Chip questions

PrairieDillo

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Donor 2011, 2024
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Hey Guys

1) I was wondering about erasable EPROMs and the window that is often exposed. I understand that UV light is used to erase them. So does this mean that buy not snickering the EPROM that we run the risk of of light erasing the chip over time?

2) what techniques do you guys use to clean/polish the legs of a chip that is heavily tarnished? I used a dremel cloth polishing tip but I didn't think it did a very good job. I wondered what good electrical cleaners I could pick up from Frys.

Thanks!
 
Hey Guys

1) I was wondering about erasable EPROMs and the window that is often exposed. I understand that UV light is used to erase them. So does this mean that buy not snickering the EPROM that we run the risk of of light erasing the chip over time?

You need a fair amount of a specific wavelength of UV light to erase chips. There was a thread a couple of months ago that someone tried the experiment and left some EPROMS out in the direct sunlight and they were still good with over a week of time spent in the sun. So the answer is "Probably not" unless you are really unlucky and a stray sunbeam munges up a couple of bits.

2) what techniques do you guys use to clean/polish the legs of a chip that is heavily tarnished? I used a dremel cloth polishing tip but I didn't think it did a very good job. I wondered what good electrical cleaners I could pick up from Frys.

Thanks!

There are a number of techniques that have been bandied about. Some people swear by vinagar and water, some by tarnex, some by burnishing tools and some by 600 grit or finer wet & dry sandpaper (the black silicon carbide stuff).

I usually use the last technique followed by an alcohol rubdown with a clean cloth soaked in alcohol.

ken
 
2) what techniques do you guys use to clean/polish the legs of a chip that is heavily tarnished? I used a dremel cloth polishing tip but I didn't think it did a very good job. I wondered what good electrical cleaners I could pick up from Frys.

I used to use my dremel, but was warned by several members here to avoid any power tools or abrasives.

Best tool that was recommended and worked well for me: a pencil eraser + contact cleaner
 
Hey Guys

1) I was wondering about erasable EPROMs and the window that is often exposed. I understand that UV light is used to erase them. So does this mean that buy not snickering the EPROM that we run the risk of of light erasing the chip over time?

2) what techniques do you guys use to clean/polish the legs of a chip that is heavily tarnished? I used a dremel cloth polishing tip but I didn't think it did a very good job. I wondered what good electrical cleaners I could pick up from Frys.

Thanks!

1) No sticker and with the board located inside your chassis - it will take about a kajillion years to erase them.

2) Tarnex - cheap, fast and thorough. Abrasives weaken the leads.

Ed
 
Good stuff guys. I love this board.

I a fairly talented arcade Joystick builder and this board takes everything to another level.
 
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