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Programming with the Microchip PICKit 4

You can use the Microchip PICKit 4 In-Circuit Debugger to load code onto your Infintybox MASTERCELL, POWERCELL and inMOTION cell.  This is an advanced feature and you would only need to do this when instructed by the Infinitybox team.  There is a special programming harness required.  Contact Infinitybox technical support for more details.  Please follow these instructions to update your cell with the PICKit 4.

1.  You will receive a file to load onto your cell. Save this file to the desktop of your computer.

2.  Download Microchip’s MPLAB X IDE software.  Click this link to get the latest version of their software.  Follow the instructions from Microchip to install the software suite. Once the software is installed, reboot the computer.

3.  Plug the PICKit 4 into your computer and let Windows install the drivers. Once the drivers are installed, reboot the computer.

4.  Click on your computer’s Start button and go to the Microchip folder under Programs. Launch MPLAB IPE.  The application will look like this.

5. Click on the Settings option in the top bar and select Advanced Mode.  This will bring up a dialogue box asking for a password.  The default password is “microchip”.  Type this into the Password field and click on the Log In button.  The dialogue box will look like this.

6. The advanced options buttons will appear on the left of your screen.  Click on the Power button.  This will open a tab with the Power Settings.  Click on the box next to “Power target circuit from PICKit 4”.  A check should appear in the box as shown in this picture.  Make sure that the value in the Voltage Level field is 5.0.

7. Click on the Browse button under the Operate tab as shown in the image below.  This will open a dialogue box.  Use this box to browse to your desktop to select the file that we emailed you.  Select this file and click the Open button.  You will get a message in the Output IPE tab that will read Hex File Loaded Successfully.

8. Confirm that the Device and Tool are correct.  These values are on the Operate tab.  The Device should be dsPIC30F6012A.  The Tool should be PICKit 4.  The following picture shows where these values are located.

9. Plug the black connector on the PICKit 4 harness into the programming port on the cell to be programmed.

10. Click on the Connect button under the Operate tab.  The following picture shows this button.

A warning box will appear, as shown below.  Click on the OK button to accept this warning.

11. Click on the Program button as shown in the picture below.  The PICKit 4 will load the hex file into the process of the cell being programmed.  This will take 20 to 30 seconds to complete.  You will get a message in blue in the Output IPE tab that will say Programming Complete.

12. Click on the Disconnect button as shown in the picture below and unplug the PICKit 4 from the cell being programmed.

 

 

 

 

Fixing inCODE Software Driver

Our inCODE Programmer is the tool that you need to load custom configurations into your Infinitybox system.  It connects your computer to your MASTERCELL to let you make changes.  Our technical support team makes the changes for you.  You use inCODE to load these changes into your system.  This link will take you to the basics on using inCODE.

If you carefully read the instructions for using inCODE, you will see a big and bold message that says to not plug the inCODE programmer into your computer until after you have loaded the Embed Inc software.  When you plug the inCODE programmer into your computer, Windows automatically installs the drivers that it needs to make it work correctly.  When you install the Embed Inc software, it installs the drivers for inCODE and leaves instructions for Windows so it knows what to do with inCODE.  If you plug inCODE into your computer before you install the Embed Inc software, your computer takes a guess at what the inCODE programmer is and assigns a random driver to it.  You will get an error when you try to load code onto your system if this happens.

Reinstalling the Embed Inc software will not solve this issue since Windows has already assigned the wrong driver to the inCODE hardware.  You need to remove the inCODE programmer from your Device Manager and let Windows recognize it again.  This quick video will help you go through this process.

Please click on this link to contact our technical support team if you have any additional questions about setting up your inCODE programmer.

 

Infinitybox Programming Options

Since 2008, Infinitybox has created the most comprehensive electrical system on the market for restorations, resto-mods, street rods, kit cars, race cars and Pro-Touring builds.  No other company can provide a single system to control your lighting, ignition system, starter, cooling fans, fuel pumps, power locks, power windows, alarms, security, heating & air-conditioning control, battery management and touch screen control.  In addition to that, no one else can give you the options to customize the way your electrical system works like Infinitybox can.  We wanted to update our menu of programming options for the Infinitybox system.  This blog post is going to summarize the different ways we can tailor your system to your specific car.  We strongly encourage you to review this list before you start to work through setting up a custom configuration with our team.

