submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by JayDee@lemmy.world to c/askelectronics@discuss.tchncs.de

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I am working identifying a problem in a VFD for a friend's belt grinder, and I've ID'd the other ICs on but, but I wasn't able to ID this last 8-pin one. I know it's made by Microchip, but couldn't pull anything up from the codes on the front.

It's possible this is an encryption key chip with some obfuscated info on the front. However, I don't know how common that actually is.

Any help is appreciated.

UPDATE: Looks like this one's solved. I went back and double-checked the code, and it looks like y'all were correct on it being '4A08I' and not '4A081'. This chip is also the closest IC to the MCU which lines up perfectly with this being an EEPROM.

I appreciate everyone's input and help with this!

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[-] listener17@sh.itjust.works 11 points 2 months ago

Sometimes the abbreviations are interesting. It is hard to tell without more context, but if I has to guess it is an 8 pin EEPROM for the VFD or something: https://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/aemDocuments/documents/MPD/ProductDocuments/DataSheets/24AA08-24LC08B-24FC08-8K-I2C-Serial-EEPROM-DS20001710.pdf

Either way, the code isn't 4a081, it is 4a08i.

The second line is useless for determining what it is, since it is manufacturing batch traceability info.

[-] JayDee@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

That lines up with it being right next to the MCU. I greatly appreciate the assistance! I'll get this into my notes in case it comes in handy.

[-] SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 9 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Can you get a clearer photo? Having trouble telling B from 8.

It could also help to see the rest of the circuit - the other components may provide context clues.

[-] JayDee@lemmy.world 6 points 2 months ago

I will grab a better photo when I get home in 12-ish hours.

The code is 4A081 8444QC as far as I can tell. I didn't get any matches for an 8-pin IC of that code unfortunately.

[-] JayDee@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

So I think the answer was found by a couple of the others, but I will still follow through with other photos.

Here's a (if only slightly) clearer image of the IC code

And here is a zoomed-out shot of the entire board. You can see the tiny IC in question to the left of the MCU with the '56/1.10' sticker on it.

[-] SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago

Great photo! Clearly two eights and an I. And the proximity to the MCU corroborates the EEPROM theory.

[-] remotelove@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

My search converged with the other commenter and found the same link they did.. (I completely skipped over the link they provided somehow before I started my own looking.)

But yeah, I agree it's probably an EEPROM and you might be able to copy it?

[-] JayDee@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

Greatly appreciate the help! I will add that to my documentation list. I think i'll give dumping the ROM a shot if nothing else winds up working.

this post was submitted on 12 Jul 2026

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