A hardware interface usable to communicate with electrically erasable read-only memory devices and, optionally, other external controls or devices, includes self-monitoring power supply circuitry, an EEPROM driver and noise and signal degradation prevention circuitry, and optional input/output circuitry which provides for programmatically cycling power to the memory device. The self-monitoring power supply circuitry is capable of determining whether a power supply has reached the hardware interface. The EEPROM driver and noise and signal degradation prevention circuitry reduces signal noise and/or signal degradation and driver circuitry for programming, monitoring, and downloading information to and from the EEPROM devices. The digital input/output circuitry is capable of controlling the power supply to the hardware interface, downloading or monitoring information to the hardware interface, or controlling/responding to external devices or controls.