Erasing a chip in a tanning bed???
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,302
Likes: 2
From: Atlanta GA
Erasing a chip in a tanning bed???
I know this sounds dumb, but I was telling my girlfriend that UV rays erase chips. She suggested that instead of buying a UV eraser, take the chip to a tanning bed :smash: :smash:
I see how it could theoretically work, but is there enough UV output to do the job??? :crazy:
I see how it could theoretically work, but is there enough UV output to do the job??? :crazy:
Pro
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 686
Likes: 0
From: Crystal Lake, IL USA
Re: Erasing a chip in a tanning bed??? (dtorc4)
Short answer: No, but it might scamble a bit or two and ruin the program.
Long answer: UV light is categorized into three regions depending on wavelength - UVA, UVB and UVC. UVA has the least energetic photons, UVC the most. EPROM erasing requires UV at 254 nm wavelength (UVC), 6-15 watt-sec/cm2 intensity (15" under a 1 watt bulb).
Tanning lamps output 10-20 milliwatt/cm2, mostly (>90%) in the UVA region, the remainder in UVB. So, there are two things going on here. 1) Tanning lamp photons are too low in energy compared to the bandgap energy needed to erase EPROMS (longer wavelength = lower energy). 2) In addition, they are 1000 times less intense than EPROM eraser bulbs - even if it emitted UV light at the proper energy, erasing a chip would require about 25 hours.
I've tried a fluorescent poster UV lamp (Dayglo!) and a geologist type rock UV light before without success. The Datarase unit simply has no peer for the price. Just avoid all eye contact!
references:
http://sunshine.jpl.nasa.gov/1rst%20...L.TECH.UV.html http://www.lawtronics.co.uk/epromopinst.htm http://www.solarmeter.com/faqs.html http://www.physlink.com/Education/AskExperts/ae300.cfm
Long answer: UV light is categorized into three regions depending on wavelength - UVA, UVB and UVC. UVA has the least energetic photons, UVC the most. EPROM erasing requires UV at 254 nm wavelength (UVC), 6-15 watt-sec/cm2 intensity (15" under a 1 watt bulb).
Tanning lamps output 10-20 milliwatt/cm2, mostly (>90%) in the UVA region, the remainder in UVB. So, there are two things going on here. 1) Tanning lamp photons are too low in energy compared to the bandgap energy needed to erase EPROMS (longer wavelength = lower energy). 2) In addition, they are 1000 times less intense than EPROM eraser bulbs - even if it emitted UV light at the proper energy, erasing a chip would require about 25 hours.
I've tried a fluorescent poster UV lamp (Dayglo!) and a geologist type rock UV light before without success. The Datarase unit simply has no peer for the price. Just avoid all eye contact!
references:
http://sunshine.jpl.nasa.gov/1rst%20...L.TECH.UV.html http://www.lawtronics.co.uk/epromopinst.htm http://www.solarmeter.com/faqs.html http://www.physlink.com/Education/AskExperts/ae300.cfm
