I’ve been wanting to add an EE Tools Topmax II Universal Programmer to my chip programmer farm for quite some time. It’s device list says supports a selection of older trivoltage chips and is known for its reliability and versatility. Adding it to my setup would improve efficiency and expand my ability to handle a broader range of devices, even if the list of supported trivoltage chips is small it will be useful.

Quick Unboxing With Cotti Kitty Cat

A Quick Hardware Test In the EE Tools Max Loader Software it All Passes. (Archive)

The Tear-down.

The Top Max II Unit.

To Remove the Cover You Remove the Side Cover Screws..

Take Note on the Screws… Larger Screws are for the top holes.

You will Then Remove the 4 Screws on the bottom and 4 on the back. I Forgot to Take Photos (See Teardown Video)

The Cover Is Off..

EEtools Topmax II Top Board Rev 3.0

This TopMax II Has a Xilinx XCS20-PQ208CKN120 FPGA. Notice the GAL and the Eeprom Chip with the Yellow Dots.

EE Tools Top Max II 2 Xilinx XCS20-PQ208CKN120 FPGA

Removed the 24LC64 For Backup.

The firmware of the 24LC64 prom was backed up and archived for repair/restoration purposes.

TopMax II U2 is a GAL16V8D it has been removed for Backup.

The GAL looks like it was secured 16V8D Has a Checksum of 107FA (Blank Checksum is 110F1) and verify passes generally if secured verify will fail or will read a different checksum with each read but some PAL/GAL act different there is only 2 address with data changed so it’s prob read protected as they all are 🙁

Power Regulation I did not see anything special.

Main Voltage Regulation uses L165V Opamps

Also an lm2575-adj

3.3V is Handled By EZ1086CM

Pin Driver Transistors are a MJD117 very robust compared to some other programmers.

More Photos Later When I get the Motivation.

Now the Bad!!

The Top Max II, Lists the TMS2716JL as a Supported Device.. But it Does not Support Tri-Voltage Devices that Require Negative Voltage VBB Devices.
TMS2716 Data Sheet

 
I used one of my Data I/O 29B to Read and Verify a Few TMS1716JL Devices, So they are known working Devices. When Reading in the Top Max II it Gives an Error. Looking a little closer at the device Selection you will notice that it is Missing the -Vbb and Vpp is 23V  not +26V as required.

So I e-mail EE Tools they dont seem tot answer their phone. Replied back for me to do a hardware test.. I did a Hardware test.. Again and sent it to them.

Again programmer passed hardware test,

I asked them to verify with their engineers that the TMS2716 is Supported as I can confirmed with my equipment it is not supported on the Top Max II.

They Responded by claiming my Chips are damaged? They are working on their end. Again noted, I am using known good Chip verified working with My Data I/O 29B.

I ask for Proof that it is working there.. send me a photo of the TMS2716JL in your programmer and hand date written on a piece of paper.

Of course, they responded but not with what was actually asked for. Instead, they threw in some nonsense about their chips being mislabeled. You can’t make this stuff up. At least they confirmed that their hardware won’t support devices with negative voltages (-VBB).


This device TMS2716JL has been listed as supported by the EE Tools TopMax II for years, yet it doesn’t work because the hardware isn’t even capable of supporting it. I wonder how long EE Tools has know about this? There were complaints on Usenet/Forms from more than a decade ago, and as expected, EE Tools, response was the usual claiming bad chips. but there were no follow ups! So it is confirmed that the TMS2716JL is not supported in the Top Max II Big Bummer!

It wouldn’t be surprising if EE Tools has falsely blamed “bad chips” for years to cover for hardware issues. If they knew their programmers had limitations but still pushed the narrative that chips were at fault, that’s a serious integrity issue.

EE Tools is not alone, Xeltek has the TMS2716 listed as a supported on the Superpro 6100N  and their hardware also don’t support VBB and +26V either. Xeltek is aware of this and has not removed the device either. I ahve sent them a remindder thatt with their current 01/2025 update the TMS2716 is still listed.

It would have been great to have a modern alternative under $1,000 something besides the aging Vintage Data I/O Equipment. The Elnec BeeProg2 is an option, but after adding the necessary adapter, it’s $1,500+ becuase they force you to buy form an ODM Dataman. The expensive BPM Microsystems FP-1710 hardware is capable, but they want $2,000 for a custom algorithm, So, After you pay for the Algo, they then will turn around and use it as a marketing tool “Supported Device” to sell more programmers and be able to use the device Algo you paid to add.

Last Updated on February 3, 2025 by Steven Rhine