can this be done? I know you can put them in the sun for about two weeks,
but that's a little long. I was thinking perhaps a black light can do it,
eventually.

On Wed, 11 Feb 2004 22:45:13 +0000, Thrashbarg wrote:

can this be done? I know you can put them in the sun for about two weeks,
but that's a little long. I was thinking perhaps a black light can do it,
eventually.

I'm not sure about that. "Germicidal" UV tubes are short wavelength and
usually work, but I think "black light" is at the wrong end of the UV
spectrum to be of any use.

--
Mick
http://www.nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini information
Also at http://www.mixtel.co.uk where the collection started.
Currently deserting M$ for linux... :-)

perhaps a black light can do it, eventually.
Thrashbarg

365nm black lights won't do it.
You need a 254nm source of sufficient intensity.
Radiation of this wavelength is not good for humans.
That is why EPROMS are inside an enclosure when being erased.


in the sun

Maybe with a lens and a visible light filter.

JeffM wrote in message
om...
perhaps a black light can do it, eventually.
Thrashbarg

365nm black lights won't do it.
You need a 254nm source of sufficient intensity.
Radiation of this wavelength is not good for humans.
That is why EPROMS are inside an enclosure when being erased.


in the sun

Maybe with a lens and a visible light filter.

Bit of an understatement. The wavelength of UV used to erase EPROMS is
murder to the eyes.

To build an eraser on a shoestring, the best thing to do is to buy a
replacement lamp c/w data sheet from someone like RS Components and design
and build your own power supply for it, and of course a totally lightproof
enclosure

Hope this helps.

Nemo
(Engineer and qualified Health and Safety rep.)

yep... found this out for myself when erasing PICs... spent a whole night
under a blacklight and the program was still perfectlty intact the next
morning )

I have heard you can erase in strong sunlight - but not thru a window as
most glass will block UVC

while on the subject, don't be tempted to have an un-enclosed UVC tube
switched on.. I did and even though it wasn't in direct line of sight, it
was off to one side, the next day my eyes hurt like hell - I had given
myself arc-eye!!! felt like sand in there for a day or two... still, learnt
my lesson )


"JeffM" wrote in message
om...
perhaps a black light can do it, eventually.
Thrashbarg

365nm black lights won't do it.
You need a 254nm source of sufficient intensity.
Radiation of this wavelength is not good for humans.
That is why EPROMS are inside an enclosure when being erased.


in the sun

Maybe with a lens and a visible light filter.

"Form@C" wrote in message
news
On Wed, 11 Feb 2004 22:45:13 +0000, Thrashbarg wrote:

can this be done? I know you can put them in the sun for about two
weeks,
but that's a little long. I was thinking perhaps a black light can do
it,
eventually.

I'm not sure about that. "Germicidal" UV tubes are short wavelength and
usually work, but I think "black light" is at the wrong end of the UV
spectrum to be of any use.

--
Mick
http://www.nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini information
Also at http://www.mixtel.co.uk where the collection started.
Currently deserting M$ for linux... :-)