Eric, those UV readers the bank use are fairly low power, and will take way
too long to erase the device.  I have a 12 inch tube version that takes
nearly a day to do the job, with the PIC in direct contact with the tube.
 I finally broke down and bough a real UV eraser.  Digi-Key has a
reasonably priced pocket UV eraser (DataErase II) that will erase in PIC in
a few minutes using a super high output UV tube.  Probably cost you no more
than the bank device, and will do you a much better job.

CIAO - Martin R. Green
elimar@bigfoot.com

----------
From:   Eric van Es[SMTP:vanes@ILINK.NIS.ZA]
Sent:   Sunday, September 28, 1997 3:24 PM
To:     PICLIST@mitvma.mit.edu
Subject:        Re: Arc welders for eprom erasure [OT]

dlions@acs.itd.uts.edu.au wrote:

> Hey dudes!
>
>         Has anyone considered using arc welders as a source of strong UV
> to erase eproms.  I don't mean a full 50kg arc welder, but using the same
> concept of the spark it produces, and the UV from it.
>

[Snip]

>  I don't really care about EPROM's but I am thinking of investing in
> a window version '74 and was hoping to avoid buying an eraser, and
waiting
> for the chip to erase.  Obviously i would not risk a '74 just to save a
> little time though.  Is what i am doing safe?
>

I think that in the long run your welding rods will be more expensive than
the
UV eraser. I'm still searching for one of those lights thay use at the bank
to
check the money for forgery.... should be cheapish.

Wheter its safe? If you protect your eyes and don't stick your fingers into
the arc, I'd say its reasonably safe!

> Thanks in advance,
> David Lions

--
Eric van Es               | Cape Town, South Africa
mailto:vanes@ilink.nis.za | http://www.nis.za/~vanes
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