All of the options on this list can be added to any of our 20-Circuit Kits.  We do not charge for these modifications.  There are certainly options beyond this that we can evaluate for you.  Please contact our technical support team with additional requirements that are not included in this blog post.  

Ignition & Starter

Ignition and Starter Outputs

  • The MASTERCELL inputs and POWERCELL outputs for the ignition and starter as defined on the configuration sheet that came with your kit cannot be moved.  There are safety and security constraints that require that they stay in their assigned locations.  The same is true for the MASTERCELL input for the Neutral Safety switch.  This cannot be moved to another input.

Traditional Ignition/Starter control vs. One-Button Start

  • You have two options to manage your ignition and starter outputs.  These are built into all of our configurations and selecting the options requires no custom code.
    1. You can use a traditional keyed ignition switch with contacts for the ignition and starter.  Wire the MASTERCELL inputs for Ignition and Starter to your ignition switch and connect their respective POWERCELL outputs to your Ignition system and your Starter solenoid.  Click on this link for more detail on wiring your ignition switch.  Also, the MASTERCELL inputs for the ignition and starter do not need to be wired to a keyed ignition switch.  You can wire them to any type of switch that you like.  The ignition input must be connected to a switch that latches on and off.  The starter input must be wired to a momentary switch.
    2. You can also use our One-Button Start feature.  This manages the POWERCELL outputs for the Ignition and Starter from a single momentary button.  To start the engine, you press and hold the momentary button that is wired to the MASTERCELL input for the One-Button Start.  This turns on the Ignition output, waits one-second then turns on the POWERCELL output for the Starter.  Once the engine starts, you release the button.  That turns off the starter output but leaves the Ignition output on.  To shut down the car, you simply press and release the button again.  Click on this link for more details.

Extra Ignition Activated Outputs

  • We can program the system to turn on extra outputs with the Ignition.  For example, you may want an extra output on the rear POWERCELL to turn on with the Ignition to power an amplifier and a sub-woofer.  Any of the outputs defined as OPEN can be programmed to turn on and off with either the standard Ignition input or the Ignition triggered by the One-Button Start input.

Ignition-Only Outputs

  • We can program specific outputs so that they can only turn on when the Ignition is on.  These outputs will turn off when the ignition is turned off.  For example, you could take one of the OPEN outputs on the rear POWERCELL and use that to power your back up lights.  You would connect the corresponding MASTERCELL input to the switch on your transmission.  When the transmission is in reverse, that would trigger the MASTERCELL input and turn on the POWERCELL output connected to the brake lights.  We can program this MASTERCELL input so that the output will only turn on when the Ignition is on.  That way, your reverse lights will not stay on if you leave the transmission in reverse and turn off the Ignition.  By default, your turn signals are programmed using this Ignition-Only function.  You cannot turn on your turn signals unless the Ignition is on.

Headlights and High-Beams

  • There are several options for your Headlights and High-Beams that are pre-programmed into our standard configurations.  By choosing different MASTERCELL input wires, you can get different functions for your Headlights and High-Beams.  No programming changes or custom code are required to make these work.
    1. The standard inputs for the Headlights and High-Beams use soft-starting to turn on their respective POWERCELL outputs.  This means that we gradually ramp up the POWERCELL output current over the first half of a second.  This gradually applies power the lights and will minimize the in-rush current to incandescent bulbs.  You can use these inputs for traditional Headlight and High-Beam bulbs or LED’s.  If you are using HID Headlights or HID High-Beams, you must use the MASTERCELL inputs for the HID options.  These inputs eliminate the soft-starting on the outputs.  Check out this blog post for more detail.  
    2. There is an Alternating Headlight option built into all of our standard configurations.  This function lets you toggle between your Headlights and High-Beams using a momentary button.  This link will get you more details.

Headlight Delays

  • We can program a delay on your Headlights.  This delay will keep the Headlight output on for a period of time after the switch is turned off.  This delay can be set between 10 and 60 seconds.

