Just wanted to say how much these chips suck. I thought I'd try one out recently and it frustrated me to no end. Erasing, programming and reading voltages are all different, and if you're using a willem programmer and have to manually reset everything to program it things get annoying real quick. And the voltage differences mean that you can't program on the fly because you need a wall outlet just to program the stupid thing. I'm sure things are much easier with a programmer made for it, but it still not as easy as the 29C256, which is a flash prom so all you do is plug it in, program and go. So there you have it.

 

Not to get into a big debate but I disagree. At the time I only had a choice of these chips so I bought 5. Along with my dedicated wall unit and pocket programmer II it worked to get me this far and I've never had a problem with a bad chip. Granted I've given it up and moved onto an Ostrich 2.0 to tune on the fly.

 

You must have alot more patience than I do then. After 5 burns I was done with it.

 

i do all my burning with the AutoProm.
i mostly use the AM29F040B, but i have also used the 27SF512, no complaints from me on them.

 

Sorry, but


The only "problem" I've had with them is braking pins off after taking it out of my EBL and re-installing it about 150 times. That goes for any chip. For $5 I couldn't be happier. Works well with my Burn1 programmer. I keep a nice supply of them in my center console.

 

You have your information incorrect.

You do NOT need a wall wart to program or erase a 27SF512 using a Willems DP programmer. It will burn and erase just fine off the USB power. Also the only change needed on a Willems DP Programmer is one jumper that needs to be removed for erasing. Once I build an enclosure for my Willems DP Programmer I will be adding a switch in to perform this function.

I have burned and erased a few of these chips now and NEVER had a problem, well ok I did, but that was me not realizing that I had to remove that jumper at first, so it wasn't a problem with the chip but a problem with me not paying attention at first.

 

The website says it needs an outlet to erase since the usb is set to 5 volts. You remove the vcc jumper, right?

 

No. There is a jumper to the right of the ZIF socket (when the ZIF is away and the switches are towards you), that is removed.

I've erased several chips this way, no wall wart used here.

 

I removed the top jumper perpendicular to the zif and I get an error at 0x.... message. Maybe it's a problem with my chip, 1/2 the time it burns, other times I get an error. I got it surplus so it's probably been used before.

 

I do the bulk of the tuning with a AT29C256. Once I am done I program a 27SF512 and install it. The 27SF just requires moving one jumper to clear and program on the Willem. You can get a jumper with a tab on it to make it easier. I have on the fly tuners, but rarely use them. You tend to lose track on what worked and what didn't work.

 

junkcltr, you bring up a REALLY good point on the "on the fly" approach. I never thought of it that way. I guess for all of us we really should consider the systematic approach of documenting the few changes we make at a time.

 

These chips are awesome and I got them in a package deal with Moates Burn1 with 5 of them. Takes maybe a second to erase, a few seconds to verify blank and takes maybe 5 seconds to burn a new program. I have a ZIF socket on my adapter so its a cinch to swap out a chip with a new one.

I even got the switchable adapter for one of my tuned ports so i can have multiple programs on one chip.

Xenocron sells them for less than $5 each as well, these are a good bang for the buck.

BTW check this out for Willem Burner:
http://www.turbols.net/TechInfo/27SF512.html

 

The chip I had was junk. I ordered another and it works fine. The willems burner I have is great, I can program or read just about anything.