Let me say that I use that I use chip burners often for both work and play. I use them more than the average joe and have been dealing with electronics including eproms professionally for 6 years. In my time I've gone threw 3 pocket programmers. they get off to where they will not do anything but read back A5 or fail to see the device all together. Right now I have 2 that just eat power supplies.. they will turn a power supply hot enough to burn someone in a few seconds. I called Xtronics today and spoke with Carl about the issues I was having.. I went open minded looking for some help like maybe ... replace this chip, check voltage here, we will exchange one out etc.. Instead I was accused of touching parts and static discharge was the problem and it was my fault. He wouldn't offer a touch of assistance for self diagnostic and instead insisted on me sending the unit back so they can charge me again to refurbish the unit. Now, let me skip on to say that I have a programmer and 2 emulators from another company (remain nameless to prevent pitting one against the other).. I've NEVER had that programmer fail. I'm on the same one that I got a few years back and one of first in production. I've had issues during beta on the emulators but those issues where quickly resolved and I was never charged a dime. Instead that company learned from what I was breaking and fine tweaked the product. The only problem is the other programmer doesn't do chips I often need at work. I feel cheated by Xtronics.. there is no excuse for me having to pay for my 4th programmer in 6 years. I think the support there is almost offending as he tries to charge you for "updated software" and only offers support for 1 year. I also feel like Xtronics makes a sub par piece of equipment which maybe OK for personal use but definitely not rugged enough for much more than that. To add insult to injury.. the best Xtronics would do for me is offer me free shipping on my 4th burner. I run a buisness myself and I understand that some customers can be a pain the butt.. I've tried my hardest not to. I'm just looking for a trade out, or at least a 4th burner at cost instead of the $179 list price. In my opinion they are putting making $$ well infront of taking customers who I would have considered myself as loyal at least up until he jerked me around on the phone today. If anyone knows of any reliable programmers that can confortably handle 21V eproms please let me know. My "other company" burner handles everything nicely automotive and I don't have to worry about it leaving me hi and dry..

For business use, the only thing you ought to be using is a unit from Data I/O.

Theres one the Top2005 that I'm going to try. The guy tells me it will do everything. I only use it occasionally for off repairing.. or doing something weird like when I was beta testing some ford stuff for craig.

All of the Data I/O units are very good.

If you open the box of one of the "automotive chip programmers" you will quickly see that there is about $10 worth of ICs and a $5 PCB in a $10 case with a $5 cable.

It is most likely the power supply unit inside the PCB. They used pots to adjust the voltage. Not the most reliable thing to do.

If you have an infared temp reader you could pop the cases open and see which part is getting hot when power is applied. It sounds like it is one part that went bad and is shorted to ground. I would bet it is the zener diode, a capacitor, or one of the transistors. Any kind of temperature probe would work, just be careful and wear safety glasses in case it is an electrolytic capacitor ready to blow up. Apply power just long enough to get the part hot. Don't leave it on longer than you need to.