Lighting Switch Options

  • Our standard programming for Headlights, High-Beams, 4-Ways and Parking Lights is TRACK.  This means that the lights will TRACK the state of the switch.  When the switch is on, the output is on.  When the switch is off, the output is off.  We can program these MASTERCELL inputs so that the outputs TOGGLE.  You would connect the MASTERCELL input to a momentary button.  A momentary press of the button would turn the output on.  A second momentary press of the button would turn the output off.

Turn-Signals

  • The turn signal outputs must remain as outputs 1 & 2 on your front and rear POWERCELLs.  These cannot be moved.  You have several options for your Turn-Signals that are built into our standard configurations.  These require no code changes.  You simply choose the MASTERCELL inputs that you need to get the Turn-Signal set up that you want.
    1. Our most popular Turn-Signal option is our Mechanical Column option.  That means that the MASTERCELL inputs for the Turn-Signals are controlled by the mechanism in the steering column and the are mechanically canceled when the steering wheel is returned to its normal position after completing a turn.  The left and right Turn-Signals will flash as long as the switch is closed in the column.
    2. We also have an option called Self-Canceling Turn-Signals.  To use this function, you simply choose these MASTERCELL inputs.  You would only be using this function if you are building a car without a traditional Turn-Signal mechanism in the steering column.  Mostly, this feature is used by customers building Factory Five Roadsters.  They have momentary switches on the dash for left and right turn.  The momentary switch triggers the MASTERCELL input and the POWERCELL flashes the turn signals for a period of time then self cancels.  Please read this blog post for more detail on the Self-Canceling Turn-Signal feature.

Brake Lights

  • Your brake lights must remain as output 3 on the rear POWERCELL if you’re using the multi-filament brake lights.  You have two options for controlling your Brake Lights that are build into the standard configuration.  These options require no code changes.  You simply choose the MASTERCELL inputs that you need to get the Brake Light set up that you want.
    1. If you have a dedicated Brake Light bulb in the back of the car, you are going to choose the MASTERCELL input that is called “Brake Lights with Multi-Filament Bulbs”.  This means that there is a separate bulb that works as the Brake Lights in the rear of your car.  There is a quick rule of thumb that you can use.  Use the “Brake Lights with Multi-Filament Bulbs” input if your turn signal lenses are amber.  Please read this blog post for more detail.
    2. We also have a Brake Light option called “Brake Lights with 1-Filament Bulbs”.  This means that there is a single filament on your Turn-Signal bulbs that acts as both the Turn-Signals and the Brake Lights.  As a rule of thumb, you are going to use the MASTERCELL input for “Brake Lights with 1-Filament Bulbs” if your Turn-Signal lenses are red.  Read this blog post for more details.

Theater Dimming

  • Any of the OPEN outputs on your configuration sheet can be used to power your interior lights or accent lights.  You simply connect the MASTERCELL input to your switch and connect the OPEN POWERCELL output to your dome lights, interior light or accent light.  When the switch is on, the lights are on.  This blog post will get you more detailing on wiring pin switches on doors.  We can program the output that you choose for these lights to be Theater Dimmer.  That means that the light will gradually fade away when the MASTERCELL input is turned off.  Theater Dimming can only be programmed to OPEN outputs between outputs 1 and 8.  Outputs 9 and 10 cannot be programmed to be Theater Dimmed.  We have two timing options: 5 seconds and 10 seconds.

inLINK Key Fob Options

Security and Immobilizer Options

  • These features require our inLINK wireless control module option.  By default, pressing the LOCK button on the inLINK Key Fob enables security.  The Parking Lights will flash once and the MASTERCELL inputs for the Ignition, Starter and Fuel pump will be blocked so that you cannot start the car.  Pressing the UNLOCK button on the inLINK Key Fob will disable security.  The Parking Lights will flash twice and the MASTERCELL inputs that control the Ignition, Starter and Fuel Pump will let you start the car.  We can program these additional functions related to Security and Immobilization.
    1. We can program other MASTERCELL inputs to be blocked when security is enabled.  For example, some customers may want to block external switches for door poppers when security is enabled.  Please click on this link to see this in action.
    2. We can program other outputs to indicate when security is being enabled or disabled.  For example, we can set the Horn output to honk once when security is enabled and twice when it is disabled.
    3. We can program the lock outputs on inMOTION to lock the doors when security is enabled and unlock when security is disabled.  This option requires our inMOTION cell.

