Using my CH341A.

[newguy90]

Re: Using my CH341A.

I see... If 12 V is the voltage from those serial pins, then I think I definitely need a 5v regulator... But if I don't have the 5 V regulator (LM2936z-5), what else can I do using other common electronic parts that are easily available? Or can I just eliminate the 1N4148 (D1, D2 and D3) along with the regulator and the other capacitors (C3, C4 and C12) and just use a 5V from USB or from an 5V PSU rail to drive the pin 1 (that's VCC, + PE + ORG of the 93cxx EEPROM ) ?

[stj]

Re: Using my CH341A.

or get 5v from a usb port.

[stj]

Re: Using my CH341A.

you need the voltage regulator, the serial port outputs 12v.
well it should but modern stuff is closer to 9v but it will still fry your chip!

[newguy90]

Re: Using my CH341A.

I inverted in the image below the colors of the components which I want to remove from the Base Board interface, and I retraced with red color the connections that I think it needs to be done in the circuit. Would it work this way?

[stj]

Re: Using my CH341A.

you only need what will be used, so really just 5v

[newguy90]

Re: Using my CH341A.

I've started looking yesterday on the Pony prog 2000 website. As far as I see, I need to build the Base board (SI Prog) + the 93cxx adapter (Microwire eeprom adapter) using the schematics provided on that website. Is that right?
I want to build those, but as simple as it can be... So what would be the simplest schematic that I should build? Do I really need the extra power source? And if I do, can I use the 5V rail from the PC's PSU for this purpose instead of the one presented on the Base board schematics ?

[stj]

Re: Using my CH341A.

maybe you should look at PONY PROG,

[newguy90]

Re: Using my CH341A.

I found this information on using a CH341a and 93LC86 microwire https://freesoft.dev/program/171504972
93C56b is microwire

thank you R_J. I followed the link you gave me, but the info found there it doesn't help me... As far as I know the 93C56 EEPROM of my car has a bit organization of 128x16 bits, not 256x8 bits. The project from the link you sent me has a limitation in this respect (only 8-bit data organization (ORG pin Low) supported).

[newguy90]

Re: Using my CH341A.

does the software list it?

The CH341a software that I've got, doesn't list 93Cxx EEPROM series... So I'm still wondering how can I connect the 93c56 EEPROM chip so I can program it.

Blah! I can't dump this EEPROM. The I've tried multiple versions of the software. Every time, I have to add an exception to my Anti-virus program because it flags it as a virus, even Stj's upload. I don't think it's a virus, just a false positive. (COM3).

When I'm testing the CH341a software (v1.29, v1.3 etc) that I found on the internet, using the Virus Total website, it shows me that it is infected with malware (one of them it is flagged by 17 antivirus engines!). Are they just false positives, or not? Where can I find a clean and newer version of this software?

[R_J]

Re: Using my CH341A.

I found this information on using a CH341a and 93LC86 microwire https://freesoft.dev/program/171504972
93C56b is microwire

[stj]

Re: Using my CH341A.

does the software list it?

[newguy90]

Re: Using my CH341A.

Ok, thank you for your inputs.
Supposedly that I have a new 93c56B EEPROM, how do I have to connect it to the CH341a in order to program it? From the 93c56 datasheet I can see no match between the pin configuration of 93c56 EEPROM and the ZIF lock of the CH341a PCB.

[R_J]

Re: Using my CH341A.

I read on internet that it can be done on board, all I need is to short the crystal oscillator without any other modifications (the 93c56 is on a car ECM). If it can be done, why did they make a SOIC Clip? On the internet its advertised that with this clip one can programm the EEPROM without any desoldering.

Shorting the crystal will help by stoping the micro from trying to acces the eeprom/spi ic at the same time, but you still have to power everything connected to vcc of the eeprom. Some pc's usb can't supply enough current for this and you may need to use a seperate +5v supply.

[newguy90]

Re: Using my CH341A.

Thank you for the quick response, Stj!

firstly, 24 series and 93 series chips have no id for the programmer to read. that only works on 25 series.

That means that I will have to choose from the drop down list the 93c56 EEPROM that I want to read/programm? what if I don't find it listed? Can I select another with similar memory size?

second, you cant program or read a chip on board unless you can isolate it's power pin or the usb programmer will try to power the whole device!

I read on internet that it can be done on board, all I need is to short the crystal oscillator without any other modifications (the 93c56 is on a car ECM). If it can be done, why did they make a SOIC Clip? On the internet its advertised that with this clip one can programm the EEPROM without any desoldering.

