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Support FAQ - Serial Ports and Buffered Input (Drip Feed)
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1. How do I connect to the serial port on my control? A brief answer to this question is that you should obtain a "null modem," serial cable with the proper number of pins (either 9 or 25) and the proper gender (male or female) at each end. The more detailed discussion: Several pages in the various DynaPath Installation Manuals for each control model document the wiring and use of the RS-232-C serial port that is available on all DynaPath Delta controls. As informative as those pages are, the fact is that the serial port wiring on all DynaPath controls is "standard" and conforms to the EIA RS-232-C specification. This permits anyone interested in using the serial port to purchase a standard serial cable. The RS-232-C specification categorizes any device with a serial port as either a DCE (Data Communication Equipment) or a DTE (Data Terminal Equipment) device. Both DynaPath controls and most personal computers (both desktops and laptops) are DCE devices. This means that a serial cable between the two must be a "Null Modem" or crossover serial cable. Companies also sell "Null Modem Adapters" the can be put in-line with a "straight-thru" serial cable to achieve the same connectivity. Several companies sell such cables and adapters on the Internet at reasonable prices: www.cablewholesale.com www.cablestogo.com www.cablesonline.com www.belkin.com www.startech.com www.buy.com www.amazon.com www.radioshack.com |
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2. What is the pinout of my serial port? Delta 30/40/50/60/1000/2000 controls:
Delta 10/20 controls (including later model System 10/20):
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3. Can my control drip feed (Buffered Input)? Delta 10 controls do not have buffered input (drip feed). Delta 20 and Delta 30 controls do have buffered input (drip feed). Delta 40/50/60 and Delta 1000/2000 controls have a "Systems Settings" screen that is accessible by pressing the soft key labeled as such on the "Fault/Status" page. An entry on this page labeled "Buffered Input" will indicate if this option is available. Another way to tell if the feature is available (on any DynaPath or Autocon control) is to enter the part program title "RS232C" in the Catalog mode, exit back to the Mode Select screen and check if the Program mode has been removed as a selection from the menu. If this mode is not available, then the control has the Buffered Input feature. |
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4. What steps do I take to drip feed to my control? Note: It is highly recommended that you test your serial connection from the PC to the control by transferring a part program to and from the control's catalog before attempting to drip feed. The following steps will work on any control with the Buffered Input feature: a. From the Mode Select menu, enter the Catalog mode by pressing the letter 'C.' b. Key in the program title 'RS232C' and press the 'Enter' key. c. Return to the Mode Select menu by pressing the 'Mode Select' key. d. Enter the Load or Receive or Receive/Transmit mode by pressing '8.' e. If the control is a Delta 40/50/60 or a Delta 1000/2000, select the serial port as the source device by pressing 'S,' then '1,' and then 'Enter.' Notice that on these controls, you can drip feed from a floppy or hard drive, if the control has these options. f. Match the serial port parameters on the control with the software running on the PC. Set the baud rate to the desire transfer speed. Set parity to either 'Off' (on the PC, you may have to set the number of data bits to 8) or 'Even' (on the PC, you may have to set the number of data bits to 7). If the PC software allows setting the number of stop bits, set it to 1. Be sure to turn 'Echo' off on the control. There is also a selection to use either hardware or software flow control. Hardware flow control is used when 'X0 - Control Character Off' is selected. Software flow control is used when 'X1 - Control Character On' is selected. Currently DynaPath recommends hardware flow control be used (particularly if the PC's operating system is Microsoft® XP™ or Vista™). g. Return to the Mode Select menu by pressing the 'Mode Select' key. h. Enter the Auto mode by pressing '1.' i. Press the Cycle Start pushbutton to put the control in cycle. j. Begin transmitting from the PC.
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