ALDI UV Toothbrush sterilizer (Eprom Eraser).

K

kreed

Guest
Was in Aldi today, and among their current weekly specials is a UV
toothbrush sterilizer for around $16.


Opened one up, had a 1.5" approx U shaped germicidal tube inside,
240v operated.

Great for those who posted a couple of months back looking for a cheap
way to erase EPROMS.
 
kreed <kenreed1999@gmail.com> wrote:

Was in Aldi today, and among their current weekly specials is a UV
toothbrush sterilizer for around $16.


Opened one up, had a 1.5" approx U shaped germicidal tube inside,
240v operated.
Click to expand...
Strange. After Franc first mentioned it yesterday I looked in their
weekly flyer that I happened to have here. It shows a sort-of egg
shaped thing with "Dentitex" on it (which, I guess, must be another of
Aldi's own brand names). As Franc said, it was $14.99, but the flyer
says "Two AA batteries included" ). That had me wondering whether
something that worked on two AAs would put out enough UV to be useful
as an Eprom Eraser.

240v operated is a different story. Did you try it for the alternate
use?

Not that I am looking for another Eprom eraser ...


Andy Wood
woodag@trap.ozemail.com.au
 
"Andy Wood" <woodag@trap.ozemail.com.au> wrote in message
news:JcednUYEKZ-lq9vWnZ2dnUVZ_hSdnZ2d@westnet.com.au...
kreed <kenreed1999@gmail.com> wrote:

Was in Aldi today, and among their current weekly specials is a UV
toothbrush sterilizer for around $16.


Opened one up, had a 1.5" approx U shaped germicidal tube inside,
240v operated.

Strange. After Franc first mentioned it yesterday I looked in their
weekly flyer that I happened to have here. It shows a sort-of egg
shaped thing with "Dentitex" on it (which, I guess, must be another of
Aldi's own brand names). As Franc said, it was $14.99, but the flyer
says "Two AA batteries included" ). That had me wondering whether
something that worked on two AAs would put out enough UV to be useful
as an Eprom Eraser.

240v operated is a different story. Did you try it for the alternate
use?

Not that I am looking for another Eprom eraser ...


Andy Wood
woodag@trap.ozemail.com.au
Click to expand...
It seems that 3V powered cold cathode UV lamps can erase EPROMs.

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.10131

The lamp (in the above URL, not ALDI's) is probably one of these
http://keenly.en.alibaba.com/product/273677937-209670960/UVC_F4_cold_cathode_lamp_for_toothbrush_sterilization_45mm_length.html
which only draw 200mA from the 3V batteries.
 
On Jan 8, 5:30 am, woo...@trap.ozemail.com.au (Andy Wood) wrote:
kreed <kenreed1...@gmail.com> wrote:
Was in Aldi today, and among their current weekly specials is a UV
toothbrush sterilizer for around $16.

Opened one up, had a 1.5" approx  U shaped germicidal tube inside,
240v operated.

Strange. After Franc first mentioned it yesterday I looked in their
weekly flyer that I happened to have here. It shows a sort-of egg
shaped thing with "Dentitex" on it (which, I guess, must be another of
Aldi's own brand names). As Franc said, it was $14.99, but the flyer
says "Two AA batteries included" ). That had me wondering whether
something that worked on two AAs would put out enough UV to be useful
as an Eprom Eraser.

240v operated is a different story. Did you try it for the alternate
use?

Not that I am looking for another Eprom eraser ...

Andy Wood
woo...@trap.ozemail.com.au
Click to expand...
My mistake, the ALDI one is battery powered. (according to their
website) The mains cord I saw under it must have been from one of the
other items in the display bin. By the look of this one, you would
have to stand the eprom on its end


I didnt try it, I have a lamp already. Just mentioned it as there was
a thread a couple of months back with someone looking for a cheap and
simple EPROM eraser and a toothbrush steriliser was recommended at
that time.


Going to ALDI might be more convenient and fast than buying something
via mail order out of China via Ebay.
 
Just to note that I got one of these today, and it _CAN_ successfully
erase EPROMs.

I've just done my first test-run, letting them soak in the rays for an
hour. The button has a 6.5 minute timer-- I just kept pressing it..
There are pads for a capacitor on the internal PCB, but adding several
different caps to that didn't affect the timer. I've also wired up the
battery comparment to my Bench supply, and currently have it over-volted
to 4.5V (drawing 400mA) and running okay.

I've finally been able to test out the Glenn Pure EPROM Programmer kit I
built 10 years ago.. :)

--
Chris
 
On Jan 18, 7:10 pm, Chris Baird <ab...@brushtail.apana.org.au> wrote:
Just to note that I got one of these today, and it _CAN_ successfully
erase EPROMs.

I've just done my first test-run, letting them soak in the rays for an
hour. The button has a 6.5 minute timer-- I just kept pressing it..
There are pads for a capacitor on the internal PCB, but adding several
different caps to that didn't affect the timer. I've also wired up the
battery comparment to my Bench supply, and currently have it over-volted
to 4.5V (drawing 400mA) and running okay.

I've finally been able to test out the Glenn Pure EPROM Programmer kit I
built 10 years ago.. :)

--
Chris
Click to expand...
Cap might be a supply rail cap.

You might be able to use a 555 to do the job. in my experience 20-30
min seems to be enough using a 15w germicidal fluro with the top of
the EPROM about 1.5cm away.

I dont know if overdoing it damages the EPROM or not ?



The Toothbrush Steriliser lamp might not be as powerful and might take
longer ?
 
The Toothbrush Steriliser lamp might not be as powerful and might
take longer ?
Click to expand...
On the second round, a 2764 was completely erased after four 6-minute
exposures, however the other 27C256's needed 12-24 minutes more.

--
Chris
 
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