EEPROM programmer choices - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: GregDunn
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2018, 10:00:11 pm
content: I'm going to try to program a few EEPROMs for some small projects and for convenience/cost I'm going to try to use a cheap common chip as well as a minimal programmer. Since I'm going to stick with (hopefully just) one type of chip like an easily procured 28C64 for my projects, this programmer seems to check most of the boxes:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B985LBS/ref=sspa_dk_detail_3?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B07B985LBSDoes anyone have one of these (or similar) and know of any problems I might face using it? I won't be writing software to be written to the chip, just truth tables. Yes, the big PROM is overkill, but it's cheap and reliable.

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2018, 02:27:50 am
content: You may already have some device capable of programming your chip. You would be surprised how many common devices can act as one.Check out the documentation for flashrom.Also, the CH341A is super cheap and can be used to program a LOT of devices. Raspberry Pis and Arduinos can too. So can a Bus Pirate. So can many FPGA devices.I might be wrong as to what your junk box has in it but if you are like me you likely already have some common device that can do duty as a programmer.All that said there are some nice programmers out there and the software for them looks like its worth it if you use them a lot. (If you are on whatever OS supports it!)But you may not even need to buy anything new.

author: GregDunn
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2018, 07:00:41 am
content: I have a fully functional 2716 programmer in my desk drawer - all it needs is an Apple II with an open peripheral slot and some custom software. Oh, and some way to get the data into it other than a floppy drive.Nope, I don't even have a 28-pin DIP socket in the house, let alone the necessary serial-parallel converter chip to talk to any of my computers. And the PROM is going to have to be one with a parallel address and data interface in order to work in any of my projects. That's why I was looking at some of the $50 category programmers - they'll talk to USB and accept a ton of devices up to 40 pin DIPs.

author: DaJMasta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2018, 07:08:56 am
content: There's a decent sized thread on them, there are a couple earlier versions and the Plus II doesn't support some of the highest programming voltages, but it is pretty versatile.I recently got one and installed the then-current software, gives me some strange error messages associated with pin checking, but if I disable pin checking the reading/writing has worked fine so far. Will probably update the software next time I need to program something and see if my glitch is fixed.

author: HB9EVI
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2018, 08:40:34 am
content: Don't have yet the Plus II, but the old MiniPro is doing just fine; all I'm using it is programming an AT28C256 for my Z80 devboard. I also updated the device's firmware several times and never had any issues.Obviously from the MiniPro where a lot of clones/fakes on the market, which got bricked when updated with the newest firmware; I don't know about the Plus II, but there could be as well clones in sale, so watch out from where you buy one.

author: GregDunn
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2018, 12:48:48 am
content: Probably buying from Amazon, so if there's an issue their return policy is pretty good.