Yet another "Poor man UV EPROM eraser"

[Canis Dirus Leidy]

Well, more correctly the description of an attempt (not my) to use cheap (about $2 without delivery) "UV Bulb Ultraviolet Ozone Germicidal Sterilization Quartz Light Clean Lamp" from Aliexpress for erasing EPROMs. The original description is in Russian, so here is the TL&DR:

• Yes, it's really a mercury vapor lamp (so, be careful with customs).
• And it's emitting hard enough UV: it took a minute and a half to erase M27C512, with direct contact of the IC window with the lamp bulb.
• For a secure ignition, 15V DC is required (then, in the steady mode, it drops to 12V). The current consumption is 300 mA, it can be more (up to 700 mA), but the filament begins to overheat.

[Gyro]

Yeah, I first saw those clever little low voltage UV lamps on Big Clive's channel. They're really neat as long as you're using them for sensible purposes.

[granzeier]

Aliexpress says right off, that the item (UV light) cannot be shipped to the US.

[GigaJoe]

what about UV 3W LED, i did use it for signetic, works well .....

[Canis Dirus Leidy]

Aliexpress says right off, that the item (UV light) cannot be shipped to the US.

There are USAnian sellers on Ebay and Amazon who sell these lamps (search for keywords like "GTL3 UV bulb" or "E17 germicidal lamp"), but they also have USAnian prices ($10-15).

[granzeier]

Aliexpress says right off, that the item (UV light) cannot be shipped to the US.

There are USAnian sellers on Ebay and Amazon who sell these lamps (search for keywords like "GTL3 UV bulb" or "E17 germicidal lamp"), but they also have USAnian prices ($10-15).

Thanks, I have one on order right now (and only $8.49.)

[helius]

The same bulbs are used in equipment on the US consumer market, so there is no issue with the bulbs being importable.

[BrokenYugo]

Aliexpress says right off, that the item (UV light) cannot be shipped to the US.

There are USAnian sellers on Ebay and Amazon who sell these lamps (search for keywords like "GTL3 UV bulb" or "E17 germicidal lamp"), but they also have USAnian prices ($10-15).

2 for $10, US warehouse.
 https://www.ebay.com/itm/174646112679

You can also get small 120V linear fixtures with bulb for similar money, that's what I did.

[David Hess]

Was there debate about germicidal lamps being able to erase uvEPROMs?

[helius]

Was there debate about germicidal lamps being able to erase uvEPROMs?

Not a credible one. The devices are designed to be erased using 253.7 nm light, the predominant wavelength of mercury gas discharge, which is what a germicidal lamp produces. There may be some differences in output characteristics between the traditional T8G style tubes and the miniature GTL3 bulbs, but they both emit the correct wavelength.