I need a good and easy to use EEPROM programmer for a couple chips I have.
I have Parallel and Serial EEPROMs.
It will be nice (beside a commercial one) to build myself one from the components I have, a DIY. I want these 2 options to choose from.
The commercial programmer might be old and tested in time, or brand new and shiny. I am personally for tested in time. But... let's see what the cat drags in.
I do have a PICkit2 programmer for Microchip PICs. I never look if it is compatible to program with it other brands or EEPROMs in general or these particular EEPROMs I have in my arsenal.
Here is a list with Brand New ones but also Scrapped with unknown stress over them.

AT24C32A        20/20   2-Wire Serial EEPROM Memory DIP ATMEGA
AT28C16         x1      16K (2K x 8) Parallel EEPROM  (from marconi UK) ATMEGA
AT28C64         10/10   64K (8K x 8) Parallel EEPROM ATMEGA
24C16WP         x1    peScartz  8PIN DIP 16-Kbit serial I2C bus EEPROM (mai ai si 1 SMD)
atmel 326 24C08A                    x1  8PINS DIP   8K(1024 x 8) 2-Wire Serial EEPROM
A81DC                   NOT-SURE    x1  8PINS DIP   1website mentioned is a AT24CXX_ATMEL and my guess is a AT24C08A - Two-wire Serial EEPROM   (from a CRT monitor)
U548 DM024 M_LEJKL7_1004 JN166      x1 42PINS DIP   no datasheet found - looks like an EEPROM
24C02W6 95076 =M24C02-W    ST       x1  8PINS SMD   2-Kbit serial I²C bus EEPROMs
ATMEL 624 93C46 =AT93C46            x2  8PINS SMD   3-Wire Serial EEPROM      Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM)
ATMEL 416 24C16 =AT24C16            x1  8PINS SMD   2-Wire Serial EEPROM      Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM)

Thank you.

 

Almost all SPI EEPROMS are compatible with all other SPI EEPROMS, and almost all I2C EEPROMS are compatible with all other I2C EEPROMs. I use several manufacturers‘ products interchangeably.
In fact, I don’t ever use a programmer, because I get the microcontroller to which it is connected to program it. Obviously, if you are using an EEPROM that has a larger capacity than the micro’s flash then you can’t unless it is data that is generated by an algorithm, or if you do it in several operations.

 

In fact, I don’t ever use a programmer, because I get the microcontroller to which it is connected to program it.

I see. So you are using an EEPROM as a storage IC beside the MCU. I get it.
But what if Im preprogramming the EPROM from my PC, with a list of data to check by my MCU or even a simple logic circuit ?
One way, is to make myself a program in C# and write the data through a COM serial port into the EEPROM.
Another way is to use a consecrated and easy to use program...ideally. But this kind of program will usually come with its own hardware programmer. Im not sure if there is a general purpose software compatible with whatever programming board is on COMx.
- Now looking from your pov, you kind of giving me an answer actually. What if Im using arduino with a paralel or serial interface to my EEPROMs? I believe this is the cheapest thing I can make. I wait for other suggestions. I can actually interface the arduino board to my PC, and communicate through it directly into and outo EEPROM if Im thinking more of it. Arduino is just a converter in this case. Hmmm... I already have some tiny arduino boards (equivalents-not originals) that can play exactly this role.

 

It will be nice (beside a commercial one) to build myself one from the components I have, a DIY. I want these 2 options to choose from.

Attached is a schematic for the Willem 4.1 EPROM programmer that should do most/all of the devices you listed. But its interface is parallel port. I use them with a couple computers running Win98 and WinME.

I might have already given you the program.

 

I might have already given you the program.

I do remember someone discussed and show me img about this subject some time ago. But I didn't had your program.
I got a series of errors from it. Im running on w7 here.

The big error inside the program is because it is not connected to a COMx port, OR that is not sensing it's specific hardware comercial box. I can see the original name in your post as " Willem 4.1 EPROM programmer " and the circuit you posted is from this programmer then. How much you pay for it and how much is now? Don't say it was a gift, please - haha.
I did a quick search on aliexpress and for a second a result appear, only a flash, and then this filter come in, telling me "SORRY" - hahahaha - loved by american god, RIIIIIIIGHT. hahaha

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I found this programmer on some facebook electronic group, and it reminded me that I wanted one, long time ago. But the biggest problem THEN was its very high price at 100$ or even 1000$. It will be cool if I can find one for very cheap these days, or free, only postage cost...mmm. I am not in america so everything is not possible for the kind of me, so Im not putting my hopes too up. But is an idea, is a dream. Mmmm

 

A little market research:
This is 27$ because all those accesories in the picture, otherwise is 9$ by itself.

the same here, 8$ with all accesories, 3$ by itself.

