Our EPROM Programmer Adapter was initially designed for use with the hugely popular TL866 series programmer. Initially, for the original TL866A and TL866CS models. But then also verified as fully compatible with the later TL866II Plus model.
Our Adapter is now in use by many retro enthusiasts, across many of the countries of the world. I’m not sure if the Adapters are all being used exclusively with TL866 programmers, but I do know that I haven’t had any reports of the Adapter not being compatible with other brands of programmers.
The reason for this post is that occasionally someone will ask about Adapter compatibility with other brands of EPROM Programmer.
Now, firstly I’ll state that I personally have only had the opportunity to use the Adapter with the TL866 family of programmers.
However, the design of the Adapter does mean that it should work with any programmer that supports programming the 40-pin 27C4096 EPROM, and that the programmer’s Application Software allows for programming without verifying the Device ID etc.
This is because the Adapter basically makes the 27C400/800/160/322 family of EPROMs look like a 27C4096 EPROM, to the programmer. Except that a read of the Device ID will (of course), return they actual inserted EPROM Device ID (not the Device ID of a 27C4096).
With the TL866II Plus EPROM Programmer this functionality is turned-off by de-selecting a checkbox “Check ID”, in the XgPro Application Software.
Also of note, in the XgPro Application Software, is the check-box “Pin Detect”, which we must also ensure is de-selected.
I’m not sure if this Pin Detection functionality is unique to XgPro, although it’s not a feature available in their earlier TL866A/CS MiniPro Application Software. So, you’d also want to check if this sort of functionality is also featured (and de-selectable), in your alternative programmer’s software.
This is because the Adapter circuitry, which interfaces and switches between our actual target EPROM device, means that an actual AM27C4096 “Pin Detect” test will also (of course), not return the expected result.
Note this has also already been covered in our existing Usage Guide.
But with these thoughts in mind, you should be able to easily check if your alternate brand EPROM Programmers Application Software, looks like it will work correctly with our Adapter.
We cannot guarantee our Adapter will work with your non-TL866 family Programmer (as we haven’t verified it), but hopefully the above information enables you to determine the likelihood of success.
Finally, there is of course the physical compatibility question. i.e. Does the physical design of your Programmer allow the insertion of the Adapter PCB into its ZIF programming socket?
With that, I’ll finish this post with a request that if you have our Adapter and have managed to personally verify that it works with a particular alternative brand and model of EPROM Programmer, I’d be keen to hear your report. It may well be of interest to those who also own an alternative model Programmer like yours!