[stj]

Re: Using my CH341A.

firstly, 24 series and 93 series chips have no id for the programmer to read. that only works on 25 series.
second, you cant program or read a chip on board unless you can isolate it's power pin or the usb programmer will try to power the whole device!

[newguy90]

Re: Using my CH341A.

Hello!
I bought myself a CH341 Mini programmer (black mobo) and a SOIC 8 clip to use it for hot programming an 93c56 EEPROM , and I'm stuck because I don't know how to connect the 93cxx EEPROM to the programmer. At first, I used an old video card to test the CH431A how it's working so I connected the SOIC Clip's interface to the slot for 25XX with the no 1 pin to the left upper corner of the CH341a's ZIF lock, I attached the miniclip to the 8 pins of the videocard's EEPROM (with the red wire of the clip to the EEPROM pin no 1 - marked on the videocard with "1"), and then I connected the mini programmer to the USB of my desktop pc. The software v.1.29 shows "device connected", but nothing happens when I press the button to identify the chip. Further more, the ch341a heats up so I had to disconnect it from the usb port. I don't know what am I doing wrong.... Can someone help me, please?

[keeney123]

Re: Using my CH341A.

Yeah, me too! I've been talking to the developer of the CH341 Programmer for Windows. I purchased a registered copy. He only wanted 10$. I gave him 15$. He says for 10$, it'll include future updates, which is nice. I felt it was worth it. Anyway, I asked if he ever planned on making a Linux version, he said right now there's no Linux drivers.

I found a Linux module in the kernel but it's only for serial support. These devices also have an IEEE 1284 parallel interface, an SPI interface, and an I2C interface. It was created by some smart people studying the Windows driver. I reached out to the company who makes the Windows drivers, asking if they'd ever consider releasing the source code for the drivers so I can port them or if they'd be interested in releasing a Linux version, but I don't have my hopes up.

I also reached out to the guy who developed the current CH341 kernel module, asking if he ever planned on implementing the other features. Hopefully someone will provide some good news.

Have you ever thought about purchasing one of these? They're kinda neat.

No, I will leave that to you genus Programmers. I just like to dabble and help where I can. When it gets warm enough I am going Undercoat my car, go to a stream and paint what I see. If my sister can not find someone to chop up this log that's 3.5 feet in diameter and 10 feet long then I will have to do it for her. Then there is the 3.5 foot stump to deal with.

[Spork Schivago]

Re: Using my CH341A.

Yeah, me too! I've been talking to the developer of the CH341 Programmer for Windows. I purchased a registered copy. He only wanted 10$. I gave him 15$. He says for 10$, it'll include future updates, which is nice. I felt it was worth it. Anyway, I asked if he ever planned on making a Linux version, he said right now there's no Linux drivers.

I found a Linux module in the kernel but it's only for serial support. These devices also have an IEEE 1284 parallel interface, an SPI interface, and an I2C interface. It was created by some smart people studying the Windows driver. I reached out to the company who makes the Windows drivers, asking if they'd ever consider releasing the source code for the drivers so I can port them or if they'd be interested in releasing a Linux version, but I don't have my hopes up.

I also reached out to the guy who developed the current CH341 kernel module, asking if he ever planned on implementing the other features. Hopefully someone will provide some good news.

Have you ever thought about purchasing one of these? They're kinda neat.

[keeney123]

Re: Using my CH341A.

Keeney123,

I got it working. The problem wasn't with the drivers or the CH341A chip, but the actual PCB. The jumper has to be set on pins 1-2 (for 3.3V). The guy in the video explains it nicely. Makes me wonder why and if there's a problem with the PCB.

I bought the device from Amazon and left a review and comment, telling people about the issue, giving them a link to the software and drivers (32-bit and 64-bit). It seems a lot of people who bought this device where asking where to get the software and drivers from and no one seemed to know (or if they did, they didn't respond!)

Glad you got it working!

[Spork Schivago]

Re: Using my CH341A.

Keeney123,

I got it working. The problem wasn't with the drivers or the CH341A chip, but the actual PCB. The jumper has to be set on pins 1-2 (for 3.3V). The guy in the video explains it nicely. Makes me wonder why and if there's a problem with the PCB.

I bought the device from Amazon and left a review and comment, telling people about the issue, giving them a link to the software and drivers (32-bit and 64-bit). It seems a lot of people who bought this device where asking where to get the software and drivers from and no one seemed to know (or if they did, they didn't respond!)