The problem with these cheap ones is the ZIF socket, it is for a maxim 16pin IC !!! And this detail is very important.
This 40-pin ZIF Socket version, at 7$ with no accesories

Another 40-pin ZIF Socket but look at the price! 73$- it does come with accesories though, hahaha.

Yah... so it is possible in the comercial land, quite cheap.
But what I like the most is hackability, scalability and adaptability. Which all these have not. Or maybe partial.
A DIY version will be the best option. My eyes are on the arduino DIY project.
It would be interesting to get that 3$ cheap one, that is not such a hole in the pocket, and closing my eyes on its limit of 18pin ICs, I think it is good enough for a couple of my chips, especially the serial ones. But Im thinking...
- Any ideas, put them here.
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even cheaper at 2$ ! -this is without transport price, so it will be a bit higher than this.
not that much, hmmm.

 

Im running on w7 here.

The program won't work on a computer without a parallel port. I run it on Win11, but not for programming because AFAIK, it won't work with a USB to parallel port adapter. I ran it on WinXP, but printer polling caused problems if you forgot to turn it off. I have computers running Win98 for applications I have that won't run on newer versions of Windows.

How much you pay for it and how much is now? Don't say it was a gift, please - haha.

Willem's programmers were among the most expensive and an assembled 4.1 was going for around $75 when he was still alive. I used to sell and service his programmers in North America and he gave/sold me a couple dozen boards for his 4.0, 4.1, and 4.5 programmers (we did some bartering). I still have some of them.

I once found someone on eBay who had stolen his design (the schematic is free, but they copied his board). They had a problem with board yield.

There are Willem variants called PCB3.x, PCB4.x, and PCB5.x. They're all crap when it comes to programming NMOS EPROMs and higher capacity CMOS. Whenever I come across someone with one, I offer them a schematic for a modification that replaces the weak power supply section.

Plus you need to know something about EPROMs/EEPROMs when you use a Willem programmer because the program defaults aren't appropriate. In some cases (e.g. for 2732), it can't generate the required programming pulse width. I workaround the limitations by doing more robust checks for program and erase margin.

 

Do you think I can make it with the components I have ?
For me, it looks complicated; but not impossible.
Whats that chip number?

 

Do you think I can make it with the components I have ?

All of the components should be readily available. I can send you a bare board if you have, or can find inexpensively, a computer with a parallel port that can run Win98. There was someone on AAC within the past year or so who was having problems with a USB to parallel port adapter. He wasn't technically competent to debug the problem and bought an inexpensive Win98 computer.

Whats that chip number?

Those are programming sockets.



I added a voltage modification on my board:

 

If you don't try to find one of Willem's programmers, there are a lot of PCB3/4/5 variants for cheap:
PCB5 Multifunctional Programmer Willem Burner EPROM FLASH MCU Mainboard BIOS Write - AliExpress 1420

The problem with every PCB* variant I've seen is that the power supply section is crap. The group working on the early designs were clueless about analog and weren't very strong on programming specifics either.

I have a modification that fixes the easy stuff (correct VCC voltages for blank verification and programming, and VPP that works for 21/25V). Can't fix low voltage operation. The way they did it was a hack (inserted diodes on the output of the VCC supply). I worked with Willem to do it better on the 4.1.

 

I've used a tool by Totalphase, I believe it was the Aardvark. The hardware was our custom hardware on a breadboard, but the device did the programming and it worked very nicely. Check if this does what you need: https://www.totalphase.com/products/aardvark-i2cspi/

 

Schematic for PCB3, which was the basis for PCB4/5 variants. The newer variants changed how addresses were transmitted and data was transferred back to the computer. You can reverse engineer by tracing the logic associated with these jumpers:

 

Schematic for PCB3

Give me the full list of ICs that your PCB3 can program.
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So @Ian0 (direct method) and I was right, using arduino is the cheapest possible DIY solution and very easy to implement it.
Here is a Ben Eater movie , that I completely forgot about it. Also this similar link + a skematic of it.

I also made a manual EEPROM programming movie myself some time ago, but this here will be an upgrade to that manual method.
But this is only for writing the paralel EEPROMs. Ill have to dig into writing the serial EEPROMs as well, with the same setup. I think is possible only it is not documented, or I didnt find it easy explained like on Youtube. We'll see.

 

If you have a sufficiently old PC around, something like Ponyprog is about as cheap and simple as you can get. I think I wired one up without using a board, just an 8 pin socket and a D-sub plug and a couple of other components.

https://www.lancos.com/prog.html

 

Give me the full list of ICs that your PCB3 can program.

All of the Willem programmers (except 4.5 which was intended for Flash devices) and PCB3 variants support the same devices. They might have added new devices for PCB4/5.

Prior to Willem 4.0, Willem's programmers had the DIP switch reversed from PCB3. From 4.0 on, he had the switches in the same orientation as PCB3. There was a non-PCB3 variant called ATH3.1; it's a single sided board and was the first Willem programmer I bought. That one used the same switch orientation as PCB3.