Shipping an EProm chip
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Joined: Sep 2004
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Shipping an EProm chip
would it be possible to erase a chip by shipping it the US Mail or UPS?
I have been back and forth with my chip guy due to drivability problems.
When shipped the chips were not foil wrapped,chip guy received my chip and could not read it and when reburned and installed in my car it runs like crap.
I have been back and forth with my chip guy due to drivability problems.
When shipped the chips were not foil wrapped,chip guy received my chip and could not read it and when reburned and installed in my car it runs like crap.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,596
Likes: 19
From: Portland Oregon
Originally Posted by 1uke
would it be possible to erase a chip by shipping it the US Mail or UPS?
I have been back and forth with my chip guy due to drivability problems.
When shipped the chips were not foil wrapped,chip guy received my chip and could not read it and when reburned and installed in my car it runs like crap.
I have been back and forth with my chip guy due to drivability problems.
When shipped the chips were not foil wrapped,chip guy received my chip and could not read it and when reburned and installed in my car it runs like crap.
Drifting
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,730
Likes: 1
From: Charlotte NC
St. Jude Donor '05
Eproms are pretty stout.. Me and Craig have personally talked about how badly we handle them compared to how we would handle processors or other equipment with no ill effects. To put it in perspective.. the very exact and only same EEprom (29C256 soldered into a factory memcal) has been there since 2001 and probally have suffered realistically 500 pulls/reburns. Thats without the use of grounding straps and working in a carpeted room.
I do not ship my things in static bags and I don't have any consistant errors or problems with my chips. When I was using a Xtronics pocket programmer it seemed like 1/20 would be DOA. Something I really had no way of correcting or forseeing before they left here..
Now I have a new programmer and I can honestly say I haven't had one mis-burn in the 3 months its been in operation. (knock on wood) Thats not saying I haven't had tunes that I needed to go back over or fine tune a bit... I'm saying that they haven't been completely DOA like in the case of the PP2.
I do not ship my things in static bags and I don't have any consistant errors or problems with my chips. When I was using a Xtronics pocket programmer it seemed like 1/20 would be DOA. Something I really had no way of correcting or forseeing before they left here..
Now I have a new programmer and I can honestly say I haven't had one mis-burn in the 3 months its been in operation. (knock on wood) Thats not saying I haven't had tunes that I needed to go back over or fine tune a bit... I'm saying that they haven't been completely DOA like in the case of the PP2.
Last edited by Alvin; Sep 14, 2005 at 11:50 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
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From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
I'm certainly not the tech guy, but it sounds like a double mistake in sending and receiving. Not sure what the solution is but it might require being redone with original settings and then also reprogrammed???? There are certainly smarter brains on the 'what-comes-next' suggestion box. 
Or *hint* you could find someone to do it right this time...
Or *hint* you could find someone to do it right this time...
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
I thought the USPS was using an electronic scanning device that is damaging to some electronic parts. Homeland security you know......
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
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From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Electronic scanning should not effect an EPROM; it takes prolonged at short wavelength UV to erase one, though X-rays might do the same.
However a good static charge can zap most any IC. I would suggest that you ship your EPROM stuck into antistatic foam and in an antistatic bag; it should be returned to you the same way.
However a good static charge can zap most any IC. I would suggest that you ship your EPROM stuck into antistatic foam and in an antistatic bag; it should be returned to you the same way.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 227
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From: Barnstable Mass
I just sent two to Jesse Azzato and had the Post Office stamp them "Do Not X-Ray" (Which probably means they're being examined at the Pentagon as I speak) With the new "kill the anthrax" policy, what is subjected to irradiation??? Is there a forum member who works for the Post Office or UPS/FEDX who could enlighten us?
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Drifting
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,730
Likes: 1
From: Charlotte NC
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by 1uke
Alvin,
I will call you at the office today.
Thanks
I will call you at the office today.