Door Poppers and Trunk Poppers

  • The system can be programmed to control popper solenoids from the inLINK key fob.  Any of the OPEN outputs on the POWERCELLs can be programmed to be controlled by inLINK.  We program these outputs to be pulsed for 1-second when triggered from a button on the inLINK Key Fobs.

Express-Down Feature for Power Windows with inMOTION

  • This feature requires inMOTION in addition to inLINK.  We can program the system so that a press of a button on the inLINK Key Fob will express down one or multiple power windows that are powered by inMOTION.

Other OPEN Output Options

  • The OPEN outputs can be used to control auxiliary functions is your car or truck.  For example, these can be used to power extra lights, fuel pumps, fans, audio systems, poppers and valves.  Their default action is TRACK (Input is on, output is on.  Input is off, output is off.)  This default is how most of our customers use these outputs.  There are additional ways that these outputs can be controlled by their respective inputs.
    1. We can program an OPEN output to be timed.  When the MASTERCELL input is turned on, the POWERCELL output will turn on for a pre-programmed time then shut off.  The most common use of this option is for door or trunk poppers.  We can program the timer on an OPEN output in the range of 1 to 120 seconds.
    2. We can program an OPEN output to TOGGLE.  A momentary switch closure to the MASTERCELL input would turn the POWERCELL output.  A second momentary switch closure would turn the POWERCELL output off.
    3. We can program a single MASTERCELL input to control multiple OPEN outputs.  You can use this function to turn on several POWERCELL outputs from a single switch.

Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM)

  • This is an advanced function.  We can program MASTERCELL inputs to pulse-width modulate outputs 1 through 8 at a fixed duty cycle.  Outputs 9 and 10 cannot be pulse-width modulated.  The base frequency is 200 Hz.  Duty cycles can be set between 10 and 90%.  We can program multiple MASTERCELL inputs to control a single POWERCELL output at multiple PWM duty cycles.  This would let you control multiple levels of brightness or fan speeds on a single POWERCELL output with different MASTERCELL inputs.  Please contact Infinitybox technical support with questions about this features.

Please click on this link to get to our Custom System Configuration form.   

Updating inVIRONMENT

This blog post will cover the steps to update the software on our inVIRONMENT Vintage Air Gen-IV Interface Controller.

Before you get too far, 99.99% of our customers will never need to update inVIRONMENT in the field.  This blog post is intended to have this documented for the 0.01% of them that will.  The only reason why you’d need to update inVIRONMENT would be if you are converting a legacy system to a newer version.  In the overwhelming majority of cases, you can stop reading here.  You need to do nothing with the code on your inVIRONMENT unless explicitly directed by one of our technical support engineers.  

You also would not be updating inVIRONMENT without updating the MASTERCELL and other cells in your system.  This blog post is going to assume that you have already installed the software to run the inCODE programmer and you have followed the steps to set that up.

NOTE: DO NOT PLUG THE inCODE CONNECTOR INTO THE inVIRONMENT PROGRAMMING HEADER UNTIL AFTER YOU HAVE SET THE PROGRAMMING JUMPERS IN STEP 6.  DOING DO WILL DAMAGE THE inVIRONMENT PROCESSOR AND WILL VOID THE WARRANTY.  

Here are the steps.

  1. Save the inVIRONMENT HEX file to the desktop of your computer.  This would be in the email sent to you from Infinitybox technical support.
  2. Disconnect the battery.
  3. Remove all connectors from the inVIRONMENT module and take inVIRONMENT out of the car.
  4. Remove the 4 screws from the back of inVIRONMENT and take off the cover.
  5. Identify the Programming Header Connector and the Programming Jumpers.  This picture will show you where they are on the inVIRONMENT board.

