB-to-Serial chip (often a CH340 or PL2303).

1. Identify the Chip: Look at the circuit board inside the K150 casing (or check the Device Manager when plugged in).
2. Download the Driver:
   • If it is a CH340 (most common on newer clones): Download the CH340 driver.
   • If it is a PL2303: Download the PL2303 Prolific driver. Note: With Prolific drivers on Windows 10, you often need to install an older version (v3.3.2) because newer drivers intentionally block "fake" chips.
3. Verify the Port:
   • Right-click the Start button > Device Manager.
   • Expand Ports (COM & LPT).
   • Look for something like "USB-SERIAL CH340 (COM3)". Note the COM number (e.g., COM3, COM4). You will need this for the software.

Step 3: Connect and Verify

1. Connect the K150 to the PC via USB. The red power LED should light up.
2. In the MicroBrn software, go to the Option menu and select Port.
3. Select the COM port number you noted earlier in Device Manager.
4. To test the connection, place a chip in the socket (or leave it empty if the software supports it) and click "Probe" or "Check".
   • If the status bar says "K150 Found" or similar, you are ready.
   • If it says "Programmer Not Found," try a different COM port in the software settings or reinstall the driver.

The K150 PIC Programmer on Windows 10: A Complete Software Guide

The K150 is a popular, low-cost USB programmer for Microchip PIC microcontrollers, beloved by hobbyists and students for its simplicity and support for a wide range of classic PIC chips (e.g., 16F, 18F series). However, moving to modern operating systems like Windows 10 presents a significant challenge: the original software and drivers were designed for Windows XP/7. This article provides a solid, step-by-step guide to getting your K150 working reliably on Windows 10. Phase 2: Driver Installation (The Tricky Part) The

For PIC16F & PIC18F (8-bit)

• MicroPro – A stripped-down version of the original software that sometimes works on Windows 10 if you replace the k150usb.sys with a modified signed version (community patches exist on EEVblog forums).

Phase 3: The Software

You cannot use the official Microchip MPLAB X IDE with the K150. You must use the custom "Microbrn" software designed for this hardware.

The Recommended Software: Look for "Microbrn" (often found as Microbrn.exe or bundled in a folder named K150 Software).

• Note: Avoid "Ozigate" or other modern interfaces; stick to the legacy Microbrn software.

Compatibility Fix (Windows 10/11): Because this software is old, it may crash on startup.

1. Right-click Microbrn.exe (or the shortcut).
2. Select Properties.
3. Go to the Compatibility tab.
4. Check Run this program in compatibility mode for: and select Windows XP (Service Pack 3).
5. Check Run this program as an administrator.
6. Click Apply and OK.