[Help UK] Help burn a Zilog Z86 MCU - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: giosif
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2020, 04:36:44 pm
content: Is there someone here with a programmer able to burn Zilog Z86 MCU's?If so, could you please help me burn on such IC (I can ship it to you and also provide the firmware file)?I have a Fluke 8840A/AF with a sick U202 and am trying to revive it.Thanks!

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2020, 05:17:00 pm
content: Maybe. I have a Dataman 48 which seems to power up OK (haven't used it in years) and there are many Z86E devices on the list. However, the last PC I had the Dataman software installed on doesn't know about them (clearly needs and update). More importantly, I don't appear to have anything with a parallel port, which is what the programmer talks to.So that's a provisional 'possibly' which would involve a fair bit of mucking about trying to get the programmer working. I'd prefer someone else to have a more accessible solution, but if all else fails...

author: DLJ
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2020, 09:27:52 pm
content: I have a Leaper 48 that claims it can program:Z86E0208PSC(DIP)Z86E0208SSC(SOP)Z86E0308PSC(DIP)Z86E0408PSC(DIP)Z86E0408SSC(SOP)Z86E0412PSC(DIP)Z86E0412SSC(SOP)Z86E0612PSC(DIP)Z86E0612SSC(SOP)Z86E0812PSC(DIP)Z86E0812SSC(SOP)Z86E3016PSC(DIP)However I do not have the SOP adapter.

author: giosif
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2020, 10:02:07 pm
content: Thank you both for offerring!And sorry, I should have been more specific: the Z86 MCU I am referring to is an Z86E21 and it is a 40 pin DIP.So, @DLJ, I don't think the Leaper would work here.@dunkemhigh, the Dataman 48 does list the Z86E21 as supported, so there's hope there.With regards to a computer with parallel port, I do have one (running WinXP).But, indeed, let's first see if someone else has something "at hand".Otherwise and depending on your location, maybe we can meet some place where you bring the programmer and I bring the rest.If that doesn't work either and if you are ok with it, you could send me the programmer and I send it back to you once I'm done with it (I will support all costs involved, of course).Thanks again!

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2020, 11:41:58 am
content: Sounds like a plan to me

author: bingo600
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2020, 06:08:17 pm
content: Looks a bit like you can program it as a 27C64A w. a bit of "glue"http://ficara.altervista.org/zilog_z8.php/Bingo

author: giosif
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2020, 08:02:01 pm
content: Hmm... That's interesting.I will give it a try and let you know of the results!Thanks, Bingo!

author: andybarrett1
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2020, 10:52:57 am
content: I have a Dataman48-ProIt suggests can do it if the 40pin version (Z86E21)Happy to help out if canBirkenhead MerseysideAndy

author: Kjo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2023, 07:05:52 pm
content: To be clear, this is about programming the UV erasable Z86E21-F1 or AF1 made by ST Microelectronics. To my knowledge the old Zilog never released a UV erasable version of the Z86E21. The Zilog branded parts were all OTP plastic packages. The modern Zilog has some data sheets on programming the current suite of Z86E devices (Z86E21, 41 & 61) devices using a conventional EPROM programmer.But the ST Z86E21 UVPROM version used in Fluke 884XA meters have very sketchy documentation available in the wild. The smaller Z86E11 has the best description of EPROM Mode Programming using a 2732 programmer selection. The 2732 (& 2764) is a 21V device, so all ST schematics include a VPP clamp to ptotect the Z86 device. Selecting a 2732A 12V device generally will not work because the Z86 devices do not support the EPROM programmer device identification protocol used in the newer 2732A devices.The EPROM Programming Mode in the Z86 devices uses an embedded micro-code sequence that is not directly user accessible. And by consulting the data sheets available from Zilog and STM it is clear that the two companies used different ports for address, data and control signals during EPROM Programming Mode.The link in post #5 is a strange combination of Zilog & STM specifications. The port assignments do not match any of the STM EPM schematics. I tried several configurations from that link with no success. What I do know is that the EPM specified for the Z86E11 using 2732 mode does work. However, the Z86E21 datasheet from STM appears to be an incomplete conversion of the Z86E11 to the E21 using a 2764. Significant pin-out changes occurred in going from the 24 pin 2732 to the 28 pin 2764 device. Unfortunately, the STM datasheet does not describe the 2764 VPP, OEB & PGM pin connections completely.The adapter I finally built for the Z86E21 operates in 2 modes. In the 2764 EPM the Z86E21 can be read as a 64K EPROM but not written. This provides a means of verifying 8KB images easily. When switch to 2732 mode the EPROM programmer can read and write the Z86E21 as a Z86E11 in two 4KB blocks using a manual switch to set address A12. This is a bit cumbersome, but reliably works.