PIC's are not damaged by erasure. They are damaged by programming.

Since PIC's are very fast CMOS devices, I would suspect that the input
structures to protect the device against ESD are not as robust as you would
like.

ESD can be caused by induced currents i.e., physical contact is not required.

It may be possible that the current dumped in the strobe, if held close
enough to the device, may have been sufficient to damage it.


Rich

At 08:24 PM 3/21/98 -0500, you wrote:
>I recall someone on the list a few days ago mentioned the use of a strobe
>light to erase a PIC. I have a automobile timing gun that I tried to use to
>erase a 12C509. I probably gave it a bit too many flashes (maybe around 100
>or so). Now when I stick the pic in the programmer (PicPro from TATO
>Computer) it comes back saying the programmer is not turned on. So it
>definately did something to the pic.
>
>Does anyone know how much over erasure will ruin the chip? I dont have
>anymore UV erasable devices to test this technique to see if it even does
>successfully erase the device.
>
>My other question is that, lets say if a strobe light can successfully
>erase a device with a few flashes, will that significantly reduce the life
>of the chip?
>
>Shahid
>
>
At a recent computer expo (COMDEX), Bill Gates reportedly compared
the computer industry with the auto industry and stated:

     "If GM (General Motors) had kept up with technology like the
      computer industry has, we would all be driving twenty-five
      dollar cars that got 1000 mi/gal."

Recently General Motors addressed this comment by releasing the
statement:

     "Yes, but would you want your car to crash twice a day?"