Improvising an EPROM Eraser

[Chris Savage]

Speaking of Hack-A-Day (referring to granz's post), I saw this article where someone was building their own EPROM eraser.

Improvising an EPROM Eraser - Hack-A-Day

Improvising an EPROM programmer - Source Article

[granz]

I saw this article - good grief, was it really that long ago?!?!

In addition to this there were several articles in Byte Magazine (and probably others, too) about how to build an EPROM eraser. One of them was actually called the Coffee Can Eraser (Byte, Jan 1977, pg 91.)

[Chris Savage]

Ironically, a coworker told me about this today. I think I am going to buy one, add an Arduino and screen, keypad and relay and make my own EPROM Eraser.

Qualirey 1 Pack UV Lamp Ozone Free, 253.7nm Wavelength UVC Germicidal 6 Watts

[granz]

Those Byte articles all mentioned the damage that UV can do to eyes. Make sure to protect yourself. (I know that you know this, but this is in case anyone else reads this without your knowledge.)

[Chris Savage]

Those Byte articles all mentioned the damage that UV can do to eyes. Make sure to protect yourself. (I know that you know this, but this is in case anyone else reads this without your knowledge.)

Yeah, I'm going to be 3D printing an enclosure for this project. But first, I need to test its feasibility.

[granz]

Doesn't UV radiation degrade 3D print material quickly?

[Chris Savage]

Doesn't UV radiation degrade 3D print material quickly?

Define: quickly? Almost everything is affected by UV light...car tires, house paint / siding, plastic, PLA, whatever. There are thousands of projects for outside that are made using PLA, like birdhouses, garden stuff, etc.

Besides, I have a surplus of metal cabinets, some recycled from previous products, etc. So I have choices. It's easy to 3D print an enclosure for testing than to commit a metal enclosure to something you don't know will work. Once tested, I have options.

[granz]

Define: quickly? Almost everything is affected by UV light...car tires, house paint / siding, plastic, PLA, whatever. There are thousands of projects for outside that are made using PLA, like birdhouses, garden stuff, etc.

True enough, I was just wondering if the intensity of the UV in the EPROM eraser would cause deterioration at an unacceptable rate - your definition. That may cause leakage of the UV radiation, possibly enough to cause trouble without you even noticing. I guess that you will just have to keep an eye on it.

Besides, I have a surplus of metal cabinets, some recycled from previous products, etc. So I have choices. It's easy to 3D print an enclosure for testing than to commit a metal enclosure to something you don't know will work. Once tested, I have options.

Yes, all of the EPROM eraser articles that I saw used metal for the case. Although, now that I think about it, the two erasers that I purchased were both made of plastic. So, it seems that there is no (or minimal) worry about breakdown.

[Chris Savage]

True enough, I was just wondering if the intensity of the UV in the EPROM eraser would cause deterioration at an unacceptable rate - your definition. That may cause leakage of the UV radiation, possibly enough to cause trouble without you even noticing. I guess that you will just have to keep an eye on it.

In my thoughts, the 3D printer is great for prototyping. I had intended to switch to metal not because of UV, but because of high voltage / current within. My original Datarase II (1990) shown here was plastic, and one we have at work is plastic, but there are different types of plastic and some are safe for high voltage, while others pose a fire hazard.

Yes, all of the EPROM eraser articles that I saw used metal for the case. Although, now that I think about it, the two erasers that I purchased were both made of plastic. So, it seems that there is no (or minimal) worry about breakdown.

Two erasers at work are metal, but one gave someone a shock (it's designed for use in the UK / 220VAC, no ground). But I'm not sure what eventual dimensions I will need, but once I know, I will use a metal case. I am planning on automating some of the operation, including the drawer on it, as I did with one I got from Amazon that is also plastic.

P.S. - The working plastic eraser at work has a metal reflective shroud around the top of the lamp, and the lamp is aimed at a plastic drawer, but that drawer is lined with conductive foam.