One of your first projects should be something like blinking a led. In order to accomplish this, the pin used to do this has to be made an output, so it can shift state from hi (+5V) to low (0V = ground = GND etc etc) and reversed.
If the program sets an ouput pin high (+5V), and it is directly connected to 0V, a LARGE current will flow inside the PIC (from +5V side to 0V), which in turn generate so much heat locally that the PIC eventally will be destroyed. This of course applies to the reversed condition (output connnected to +5V and pin set low = 0V)
Regarding static issues - in the real world, among hobbyists, my guess is most people never even seen a antistatic bracelet. But donīt get me wrong, static will kill PIC, just use common sense and keep your PIC away from static things such as your cat, carpets and so on and you will be fine. Verify your PIC after you program it. Spouradic errors, which never used to occur in the past, means the PIC is on its way. |