EPROM Eraser

[Phil_G]

...which equates to at least 27000 erasures! no doubt their output will decline slightly over time, but the decades-old tubes mentioned above still do their job perfectly

 

[P101]

...which equates to at least 27000 erasures! no doubt their output will decline slightly over time, but the decades-old tubes mentioned above still do their job perfectly

You're absolutely right.
Also consider that for many reasons (removal or failure of the timer), the lamp can remain on for several days: you'll never know how many hours of use a used lamp has.

 

[hmb]

@hmb The timer is used to turn the lamp on for a fixed amount of time. It's a simple and inexpensive safety measure, as long as it works properly.

Yes, the purpose of the timer is obvious. However, it is a simple mechanical timer that is not designed to measure any defined length of time, and cannot be reset but instead has to be left to run until it "winds down". Therefore, I just use it along with the power switch to turn the eraser on and then go "by the clock" to know when to turn it off. Generally, that box takes 10-15 minutes to erase most EPROMs.

 

[tingo]

I use one meant for sterilizing a phone now...

This one is very similar to one I have.
View attachment 1322975

https://www.ebay.com/itm/236660944589

Interesting. How long do you typically run it for an erase?

 

[twolazy]

Around 10 minutes. Tried 8 and a few stubborn ST eproms wouldn't erase fully.

 

[ECNeilson]

I set my EPROM eraser for 30 minutes and that usually does the trick.

 

[Unknown_K]

You can burn out the EPROMs if you bake them too long (30 minutes is the most recommended).