Thanks
Actually when I get my S512 chips from Craig Moates he stacks them all up together, puts a piece of packing tape around it.. Wraps it in bubble wrap and sends it to me..
They are really quite robust. In fact I've only had 1 512 chip that seemed to be popped and wouldn't work in my career. And if it means anything to you, that chip was popped when a customer installed a chip in a mustang wrong.. it took out the ECM, the Chip, and the adapter
Drifting
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,730
Likes: 1
From: Charlotte NC
St. Jude Donor '05
BTW.. the stock style UV eraseable chips are no where near as tough. They pop all the time.. I haven't seen more than 5 burns per chip before they are absoulutely bad.
Thats why we use a memory adapter with a electronically flashable/eraseable chip. They can be re-written almost indefinately
Thats why we use a memory adapter with a electronically flashable/eraseable chip. They can be re-written almost indefinately
Race Director
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,594
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From: Bartlett Illinois
Originally Posted by Alvin
When I was using a Xtronics pocket programmer it seemed like 1/20 would be DOA. Something I really had no way of correcting or forseeing before they left here..
Now I have a new programmer and I can honestly say I haven't had one mis-burn in the 3 months its been in operation. (knock on wood) Thats not saying I haven't had tunes that I needed to go back over or fine tune a bit... I'm saying that they haven't been completely DOA like in the case of the PP2.
Now I have a new programmer and I can honestly say I haven't had one mis-burn in the 3 months its been in operation. (knock on wood) Thats not saying I haven't had tunes that I needed to go back over or fine tune a bit... I'm saying that they haven't been completely DOA like in the case of the PP2.
what programmer are you using now?
Drifting
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,730
Likes: 1
From: Charlotte NC
St. Jude Donor '05
The moates burner..
I triple veryfy things before they leave here and I'll tell you that sucker has been very conistant. Even though the prom will verify it doesn't mean it will work in the car. Well, thats what I was saying 1/20 would be a DOA with the PP2 and I haven't had one yet be a DOA with the moates (knock on wood)
I triple veryfy things before they leave here and I'll tell you that sucker has been very conistant. Even though the prom will verify it doesn't mean it will work in the car. Well, thats what I was saying 1/20 would be a DOA with the PP2 and I haven't had one yet be a DOA with the moates (knock on wood)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,596
Likes: 19
From: Portland Oregon
I have found that the EEPROMs or any flash memory type IC or chip are the most prone to be damaged by static. In my experience the older EPROMs which require UV erasing were a bit more "resilient" when it comes to static damage. I have had flash memory go away by just touching them, and I am in Oregon where its wet during the winter and less chance of static discharges. When I was working in the paper mill business as a EE, we always handled the control cards that were removed from drives, process controllers or other similar devices, we always had wrist bands. I learned my lesson when I fried a $850 chopper card out of a 800Hp AC drive. Good thing the Allen Bradley service guy was a good friend of mine, so he warrantied the card 
I thought it would have been pretty tough seeing how it runs off of a 800v DC bus, but nooooo.......on touch from my static loaded fingers and it was DOA.
I thought it would have been pretty tough seeing how it runs off of a 800v DC bus, but nooooo.......on touch from my static loaded fingers and it was DOA.
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Advanced
Joined: Sep 2004
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Five Window,
I just sent two to Jesse Azzato and had the Post Office stamp them "Do Not X-Ray" (Which probably means they're being examined at the Pentagon as I speak) With the new "kill the anthrax" policy, what is subjected to irradiation??? Is there a forum member who works for the Post Office or UPS/FEDX who could enlighten us?
good luck in your adventure
I just sent two to Jesse Azzato and had the Post Office stamp them "Do Not X-Ray" (Which probably means they're being examined at the Pentagon as I speak) With the new "kill the anthrax" policy, what is subjected to irradiation??? Is there a forum member who works for the Post Office or UPS/FEDX who could enlighten us?
good luck in your adventure
