Since a few days ago, the Programmer started to give me problems where it was unable to prep fresh chips. In other words, I could not clear the microcontroller’s memory so that it could be programmed. At first, I thought it was the plug-in programming cable but after using my DIY Programmer adaptor, it was clear that the fault lies in the Programmer.
CAN IT BE REPAIRED?
Years ago, I replaced the inductor and got it working again. It was displaying the same symptoms which I completely forgot until the Internet pointed back to my Blog entry. Alas, try as I might, there is no circuit diagram for the Programmer, and my last repair was more or less by luck. I can try to repair again or, I can get another used Programmer off eBay…
HOW NOW, BROWN COW?
For the time being, I need to erase the chip a few times, get an all clear to program. Rinse and repeat until I get an ‘OK’ from the programming software. Its a little tedious but this is as good as it gets until I can get more information about the components. The funny thing is, I can hear some inductor hum but it could very well be the capacitors since the replaced inductor has no coils.
