Mike Z Reply Delete Replies Reply Anonymous May 10, 2018 at 3:35 AM I got the software installed, switched it to English from Chinese, and loaded the drivers.

An overview of CH341A devices with driver and tools download links.

The chip is manufactured by Chinese company Jiangsu QinHeng Ltd.

A popular device is the black CH341A MiniProgrammer that you can buy for 2 to 5 USD.

Drivers are available from manufacturers website (but the site is written in Chinese).

There are open source applications that support this programmer.

The programmer can be bought with additional sockets and adapters, some of them with voltage shifting circuits.

It didnt have the pinheaders on the sides of the ZIF socket which I wanted to know what they are for.

I took the multimeter and started to trace lines on the programmer PCB until I got a complete schematic.

Their product page offered a the PCB design of the device (only top side, however).

The chip is powered from 5V, so its IO ports will also use 5V.

The problem is that any memory you fit in the socket will be powered from 3.3V.

And this seems to be the only function of the 3.3V regulator (besides the 3.3V pin on the SPI connector).

I dont know why the designer even used a regulator, if it didnt provide a switch to choose between 3.3V or 5V levels and supply.

For improved reliability and to avoid burning memory chips, I highly recommend using a level shifter.

In order to turn this programmer into a 3.3V device, you could cut the 5V line from VCC pin (28) and tie it to the 3.3V output from regulator.

User johnmx from EEVblog Forum has succeeded in converting this programmer to 3.3V levels.

Thats why you should put a jumper across pins 1 and 2 of the UART connector.

Otherwise the device will be recognized as a standard USB to serial converter.

Here are the files you can find and what they contain ( the first two are the ones you need ).

Just double click on each of them and when the dialog appears click on Install.

You can build your own software that will readwrite data fromto sensors, real time clocks or any other devices that use serial communication.

You can find most of them by searching CH341A on Banggood and AliExpress.

Here is an overview of the programmers and development boards available.

Download Software Tv Tuner Eprom