At 20:24 1998-03-21 -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.

Probably ESD or induction or something like that.

>Does anyone know how much over erasure will ruin the chip?

Virtually impossibe to over-erase.

>Shahid

I once tried to erase Motorola parts using a camera fash converted to a
stroboscope.  I put the discharge tube directly on chip window, alumina
foil around (except close to connections...) ant let it blink a few Herz
for some hours.  Did not erase the chip and the chip still worked (68HC705K1).

/Morgan
/  Morgan Olsson, MORGANS REGLERTEKNIK, SE-277 35 KIVIK, Sweden \
\  mrt@iname.com, ph: +46 (0)414 70741; fax +46 (0)414 70331    /