    Picture of the Infinitybox inVIRONMENT Board Showing the Programming Header and Programming Jumpers

    Picture of the Infinitybox inVIRONMENT Board Showing the Programming Header and Programming Jumpers

  6. Move the two Programming Jumpers from the RUN position to the PROG position.  The PROG position puts the two jumpers on the pins closest to the Programming Header.  You can use a pair of needle-nose pliers or a pair of tweezers to remove these jumpers and move them to the PROG position.  FAILURE TO DO THIS STEP WILL DAMAGE THE inVIRONMENT PROCESSOR AND WILL VOID THE WARRANTY.  This picture will show you the jumpers in the PROG position.

    Picture of the Infinitybox inVIRONMENT Board Showing the Board Set for Programming

    Picture of the Infinitybox inVIRONMENT Board Showing the Board Set for Programming

  7. Plug the inCODE connector into the Programming Header on the inVIRONMENT board.
  8. Launch the inCODE Program PIC software.
  9. Click on the BROWSE button in the Program PIC software and select the HEX file that we emailed to you.  See the following picture for details.

    Picture of the inCODE Graphical User Interface

    Picture of the inCODE Graphical User Interface

  10. Click on the PROGRAM button.
  11. Wait for the green light on the inCODE programmer to stop blinking.  The last line of text in the Program PIC window should read “No Errors”.
  12. Unplug the inCODE connector from the Programming Header on the inVIRONMENT board.
  13. Move the Programming Jumpers back to the RUN position.  The RUN position puts the two jumpers on the pins furthest from the Programming Header.  This picture will show you the correct position.

    Picture of the Infinitybox inVIRONMENT Board Showing the Board Set for Run

    Picture of the Infinitybox inVIRONMENT Board Showing the Board Set for Run

  14. Replace the cover on the inVIRONMENT module and replace the 4 screws on the back.
  15. Reinstall the inVIRONMENT module in the car and plug in all of the connectors.
  16. Reconnect the battery.

If you have any questions about this process, please click on this link to contact our technical support team.

Updating inMOTION

One of the advantages of our Infinitybox system is that it can always be updated.  We have added a lot of new features and functions over the years.  The earliest systems that we sold can be updated to use these new features.  In some cases, these updates require a simple hardware change that we need to do here.  In the majority of these changes, it is a simple software update that can be done in your shop, garage or in the vehicle in the field.  Most of the changes are done to the MASTERCELL but in some cases, the POWERCELLs and inMOTION cells need to be updated.  This post is going to talk about updating inMOTION.

Before you get too far, 99.99% of our customers will never need to update inMOTION in the field.  This blog post is intended to have this documented for the 0.01% of them that will.  The only reason why you’d need to update inMOTION would be if we have created something custom for you in terms of the current levels for the express functions.  In the overwhelming majority of cases, you can stop reading here.  You need to do nothing with the code on your inMOTION unless explicitly directed by one of our technical support engineers.  

inMOTION is different from a POWERCELL in a few ways.  inMOTION uses special polarity reversing relays instead of MOSFETs.  Also, inMOTION monitors the current flowing to the loads that it is powering.  inMOTION is always comparing the actual current to a learned value.  If the actual current exceeds the learned value, it shuts the output off.  One of the last steps of setting up inMOTION is to train it.  This is detailed in the instruction manual for inMOTION.  When you update inMOTION, there are a few extra steps that you need to follow because of the current monitoring and the way inMOTION learns its current draw.

Our technical support team will let you know what cells in your system will need to be updated if we are changing the way your system operates.  If you are told to update inMOTION, we will email you a new file.  Please follow these steps when updating inMOTION.

  1. Power down the entire system.
  2. Disconnect CAN cable and output harnesses from the inMOTION cell (just leave the power connectors)
  3. Unlike the other cells, the inMOTION cell needs power to program it, so power up the 12V feed to the cell.
  4. Connect the programmer to the inMOTION cell and browse for the inMOTION file
  5. Click program and wait for programmer to finish.
  6. Once the programming is complete, remove the programmer and the blue LED on the inMOTION cell should be blinking quickly.  Stop here if the Blue LED is not flashing quickly.
  7. Remove power from the system and re-connect the CAN cable to the inMOTION (do not reconnect any motor loads yet)
  8. Power up the entire system, wait about 10 seconds
  9. Press and hold the train button (S11) on the inMOTION cell until the blue LED is on steady and then release.  This process nulls out the current sensors in the system.
  10. Wait for the inMOTION to cycle all of the relays.
  11. Leaving the power on, reconnect the motor loads to the cell.  The blue LED should be doing a double flash heartbeat.
  12. Position the motors to the middle of their travel using the manual buttons on the inMOTION cell.
  13. Press and hold the train button (S11) until the blue LED is on steady and then release.  The inMOTION will cycle all of the motors and learn the current profiles.
  14. The blue LED should have the regular heartbeat now and everything should be ready to go.

Click on this link to contact our technical support team with any questions about updating inMOTION.

Personalities- Programmable Wiring Harness

The Infinitybox system has many powerful features that you just can’t get from a traditional fuse and relay harness.  One of the most powerful are what we call Personalities. These tools will help you to get the most out of the wiring harness for your car, truck or specialty vehicle.  Our Personalities give you a completely programmable wiring harness system.

A Infinitybox Personality describes how an output turns on when you turn on a switch.  It is something that we manage in the software of the system and it gives you great flexibility for the functions of your electrical system.  You connect your switches to the input wires on the MASTERCELL.  When you turn on a switch, the MASTERCELL sends a command to the POWERCELL.  This command tells the POWERCELL to turn on an output.  In this command it also tells the POWERCELL how to turn on the output and how it should work.  This is what we call a Personality.

Our most basic personality is what we call TRACK.  This means that the output TRACKs the switch on the input.  When the switch is on, the output is on.  When the switch is off, the output is off.  This is pretty simple.  Most of the outputs in your Infinitybox system will use the TRACK personality.  Headlights are a great example of the TRACK personality.  When you turn on the headlight switch, the headlight output on the front POWERCELL will turn on.  When you turn off the switch, the headlights turn off.  Brake lights are another example.  The brake lights will TRACK your foot pressing the brake pedal.  When your foot is on the pedal and the switch is closed, the brake lights on the rear POWERCELL are on.  When you lift your foot and the switch opens, the brake lights turn off.  Other examples of use of the TRACK personality include ignition, starter, running lights, fuel pump and horn.

Another great personality is TOGGLE.  When we use the TOGGLE personality, a momentary input to the MASTERCELL will command a POWERCELL output to turn on.  Another momentary input to the same wire on the MASTERCELL will send a command to turn the same POWERCELL output off.  In most cases, you’re using a momentary push-button connected to the MASTERCELL input.  When you press and release this button, the MASTERCELL will command the POWERCELL to turn on an output.  Pressing and releasing the button again, the MASTERCELL will command the POWERCELL to turn the output off.  A lot of our customers use TOGGLE when they are putting simple momentary buttons on their dash to replace the OEM switches.  You can use TOGGLE for things like headlights, running lights and parking lights.

A variant of the TOGGLE personality is our 1-BUTTON START.  This replicates most modern OEM single button starting systems.  If you use a traditional ignition switch to turn on your ignition and start your engine, there are separate inputs for the ignition and starter.  Both of these inputs use the TRACK Personality.  The ignition is on as long as the switch is on.  In all of our kits, you have the option to use a different MASTERCELL input wire and connect it to a momentary button.  This will get you our 1-BUTTON START function.  When you press and hold the button, the MASTERCELL turns on the ignition output, waits 1 second for the fuel pump to prime, they cranks the starter.  Once the engine starts, you release the button.  The MASTERCELL will turn off the starter output but will leave the ignition output on so that the engine will run.  To stop the engine, you simply press and release the button again.

We also have several personalities built into the system to manage turn-signals and 4-way flashers.  With the Infinitybox system, you do not need any external flashers.  The POWERCELL flashes the outputs automatically, even if their LED’s.  This link will take you to more information on the personalities used for turn signals and 4-way flashers.

Another common personality is TIMED.  This lets you time outputs on your POWERCELL.  Instead of having to add external timers, we build this into the system.  Examples include headlight timers.  When you turn off your car, you headlights can stay on for 30 seconds while you get out of your garage.  Or you can time your cooling fan to continue to run after you turn off the ignition.  These are very easy things to do in the Infinitybox system.  With a traditional wiring harness, you’d have to add additional modules to make this work.

Here’s one last personality example for this blog post.  We use MOSFETs in our POWERCELLs instead of relays.  This lets us do some things that no other system can do.  One of the coolest is THEATRE DIMMING.  This replicates what all new cars do.  We can set your interior lights to gradually fade when you close your door.  This is built into the system and requires no additional hardware.  When you close your doors, we pulse the POWERCELL output to your dome lights to make it fade gradually.  It is a simple and elegant effect that makes your classic car feel like the latest OEM car.

When you get a 10 or 20-Circuit Harness kit from Infinitybox, you get a configuration sheet that is specific to your wiring system.  It lists all of the personalities for each of the outputs in your harness.  This link will take you to the configuration sheet for our most popular front-engine configuration.

There are many more examples of Personalities that can be applied to your Infinitybox system.  Give our technical support team a call at (847) 232-1991 to talk through how we can tailor a wiring system specifically to your project.  You can also click on this link to contact our team directly.  

Updating with inCODE

Updating with inCODE is very simple but there are two very important warnings that you must understand before you go any further.

***DO NOT PLUG THE inCODE PROGRAMMER INTO YOUR COMPUTER UNTIL YOU HAVE INSTALLED THE SOFTWARE PER THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW***

…and…

***PAY ATTENTION TO WHICH CELLS YOU ARE UPDATING.  IF YOU RECEIVED A FILE TO UPDATE YOUR MASTERCELL, ONLY LOAD THAT ON A MASTERCELL.  IF YOU RECEIVED A FILE FOR YOUR POWERCELLS, ONLY LOAD THAT CODE ON YOUR POWERCELL.***

That being said, let’s take a look at the steps for updating with inCODE.

One of the advantages of our Infinitybox system is the ability to load new configurations to it in the field.  This video goes through the process of updating your Infinitybox MASTERCELL.

***DO NOT PLUG THE inCODE PROGRAMMER INTO YOUR COMPUTER UNTIL YOU HAVE INSTALLED THE SOFTWARE PER THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW***

Here are the instructions to load the software and update your system using the inCODE programmer.  This will work for any Windows operating system running at 32-bits or 64-bits.  Please note that there is no application that will work for Apple or Mac.  Also, this must be done from a PC or a laptop.  You cannot use a tablet to run inCODE.  Contact Infinitybox technical support to get a link to download the software to run the inCODE.  You can contact our team by clicking this link.

  1. Temporarily disable your virus scanning software.
  2. Download the software application from the link provided to you from Infinitybox technical support.
  3. Run the install_picprg executable.
  4. When the installation is done, plug the programmer into the computer.  Let it find the drivers as necessary.
  5. Reboot the computer.
  6. Go to Programs/Embed Inc/Program PIC.
  7. Save your hex file to your desk top.
  8. UNPLUG ALL CONNECTORS FROM THE CELL BEFORE YOU PLUG THE inCODE PROGRAMMER INTO IT.
  9. Plug the programmer header into the cell to be updated.  Follow the instructions that came from Infinitybox technical support carefully.  Loading code on the wrong type of cell can cause severe damage to the system.  For example, programming a POWERCELL with MASTERCELL code will cause damage to the cell.
  10. Browse for the file and hit PROGRAM on the GUI.

The programming window looks like this:

Picture of the inCODE Graphical User Interface

Picture of the inCODE Graphical User Interface

When completed, unplug the inCODE programmer from the cell and plug the harness connectors back in.

PLEASE NOTE:  You may get a warning from your anti-virus software about the inCODE download.  It depends on the browser and the anti-virus software that you are using.  We test this software frequently and know that it is safe.  Contact our technical support team with questions about this.

If you plug the inCODE programmer into your computer before you install its software, Windows will randomly assign a driver to it.  The inCODE programmer will not work correctly when you install the software.  To fix this, please follow these instructions by clicking this link.

Please contact our technical support team by clicking this link if you have questions.